Here Lies the Librarian

by Richard Peck
Ages 9+

Peewee lives with her older brother, Jake, in Indiana. They barely make a living by repairing what few cars happen to pass their country "garage" shack. They are looking forward to the day that the road will get paved to bring in more business. They are also competing with the Kirbys, who own the other garage in town. The Kirbys are shady businessmen and trying to run them out of business with constant theft and vandalism. In 1914, they are few cars for the two businesses to fight over.

Life starts to change when a group of young ladies, fresh from the School of Library Science at Butler U., come to town and find the little town's library closed since the last librarian passed away. She was found in the library "with a fistful of library cards in her cold hand,". These ladies, with wealthy backgrounds, decide to reopen and improve this town's library. At the same time, the ladies seek to "improve" PeeWee, who is content with working on cars with her brother at the garage.

Richard Peck is an Newbery-winning author of "A Year Down Yonder." I always enjoy historical fiction. It includes a character that struggles with her role in the world. PeeWee was a tom boy and lived in a time that did not accept her interests. She is able to discover herself and keep her interests at the same time.