The secret library

Review by Booklist Review

Dally's maternal grandfather has died, and she feels quite alone since he was the one person who understood her love of adventure. Dally's mother has run the family business efficiently for some time, and she's training her only child to take her place someday, but 11-year-old biracial Dally has her doubts. When she discovers the Secret Library, an amazing, magical place in which each book holds a secret, Dally often chooses books that transport her into the past to observe and interact with her ancestors. These experiences help her understand topics that her mother won't discuss, including her father, who died when she was small. Eager for action and curious about her family's mysterious history, she takes chances and makes discoveries. The story is full of clever touches, including the librarian's responsibility to clothe Dally appropriately for each time-travel destination. Her adventures aboard a nineteenth-century treasure-hunting pirate ship are particularly exciting. While the episodic structure of Dally's adventures occasionally slows the story's pace, the Secret Library itself is a memorable, original concept within an involving novel.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Magoon (Chester Keene Cracks the Code) champions self-determination while examining race and gender constructs in this high-spirited, South Carolina--set fantasy. Dally Peteharrington, 11, is devastated when her mother won't let her join Adventure Club because its schedule conflicts with her economics tutoring--lessons Dally needs to eventually succeed her mother as head of Peteharrington Enterprises. Never mind that Dally doesn't want to run the family business and is grieving the death of Grandpa, who encouraged exploration and fun. To rebel, Dally opens an envelope Grandpa left her that her mom had been keeping until Dally's 21st year. Inside is a map to an enchanted library. The books within contain secrets pertaining to Dally and her family, and act as portals to the moments when those secrets occurred, were revealed, or were shared. Dally finds her housekeeper's candy stash, learns how her parents actually met, and crews a pirate ship with an ancestor. Unbeknownst to Dally, however, there are secrets about herself she has yet to uncover. Whimsical worldbuilding, swashbuckling action, and buoyant third-person narration complement Magoon's vibrant character portraits and twisty, nuanced plot. Dally is biracial (Black and white); the supporting cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 8--12. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (May)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--7--Delilah "Dally" Peteharrington is grieving the loss of her beloved grandpa, who provided some respite and fun from her mother's strict schedule to prepare the biracial 11-year-old for the family business. The enigmatic map he left just for his granddaughter sends her on a sojourn into the city, with the destination being a secret library only a chosen few can enter. Jennacake, the librarian, shows her that the secret library is a place of secrets. By selecting books that give her a particular word, feeling, or date in time, Dally enters a fantastical adventure through her family's history. Reminiscent of entering Narnia, the secret portal in this middle grade fantasy takes readers on an engaging journey through time and place, unfolding generations of experiences both delightful and concerning. Dally's introspective nature means she recognizes her privilege and this encourages readers to reflect upon the secrets unveiled. The nonlinear plot takes place across varied periods in time, propelling readers into situations involving friendships, family, slavery, pirating, theft, colorism, LGBTQIA+ profiles, gender discussions, and the pure joy of spending time with someone gone eternally. Humor breaks up the heavier topics, and the character duo of Dally and fellow traveler Jack is particularly endearing. A twist near the end will solicit assorted reactions and makes for a fantastic writing prompt for tweens. VERDICT Magical and reflective; a first purchase for stronger readers.--Lisa Krok

