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Quick answer: If you loved Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, try Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics, The Westing Game, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Chasing Vermeer, The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones and Greenglass House. Each one is a fun puzzle adventure where clever kids solve riddles, clues or games to win.
Chris Grabenstein's novel follows twelve-year-old Kyle Keeley, who wins a spot at a lock-in at the new public library designed by famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello. The next morning, the kids learn the real game: find a way out using only what is in the library. Kids love its puzzles, book references and humor. These books share the same mix of riddles, teamwork and adventure.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics | Chris Grabenstein | 8-12 | kids who want more Lemoncello |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 10-14 | kids who love mysteries |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | kids who like tests and puzzles |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | 9-12 | kids who like art mysteries |
| The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones | Rick Riordan | 8-12 | kids who like treasure hunts |
| Greenglass House | Kate Milford | 10-13 | kids who like cozy mysteries |
| From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | E. L. Konigsburg | 8-12 | kids who like museums |
| The Puzzling World of Winston Breen | Eric Berlin | 9-12 | kids who love puzzles |
| Book Scavenger | Jennifer Chambliss Bertman | 9-12 | kids who like book games |
| The Parker Inheritance | Varian Johnson | 9-13 | kids who like puzzles and history |
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | kids who like eccentric inventors |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | 8-12 | kids who like wordplay |
| Wonderstruck | Brian Selznick | 9-12 | kids who like museums |
| The Inquisitor's Tale | Adam Gidwitz | 10-13 | kids who like medieval quests |
| Holes | Louis Sachar | 10-13 | kids who like clever plots |
1. Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein
Kids from around the country compete in a library-themed contest.
Best for: kids who want more Lemoncello.
2. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs compete to solve a millionaire's puzzle.
Best for: kids who love mysteries.
3. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Gifted kids pass a series of tests and go undercover.
Best for: kids who like tests and puzzles.
4. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Two kids investigate a stolen painting.
Best for: kids who like art mysteries.
5. The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
Siblings race around the world for clues.
Best for: kids who like treasure hunts.
6. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
A boy at his family's inn solves a mystery among strange guests.
Best for: kids who like cozy mysteries.
7. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
Siblings run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Best for: kids who like museums.
8. The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin
A puzzle-loving boy finds a mysterious box.
Best for: kids who love puzzles.
9. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
A girl joins a game of hiding and finding books.
Best for: kids who like book games.
10. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
A girl finds a letter about an unsolved puzzle in her grandmother's attic.
Best for: kids who like puzzles and history.
11. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Five kids win a tour of Willy Wonka's factory.
Best for: kids who like eccentric inventors.
12. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A boy drives into a land of words and numbers.
Best for: kids who like wordplay.
13. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Two children in different times search for answers.
Best for: kids who like museums.
14. The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz
Three children with special powers flee across medieval France.
Best for: kids who like medieval quests.
15. Holes by Louis Sachar
A boy at a desert camp uncovers a family secret.
Best for: kids who like clever plots.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
Continue with Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics and the rest of the series. For puzzles, choose The Westing Game, The Puzzling World of Winston Breen or The Parker Inheritance. For book-loving adventures, try Book Scavenger. If your child likes eccentric game makers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the classic match. Kids who like mysteries in museums will enjoy From the Mixed-Up Files and Chasing Vermeer. Reading one of these together and trying to solve the puzzles before the characters do is a fun family challenge.
Related: 15 Books Like The Midnight Library You’ll Love · The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library for?
It is usually recommended for ages 8 to 12.
How many Mr. Lemoncello books are there?
There are several, starting with Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics.
Is it like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
Yes. It shares an eccentric genius and a contest, set in a library instead of a factory.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes. The puzzles and fast pace keep kids engaged.
Can kids solve the puzzles?
Yes. Many clues are solvable, and the book encourages readers to try.
Is there a movie?
A TV movie aired on Nickelodeon in 2017.