As a child, I loved stories about other beings that live among humans, such as The Borrowers by Mary Norton. Another favorite was The Boggart by Susan Cooper, which combines a bit of folklore with magical realism and technology. They offered fertile ground for my imagination to explore the world from different perspectives.
During my tenure as a bookstore buyer, I enjoyed reading forthcoming middle-grade chapter books to select titles for our store—so, missing those rich and sometimes not-so-simple stories, I decided recently to delve into The Library of Unruly Treasures, a new book by Jeanne Birdsall (author of the Penderwick series).
This novel shares elements with both The Borrowers and The Boggart. It begins with a diary entry dated 1866 to set the stage, but quickly shifts to modern times. The main character is 11-year-old Gwen, who is not so much neglected as ignored by her dreadful, divorced parents. She is sent to stay with an unknown great uncle who—unlike in much of children’s literature—is kind and generous.
At the local library, Gwen encounters Lahdukan: 8-inch-tall, winged creatures. Only young children and a few special grown-ups can see and communicate with a Lahduka. Though fearful and insecure, she is tasked with helping the ancient community relocate. An unlikely hero in her own eyes, she finds surprising strength and courage with the support of her recently discovered relatives, an opinionated dog, a creative librarian, new friends, and the Lahdukan themselves.
Skillfully narrated by Sorcha Groundsell, the audiobook of The Library of Unruly Treasures kept me entertained for the nearly seven-hour solo drive home from vacation in Maine!
Liza Bernard is a voracious reader who enjoys both printed volumes and audiobooks. Formerly co-owner of the Norwich Bookstore, she maintains her connections with readers and writers as the Programming and Marketing Librarian at the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vermont.