My first library was the Bradbury Library where the magical world of reading opened to me and I participated in my first summer reading program. I held my Moms hand as we walked in and as so as I saw my section, I begged to let go of her hand as I nearly ran to grab new books that my parents and I would read together. When Maggie noticed a young teenage boy enter the library that she hadn’t seen before, she watched him out of fascinated curiosity. He is older beyond his years and the situation between Tom and his father was so poignant and emotive.

It is also a master journalist’s reminder that, perhaps especially in the digital era, they are more necessary than ever. The Library Book is such a captivating novel with a blend of mystery, history and thorough analysis of the future of libraries. But then in our own time, during WW2, the Holocaust attempted to wipe out an entire people, including the books.This fabulous book is an ode to librarians and the public library, which represents the fabric of our society in so many ways. Not only was this a comprehensive and an extensive investigation into how the fire possibly started, it also focused on the interviews of the prime suspect, Harry Peak, and what type of man he was. The characterisation is excellent, I love watching Tom going from invisibly melding into the background to his growth in confidence and becoming visible.

Since losing her family, Maggie has built a fortress of walls around her and hardly allows anyone to get close to her. I love the developing friendship via books and watching the connection grow as in many ways it’s not just the library that needs saving. We also get a close -up and personal look at how a library functions and the important work librarians do. The Library Book alternates between a true-crime work on the suspicion of arson in the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Central Library; and a broader history of that library and Orlean's personal devotion to libraries in general, especially as the site of fond memories she shared with her mother.The fire and the mystery of who set the fire alone would be a compelling tale by itself but Orlean gives us so much more. Senior citizen problems, loneliness, alcoholism, environmental awareness, bullying, school crushes, exam pressures, parental pressures, parental abuse, healthy eating, yoga for fitness, importance of reading and libraries, … There are so many topics the book tries to raise awareness on that the final product dilutes the importance of most of these except for alcoholism and libraries.

It’s not my usual reading fare, but I do like the occasional heartwarmer in between all the thrillers, and this one hit all the right notes. Orlean goes to great lengths and depth to showcase the importance and role of libraries in our communities.

Tom Harris lives with his widowed alcoholic father, and goes red whenever his gorgeous classmate Farah looks at him. I wonder if there’s a term for comedy-dramas that are about finding friendship, rather than romantic love - chum-com? After falling out with his father over the time he spends in his room on his XBox, Tom discovered that the library could offer him some respite from the hours he spends at home alone.

I graduated to more libraries, a larger world of books, conversations with librarians, and a variety of summer reading programs.

It is easy to become attached to the character of Maggie who is extremely feisty for her age, still staying up all night to help deliver lambs and punching people in the face when her bag is snatched in town. His dad’s cooking could never come close and, while not prepared to openly admit it, Tom is surprised at the rapport he has with this witty old lady.