The Spybrarian

by Jon Mayhew

A Rip-roaring, rib-tickling rollercoaster ride for fans of Mark Powers, Pamela Butchart and David Solomons.

322 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2021

About the author

I live on the Wirral Peninsula with my wife and four children. We have a whole menagerie of dogs and cats and chickens and tortoises. My house overlooks the forbidding marshes of the Dee Estuary which is great for wildlife, spooky mists and wet feet.

I love writing but also enjoy running and playing the mandolin. Running is great because it keeps me fit and I can eat as many chips as I like without worrying about putting on weight... I think!
My Favourite food, apart from chips, is probably chicken korma, or maybe mussels or perhaps lasagna or maybe roast lamb...

Some more facts:

I never became a 'free reader' in primary school. Ask me why if I come to your school.

I used to love reading the Moomintroll books and, later the Conan series.

My favourite children's book is Holes by Louis Sachar.

(Copied from Official Website's About Me Page)

Reviews

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky, crazy and will have them giggling their socks off.

Any puerile joke you can think of about FARTs is contained within. Though here, this is a criminal organisation hell bent on world destruction. Yep, it's THAT kind of story. With a hero called Kian Reader, and others called Paige Turner and Carrell.

The in-jokes come thick and fast in a library-set spy/adventure story with three friends inadvertently caught up with spy librarians, kidnapping and flying mobile libraries.

It's just the tiniest bit nuts. But the insanity will go down a treat with the audience and should do libraries, books and reading no harm either.

Kian hates libraries, his mum's new boyfriend, and homework. But he needs to get a book for homework from the local library, groan, so off he goes. And it's here he finds himself witnessing martial arts and hypnotised Local Children's Authors and ends up with a superpower that he would never have wanted. And even a mission.

With two friends, the mismatched but amusing threesome navigate with silly humour through a plot taken straight from James Bond 101 writing classes, but it's done with charm and lots of touches for young readers, tongue firmly in cheek.

I loved the chapter headings related to the Dewey Decimal System (as a librarian), lots of hints about reading being cool (yay!), and the downright silliness of everything. Lots of repeated jokes work really well, the idea of Battle Hamsters was a very funny one, and how can one NOT like a book where the bad guy's aim is so brilliant:
"Without libraries, mankind will once more fall into the dark ages of ignorance! Without the civilising influence of the librarian, FART will take over the world..!" Genius.

Bonkers. But they'll love it. For ages 7-11.

With thanks to the publisher and author for providing a sample reading copy.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to UCLan Publishing for an ARC to review.

Couldn’t resist a book about a librarian, of course. And what a great little book it is! Middle grade readers will find this hilarious, I’m sure, as well as educational in parts. I loved the funny references to all things library and bookish, and the facts section at the end was fab. I get the feeling there will be a sequel which I’ll definitely be looking out for.

[Dawn Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a librarian who spent years working in a Schools Library Service (SLS) with a mobile library, this book is brilliant. It has one of my favourite lines in a book “Without librarians the world is doomed”, but I am a little biased. This is a mad adventure where Kian finds himself the focus of a plot to destroy all libraries worldwide by the evil Dr Badd. Kian is needed to help after being covered with Reader Serum giving him superpowers to read and comprehend any book within seconds and retain that information for 24 hours.
It all started after being forced by Kian’s Mum and boyfriend who was dressed as a Gruffalo to take part in a demo against a local library closure. Getting caught up with the secret library service (SLS) and Paige Turner, the local librarian, Kian joined by his friends jet off in a flying mobile library to SLS HQ and then onto FART – Fellowship Against Reading Texts - the evil secret organisation to stop people reading and learning.
With the help of the Ninja Librarians of Oxford and killer hamsters the party sets off to save libraries and learning.
There are indications that a sequel will follow which will be great for fans of mad adventures with just a hint of fantasy – as it is perfectly possible for all this to happen for real!
The appendices of the book include the SLS secret code, also known as the Dewey Decimal Classification as well as perfectly true facts about libraries.
This book will garner MG fans who love a bonkers read.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining story with all the right elements that would grab the attention of middle primary aged students. As soon as ‘Fart’ is mentioned you’ve grabbed half of the class already. A few of the one liners had me chuckling. I’m a teacher/ librarian in a primary school and can’t wait to read it to a few of my classes

[Gareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, funny and full action book. Brilliant characters and amazing storytelly. Highly recommended to all Children Librarians, children and anyone who likes spy action stories.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jokes abound in a fast moving adventure for older juniors.