Customer Reviews

Here Lies the Librarian

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Do you ever get the impression that an author is trying just a little too hard to get the attention of their librarian readers? I don't think this happens much in the world of adult literature, but when it comes to kiddie lit, writers sometimes verge on the shameless. Now I was willing to look past Kimberly Willis Holt's paean to the glory of librarians everywhere in "Part of Me", and the non-fiction true tale of librarian heroism, "Dear Miss Breed" by Joanne Oppenheim could certainly slip by on my watch. But recently I've been doubling back and rereading some of the children's books that came out in early 2006. Of those books, one that I missed early on in the game was Richard Peck's, "Here Lies the Librarian", courtesy of Dial Books. Mr. Peck has written a wham-bam, rock `em, sock `em tale of hard core drag racing librarianship. Though still better (as anyone who reads his books regularly will tell you) than 92% of the schlock printed yearly, Peck's latest venture carries with it the faintest odor of familiarity. Basically, if you perused and enjoyed his previous book, "The Teacher's Funeral", then there's probably little reason to go on to this title as well unless you like to regularly douse yourself in Peck's pleasant wordplay.

For quite a while now it's just been Peewee and Jake, Jake and Peewee. The two siblings have been inseparable since the death of their parents and together they've managed to cobble a living for themselves out of a small automobile body shop. The year is 1914 and in a small town in Indiana Peewee and Jake are anxious for the new paved road to pass their miniscule business venture. While they wait, Jake has been working like a madman to create his very own automobile so as to enter it in one of the county's drag races. Then four librarians sweep into town and everything goes goofy. You see, these aren't just any old librarians. Led by the irresistible Irene Ridpath, these woman are about to shake this sleepy little village upside down, managing along the way to help Jake with his dream, aid Peewee (real name Eleanor) to live the life she deserves, and defeat the maniacal dealings of the no good rotten Kirby Brothers. Hilarity ensues.

Actually, I'll level with you here. A lot of librarians were warning me off this book, as if its less-than-perfect status relegated it to the lowest basement of the dankest library. As it happens, I enjoyed it quite a lot. How could I not? You've got corpses dangling from trees, independently wealthy librarians, a mention of the Pierce Arrow (a car I've loved since I read "Cheaper By the Dozen" lo these many years ago), chills, thrills, spills, and a gal winning a drag race backwards. And Peck's writing is just great. Who else comes up with descriptions like, "My flesh felt like the moss in a bait can"?. Or of one of the less than fully intelligent villains, "his knuckles dragged the ground thoughtfully"? Or the oblique reference to vulgarity with Peewee saying of a nasty group of people, "More horses laughing. Or parts of horses"? Wink wink.

Peck is comfortable with his time periods, whatsoever those time periods may be. That's part of the difficulty that comes with reading his books. Loathe to include a glossary of terms in the back (which, to be fair, I don't think a single child reader has ever consulted a day of their life) he kind of expects you to know what "step-ins", a "clabber", or a "truss" might be, amongst other archaic words and phrases.

Yeah. So pandering to your library base may not be a crime of any sort ("I wondered if there wasn't a Library Science course in Scheming") but it always makes me just a touch suspicious. I think "Here Lies the Librarian" is quite a lot of fun, but I'm not entirely certain how many kids would actively seek it out. I guess that just remains to be seen. In any case, it's definitely a fun read. Not Peck's strongest work, certainly, but a great book to get you through the day. And if you just happen to have an MLIS degree of your own then it feels just that much more familiar.

Richard Peck has again done his usual fine job of depicting what life was like for children in another era. The story takes a variety of twists and turns that keep even adult readers amused and entertained. As a librarian who is interested in how librarians have been, and are, portrayed in children's literature, I found this a worthy addition to the genre. At the time in the early 20th century that Here Lies the Librarian is set, librarianship had become a female profession but was showing signs of undergoing dramatic changes. Peck's former librarian Electra Deitz, who has died shortly before the story opens, was definitely of the old-fashion strict and forbidding kind. His new young female library school graduates are definitely of a different persuasion not only in terms of making the public library accessible and welcoming to users of all ages but also in their every day life. Kids and librarians should enjoy Peck's latest addition to his string of books that are fun to read.

As a lover of historical fiction I automatically picked this book up, but the book does not contain much information on the time period, it mostly provides information on cars! (Perhaps Richard Peck should be a mechanic?) "Here Lies The Librarian" is an exceptional book. The author gives great descriptions and writes outstanding dialouge, yet it seems like your not quite there. It's like reading the newspaper and you hear about a robbery or a car crash. You don't care too much and you don't get too many details. There are some authors that can write about one second for several pages, yet this author treats the climax like any other part of the book. I will give it some praise in saying the begginning is fun and entertaining and the characterization is okay; although it would be nicer if the author gave better descriptions of the character's feelings, and a bit less on looks. I hate giving bad reviews, so I will say for anyone who is interested in cars; especially the first models, this is an informative story. Overrall it just seems like the author wasn't trying hard enough. I will still reccomend this novel for car lovers, and people who enjoy reading the newspaper or watching the news.

