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The Story Collector
The Story Collector: A New York Public Library Book | Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
18 posts | 10 read | 13 to read
The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler meets Harriet the Spy in this middle-grade historical fiction novel inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, born and raised in the New York Public Library. Eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler has spent her whole life in the New York Public Library. She knows every room by heart, except the ones her father keeps locked. When Viviani becomes convinced that the library is haunted, new girl Merit Mubarak makes fun of her. So Viviani decides to play a harmless little prank, roping her older brothers and best friend Eva to help out. But what begins as a joke quickly gets out of hand, and soon Viviani and her friends have to solve two big mysteries: Is the Library truly haunted? And what happened to the expensive new stamp collection? It's up to Viviani, Eva, and Merit (reluctantly) to findout.
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review
TheBookHippie
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Pickpick

@megnews I thank you for leading me to these reads ! Such enjoyable reads!

megnews I really enjoyed these too. Glad you did as well. 2y
GingerAntics These look cute! (edited) 2y
45 likes2 comments
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sblbooks
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@Clwojick #ThingsInCommon Titanic theme for Luck of the Titanic Collision Course and SOS.
SOS to The Story Collector both were middle grade novels #MgBuddyRead

Clwojick Way to go! 💖💖 2y
40 likes1 comment
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megnews
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Lmstraubie Since I had read the story previously I knew what was going to happen and I can't remember my thoughts the first time I read it lol I would like to read the second one. (So many books, so little time!) 2y
Roary47 I figured it was him, but I also thought it was someone else (trying not to spoil just in case) then when they discovered where the missing library books went it cleared up that angle I also saw. I do want to finish the second book. Planning on it for next month. (edited) 2y
megnews @Lmstraubie @Roary47 I thought it was the same person you did. I had kind of forgotten the real culprit because he had kind of disappeared for awhile. I already started the next book. (edited) 2y
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BarbaraJean The ending felt really obvious to me! But I don‘t know how easily I‘d have spotted the culprit if I‘d read this when I was a kid. I did love the resolution with Mr. Green. I might pick up the second book, but mostly because I‘m curious about Merit‘s backstory! 2y
Butterfinger I was shaking my head when Viv was sharing the guard's schedule and the hiding places. 2y
sblbooks Me too @Butterfinger I'll add the next book to my ever-growing TBR. I'm not sure when I'll get to it. 2y
28 likes6 comments
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megnews
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Lmstraubie I think Eva was right. As much as she wanted to support her friend she knew that lying and deceiving weren't the way to go about it. I was surprised when she changed her mind, but it was in character for her to come clean when the kids got scared. 2y
Roary47 This plan was all around a bad idea. Merit already called her on lying and they were actually going to deceive her on purpose. I‘m surprised any of them went on with it. 2y
megnews @Lmstraubie @Roary47 completely agree it was a bad idea. But sounds pretty typical of kids. I did understand Viv‘s predicament as far as not being able to summon a ghost and her desire to prove herself was very real at that point. But it ended as you‘d imagine, worse than before. 2y
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Lmstraubie @Roary47 @megnews And I do think Viv really believed there was a ghost, but like you said it's not so easy to make it appear when you wanted 2y
megnews @Lmstraubie I think she really believed it too. She had sort of scared herself into believing it since she couldn‘t account for the mysterious sounds. 2y
BarbaraJean I felt like Eva‘s response was spot on—the whole ghost scheme was deceptive and it felt a little mean to trick Merit that way. Like @Roary47 said, it didn‘t make sense to lie to her in order to prove that the ghost stories were true! @megnews Yep, all of it was such a typical kid scheme. Viv‘s belief in the ghost reminded me of Anne Shirley and the haunted wood—getting terrified by your own imagination! 2y
Butterfinger Such a good comparison @BarbaraJean 2y
sblbooks I agree with everyone, it was a bad idea and it definitely backfired. 2y
19 likes8 comments
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megnews
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Lmstraubie It made me sad for her. The fact that she was so black and white at such a young age and couldn't/wouldn't enjoy the pleasure of a story was disheartening. 2y
Roary47 @Lmstraubie I agree. As I mentioned in the other post I wasn‘t a fan of her because she was quick to judge Viv as “lying” because she was story telling. Most kids are going to recognize that it‘s just a story, and most kids enjoy stories. 2y
Lmstraubie @Roary47 And the kids all enjoyed her stories. At first I thought Merit just didn't like the attention Viv got for her stories, but as it went on it seemed to be more than that. 2y
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megnews @Lmstraubie I agree. I felt bad for Viv that so many friends turned their back in her because of the things Merit said. It was interesting Viv still tried to befriend her. 2y
Lmstraubie @megnews Yes I thought that was interesting too. I'm guessing Viv found Merit interesting and saw that they had things in common, but just couldn't understand Merit's dislike of stories. 2y
BarbaraJean Her response didn‘t really make sense to me. @Lmstraubie I thought that at first, too—that she was just jealous of Viv. There seemed to be more to it, but that was never fleshed out enough as the story went on. Merit was an interesting character, so I wanted more about her, I was curious about why she felt so strongly against stories. 2y
Lmstraubie @BarbaraJean Yes, it would have been helpful to have a little more background explaining why she felt so strongly about stories being lies. Maybe more comes to light in the 2nd book 2y
Butterfinger I kept thinking of my grandfather - "the biggest liar in Caldwell County" He could really tell some tall tales, but I was wanting the teacher to discuss how oral traditions are necessary for a culture and hyperbole is part of the stories, but she/ he was never around. 2y
sblbooks I thought Merit was rather harsh. Like @megnews I didn't understand why Viv wanted to be friends with her so much. 2y
megnews @Butterfinger 😂 my poppy was too! 2y
16 likes10 comments
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megnews
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#MGBuddyRead discussion starts now. Join in when you can.

