Title: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore (2012)
Author: Robin Sloan
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 978-0374214913
Genre: Adult Crossover, Mystery, Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age: This title was written for adults, however the mystery and contemporary references are enough to intrigue teen readers.
Author Profile:
“I grew up near Detroit and went to school at Michigan State, where I studied economics and co-founded a literary magazine called Oats. Between 2002 and 2012, I worked at Poynter, Current TV, and Twitter, and at all those places, my job had something to do with figuring out the future of media.
I’m the author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, which started as a short story right here and is now a full-length novel published by FSG and Picador in the United States and many others around the world.” From – http://www.robinsloan.com/about/
Reader's Annotation:
When Clay takes a job as a night clerk at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, he is introduced to a curious collection of books and an even more intriguing collection of customers. As Clay is drawn more and more into the mysterious habits of the bookstore’s patrons, he becomes convinced a mystery is afoot, one he is determined to solve.
Plot Summary:
The Great recession has certainly played a number on Clay Jannon. An art school graduate and cutting edge web designer for San Francisco’s own NewBagel, Clay finds himself jobless when his employer decides to revert back to the simpler times of the bagel industry. While on the hunt for employment, Clay comes across a bizarre if not fascinating bookstore called “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.” Based on his for love for the fantasy series The Dragon-Song Chronicles, Clay is quickly hired as the late night clerk by Mr. Penumbra himself. Clay quickly learns that there is more to Mr. Penumbra’s store than meets the eye, especially as he spots strange volumes of books and interacts with the store’s curious clientele who “check-out” these peculiar tomes rather than purchase them. Convinced a conspiracy is afoot; Clay enlists the help from his variously talented friends to uncover the truth behind Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore and Mr. Penumbra himself.
Critical Evaluation:
While much can be said about Sloan’s debut novel, its strengths lie in its fun, creative plotting. Although this story has all of the staples of a classic mystery: secret societies swathed in cloaks, old libraries, wealthy investors, hidden messages and cryptic clues, and a cast of oddball characters whose strengths come together with the protagonist’s drive to solve the big mystery, what makes it utterly unique is not just its playfulness but its celebration of both the analog and digital worlds and the fact that the past still has meaning in the present and future. Sloan is able to make this message clear throughout the novel while still maintaining that air of mystery that combines well with plotting that is fast paced, has continuous momentum, and keeps readers flipping the pages until the final reveal. Additionally, Sloan is good at creating tension that does not rely on dire circumstances but rather on curiosity and while it would be easy to think that that would make the story boring, it works well here and in the context of the mystery itself. The use of Google as a plot device was also rather ingenious because this is something that readers are already intimately acquainted with, creating an interesting balance with the unknown world of ancient print texts and translations with the well-known world of search engines and technology.
While this title is a lot of fun to read, it does have its weaknesses. The first lies in the character development, or lack thereof. While readers meet a whole cast of characters with an enthusiasm and excitement about solving the mystery that is disarming, we never really learn too much about their histories or their motivations. In terms of Clay, the story’s main protagonist, he is very much the same at the beginning of the book as he is at the end, and there never seems to be any sort of big revelation for him beyond solving the aforementioned mystery. Additionally, at its core, there is no real conflict in this novel, just a sudden motivation to solve a mystery that really has no risks or dangers involved. As mentioned earlier, Sloan is excellent at creating tension, but that tension is born from curiosity not from action or physical danger. While some readers may not be bothered by this, others may expect that from a mystery novel, especially one that features a secret literary cult-like society. Despite these objections, this still remains an incredibly fun and light novel whose dealings with both print and digital technology as well as mystery and intrigue make it an excellent crossover title.
Curriculum Ties:
Challenges / Issues:
Defense of Challenges / Issues:
Book Talk Ideas:
Why This Book?
Although there are no teen characters in this novel, it certainly still has crossover appeal in its relationship to the literary and digital worlds as well as its fun, playful and fast paced plotting. Google is a key player in the novel and something that teens will easily latch on to and the characters, while adults, have a curiosity and enthusiasm akin to adolescence that young adults will be able to relate to.
Author: Robin Sloan
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 978-0374214913
Genre: Adult Crossover, Mystery, Contemporary Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age: This title was written for adults, however the mystery and contemporary references are enough to intrigue teen readers.
Author Profile:
“I grew up near Detroit and went to school at Michigan State, where I studied economics and co-founded a literary magazine called Oats. Between 2002 and 2012, I worked at Poynter, Current TV, and Twitter, and at all those places, my job had something to do with figuring out the future of media.
I’m the author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, which started as a short story right here and is now a full-length novel published by FSG and Picador in the United States and many others around the world.” From – http://www.robinsloan.com/about/
Reader's Annotation:
When Clay takes a job as a night clerk at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, he is introduced to a curious collection of books and an even more intriguing collection of customers. As Clay is drawn more and more into the mysterious habits of the bookstore’s patrons, he becomes convinced a mystery is afoot, one he is determined to solve.
