''The Library Card'' is a

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...

young adult novel Young adult fiction (YA) is a category of fiction written for readers from 12 to 18 years of age. While the genre is primarily targeted at adolescents, approximately half of YA readers are adults. The subject matter and genres of YA correlate ...

Jerry Spinelli Jerry Spinelli (born February 1, 1941) is an American writer of children's novels that feature adolescence and early adulthood. His novels include '' Maniac Magee'', '' Stargirl'', and '' Wringer''. Life Spinelli was born in Norristown, Pen ...

. The book is broken into four

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

each following a different main character, but all connected to a

library card A library card can refer to several cards traditionally used for the management of books and patrons in a library. In its most common use, a library card serves similar functions as a corporate membership card. A person who holds a library card ...

Plot

The book ''The Library Card'' is about four kids who each have some problem in life that the library card solves. During the course of the four short stories, the library card changes each of their lives for the better. The main character of the first section, Mongoose, struggles with peer pressure from his friend Weasel. Weasel influences Mongoose to steal and to skip school. After coming across the library card, Mongoose overcomes this challenge. The second character, Brenda, is addicted to watching television. She can't watch television for a whole week of school for a school project. During this time, she encounters the library card, which shows her the benefits of reading many kinds of different books. The third character, Sonseray, is a child who lives in a car with his uncle, a migrant worker. Life is hard for him without any stable friends, but one day when he discovers the library card and takes out a book, he finds refuge from loneliness. The final character, April Mendez, has just moved for her father's job on a mushroom farm. She boards a "moving library," (book mobile) which becomes subject to an attempted hijacking. The hijacker (Nanette) and April become friends because of their mutual interest in the library card.

Reception

Critical reception for ''The Library Card'' was very positive, with

Commonsensemedia Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.

giving it four stars.

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

said that "While the premise (the card) behind the stories may seem contrived, the author uses it effectively to take a close look at how young people deal with hard circumstances." Kirkus Reviews called Spinelli a "shrewd storyteller" and that the "realistic characters are funny and profound at times" and that "the prose occasionally invites readers to linger over a description".

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

stated that "Spinelli is able to convey the message with humor and tenderness".The Library Card
Booklist

References

External links

Scholastic's teacher's guide
{{DEFAULTSORT:Library Card 1997 American novels Novels by Jerry Spinelli American children's novels