The Library of Ever

The Library of Ever #1

by Zeno Alexander

The Library of Ever is an instant classic for middle grade readers and booklovers everywhere―an adventure across time and space, as a young girl becomes a warrior for the forces of knowledge.

With her parents off traveling the globe, Lenora is bored, bored, bored―until she discovers a secret doorway into the ultimate library. Mazelike and reality-bending, the library contains all the universe’s wisdom. Every book ever written, and every fact ever known, can be found within its walls. And Lenora becomes its newly appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian.

She rockets to the stars, travels to a future filled with robots, and faces down a dark nothingness that wants to destroy all knowledge. To save the library, Lenora will have to test her limits and uncover secrets hidden among its shelves.

An Imprint Book

An Amazon Best Book of the Month

“Full of whimsy and pluck, The Library of Ever is a total delight!” ― New York Times bestselling author Wendy Mass

“Zeno Alexander's The Library of Ever reads like someone mixed Neil Gaiman with Chris Grabenstein, then threw in an extra dash of charm. Reading it is like getting lost in an entire library full of books, and never wanting to leave!” ―James Riley, New York Times bestselling author of the Story Thieves series

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Books About Books, Childrens, Adventure, Audiobook

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2019

Reviews

[mads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really cool idea, really odd execution.

This was like if there was an Eloise videogame that jumped from one knowledge related task to the next, which somehow sounds more coherent than the book actually was.

I read this to see if it was something my younger siblings would enjoy and I can't see it holding their attention. The story was disjointed and cluttered in a way that might keep younger readers from fully connecting and older readers from caring.

Definitely don't think this is a bad book and I appreciated the way simple facts were woven into the story, it just - as far as I'm concerned - wasn't what it could've been.

[Kelly Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun filled adventure quest to start off my kids summer break. the mentions of bowler hats got us to watch Meet the Robinsons and of course the styrofoam packing peanuts got us to watch Bolt. it also got my kids talking about the temple of Bubastis in Ancient Egypt which they learned about this school year. highly recommend to any kid or adult who loves a cute little adventure.

[Jaimie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just the greatest concept for a middle grade fantasy. When I was 10, I would have been obsessed with an 11 year old librarian time traveling and talking to whales and transforming into a cat, all in the pursuit of information for her job as a librarian. The scope of the library and Lenora's "missions" are so creative and entertaining and varied.

Where this book suffers, for me, is in execution. Each of the missions is choppy and episodic. They don't feel like plot points that build on each other to create an overarching story. And the "bad guys" are barely introduced until late in the book and are defeated (for now) too easily and quickly. So there are never real stakes.

But there is a sequel, so I have high hopes that the execution will be as polished as the concept.

3.5 stars

[Seema Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sort of if the Phantom Tollbooth was crossed with that series the Librarians. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that this is an enjoyable, satisfying middle-grade book. Worth picking up for sure. It has the sort of tone of a latter-day old-timey book, like a Lemony Snicket, say, that would make a great book to read aloud to a fourth grader. I loved the main character and the way that literature is celebrated. Wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole M. Hewitt]

This was a fun story with a fantastic concept that appealed to a younger me immensely---finding a secret magical library and getting to work there? Yes, please! Lenora learns lots of new facts for her new library patrons and goes on a mini-adventure for each fact. My only complaint was that the story felt a little disjointed (the facts that Lenora learns don't have anything to do with each other) and I didn't feel a lot of connection to the MC or a sense of her feelings--there were really no stakes until about 70% into the book. I loved the message that the book portrayed about the importance of the quest for knowledge--once I knew what Lenora was up against and why, I was more engaged with the story; I just wish it had happened a little sooner. Still, kids who love to learn about the world will get sucked into Lenora's fun and imaginative quests.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Reyhaneh.r · Rating 3 out of 5]

"عاشق کتابخانه‌ها بود و اینکه در سکوت کنار کسانی باشد که کتاب می‌خواندند."

[Beth Cato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I adored The Library of Ever. This book is everything a cozy middle grade book should be. I wish I could go back in time and press it into the hands of my ten-year-old self with a conspiratorial wink.

