The Lost Library

Though not a traditional coming-of-age story, The Lost Library nevertheless features several coming-of-age-like character arcs. The novel is set during the final days of Evan’s elementary school career. This incites tension, as Evan is fearful of attending middle school and therefore dreads the end of fifth grade. He is set apart from his peers, who are both excited for the graduation ceremony and for the adventures and new experiences that middle school will bring. Evan must discover and invent ways of coping with the uncertainty of the future—a process symbolized by the imaginary cape his father “gave” him when he was in kindergarten. Evan’s investigation of the mystery surrounding the library provides him with a place to focus his attention amid his anxieties about graduation, but more than that, it becomes a symbol of his ability to handle life’s challenges. As his teacher Mr. O’Neal tells Evan, the future is itself a mystery. If Evan can navigate the uncertainty of the library fire, then growing up is not to be feared either.

Though Evan’s father is an adult during the narrative present, his backstory further develops this theme. As a child, Evans’s father was timid and reserved—fearful of engaging with other people. The novel implies that the death of his mother made his childhood challenging, and it was not until he found a mentor, Al, who shared his love of books that Edward began to form meaningful bonds with other people and take steps toward uncovering his life’s purpose. The suggestion that he was bullied by his peers hints that his love of books may initially have been a source of shame for Edward, but as Al invited him to express his love of books with her, Edward blossomed. Securing an internship at the library helped cement his sense of belonging and facilitated his passion for reading, which he would eventually turn into his vocation: Edward is a mystery novel writer, pursuing a successful (albeit secret) career as H. G. Higgins.

Indeed, Al herself was once in the same position as Edward, unsure of how to achieve a fulfilling life. Through Ms. Scoggin’s prompting, she attended library school and followed her interests as they led her down a meaningful path. When the library was destroyed, however, so too was Al’s means of impacting the world. She tends to Ms. Scoggin and Mr. Brock as a kindness and out of a sense of loyalty to them, but it is not until Evan takes advantage of her skills as a librarian that Al recalls her life’s purpose. Ms. Scoggin, when she departs, underscores that Al has an important gift to give to the world. Through Al’s storyline in particular, the novel suggests that finding one’s purpose is a lifelong process, implying that it is never too late to begin.