Description

Minor transgressions, little white lies, deathbed confessions, family secrets. . .thelibrary holds them all. Dally Peteharrington yearns for adventure, but ever since her beloved grandfather died, her days are dull and predictable. That is, until she discovers that he left something behind for her: a map that leads to a library full of mysterious volumes. This is no ordinary library; rather, each book is a portal to a precise moment in time, allowing its reader to travel to the past to experience a real-life secret. But soon Dally learns that the library is much more than a fun place to explore; it has intentions for her that could transform her life forever. --

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An instant New York Times bestseller!

"A deeply satisfying, page-turning, genre-defying read." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Since Grandpa died, Dally's days are dull and restricted. She's eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother's clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally "checks out" adventure after adventure--including an exhilarating outing with pirates--she begins to dive deep into her family's hidden history. Soon she's visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother's meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure--with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past--this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.