Lenora is ignored by her wealthy parents and her nanny, but this comes in useful sometimes--like at the library. She makes her escape to the children's section where she confronts a man in a bowler hat who is trying to tell a young boy that books on science are too advanced for him. After seeing the boy get to the books he wants, a fantastic archway appears in what had been a blank wall. She walks through, and finds the Library of Ever.

I envisioned her adventures in the library like a Hiyao Miyazaki anime. Everything is fantastical and weird, yet within this world, absolutely believable. Lenora is quickly dubbed a library worker of low rank, bestowed a badge and everything, and happily goes to work. As she helps patrons--jumping ahead in time to resolve a calendar issue, wandering a massive globe and befriending whales and penguins (and finding out some purported facts about the longest town name and highest mountain aren't true)--her rank advances, as do her responsibilities.

While the book is sure fun, there's also a powerful message behind everything about the dangers of censorship and the power of knowledge. The men in bowler hats are a threatening force. As Lenora is scolded at one point, "I thought you were wise enough to understand that children must be discouraged from asking questions that will make them curious and fretful. Perhaps I overestimated you. After all, you're just a child yourself."

"Maybe," said Lenora, with equal frost. "But I'm also a librarian. And I'm not going to hide the truth from anyone."

Just typing that up again gives me chills. This book is powerful. It's charming. It's an inspiration. Plus, it's hilarious. Sure, there's a message, but it's wrapped up in whimsy and joy. This would be a great book to read aloud to a group or class. I found it to be a fast read, too; I zoomed through in about 45 minutes.

[Kathryn]

I loved the beginning but quickly stalled on this one. I found myself getting annoyed. Not necessarily the fault of the book. I'm just not a big fan of the types of adventure stories that go hither and thither with no apparent rhyme nor reason. I admire the imagination, but just find myself getting frustrated by the anything-can-happen whims where I don't feel I can really play along. If you do enjoy stories like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, then you might really enjoy this book.

[Allison Tebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful!

Full review to come!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book for the general idea behind it. A little girl stumbles into a science fiction like library in her quest to quench her love of knowledge. She comes up against forces of good who are attempting to preserve The Light of Knowledge and she comes up against forces of evil who are trying to extinguish that light. The exciting and fun worlds that Lenora explores in her journey to answer questions posed by the clientele of the library are unique and interesting. Even better is the emphasis on Lenora's ability and desire to answer her questions herself; to solve her own problems by seeking out resources independently. A Great message for kids and adults. Tremendous potential in this story idea.

But.

It lacks a foundation. It is so fast paced and scattered that it felt very shallow. I thought it just truly lacked structure, balance, and substance. All of the characters, including Lenora, felt very one dimensional and I found myself having to reread parts just to figure out 'what the heck just happened' or 'where are we now'. For such a short book and simple plot line, it felt like it should have been more cohesive.

Overall, I liked it and could easily have loved it if only it didn't occasionally cause my head to spin in mild confusion at the free fall feeling throughout.

All of that being said, it is a book that young ones(the audience it is intended for) will likely have a great time riding along for Lenora's adventures. :)

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say this was the best book I've ever read, but it was interesting. It sometimes made no sense (beyond the fact that it was a whimsical fantasy book) to me, but maybe that's because I'm old and have no imagination. Or maybe it's because I'm salty that some kid randomly got a job in a library with no experience and got multiple promotions in less than 200 pages. Who knows. I DID learn a lot of facts about random things I didn't know much about, so that was kind of cool. At the end, I found it more interesting than I had originally assumed it would be, and now I look forward to the sequel.

[Dee Dee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute magical book filled with a bit of science, geography and social studies throughout.

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Library of Ever seemed to have all of the elements that I love in the middle grade book, but sadly, it didn't work for me at all. The idea for its plot was wonderful and had so much potential, however I felt like the execution was quite rushed and so the characters were underdeveloped and the story jumped from one scene to another, without much connection in between each adventure, other than the fact that they took place in the library. There wasn't any real introduction, anything to give the readers an idea of this world and the characters, we went straight into the story and never stopped.

I do love me some magical library though, and I'm sure that there's a lot of readers who will truly enjoy this book. I just didn't enjoy it, personally.


