New from the author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and coauthor of the I Funny series with James Patterson! Celebrate the power of imagination with this action-packed New York Times bestseller that shows that sometimes the real story starts after you close the book!
What if your favorite characters came to life? Billy’s spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris. But something strange is going on. Besides the security cameras everywhere, there’s Dr. Libris’s private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens the books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of the lake. The clash of swords. The twang of arrows. Sometimes he can even feel the ground shaking. It’s almost as if the stories he’s reading are coming to life! But that’s impossible . . . isn’t it?
“A wonderful tale. . . . This book is like no other I’ve read. It’s a complete original.” —James Patterson
"Kids will enjoy the cartoonish mayhem, especially given Grabenstein's breezy narrative voice and jaunty wit....as in 'Lemoncello', there is a winning generosity and sweetness to the story's telling."--The New York Times
"Chris Grabenstein gleefully plunders great works of literature for his cast of secondary characters . . . a madcap mash-up that 8-to-12 year olds will want to devour in big gulps."—The Wall Street Journal
"Effortlessly readable and a whole lot of fun." — Booklist Reviews
Download and start listening now!
“Listeners can appreciate the fun that narrator Kirby Heyborne has giving voice to the myriad characters who inhabit Dr. Libris’ unusual island…Heyborne toggles between the flat effect of scientific reporting and the nuances of adventure tales. His narration underscores the personalities of the characters—boyish Billy, booming Hercules, confident Tom Sawyer, boisterous Robin Hood, and a Pollyanna who is ‘glad’ even in the face of a ‘sharkodile.’"
— AudioFile
“A wonderful tale…This book is like no other I’ve read. It’s a complete original.”
— James PattersonA wonderful tale… This book is like no other I've read. It's a complete original.
— James PattersonIn this entertaining literary romp, the author includes references to over 20 classic tales, from Aesop's Fables to Holes. For curious readers, he's listed the titles at the end, but familiarity with these stories is not required to appreciate this fast-paced fantasy. Readers will wish their summers were so eventful.
— Kirkus ReviewsReaders will appreciate Billy’s cleverness in solving his ever-growing problems, as these literary characters make plenty of trouble outside the confines of their intended stories. Effortlessly readable and a whole lot of fun.
— Booklist Reviews“Kids will enjoy the cartoonish mayhem, especially given Grabenstein’s breezy narrative voice and jaunty wit…There is a winning generosity and sweetness to the story’s telling.”
— New York Times Book Review“A science-based variation on the theme of fictional characters being brought to life…The story moves at a quick pace and has a good-natured tone that makes for a light but satisfying read.”
— Publishers Weekly“Readers will appreciate Billy’s cleverness in solving his ever-growing problems, as these literary characters make plenty of trouble outside the confines of their intended stories. Effortlessly readable and a whole lot of fun.”
— Booklist“Billy enlists the help of a boy next door, named Walter, as he tries to get to the bottom of these strange occurrences. There is even a hidden treasure element to the mystery. This often-humorous adventure will appeal to students, as Billy seeks to solve the mystery of Dr. Libris, all while dealing with the normal issues facing boys in middle school.”
— Children’s Literature“In this entertaining literary romp, the author includes references to over twenty classic tales, from Aesop’s Fables to Holes. For curious readers, he’s listed the titles at the end, but familiarity with these stories is not required to appreciate this fast-paced fantasy. Readers will wish their summers were so eventful.”
— Kirkus ReviewsBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Chris Grabenstein is a New York Times bestselling author who has collaborated with James Patterson on numerous books, including the I Funny series and Daniel X: Armageddon. He lives in New York City.
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.