Advance Review: ‘Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library: The Graphic Novel’ Is Delightful

by Benjamin Hall

Summary

Twelve year old Kyle Keeney loves game maker Mr. Luigi Lemoncello’s games. He and eleven other kids win a chance to stay overnight at the library that Lemoncello funds the building of. However, Mr. Lemoncello’s love for games and learning leads to Kyle and the others having to figure out a special game to escape? Who will win, and will there be balloons at the end?

Overall

9.9/10

Illustrator Douglas Holgate creates a great sense of visual pacing. While the visual characterization matches the tone of the dialogue writer Chris Grabenstein gives each character. Holgate projects confidence from his line work. Not to mention that the inks are thick in a way that assists the cartoonish style. Also the sense of depth blends in naturally with the rest of each setting. It is also worth saying that Holgate does well at incorporating the more complex puzzles in believable visual ways. Lastly, Holgate’s art has a feeling of motion in several moments.

Colorist Marta Todeschini applies practically every hue available along the way to this graphic novel’s ending. Thus, those looking for a reading experience that is literally colorful will find it with this graphic novel.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library: The Graphic Novel (2023) excerpt pg. 73 art by Douglas Holgate, colors by Marta Todeschini, lettering by Juliet Goodman courtesy Superfan Promotions, Random House, and the graphic novel’s creative team.

Designer/Letterer Juliet Goodman uses a rather common font. However, it is a suitable font for this graphic novel’s demographic. Goodman does a fine job sizing the text and word balloons. Unfortunately, Goodman positions one word balloon’s anchor in the wrong location. This causes a jarring affect to the pacing. Otherwise, Goodman does an overall great job.

Grabenstein creates a lot of dialogue that ranges from realistic to just believable enough. The characterization also ranges from whimsical to realistic. While the various puzzles are complex enough to make readers want to try them out. Overall, Grabenstein’s writing translates well to a graphic novel adaptation. Though it is fair to say that it helps that Grabenstein is making the relevant changes from his children’s book to this comic book. This means that nothing that is extremely essential sees removal for the adaptation. In conclusion this is a terrific all-ages read that should delight the young, the young at heart, and those who are learning to read.