A mystery told in the alternating voices of a fluffy orange cat, a former assistant librarian who may or may not be a ghost, and an 11-year-old boy centers on a forgotten library fire. A newly erected Little Free Library brings community reading and book exchange back to Martinville, and plenty of petting to Mortimer, the orange cat who stands sentry. Eleven-year-old Evan (white) borrows two books and discovers they’re both from the old library. The cards inside reveal one was last checked out by a now-famous mystery writer and returned on the day of the Martinville library fire 20 years earlier; the other was checked out by his dad. The ghosts of that library fire reside in the town’s history museum, unable to let go of the tragedy and find a way forward. Intrigued by one of his Little Free Library choices, How to Write a Mystery Novel, Evan begins to investigate the library fire and is surprised to discover a connection to his father and secrets of the past. With a hefty dose of ghostly intrigue but shy on scary chills, this short, entertaining novel offers satisfying puzzles and reveals, culminating in a win for fans of the both mysteries and the public library. (Ages 8-12)

Now a New York Times bestseller, a #1 Indie Bestseller, and the Amazon #1 Best Kids' Book of 2023, readers won't want to miss this story of a little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps.

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).