Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure—including an exhilarating outing with pirates—she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history. Soon she’s visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother’s meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure—with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past—this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.
- Books
- Middle Grade Fiction & Indies
- Middle Grade Fiction
- The Secret Library
The Secret Library
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
8+
Release Date
May 07, 2024
ISBN
978-1536230888
Buy This Book
Editor reviews
2 reviews
Exciting time-traveling adventure
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
4.7
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Dally Peteharrington is a Biracial preteen who discovers a map left as an inheritance by her late grandfather. The map leads her to a library, not just any library, but a secret library. The hidden library holds family secrets, little white lies, and minor transgressions. The book's themes focus on identity, racism, LGBTQ+, and family. The Secret Library is enchanting, thrilling, and full of discoveries and adventure. The topics explored in this novel are on topic with things that our children will encounter in the real world, so I highly recommend being on hand to discuss the themes with them and have a one-on-one conversation about reactions and how to handle them. Dally is a great character and exhibits some great talents when trying to negotiate with her mom on joining the adventure club, but she is still a young preteen. Though she takes business courses, she still grasps concepts like you would expect a 12-year-old to do. There are a lot of gems to find in this book, and it is a valuable historical fiction middle-grade novel to have in classrooms and libraries.
Travel into the Secrest of the Past
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Dally (Delilah) Peteharrigan is grieving the death of her beloved grandfather, especially since she has already lost her father, who was Black, and her mother, who is white, is very busy managing the family's company. Her mother is determined that Dally learn a lot, so she is not only enrolled in a private school, but also has lessons in subjects like economics afterwards. Her free time is limited to one hour, so even after Dally makes an impressive plea to join the school Adventure Club, she is not allowed. After this, Dally is determined to get the envelope that her grandfather left her, and breaks into his office. There's a puzzle and a map involved, and Dally pins to location to a bakery too far from her home to walk. She enlists the aid of a car service the family often uses, and when she arrives at the location, a magical library appears. She is greeted by the librarian, Jennacake, who tells her that the library houses secrets, and that Dally is allowed to see one a day. There are a wide variety of secrets, and Dally sees some about how her parents met, and small lies that people tell. Nothing too earth shaking happens at first, and her time spent in the vesions of the past is short, but she eventually ends up in a rousing adventure on the high seas, along with well-meaning pirates Pete and Eli, as well as a boy about her age, Jack. She can't really figure out what the secret is, but the more she pops into various timelines, the more she finds out about the history of her family, and the reasons why her mother is so cautious with the family finanaces. She also learns that Jack is using the library to travel into secrets as well, but he is from 1960. Her mother's controlling behavior doesn't stop, and when Dally learns that her own future might be very circumscribed, she has to think about the path she should take. The library just holds the secrets, but how those secrets effect Dally and her family can be earth shattering. (Don't want to give away too much!)
Good Points
The Secret Library is right up there with Shulman's The Grimm Legacy (2021) and MacHale's The Library (The Curse of the Boggin, 2016) or Wexler's The Forbidden Library (2014) in terms of good use of magical books. I know it was important for Dally to travel into secrets, but I would have been content to spend a lot more time with Jennacake touring the facilities.
It's good that the book ended with a family tree, so that we were able to see how all of the different ancestors that Dally met figured into the story. There's a lot of different points in time shown in Dally's travels, and the chart really helped me tie together all of the different bits of information. There is also a bit of a surprise ending, so be prepared!
This is definitely on trend with a lot of current sociopolitical topics. There are several instances of Dally's father experiencing racism in college, and the history of racism as it effects Dally's family goes back into the mid 1800s. There is a very important instance of "passing" that has lasting ramifications and is not a topic I have seen much addressed in middle grade fiction. Pete and Eli have LBGTQIA+ ties in unusual ways that also form the family's history.
Readers who liked Shawl's Speculation (2022) or Coles' Black Was the Ink (2021), and prefer their history presented with some fantastic flourishes will enjoy Dally's exploration of her family's past in The Secret Library.
It's good that the book ended with a family tree, so that we were able to see how all of the different ancestors that Dally met figured into the story. There's a lot of different points in time shown in Dally's travels, and the chart really helped me tie together all of the different bits of information. There is also a bit of a surprise ending, so be prepared!
This is definitely on trend with a lot of current sociopolitical topics. There are several instances of Dally's father experiencing racism in college, and the history of racism as it effects Dally's family goes back into the mid 1800s. There is a very important instance of "passing" that has lasting ramifications and is not a topic I have seen much addressed in middle grade fiction. Pete and Eli have LBGTQIA+ ties in unusual ways that also form the family's history.
Readers who liked Shawl's Speculation (2022) or Coles' Black Was the Ink (2021), and prefer their history presented with some fantastic flourishes will enjoy Dally's exploration of her family's past in The Secret Library.
User reviews
3 reviews
Overall rating
4.8
Plot
4.7(3)
Characters
5.0(3)
Writing Style
4.7(3)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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The Secret Library Book Review
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The Secret Library is a middle-grade novel that follows Dally, an 11-year-old biracial girl navigating life after her grandfather’s passing. Dally lives with her white single mother, who is focused on preparing her to take over the family business. When Dally opens a letter from her grandfather that she was told not to open until she turned 21, she discovers instructions to a hidden library in an old Black neighborhood. This magical library contains books that document her family’s history in detail, from ordinary events to well-kept secrets. As she reads, Dally is transported back in time to experience these events firsthand, exploring her family’s past and the history of Black Americans in ways that are both fascinating and at times overwhelming. The concept is creative and ambitious, blending magic, history, and self-discovery in a unique way.
