The delightful fun classic of a book now as a graphic novel!

Early April I decided it was time to get a new Kindle as my old Kindle (10 years) was just not working. There was a deal and I decided to go for the Colorsoft one. Which means I can now read books like graphic novels on my Kindle. And so I have slowly started adding graphic novels to my Kindle, and this was one of them. The novel was one of my favourites and I was curious about this adaptation.

And I can tell you that it was oodles of fun! Meet Kyle. A big boardgame enthusiast who, thanks to never giving up, is able to be one of the 12 kids to enter the newest library by his idol, Mr. Lemoncello. I have to say I found it weird that a city had NO library for years and that these kids never grew up with one. I would just bring my kids to the next town or city then to show them libraries and give them a card, but maybe that is just me, haha. At first the kids are just having fun with the library, earning some small prices, eating their bellies round, discovering all the rooms and books (and I loved that one girl who would just leave the others to sit in a chair and read all the books, I think she must have read 5 or more books in the time she was there). But then the real thing starts! The kids have to solve a mystery in x hours only then can they escape from the library. There are clues everywhere. Puzzles and riddles. You can ask for help like you would in a gameshow. And there is more. It all gets very exciting.

I absolutely LOVED seeing the library, see the puzzles and riddles, the books, Lemoncello himself. I wanted to insert myself in the story many a time while reading and wish I could be part of Kyle’s team as they looked to have so much fun while doing it. They weren’t treating it as a competition per se, they just thought it was a fun thing, and that is the right attitude. I am happy that we, as the reader, can also solve the mystery or think about things and see if we are correct or not.

I wasn’t a fan of Chiltington (or his little lackey Peckleman), but then again, I also hated him in the novel. He is a true antagonist and also fits perfect in the stuck-up-rich-boy trope. He is constantly talking as if he is a walking dictionary/thesaurus, as if he is better than everyone. He really got on my nerves, but you know what, it did make things a bit more exciting. Some stories just need a villain. But I am glad that karma got served.

And there were so many book references that had me giggling, gasping, and squealing in joy.

The art was just oodles of fun and really captures the feel of the story. They did seem familiar and when I was writing this review I decided to check out who the illustrator was and it was Douglas Holgate, someone whose art I really love. His work for The Last Kids on Earth was fantastic!

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this graphic novel and I am so glad I was able to read it on my new Kindle! I would recommend this one.