The Night Librarian

Lincoln (the Billy Bones series) delivers an illuminating ode to the enduring power of storytelling in this freewheeling graphic novel adventure through the stacks. In this world, the New York Public Library is not just a bastion of knowledge but the epicenter of a unique magical reality in which books wield a tangible power, necessitating night librarians to manage their unpredictable force. When twins Page and Reed Turner bring their father’s first edition of Dracula to the NYPL for appraisal, they inadvertently trigger a literary upheaval, unleashing iconic characters into the library’s corridors. Together with the night librarian, the twins must round up all the rogue heroes and villains of literary legend before they turn everything upside down. Thin, intricate linework paired with a monochromatic palette that shifts between warm and cool tones to demarcate day and night impart mood and tension to the supernatural chaos. Via playful interweaving of literary references and puns, Lincoln pays homage to classic tales and the characters who populate them. All told, it’s a heartening tale of personal growth, mutual appreciation, and the unbreakable bonds of family, wrapped in a visually captivating package. Characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 8–12. (July)

Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the book's title.