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[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenora enters the library, discovers an arch that proclaims "Knowledge Is Light." She cautiously proceeds past this landmark and embarks on many adventures as a librarian. In addition to time-travelling with a robot, Lenora has the opportunity to help penguins, ants and a lost kitten. As she completes each task, her badge adjusts her rank and states her accomplishments. While working to solve problems and impart knowledge, she is aware of a dark force embodied by men dressed in black and wearing bowlers. They are a nameless menace to the libraries mission. All in all, an exciting adventure tale with magical properties. Unlike books like the Chronicles of Narnia and the Wrinkle in Time series, the opponent is not clearly characterized. This book will appeal to younger readers and prepare them to enjoy the above mentioned classics.

A big thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this new release in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Fard · Rating 4 out of 5]

اولش به نظر من خوب شروع نشد و آخراش می‌تونست بهتر باشه
اما میانه کتاب عالی بود
اهمیت کتابخانه، جایگاه کتابدارها به زبان و ادبیات بچه‌ها
همراه با چالش‌هایی که حل کردنشون فقط از عهده یک کتابدار یا نوآموز کتابداری که لنورا بود برمیاد

پی‌نوشت: کتاب‌هایی که خودم براشون نیوادیشن فارسی می‌زنم رو خیلی دوست دارم
این کتاب هم فارسیش نبود خودم ایجادش کردم :))

[Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fast to read and packed with knowledge. I wish the Library was real.

[Claire Wrobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute. Great for lovers of libraries and librarians. Had strong Magic Treehouse vibes and also Meet the Robinsons with the evil bowler hat guys.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan Publishing Group & Imprint for sending our #bookexpedition group an ARC to read and review.

The Library of Ever is unlike any middle grade book I’ve read. It’s a creative adventure story centered around the importance of knowledge.

I cheered for Lenora, the clever main character, as she traveled through the most incredible and humongous library in the world, battling the Forces of Darkness who discourage children from asking questions. The theme in this book, “Knowledge is a light,” is so valuable in our current world climate, and I hope readers join forces with Lenora in learning these lessons:
“Sometimes the thing everyone thinks is wrong.” (76)
“Don’t let one minor setback throw you off track. No one is perfect.” (118).

Publishing in April of 2019, I’m looking forward to sharing this one with my 4/5th grade students and am crossing my fingers for a sequel!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Trapped in Genghis Khan’s tomb with a killer robot..." That's one of Lenora's many adventures in the special library she finds while getting away from her nanny. At the start of the book, Lenora behaves like a spoiled brat, but soon she gets to help out the librarian and proves to be really talented. I hope there are more adventures.
PS. I am a librarian, so my review could be somewhat biased.
I received a copy of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was an ADHD fever dream. I can’t even tell you what the major plot points were. In the end, the only real content of worth was its message about censorship. The ending can also only be summed up as to have ended as suddenly as “it was all a dream.”

Such a shame nothing of real note as a reader occurs because the book does have beautiful figurative language and description.

[Meeshy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was very complex but was crammed into too few pages. With some more dedication to the character, this could have easily been a 4 part series. Great visuals but disappointingly few details from the character’s perspective.

[A. Aвdι · Rating 4 out of 5]

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قبلاً هم گفته بودم که کتاب‌های در مورد کتاب و کتابخانه را دوست دارم، خصوصاً آن‌هایی که اشاره مستقیم به شغلم یعنی کتابداری دارد :)
لنورا که روزهای کسالت‌باری را می‌گذراند و به دنبال یک اتفاق هیجان‌انگیز است تا سر حالش بیاورد، از کتابخانه‌ای اسرارآمیز سر در می‌آورد و در آنجا به عنوان دستیار نوآموز کتابدار مشغول به کار می‌شود تا در نهایت نشان کتابداری را به دست بیاورد؛ او در این راه باید به سوالات مختلفی پاسخ دهد، مسایل گوناگونی را حل کند، به موجودات عجیبی کمک کند و از همه مهم‌تر با نیروهای تاریکی که دشمنان علم و دانش هستند مبارزه کند.
اهمیت کتابخانه و شغل کتابداری و به تبع آن علم و دانش به خوبی در این داستان نشان داده شده و اطلاعات مختصری هم در حوزه‌های تاریخ و جغرافیا به مخاطب خود می‌دهد.
شخصیت پردازی و پردازش خود داستان (مخصوصاً انتهای آن) و همچنین ترجمه، می‌توانست بهتر از این باشد، ولی در کل خوب و قابل قبول بود.
بعد از مطالعه این کتاب به این فکر می‌کنم که چقدر به نسخه‌های وطنی اینطور کتاب‌ها نیاز داریم؛ که در قالب آن‌ها بتوانیم اماکن، مشاهیر و تاریخ کشورمان را به کودک و نوجوان بشناسانیم.

