“But that there was such a building, and that it was a library, a temple of learning and dreams, was something Gwen wouldn’t have dared imagine, let alone hope for”.
We loved this book.
Summary - The Library of Unruly Treasures follows 11-year-old Gwen, who, after being sent to stay with her Great Uncle Matthew, discovers tiny winged creatures called Lahdukan in the library that shares her last name. Gwen, a seemingly unremarkable girl, must embrace her destiny as a Qalba (caretaker) to help the Lahdukan find a new home when their library is slated for renovation. With the support of her uncle, a lively dog named Pumpkin, and a local child, Gwen overcomes her feelings of being unwanted to embark on a courageous journey that reveals her true worth.
I had the pleasure hearing Jeanne Birdsall (author of The Penderwicks) speak about her new novel before it was published and she was an absolute delight, she was hilarious and sweet and boy was her research thorough for this novel.
I highly recommend this for middle grade readers up to adults!
Thank you @prh for the listening copy - my kids and I absolutely loved switching between the two formats!
Have you read The Penderwicks? Did you know Birdsall had this new one out?
Find The Library of Unruly Treasures at the publisher →
Toni Rocchetti is a copy editor helping authors strengthen their narratives, deepen character arcs, and find the story that is already in the draft. She reads 80+ books a year across literary fiction, memoir, and nonfiction — and writes about what she is learning along the way. Work with Toni →
