Title of Book: Here Lies the Librarian; Author: Richard Peck; ISBN: 978-0545046619; Published by Puffin
Summary:
Jake and Peewee (who just happens to be a girl) run a garage in a pipsqueak little town unkindly referred to as “Rubesburg.” The hiring of not one, but four young, rich, gorgeous, sorority library students to reopen the long closed public library turns Jake and Peewee’s world upside down. One of the new librarians, Irene, takes Peewee under her wing. Jake enters a car race only to have his bellowed car stolen before the night of the race. Although Jake is loaned a car, he is knocked in the head during the race in a vicious attack by a garage competitor of his, so Peewee victoriously finishes the race.
My Impressions:
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is: This book is an utter GEM! Don’t be put off by the horrible front cover that does not even HINT at the amazing story that lies within. Now for the bad news; I can’t imagine any young adult ever wanting to read this book. Sorry, but there it is. It’s got fashion (I had to look up hobbled skirt), romance, humor, cars, danger, gen-u-ine crazy people, and about 40 other great things going for it, but I can’t imagine anyone this side of 30 giving this book anything but a parting glance.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Gr. 5-8. Stubborn, fearless, and loyal, 14-year-old Peewee (Eleanor) McGrath, who dresses like a boy, lives with her brother, Jake, in Indiana, "way out in the weeds." Together, they run a struggling garage, where Jake is building a racecar. It's 1914, and the electric self-starter has made automobiles more accessible to women. One day, four female drivers, library students all, arrive in a Stoddard-Dayton in need of repair; later, they return to reopen the town library. With these young women as role models, Peewee comes to realize that being female and being independent aren't mutually exclusive. Peck's one-liners, colorful physical comedy, and country dialect, prominent in most of his recent novels, are great as usual. And his characters, if not fully developed, are wonderfully quirky. Yet even with some exciting scenes of old-time dirt-track racing, the pace lags, and the story is choppy. Young fans of Danica Patrick, today's "Queen of the Road," may want to read this, but it will probably be librarians who'll have the most fun. Peck recounts an incident in an endnote in which one of the characters appears at the Indianapolis 500 with Janet Guthrie; unfortunately, there's not enough explanation to know whether or not it's all true. Stephanie Zvirin Booklist Copyright © American Library Association.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
This story is better suited to a middle or high school audience. In the story, the former librarian’s headstone is engraved with the following; “SHH Here Lies The Librarian After Years of Service, Tried and True, Heaven Stamped Her-OVERDUE. Draw on your audience’s creativity by having a headstone writing contest. What are some possible humorous sayings for the headstone of a vet, doctor, grocer, dry cleaner, auto repair person, etc…
Summary:
Jake and Peewee (who just happens to be a girl) run a garage in a pipsqueak little town unkindly referred to as “Rubesburg.” The hiring of not one, but four young, rich, gorgeous, sorority library students to reopen the long closed public library turns Jake and Peewee’s world upside down. One of the new librarians, Irene, takes Peewee under her wing. Jake enters a car race only to have his bellowed car stolen before the night of the race. Although Jake is loaned a car, he is knocked in the head during the race in a vicious attack by a garage competitor of his, so Peewee victoriously finishes the race.
My Impressions:
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is: This book is an utter GEM! Don’t be put off by the horrible front cover that does not even HINT at the amazing story that lies within. Now for the bad news; I can’t imagine any young adult ever wanting to read this book. Sorry, but there it is. It’s got fashion (I had to look up hobbled skirt), romance, humor, cars, danger, gen-u-ine crazy people, and about 40 other great things going for it, but I can’t imagine anyone this side of 30 giving this book anything but a parting glance.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Gr. 5-8. Stubborn, fearless, and loyal, 14-year-old Peewee (Eleanor) McGrath, who dresses like a boy, lives with her brother, Jake, in Indiana, "way out in the weeds." Together, they run a struggling garage, where Jake is building a racecar. It's 1914, and the electric self-starter has made automobiles more accessible to women. One day, four female drivers, library students all, arrive in a Stoddard-Dayton in need of repair; later, they return to reopen the town library. With these young women as role models, Peewee comes to realize that being female and being independent aren't mutually exclusive. Peck's one-liners, colorful physical comedy, and country dialect, prominent in most of his recent novels, are great as usual. And his characters, if not fully developed, are wonderfully quirky. Yet even with some exciting scenes of old-time dirt-track racing, the pace lags, and the story is choppy. Young fans of Danica Patrick, today's "Queen of the Road," may want to read this, but it will probably be librarians who'll have the most fun. Peck recounts an incident in an endnote in which one of the characters appears at the Indianapolis 500 with Janet Guthrie; unfortunately, there's not enough explanation to know whether or not it's all true. Stephanie Zvirin Booklist Copyright © American Library Association.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
This story is better suited to a middle or high school audience. In the story, the former librarian’s headstone is engraved with the following; “SHH Here Lies The Librarian After Years of Service, Tried and True, Heaven Stamped Her-OVERDUE. Draw on your audience’s creativity by having a headstone writing contest. What are some possible humorous sayings for the headstone of a vet, doctor, grocer, dry cleaner, auto repair person, etc…
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