Plot Summary:
The Great recession has certainly played a number on Clay Jannon. An art school graduate and cutting edge web designer for San Francisco’s own NewBagel, Clay finds himself jobless when his employer decides to revert back to the simpler times of the bagel industry. While on the hunt for employment, Clay comes across a bizarre if not fascinating bookstore called “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.” Based on his for love for the fantasy series The Dragon-Song Chronicles, Clay is quickly hired as the late night clerk by Mr. Penumbra himself. Clay quickly learns that there is more to Mr. Penumbra’s store than meets the eye, especially as he spots strange volumes of books and interacts with the store’s curious clientele who “check-out” these peculiar tomes rather than purchase them. Convinced a conspiracy is afoot; Clay enlists the help from his variously talented friends to uncover the truth behind Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore and Mr. Penumbra himself.
Critical Evaluation:
While much can be said about Sloan’s debut novel, its strengths lie in its fun, creative plotting. Although this story has all of the staples of a classic mystery: secret societies swathed in cloaks, old libraries, wealthy investors, hidden messages and cryptic clues, and a cast of oddball characters whose strengths come together with the protagonist’s drive to solve the big mystery, what makes it utterly unique is not just its playfulness but its celebration of both the analog and digital worlds and the fact that the past still has meaning in the present and future. Sloan is able to make this message clear throughout the novel while still maintaining that air of mystery that combines well with plotting that is fast paced, has continuous momentum, and keeps readers flipping the pages until the final reveal. Additionally, Sloan is good at creating tension that does not rely on dire circumstances but rather on curiosity and while it would be easy to think that that would make the story boring, it works well here and in the context of the mystery itself. The use of Google as a plot device was also rather ingenious because this is something that readers are already intimately acquainted with, creating an interesting balance with the unknown world of ancient print texts and translations with the well-known world of search engines and technology.
While this title is a lot of fun to read, it does have its weaknesses. The first lies in the character development, or lack thereof. While readers meet a whole cast of characters with an enthusiasm and excitement about solving the mystery that is disarming, we never really learn too much about their histories or their motivations. In terms of Clay, the story’s main protagonist, he is very much the same at the beginning of the book as he is at the end, and there never seems to be any sort of big revelation for him beyond solving the aforementioned mystery. Additionally, at its core, there is no real conflict in this novel, just a sudden motivation to solve a mystery that really has no risks or dangers involved. As mentioned earlier, Sloan is excellent at creating tension, but that tension is born from curiosity not from action or physical danger. While some readers may not be bothered by this, others may expect that from a mystery novel, especially one that features a secret literary cult-like society. Despite these objections, this still remains an incredibly fun and light novel whose dealings with both print and digital technology as well as mystery and intrigue make it an excellent crossover title.
Curriculum Ties:
- Computer science
- History / Printmaking / Secret societies
Challenges / Issues:
- Some foul language
- Some sexual situations
Defense of Challenges / Issues:
- Have a clear understanding of the library’s selection policy as well as copies available in order to identify specific points of the policy to challengers in order to strengthen defense.
- Express the library’s dedication to intellectual freedom and open ccess as outlined in the ALA Library Bill of Rights. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
- Know the material being challenged in order to show that you understand the content and how the challenged material works in context with the rest of the text.
- Have access to both supportive and critical reviews from reliable sources, such as School Library Journal or VOYA. Provide challenger’s with these reviews through either hard copies or by including reviews in the catalog records of library materials.
- Have the ability to explain the rationale behind the inclusion of materials in the library’s collection by discussing an item’s literary merits, intended audience, and offering a brief summary.
- One of the most important lines of defense is to be an active listener and to stay calm. Pay attention to the patron’s concerns, do not interrupt, and do not take his/her challenge personally. Additionally, even if you do not agree with the challenge, still speak to the patron with understanding and compassion. Make sure to respectfully outline the library’s selection policies as well as the principles outlined in the Library Bill of Rights. If the patron is still adamant about the removal of the text, offer a “Request for Reconsideration” form, outlining the patron’s concerns that can be presented to senior library staff.
Book Talk Ideas:
- Discuss the impact of both the literary and digital worlds. Was Clay wrong to break tradition by using technology? Is it possible to find balance between the two? What message was Sloan trying to convey in his novel?
- Talk about the influence the books of our childhood have on adolescence/young adult years/adulthood. Would Clay have wanted to work for Mr. Penumbra if he had not seen The Dragon-Song Chronicles in the store? Why or why not?
Why This Book?
Although there are no teen characters in this novel, it certainly still has crossover appeal in its relationship to the literary and digital worlds as well as its fun, playful and fast paced plotting. Google is a key player in the novel and something that teens will easily latch on to and the characters, while adults, have a curiosity and enthusiasm akin to adolescence that young adults will be able to relate to.