A Lottie Lipton adventure: The scroll of Alexandria by Dan Metcalf

Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781472911872
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. If you are looking for a new series to engage newly independent readers, you need look no further!
Imagine living in a museum full of rare and wonderful objects. Lottie Lipton, nine years old, lives in the British Museum with her Great Uncle Bert and absolutely adores the Great Library with its vast collection of rare and valuable books. Rapacious Sir Trevelyan Taylor, the new Head Curator of the museum, has other views and sees the disposal of the books as a prime money raiser, claiming that books have no place in a museum and no regard for the Royal Appointment that placed them there by King George - which came with unbreakable instructions that the collection must not be split.
But if Lottie and Great Uncle Bert can find the last remaining scroll of the ancient library of Alexandria, which would definitely constitute a museum artefact then the nasty Sir Trev's plot will be well and truly foiled.
Young readers will love helping Lottie with her puzzle and decoding secret messages as this determined girl follows the clues to find the missing scroll. Her fellow investigators, Great Uncle Bert and Reg the caretaker are fun characters adding humour to the story. A glossary of more difficult words is included at the end of the book along with a couple of additional brainteasers to solve.
Look for at least three more titles forthcoming in this terrific interactive series. Highly recommended for readers from around 7 years up.
Sue Warren