The Library of Curiosities - by Jenny Lundquist

About the Book

After being sent to live with her estranged grandfather, eleven-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald discovers his magical library, where she must clear her name, outwit a vengeful enemy, and uncover a long-lost artifact that holds the key to her family's mysterious past.

Book Synopsis

11-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald discovers the library her estranged grandfather runs is filled with magical objects--but only one holds the key to her family's mysterious past.

After being expelled from boarding school--again--Rowan isn't sure what to expect upon arriving at Fitzgerald Manor. But it sure isn't this.

The estate is opulent. Lush. Grand. Mind-boggling. And at the heart of it all is Cillian Fitzgerald, her enigmatic grandfather, and his pride and joy: the Library of Curiosities.

Now, everyone knows that libraries are the best. But the Library of Curiosities is the best of the best, because its collection contains a vast trove of magical objects from which lucky patrons can borrow to fix their everyday problems. Still stuck on that language arts story assignment? Try writing it on the enchanted typewriter and see if that doesn't get the words flowing. Hoping to land the lead in the school musical? Check out a wishing sock. (Use high heat to activate.)

It doesn't take long for Rowan to realize that in this wondrous place, her own problems--her painful want of family, her deep desire for friends--might actually be solved for the first time in her life.

Except.

Except that library curiosities have started going missing, and suspicion is falling squarely on Rowan's shoulders.

Except that Cillian's dangerous archenemy, the vengeful and slippery Silverjack, now has Rowan in his sights, too.

Except that there is the ongoing matter of the Everhart curiosity, which hasn't been seen in years, but if found could help Rowan at last unsnarl her family's tangled, strange history.

To clear her name, to avoid capture, to locate the Everhart, Rowan will have to fight forces both within and outside of the library that threaten everything she's only just begun to hold dear.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Review Quotes

Short, exciting chapters laced with humor and a rich vocabulary showcase characters. . . . Rowan's suggestions for nonmagical solutions to problems remind readers that they can achieve their own goals. Inventive and worthwhile.
--Kirkus Reviews

Brash and impetuous Rowan drives the linear plot, while evocative prose by Lundquist (The Carnival of Wishes & Dreams) imbues the magical setting with personified charm in a cozy and enchanting adventure.
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

As the author of several whimsical middle grade and young adult novels, Jenny Lundquist is no stranger to literary magic. But she also finds plenty of real-world wonder in her home state of California, where she lives and writes alongside several beloved humans, one beloved rescue pup, and, more often than not, a beloved mug of coffee. Jenny received her MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and is proud to say she has never once enlisted the assistance of a magic typewriter. Visit her online at jennylundquist.com and instagram.