7 Spellbinding Books Brimming with the Magic of Libraries

Karen Bellovich
May 12 2021
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The library is the first place that I fell in love with books. Taking my time, roaming the aisles, picking up a book and then another book and another and bringing them home brought me joy. The worlds I discovered and the places I went were amazing—all because of words on a page. Throughout the years my library was, and still is, there for me. From story time to researching papers to taking classes and finding out information, I can always count on my library, the librarians, and the staff who work there. Just as the lines on a map connect together—libraries, librarians, and communities connect together. I am so grateful to have a library to go to and so grateful my love of books started there. Here are seven fantastic books all about libraries and librarians.

The Book Charmer
by Karen Hawkins

The town of Dove Pond needs saving. Sarah Dove, the local librarian, has always had a special relationship with books. Being a book charmer, she knows exactly what books everyone should read. Sarah also knows that Dove Pond’s new town clerk, Grace Wheeler, might be just the person the town needs, and the town might be just what Grace needs. A magical, feel-good adventure.

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The Book Charmer
Karen Hawkins

Prepare to fall under the spell ofthis sometimes whimsical, often insightful, always absorbing story” (Shelf Awareness) following two fiercely independent women and their truly magical friendship in a sleepy Southern town, from New York Times bestselling author of Karen Hawkins.

Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books live, breathe, and sometimes even speak. As the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.

If the books are right, Grace could be the savior Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. But with a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, will Grace ultimately embrace the challenge to rescue her charmed new community?

“A mesmerizing fusion of the mystical and the everyday” (Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author), The Book Charmer is a heartwarming story about the magic of books that feels more than a little magical itself.

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
by Kim Michele Richardson

A powerful and inspirational story about the importance of books and the joy they bring. The story illuminates the brave women who, as part of the Pack Horse Library Project in the 1930s, brought books to rural communities. They traveled by mule through all kinds of terrain and weather to deliver their books. Cussy Mary Carter is one such book woman and her beautifully written story will stay with you for a long time.

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
Kim Michele Richardson

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The Lions of Fifth Avenue
by Fiona Davis

In 1913, Laura Lyons lives in an apartment in the New York Public Library with her family. The disappearance of a rare book from the library changes her life forever. In 1993, Sadie Donovan, Laura’s granddaughter, works in the same library as a curator. The past repeats itself when rare books begin disappearing, leading Sadie down a path that will shed new light on her family’s history. An excellent book club read.

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The Lions of Fifth Avenue
Fiona Davis

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The Paris Library
by Janet Skeslien Charles

Odile Souchet begins her dream job at the American Library in Paris in 1939, just as the Nazis begin to occupy Paris. The library staff dedicate themselves to protecting the library and the precious books and lives inside. In 1983, Odile is far away from Paris and the library, but tragedy and pain remain with her. When a young girl who has herself experienced tragedy befriends Odile, together they will help each other to heal. This important story about courage, healing, and the power of words, is an absolute favorite of mine.

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The Paris Library
Janet Skeslien Charles

Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

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The Library of Lost and Found
by Phaedra Patrick

Martha Storm spends her days working as a librarian. Nothing has been the same since her grandmother Zelda died many years ago, under mysterious circumstances. Martha’s life changes when she receives a book of fairy tales with a handwritten inscription from her grandmother, dated after her death. Where did this book come from and is her grandmother still alive? Martha goes on a quest to solve the mystery. A heartwarming story.

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The Library of Lost and Found
Phaedra Patrick

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The Library Book
by Susan Orlean

A must-read for all book lovers, this is a fascinating and interesting exploration of the Los Angeles Public Library, which was destroyed by fire in April 1986. Over a million books were lost. The question of whether the fire was an accident or deliberately set remains a mystery, but what stands out most in this book is how important a library is to the people who work there and to the community it serves.

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The Library Book
Susan Orlean

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The Library at the Edge of the World
by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

After a failed marriage, Hanna Casey moves home to Finfarran Peninsula in Ireland with her daughter, Jazz. Hanna soon becomes the town’s librarian, but her heart is not in it. When Hanna learns the library may close, she realizes just how important a library is to a community and fights to keep it open. A charming story about finding where you belong.

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The Library at the Edge of the World
Felicity Hayes-McCoy

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Photo credit: iStock / TU-KA

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