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

Eleven-and-a-half-year-old Delilah "Dally" Peteharrington's mother wants to prepare her to take over the family business. Every afternoon, she meets with tutors to learn "important business-ish things," but what she really wants is to go on adventures like the ones her grandfather took her on before he died. When her mother refuses to let her sign up for Adventure Club at school, Dally decides to take matters into her own hands. She sneaks into her grandfather's study to find the envelope he left for her -- which she is not supposed to open until she turns twenty-one. Inside is a map that leads Dally to a secret library; from there, she can go back in time. With each visit to the past, Dally learns more about the Peteharringtons and how they got their wealth. Magoon adeptly and naturally weaves issues of race, class, and gender into a creative fantasy adventure. Readers will enjoy time-traveling with Dally and learning her family secrets, and many will especially enjoy Dally's time as a pirate. A family tree shown near the end of the book helps make connections among the many characters. Nicholl Denice MontgomeryJuly/August 2024 p.132 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A restless, adventure-seeking tween finds herself in a special library. Eleven-year-old Delilah "Dally" Peteharrington is struggling with the death of her grandfather and the loss of the love, acceptance, and excitement he brought to her life. Her mother grieves by becoming more rigid, insisting on lessons to prepare Dally to take over the family business. After her mother refuses to allow her to join an after-school club, Dally steals an envelope Grandpa left her, which her mom has insisted on locking away until she's come of age. Inside, she finds a mysterious map that leads her to a library full of books that are portals to the past. From them, Dally learns things her mother refuses to talk about and has adventures she never could have imagined, including going on a pirate ship. Dally is biracial; her mom is white, but Dally knows little about her deceased Black father, and the more she learns about both sides of her family, the more intrigued she becomes. It becomes clear that her destiny is greater than simply assuming the place her mother is preparing her for. Multiple award-winner Magoon has crafted an engrossing story that skillfully combines a coming-of-age story with fantasy and historical fiction. Dally is an irresistible protagonist, full of curiosity and longing for the joy she experienced with her grandfather. The lively, well-written narrative contains many surprises, pulling readers into Dally's life and the incredible choices she must make. A deeply satisfying, page-turning, genre-defying read. (Time-travel fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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1 Dally paused with her hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath. In all her eleven and a half years, nothing had ever felt so important. Clutching the large folder that could make or break her fate, she turned the knob and pushed her way through the door, into the outer office. A bright blue-and-gold block-printed rug led like a runway toward the receptionist's desk, but a few steps in, Dally forced her gaze up from the carpet. She pulled her shoulders back, held her head high. Confident. Assertive. Determined to get what she wanted. "Hi," she said to the curly-haired woman behind the L-shaped desk. "I have a three-thirty appointment." "Hello, Miss Peteharrington," the receptionist said. "You can go right in, of course." Dally glanced at the digital clock on the desk. It read 3:28. "I'm a bit early," she said, hugging her folder. "Should I wait?" The receptionist smiled gently, a mix of kindness and sadness in her expression. "I suppose so. Let me just ring her." She picked up the desk phone and pressed a single button. "Your three-thirty is here." Dally nodded. She rather liked the formal sound of that. "Will do," the receptionist said into the phone. To Dally, she said, "She's ready for you. Go ahead." "Thank you," Dally said. She opened her folder and glanced inside one last time. "Good luck," whispered the receptionist. Dally hoped she wouldn't need luck. She had prepared a very convincing presentation, if she did say so herself. But out loud, she said a polite "Thank you." Dally followed another blue-and-gold carpet toward the main office door, head high, folder in hand. The folder contained a tablet with her slideshow already cued up, plus a full backup printout of her presentation, complete with seventeen graphs, two pie charts, three research articles, and a flip chart of bulleted notes printed in her neatest handwriting. If all that didn't convince her mother, nothing would. Dally was prepared. She had made the appointment on Friday for this Monday afternoon. She didn't always have to make an appointment to see her mother, of course, but during business hours it was generally a good idea. Dally badly needed a yes today, and interrupting her mother's work without warning was sure to put her in a bad mood. For the last three school days, Dally had spent her free time--the unscheduled hour after school ended and before her business lessons began--doing research and organizing her thoughts. Then, over the weekend, she'd practiced her presentation several times in front of the mirror. Her mother needed a good reason to do anything different, so Dally had a whole folder full of reasons. "Hello, Delilah," said Dally's mother. She rounded the desk and held out her hand to her daughter. "It's nice to see you." "It's nice to see you, too," Dally responded. She gripped her mother's hand and shook firmly, the way she had been taught. "Please," her mother said, gesturing toward the chairs on the visitor side of the desk. It was a boss's way of saying, Have a seat, but remember who's in charge here. The chairs were wingbacks and quite large. Dally perched on the very edge of one so that her feet still touched the floor. She usually enjoyed climbing into them and watching her feet stick straight out, but it wouldn't do to be kicking and flailing while she was trying to seem responsible and businesslike. Dally's mother was always perfectly businesslike. Her wavy brown hair was tucked into a neat chignon at the base of her neck, resting on a crisply ironed blouse collar. The delicate features on her smooth, pale face appeared calm. Dally had not inherited the always-put-together gene. Her school uniform top was hopelessly wrinkled. She had restrained her generous black curls somewhat before this meeting, but her full, brown cheeks felt blotchy with heat that certainly was visible. Appearance was only one of the many, many ways that she and her mother were different. Her mother settled back into her own chair behind the desk. "Interesting that you've made an appointment. I assume you have some business to discuss with me?" Dally sat quietly for a moment. She had rehearsed this part many times. She knew exactly where to begin, and yet it was all different now that she was in the stately office, with the huge brown desk and the glare of afternoon light through the windows and the pressure of her mother's gaze on her performance. "This is your meeting," her mother prompted. "What's on your mind?" Dally swallowed hard. "Yes, I have a presentation," she said, placing her tablet on the desk facing her mother and starting the slideshow. Lead with the information, land on the ask, she reminded herself. She opened her folder and pulled out page one. "Did you know that ninety percent of students who get accepted to Ivy League colleges have a significant track record of participating in extracurricular activities?" She laid the research study on the desk and clicked to her next slide. "And did you know that the life skills kids can learn from outdoor programs, like scouting and camping, enhance socialization, increase creativity, and actually improve their brains?" She laid the second research study on the desk. "And did you know"--this was the tough one--"that children who are grieving benefit from finding a way to honor the memory of their loved one?" Dally's mother glanced toward the framed photo beside her monitor: one quick, there-and-back tug of the eyeballs. If you blinked, you'd miss it. But Dally didn't blink, so her gaze followed automatically. Dally did a double take. The photo was turned away from her mother. So instead of glancing at the back of the frame, as she had the last time she'd been in her mother's office, Dally found herself looking directly at the best photo ever taken of her and Grandpa. They were sitting at the kitchen table, contemplating a chocolate cake. Forks in hand, he was smiling down at her and she was smiling up at him. Dally had this photo herself, in her room. She liked to look at it every day. Why did her mother have it turned away? "Um . . ." Dally laid the third research study, the one about children and grief, on the desk. Then she started in on the ask. "There is a new after-school program beginning at my school this week," she said. "It's called Adventure Club, and I'd like your permission to join. Here is why it is a good idea." Dally clicked through her carefully prepared slideshow of charts and facts, with the photo of Grandpa smiling over her. She hoped that he would bring good luck to her presentation. (Suddenly she feared she needed a splash of luck after all.) For her whole life, Grandpa had been Dally's favorite person in the entire world. He had always been there, with his soft belly laugh and crinkly-eyed smile and big strong arms that were excellent for things like hugging and swing-pushing and tree-climbing assistance. He had lived in the estate with her and her mother and their live-in cook and housekeeper. The whole estate used to belong to him, but it had been handed down to Dally's mother when she took over the corporation after Grandpa retired. The Peteharrington family was, in fact, quite wealthy, and Dally's mother's main concern was keeping them that way. Excerpted from The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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