Christopher Lincoln

Christopher Lincoln’s The Night Librarian offers a magical and inventive take on libraries, books, and the characters who live within their pages. The concept alone is captivating: what happens to book characters when they’ve been stuck in their stories for decades or even centuries? According to Lincoln, they get bored and restless, and at night, they attempt to break free into our world—even if it’s just for a bathroom break (an amusing nod to authors often overlooking such mundane show more needs).
The night librarian’s role is to ensure these characters behave themselves and return to their books without causing too much chaos. When twins Page and Turner stumble upon the magical happenings in the library’s basement, they’re swept into an unforgettable adventure. Neglected by their parents, the twins find solace and connection in the world of books, which makes their journey both poignant and relatable.
The plot is delightful, tapping into the universal dream of meeting our favorite book characters or stepping into the worlds we’ve always imagined. Turner’s insecurities serve as a central theme, with his journey of self-worth and belief in himself providing a strong emotional core. Page, on the other hand, comes across as a bit irritating at times, particularly in her bickering with Alice, another character. While this dynamic adds some tension, it might test readers’ patience.
The gender norm switch is a refreshing touch, offering a modern twist that feels both intentional and natural. However, the night librarian’s portrayal leans into an outdated stereotype of librarians as stern, unlikable figures, which feels out of step with the otherwise innovative narrative. This depiction could have benefited from more nuance.
One of the story’s highlights is its unexpected plot twist, a rare treat that keeps readers guessing until the very end. It’s always satisfying when a story manages to genuinely surprise its audience.
The graphic novel’s monochromatic color scheme for different sections is intriguing but somewhat puzzling. While it sets a distinctive tone, the intention behind this artistic choice isn’t immediately clear.
Overall, The Night Librarian is a creative and engaging read that will appeal to book lovers, particularly those who have ever dreamed of interacting with their favorite fictional characters. Despite a few minor drawbacks, the imaginative premise and emotional depth make it a memorable journey into the magic of stories. show less

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Lincoln's characters are engaging and his writing style is playful and intelligent -- a great combination for both children and adults. The author has a Dickensian knack for naming people and places in ways that are funny and revealing. The world in which the story takes place is fleshed out (if you will pardon the pun) enough to make one feel at home; but there is enough mystery left to allow readers to fill in some of background on their own. And to show more look forward to the sequel. show less

Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com

Billy Bones is a skeleton living in the skeleton's closet of High Manners Manor, home of the obsessively greedy Sir Barkley Braggety Biglum VI. Billy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bones, file and maintain all household secrets. Allowing a secret to escape can be explosive! Billy can't wait till he's trusted to begin training to become a secret's keeper himself. What he doesn't know is that some of those closely guarded secrets are his own.

After the show more death of her parents, Sir Biglum's niece, Millicent, must move to High Manners Manor, and is forced to live upstairs in the attic. But she is not totally alone. She is visited often by her parents, ghosts from the Afterlife. She is also closely watched by the housekeeper, Miss Hester Primly, who is not a ghost or a skeleton, but is infinitely more frightening.

Millicent, a natural explorer, finds that there are secret passages in the mansion and, as a result, learns she's not the only person living upstairs. Both Millicent and her newfound friend have the uncommon ability to see ghosts. It's not long before Millicent stumbles upon the secrets closet and meets the Bones family.

The secrets in the closet are piling up. The Bones have signed for an unauthorized shipment for Millicent, that has nothing to do with secrets, and which clearly violates rules of the Afterlife. Commissioner Pickerel, from the Investigative Branch of the Righteousness Department, pays them a visit and forces them through a glowing portal to the afterlife.

Without Mr. and Mrs. Bones to keep the mounting secrets organized, filed, and locked away, generations of Biglum secrets begin exploding at an alarming rate. Just as lies pile upon lies, one secret revealed, reveals another, and another. It's up to Billy and Millicent to discover the real truth of High Manners Manor.

BILLY BONES is a delightful, playful book. Christopher Lincoln's creativity is astounding and his knack for description is enviable. I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who's ever wished they could meet a pirate, scare a ghost, or...shhh...tell a secret. show less

Take a trip to the Dark Side with Billy Bones in his second supernatural adventure. This time around 10 year old Billy Bones Biglum and his niece Millicent Hues have their hearts set on a sea voyage aboard the Spurious II. However, they get sidetracked when Uncle Grim's head and Millicent's soul are captured by the evil Shadewick Gloom. To make matters worse, the world of the living has been suspended in time.

To save his friends, Billy transforms back into a skeleton boy and must somehow show more find a way into Nevermore, a nightmare place more feared than the Dark Side itself. Along the way, Billy meets up with his great-many-greats grandfather, the crafty and ghostly pirate called Glass-Eyed Pete. Together they hatch a fantastical plan to enter Nevermore and with a little luck rescue the captives. Meanwhile, when a Field Agent Down (F.A.D.) emergency is declared, Billy's skeleton parents, Lars and Decette Bones, rally all the skeletons together to assist in the search.

Will Billy and his comrades be able to save their friends in time and free all the prisoners trapped in Nevermore? Only time will tell. Billy must set things right before time starts again or all will be lost, including Millicent's soul.

The Bottom Line: Billy Bones: The Road to Nevermore is fast-paced and action-packed with quirky, supernatural fun. The cast of eccentric characters combined with the values of friendship and loyalty make it the perfect choice for a quick summer read. Also, kids will love the gothic style illustrations throughout. Highly recommended for kids in grades 4 - 6.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog: http://minibookbytes.blogspot.com/ show less