The Secret Library

The Secret Library introduces Dally, an eleven-and-a-half-year-old biracial girl whose life feels stifled by her mother's expectations after her grandfather's death. She stumbles upon a magical library where each book transports her to a specific moment in time. Through these thrilling portal adventures, including encounters with pirates, Dally delves into her family's hidden past, seeking to understand her legacy and forge her own identity. This genre-defying chapter book blends mystery, adventure, and fantasy, offering a rich narrative about self-discovery, family secrets, and the power of choice. It's ideal for middle-grade readers exploring themes of independence and belonging.

"A deeply satisfying, page-turning, genre-defying read." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Since Grandpa died, Dally's days are dull and restricted. She's eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother's clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally "checks out" adventure after adventure--including an exhilarating outing with pirates--she begins to dive deep into her family's hidden history. Soon she's visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother's meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure--with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past--this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.