The Forbidden Library: 01/14/16

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler is the start of a new tween urban fantasy series. Alice is sent to live with her uncle after her father is lost in a ship wreck. The uncle maintains a mysterious library and she is given numerous warnings about its danger.

Seriously, though, that sort of warning, especially in a story, means that of course, the forbidden areas must be explored. Add in a talking cat who speaks of evils being done and things that need fixing, and Alice just can't resist!

Imagine if the act of reading would literally transport one into the world of the book. Imagine if some books could be used as prisons for the worst of criminals. Now add in the usual shelving and cataloging chaos that creeps into libraries over time. The Uncle's library is especially old and especially disorganized, thus giving a means for a jailbreak.

This is a very visual book. It's aching for an animated adaptation. Some reviewers have suggested a Studio Ghibli film but I frankly think it would do well as a one cour anime series, with perhaps future books being their own separate cours.

Four stars

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