Cover by Driftwood Designs
Published by Firefly Press
The Library of Lost Stories is an absolutely stunning, and incredibly moving, story of family, friendship and community celebrating the power of stories to bring hope and healing.
Christmas 1976: Eleven-year-old Noni lives with her Dad in the Welsh village of Aberglas. They are struggling both financially and emotionally following the death of her mum five years before. Her Dad’s depression means that he can no longer work, and care for her dad and their home falls on Noni’s young shoulders. After an early morning visit from the bailiffs, they face the threat of eviction, but Noni is determined to come up with a plan to save their home. But how can she help her grieving father begin to heal, and find the spark that he has lost?
When Noni makes a discovery about the importance of the mobile library to her dad, she hopes that bringing it back might just be what he needs to bring the sparkle back to his eyes. There’s just two problems: the library van needs to be repaired, and it’s in the garden of Mrs Williams, who many believe is a witch.
Together with new friends Becca, Clare and Gareth – and the most wonderful canine companion, Jones – Noni begins her dual mission to bring the mobile library back to the community and to help her father feel well enough to work again. Can this team work together to overcome the many obstacles they face and bring a father back to his daughter? Can they bring a community together again through shared stories? And, can Noni learn to trust her new friends with the truth of her story?
Oh my heart! This is the most beautiful, atmospheric story, both heart-warming and poignant, that completely and utterly held me enthralled throughout. This is a story of the bonds of friendship, the unity of community, and the power of stories to heal and bring people together. It does have some difficult themes, such as dealing with grief, the threat of eviction and financial hardships, which are handled incredibly sensitively, and which will speak to children who are facing such struggles themselves as well as enabling others to develop empathy.
It also shares the story of the heart-breaking Aberfan disaster and its lasting effects on a family and community. It is so important that memories are not lost, including painful memories, and stories play a pivotal role in keeping them alive and enabling healing, something that resonates throughout this wonderful story.
I loved the focus on stories, both written and oral, and the importance given to people telling their own stories. Growing up in rural Ireland, I have a very clear recollection of visiting the mobile library van to choose six books to keep me going until the next visit. Whilst I can’t remember details, I do recall the feelings: excitement and joy. I loved that the mobile library in this story helps bring a community together, and helps them to share memories, including painful ones.
My heart ached for Noni, a young carer, hiding the struggles that she and her dad are facing for fear of losing him. Despite her feelings of loneliness and shame, she shows incredible courage in learning to trust and accept help, and in finding a way to bring her community together through stories. I absolutely loved the bond she develops with her new friends which felt incredibly genuine and warm.
Heart-warming and poignant, this is an unforgettable story of loss and hope, of family and community, and of the magic of stories. Perfect for readers of 9+.
Thank you to Firefly Press for sending me a copy of this book. It was my decision to read and review it, and my review is my honest opinion.
Book Craic 