Lost and Found: Oliver Jeffers

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Into this chaos, a book surfaces that contains stories, some she made up and told her grandmother and others her grandmother made up with her. The curious thing? The book has a note in it from her grandmother, advising Martha it is for her in the hopes it will be of benefit, but the note is dated three years after Martha’s grandmother was said to have died. This was a charming book that seemed like a middle-age coming-of-age story to me. It was an awakening and Martha has a chance to grow and become what she could be. I enjoyed the story. It's easy to see how many people become caretakers for others and lose themselves in the process. The characters are delightful - I loved Zelda's joie de vivre.

This is the most generic of titles and covers. The library actually had zero to do with Martha's lost and found journey. I expected a lot more interaction within the library and yeah, it wasn't even a big part of the setting. A bookshop got more time. The cover serves its purpose I suppose. It draws the eye of readers who love reading about bookworms, librarians and readers. You know right away what kind of book it will be due to the style... I totally understand why it was chosen. After some research, he discovers penguins are from Antarctica and they set sail on a rowboat. Their long journey is filled with waves, storms and the telling of stories. When they arrive at the South Pole, the boy drops the penguin on the ice and starts his journey home. Martha Storm is a librarian whose sole purpose on earth seems to be to help others. When her parents became ill, she chose to stay with them and care for them instead of moving to New York with her fiancé, the love of her life, even though her sister lived in the same English seaside town as their parents. She allows her workmates to take advantage of her. One makes her do their laundry, one makes her take care of their fish. Her boss discourages her from applying for promotions. Her sister even makes her mend her children's clothes.

Every once in a while I need a palate cleanser between books. I want a charming story where things aren't going well for the main character in the beginning but through a series of entertaining events everything works out nice and neat in the end. Even that ending was trite; I neither believed in Martha's evolution of empowerment and self-discovery. I Just didn't engage with Martha at all, I found her more annoying than anything, and I found that TOO much of the writing was Martha thinking to herself. The plot moved along too slowly, I just couldn't get through this book fast enough to be done with it.

Her third novel is The Library of Lost and Found, and the fourth one is titled The Secrets of Love Story Bridge (The Secrets of Sunshine in the UK). We've chosen some of our favourite seaside-themed children’s books for all ages - which one is your favourite?We meet lovable, helpful, selfless Martha who works in a library and only has her critical sister left so she can’t ask her about the book or Grandmother because Lilian's answer will be completely negative about Martha's findings and her questions just like her father.

A deeply moving, richly illuminating exploration of loss and bliss. Schulz is never anything but the very best company, speaking nuanced truths from and about the deepest reaches of the heart.” — LESLIE JAMISON, AUTHOR OF THE EMPATHY EXAMS In the past I have enjoyed reading books with a library setting, so thought I would try this one. It is fun to read books that mention other books and authors that I am familiar with. I assumed the plot had something to do with the library and books, and though it does in a small way, the storyline was dull and nothing new. Martha Storm worked at the town library and was a helpful and giving woman with very low self esteem. When she finds a fairytale book in very rough shape with a dedication to her, Martha is puzzled. While searching for answers to her questions about the book, Martha uncovers family secrets and also discovers things about herself. The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming story about family and letting go of the past to make the most of the time we have.

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Make a poster to tell people that you have found a penguin, in case anyone has lost it (see Resources below). Her debut novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, was translated into over twenty languages worldwide and has been optioned by a major Hollywood film studio. I wonder about a near-drowning. High tide in a cave is dangerous but as far as I know, water merely inches up on an open beach enough to wet feet. Even the cave had a ledge where Martha’s shoes stayed dry overnight. I enjoyed the story’s goals and do consider the reason that Zelda was driven away from her family plausible.