While the story has a lot of imaginative ideas, it sometimes feels disjointed. There are so many historical details and time periods to explore that the narrative can feel scattered, and Dally often seems more like a guide for the reader than an 11-year-old girl with her own voice. The ending doesn’t fully resolve her relationship with her mother, which leaves some of the initial emotional tension unresolved. Still, the book offers a thoughtful look at identity, heritage, and the challenges of being biracial in modern America. My favorite part of the story was seeing Dally travel back in time and experience her family’s history firsthand; those moments were magical and gave a strong sense of connection to her ancestors.
While the story has a lot of imaginative ideas, it sometimes feels disjointed. There are so many historical details and time periods to explore that the narrative can feel scattered, and Dally often seems more like a guide for the reader than an 11-year-old girl with her own voice. The ending doesn’t fully resolve her relationship with her mother, which leaves some of the initial emotional tension unresolved. Still, the book offers a thoughtful look at identity, heritage, and the challenges of being biracial in modern America. My favorite part of the story was seeing Dally travel back in time and experience her family’s history firsthand; those moments were magical and gave a strong sense of connection to her ancestors.
Good Points
Unique concept blending a magical library with Black history exploration
Engaging exploration of family heritage and biracial identity
Time-travel sequences that allow readers to experience historical events firsthand
Engaging exploration of family heritage and biracial identity
Time-travel sequences that allow readers to experience historical events firsthand
Great read
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
The Secret Library is full of adventure, mystery, time travel and a magical library! It was fun getting to know Dally and learning what makes Dally Dally! There are plenty of interesting twists, there one that I definitely wasn't expecting! This story covers many subjects, identity, friendship, racism, family, LGBTQ+ and more, and each topic is handled beautifully. Overall it's a fun and exciting book full of adventure, mystery, secrets and much more that the kids will definitely enjoy!
Family Secrets!
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
What an adventure "The Secret Library" by Kekla Magoon turned out to be! This novel dives deep into the past, shedding light on the enduring impacts of racism and segregation while maintaining a gripping, adventurous spirit throughout. The eclectic cast of characters and the unexpected family secrets kept me on my toes, making for a truly engaging read.
Our protagonist, Dally, embarks on a journey that had me hoping fervently for her success and happiness. Magoon masterfully builds suspense, leading me to dread the possible tragic turns, only to deliver a heartwarming and utterly satisfying ending that had me in tears. The twist was refreshingly unexpected, proving once again that Magoon is a storyteller of great talent.
This book has the potential to be the start of a remarkable series. Each new installment could feature a different protagonist, delving into their unique family histories and uncovering hidden truths. The way Magoon captures the experience of segregation and the legacy of slavery is both poignant and thought-provoking, making Dally's journey a powerful reflection for readers as well.
The inclusion of a family tree at the end of the book was a brilliant touch, adding layers to the plot and enriching the overall reading experience. I strongly recommend waiting to look at it until after finishing the book to fully appreciate the surprises and intricacies of the story.
Dally's discovery of her family's secrets and her exploration of her heritage was not only a thrilling narrative but also an extraordinary gift. It highlighted how understanding one's roots can profoundly impact one's identity and sense of self. However, the story also hinted at the potential dangers of such knowledge falling into the wrong hands, opening the door for intriguing future plotlines involving possible antiheroes.
The secret library world crafted by Magoon is brimming with potential. My mind spins with possibilities for new storylines, each as compelling as the last. This book is truly amazing, perfectly executed, and undeniably important. It has effortlessly earned a spot in my top five reads of the year. For anyone looking for a novel that combines historical insight with adventure and heartfelt moments, "The Secret Library" is an absolute must-read.
Our protagonist, Dally, embarks on a journey that had me hoping fervently for her success and happiness. Magoon masterfully builds suspense, leading me to dread the possible tragic turns, only to deliver a heartwarming and utterly satisfying ending that had me in tears. The twist was refreshingly unexpected, proving once again that Magoon is a storyteller of great talent.
This book has the potential to be the start of a remarkable series. Each new installment could feature a different protagonist, delving into their unique family histories and uncovering hidden truths. The way Magoon captures the experience of segregation and the legacy of slavery is both poignant and thought-provoking, making Dally's journey a powerful reflection for readers as well.
The inclusion of a family tree at the end of the book was a brilliant touch, adding layers to the plot and enriching the overall reading experience. I strongly recommend waiting to look at it until after finishing the book to fully appreciate the surprises and intricacies of the story.
Dally's discovery of her family's secrets and her exploration of her heritage was not only a thrilling narrative but also an extraordinary gift. It highlighted how understanding one's roots can profoundly impact one's identity and sense of self. However, the story also hinted at the potential dangers of such knowledge falling into the wrong hands, opening the door for intriguing future plotlines involving possible antiheroes.
The secret library world crafted by Magoon is brimming with potential. My mind spins with possibilities for new storylines, each as compelling as the last. This book is truly amazing, perfectly executed, and undeniably important. It has effortlessly earned a spot in my top five reads of the year. For anyone looking for a novel that combines historical insight with adventure and heartfelt moments, "The Secret Library" is an absolute must-read.
Good Points
- eclectic cast of characters
- family secrets
- satisfying end
- family secrets
- satisfying end
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