It's 1914 in Hendricks County, Indiana, and Jake and PeeWee McGrath run a garage for those newfangled automobiles. PeeWee, aka Eleanor, doesn't plan to go to high school. She will stay with her older brother and help run the garage, only her brother is a better mechanic. Then four sorority sisters from Butler University in Indianapolis arrive and plan to reopen the town library. Excitement abounds with a rival garage attempting to destroy the McGrath's business and an automobile race that makes NASCAR look like a Sunday drive. If you enjoyed Peck's The Teacher's Funeral, you will love this one. The relationship between Jake and Eleanor is strong and loving. This is a nostalgic and humorous look at the early 20th century.

Tongue in cheek wit and picture perfect images of early twentieth century America serve as a trademark to the talented Richard Peck. If Mark Twain were less wordy and told an interesting story with a faster pace, he might tell a story as well as Richard Peck.

PeeWee, better known as Eleanor, is a tomboy by the standards of the early 20th century. She likes fixing cars, wearing overalls, and dislikes wearing dresses or womanly leisures. So when the four sorority girls from Butler University arrive in town to resurrect the library, they also aim to change Eleanor. Yet even as they make her less of a tomboy, not everything about Eleanor has to change. Eleanor believes her brother Jake has eyes for Irene, the girl Eleanor speaks with most frequently. But just when Eleanor thinks she understands men, a twist comes.

Few writers have such a talent for painting a character's image. This is a real strong point for Peck. Peck makes readers feel a part of a simpler time in American history, and make it laugh-out-loud funny at times. This was not Peck's best story, but I still enjoyed it.

I love Richard Peck. If I ever have the honor of meeting him, he's gonna get a big ol' hug from me. With this book, he adds another fabulous story to his bookshelf. Great storyline, totally believable characters. It's pretty hard to find a book that combines the early history of car racing and libraries, but Mr. Peck did it in a thoroughly enjoyable way. Thank you for another great read!

Please do yourself a favor and read the book rather than listen to this audio version. The narrator, who speaks with a modern West-coast accent, is the absolute wrong choice for this funny, charming story set in the early 1900's. Peck's humor is nearly lost in this monotone reading.

Set in pre-WWI rural Indiana, this is the tale of a small town's pair of parentless youngsters, older brother Jake, in his older teens, taking care of his younger sibling, Peewee. Jake has an automobile service business in a ramshackle shack not from the home he shares with Peewee. Peewee helps in the garage, too, and while their lack of parents is alluded to in a few wistful remembrances of the past, it is not explained in any detail. From a neighboring house, the owners of the former livery stable now car service business, a rather peculiar couple, seem to keep some sort of benevolent but distant eye on Jake and Peewee. A real hurricane hits as the story opens, and the town has a couple of others of its own non-weather making. One is the controversial decision to hire a librarian for their departed former one. The other is to hold the area's first automobile race. Of course, Jake wants to enter with his homemade vehicle. Jake and Peewee have much to deal with, including Peewee's imminent promotion to high school, the rather interesting librarian applicants, and business competitors who service cars in underhanded ways. Peck's wonderful way of drawing characters whose words and actions describe them intimately, his knack for the dialogue and details of a time ninety years ago, and the humor that he brings into the story that fits so well are the ingredients for fun and pleasant stories and reading. I have now read some five of his works, with this one taking place in a time before his Newbery honor and award books A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder. The two award winners were among the very best in YA literature. Librarian is very good and very enjoyable and I have already directed it toward several young readers. This is one more reason to rank Peck and his books highly on your list of YA authors and titles. Read and enjoy.

Just finished reading this book aloud with my two daughters, ages 10 and 12. Richard Peck can always be counted on to tell a story filled with a sense of history, great characters, and a dry sense of humor. This book doesn't disappoint. We looked forward to our nightly adventure with the Jake and Eleanor (aka Peewee). While some children may be a little confused with some of the vocabulary, it's a great way to learn some history while having a lot of fun. I recommend reading this book aloud to truly enjoy it's full flavor!!

Peewee is fourteen, lives in Indiana, and is being raised by her brother. It is 1914, a time when there were expectations of females, and not one of them revolved around fixing cars. None the less, that is what Peewee does, what she and her brother do to make a living.

A fateful afternoon, all of that changes with the arrival of four women who decided that they want to run the public library. All four are earning their degrees, and they recognize that this town needs them just as much as they need the town.

Changes abound throughout, and ultimately a sweet coming of age tale is spun. Can a functioning library not only change a person but an entire town?

The pacing of this novel's plot is right on track, and he effectively develops all the characters in this novel. While Peewee is the main character in the novel, the supporting characters add just as much charm.