[Hanna Sandvig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost wanted to rate it a 3, ask often found the writing to be clunky, and the main character has pretty much no growth. But it was very whimsical and charming and my kids loved it and can't wait for book two

[Jadey (the Bookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

I found this so fun! It was really clever too. I would have loved to have read it when I was 13, and I loved reading it at 23.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was very clever. I would love to visit that library.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great reminder why I love working in a library :-)

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a review for this one and goodreads just…erased it?
This was fantastic, I loved the wild adventures and the concept of the Library being the catalyst to them all. It’s hard to explain without spoilers.
I also listened to the audiobook read by Emily Lawrence, who is shaping up to be another favorite narrator.

[Rachael Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly what it feels like to work in a library. This was so magically cozy, but also delightfully educational.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy release day to this AMAZING 5 star book about a magical library and Lenora the librarian! Thanks to @imprintreads for sharing this book with #kidlitexchange. It is out TODAY. .
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Librarian friends, get your hands on this book ASAP. It reminds me of one of my childhood favorites, The Phantom Tollbooth, in all the best ways and is also reminiscent of Fahrenheit 451. Lenora (like Milo in TPT) is super bored until she enters a magical library and is appointed fourth assistant apprentice librarian. Lenora does our profession proud -- as a librarian she is curious, smart, trustworthy, highly respected and willing to help any and all who come to her with queries. Lenora travels to the future to help robots with a calendar problem, shrinks herself to assist a tardigrade with space travel and travels the world (on a large globe in the library) looking for a town with the longest name, befriending whales and penguins alike on her journey. Along the way she also proves herself to be courageous, particularly against enemies in bowler hats who recognize that "knowledge is light" and desire to suppress the free flow of "dangerous" information. Lenora is assisted by her boss, Malachi, a ten foot dark-skinned librarian who is both intimidating and comforting at once. Somehow all of this happens in less than 200 pages with the tantalizing promise of a sequel at the end. .
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I was suspicious of this book when I read reviews -- it's hard to hook me on a fantasy novel these days for some reason -- but I was completely enchanted from start to finish. It's billed as an "instant classic" on the back of the book and I agree! I found myself gasping out loud at points and reading passages aloud to anyone who was nearby. I also love that the author, @zalexanderbooks, is a bit of a mystery so far -- he presents himself as merely chronicling Lenora's adventures into a biography series. How. Fun! I can't WAIT to get a copy of this book in my library and I'm even more excited to get my hands on the sequel in the future (April 2020!). Zeno Alexander, whoever you are -- thank you for seeing librarians as heroes and giving us our own series and heroine to love!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a very rough year for reading. Rarely has a book grabbed my attention or been able to keep my attention however this book has quite happily been the exception! From the moment that I started it, I was instantly and very happily taken to the world of the Library. And the entire time that I was reading, I did not want to leave. This is how Libraries and Librarians should be! Maybe apart from the matter of the necessity of Tubes, which would be nifty to have, libraries should be magical places dedicated to bringing knowledge and wonder to their patrons.

I think most of us try. We really try (especially in the Children's Areas) to instill that love of knowledge and reading and joy that the endless possibilities of books bring. So what happens? Why are libraries and librarians seen as ... boring? quiet? places to be shushed? full of old, boring, dull books? shudder I think the Board happened (more about this in the second book, which I just finished and which is equally brilliant!) and people forgot the wonder that they knew as children.

Books where the MC visits another world, or a world that is tucked within our world, have always fascinated me since I was little. I desperately wanted to find Narnia in a wardrobe. I looked for ways to step through the looking glass. To travel to another Library tucked inside of a library would be a dream come true, especially one so fascinating and obviously magical!