Library Girl

Essie was raised in secret by four librarians after being discovered as a baby in the children's department of an Indiana library. Fearing kidnapping charges, the quartet devise a system to keep Essie in the building, unbeknownst to the establishment's timid director. Loved "extravagantly" by her four mothers, Essie befriends library patrons, but she's never left the grounds and yearns for a family that includes siblings. At age 11, Essie's moms supply her with a bicycle, an allowance, and permission to explore the four blocks around the library, which include a pedestrian mall, a candy store, and two department stores. Despite some disappointing interactions and purchases, Essie thoroughly enjoys her weekly outings. But when she meets G.E., a boy who resembles her and appears to live in one of the department stores, she starts to wonder if they are twins separated at birth. Essie's earnest longing for siblings and an expanded support network--rendered in a chatty, deadpan tone by Horvath (Pine Island Visitors)--impart relatable emotional depth to this laboriously quirky tale. Essie and G.E. read as white. Ages 9-12. (Sept.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-6--Horvath's latest opens in a small-town public library, closed for the night. Four librarians encounter an abandoned baby in the children's department. To fulfill their individual dreams of motherhood, they decide to covertly raise the baby together in the library. As young Essie grows up, she can't imagine getting by without her four mothers. However, when she turns 11, she feels the urge to expand her horizons by venturing outside the library walls. She starts taking weekly trips to the local mall, slowly introducing herself to the real world. Then she meets G.E., an 11-year-old boy whose parental situation appears just as mysterious as hers. Does G.E. hold the key to her past? As her search for family deepens, bibliophile Essie discovers there is always more to the story. The plot has enough twists to keep readers guessing until the end. Horvath's rich descriptions of setting and quaint vocabulary draw readers in. Although Essie is naive in many ways, she is an astute observer of her surroundings. Secondary characters are (mostly) kind and supportive of Essie; tyrannical library administrator Ms. Matterhorn is an effective foil for Essie and her mothers. Most characters read white; librarian Taisha has "twilight" colored skin. VERDICT A love letter to books and the dreamers who read them. Hand this charming story to precocious readers and fans of Matilda.--Hannah Grasse

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Fast paced, richly imaginative, and written with abundant humor. An engaging choice for reading aloud

A lovely daydream for readers.

Horvath takes as much care with the characterizations of the four librarians as she does with Essie's, and as always her storytelling abilities are top-notch.

This whimsical story is rich with quirky, lovable characters, the warmth of found family and an unexpected twist.—The Washington Post

Give this one to a quiet kid who loves the throwbacks but wants one with a very slightly more modern perspective.—The Bulletin