sblbooks I forgot the discussion was today. I'll be a few days late, I was going to listen to it Monday. 2y
Lmstraubie I loved the setting of the book. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in the NYPL?!? I also like that the story is based on real people and events related to their lives. 2y
Roary47 I agree with @Lmstraubie the setting of living in the NYPL is amazing! Having the characters represent real people was also awesome. I wasn‘t a super fan of Merit. She was quick to judge Viv‘s storytelling as “telling lies”. I get the stories weren‘t true, but they were stories which most kids enjoy and recognize as just stories. 2y
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megnews @Lmstraubie @Roary47 I agree! I loved the NYPL setting. It‘s so interesting a real family lives there for so long. How cool would that be? 2y
BarbaraJean @Lmstraubie @megnews Absolutely—the setting was fantastic! I loved exploring all the little nooks and crannies of the library through the kids‘ eyes. @Roary47 I had issues with Merit as well; I think her character should have been developed more consistently. She was too quick to dismiss stories as lies and then it felt like she came around/forgave Viv a little too quickly in the end. (edited) 2y
Butterfinger I would have given anything to have such a childhood. I thought Merit was uncomfortable being the new child and had some bratty ways, but I overlooked it. I judged the parents very harshly. I guess they didn't think about Stranger Danger in the time period or in such a public place. I didn't like the situation and guessed what was going to happen. 2y
sblbooks I love the setting, they also did a good job with her descriptions of the New York Public Library. Like others have said I was not a fan of Merit either. 2y
megnews @Butterfinger I would‘ve loved to live there too. 2y
megnews @Butterfinger @BarbaraJean @Lmstraubie I wondered if it was a cultural thing. Are Egyptians known for being no nonsense? I‘m not sure. Definitely needed more about that. 2y
21 likes9 comments
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Roary47
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Mehso-so

3✨Cute story about the difference between a story and the truth. Between a bad guy pretending to be a good guy, and nothing being as it seems. Read for #MGBuddyRead @megnews

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megnews
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Pickpick

So glad I finally got to this book. Definitely plan to read the next one. And looking forward to discussion with #mgbuddyread.

batsy Ooh yes please! This sounds fun. 2y
Lmstraubie I read this one over the weekend and realized I had already read it 🤦‍♀️ However I needed a refresher. Looking forward to the chat! 2y
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Butterfinger
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Pickpick

This book was the Bees' Knees!!!! Did you know a family was raised in the New York Public Library? What an amazing childhood!!! To explore the map room, to see the exhibits first hand, to know the lore of the place. Fascinating!!! #MGBuddyRead @megnews

BethM This is an adult hx fic about that family. 2y
Butterfinger Thank you so much @BethM 2y
46 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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IndoorDame
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WJCintron Never!! 2y
58 likes1 comment
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megnews
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Lmstraubie Truth! 2y
TheBookHippie Ha. Right? So true. 2y
54 likes2 comments
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megnews
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TheBookHippie This is such a lovely find. 2y
35 likes1 comment
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megnews
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TheBookHippie ♥️ 2y
WJCintron LOVE it!! 2y
44 likes2 comments
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megnews
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I love the opening to April‘s #mgbuddyread.
#firstlinefridays

TheBookHippie Oh I love this. 2y
megnews @TheBookHippie I love the idea of lounging in an L 😊 (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie @megnews I just put book two on hold 😂 I‘m loving this little book. 2y
megnews @TheBookHippie I just did the same thing!! 2y
38 likes4 comments
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megnews
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A reminder for those who wish to place holds for April‘s #MGBUDDYREAD & #YABUDDYREAD. Let me know which discussions you‘d like to be tagged for.

sblbooks Please tag me for The Story Collector. 2y
Lmstraubie Story Collector please 2y
TheBookHippie Story collector! 2y
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erzascarletbookgasm My library does not have The Story Collector but The Story Seeker instead! 🙁 2y
AbigailJaneBlog I'm actually intrigued by both - I'll see what I can get hold of! 2y
Butterfinger I plan to do both. 2y
IndoorDame I plan to do both next month! 2y
BarbaraJean I‘m in for Story Collector! 2y
mrp27 I‘m in for both. 2y
coffeewithbooks I will like to be part of if there will possible 2y
JaclynW I'm in for both! 2y
AbigailJaneBlog I've got hold of both - I look forward to it 2y
Roary47 Both sound fun! I‘m in. 😊 2y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm oh no! It drives me bonkers when my library has the middle of a series but not the first book! 2y
40 likes15 comments
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SandraG
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Pickpick

This is a middle grade historical fiction story inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, who was born and raised in the New York Public Library! This book is filled with great information about NYPL📚💕

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MarticaMustRead
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????❣ #MiddleGrade #BooksAboutBooks #LibrarianLife

But as a librarian, this little gem, "Inspired by the true story of a girl who lived in the library..." TOTALLY rings all by bells❣??‍♀️

And hello, that cover⁉️ YES please❗?

#TGIF Littens ☺

Leniverse This is perfect! I must have this! I‘m not even going to pretend it‘s for the kids. 😂 6y
RealLifeReading Ooh I want that 6y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Campbrarian
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“Our stories are what makes us unique. The combination of stories in our lives – the unique mix of the stories we choose to read, choose to live – makes each of us just a tiny bit different from everyone else on the planet. Viviani knew that we are our stories.”