Summer Hours at the Robbers Library: A Novel

by Sue Halpern Narrated by Josh Bloomberg, Dara Rosenberg, Allyson Ryan

Overview

From journalist and author Sue Halpern comes a wry, observant look at contemporary life and its refugees.* Halpern's novel is an unforgettable tale of family...the kind you come from and the kind you create.

People are drawn to libraries for all kinds of reasons. Most come for the books themselves, of course; some come to borrow companionship. For head librarian Kit, the public library in Riverton, New Hampshire, offers what she craves most: peace. Here, no one expects Kit to talk about the calamitous events that catapulted her out of what she thought was a settled, suburban life. She can simply submerge herself in her beloved books and try to forget her problems.

But that changes when fifteen-year-old, home-schooled Sunny gets arrested for shoplifting a dictionary. The judge throws the book at Sunny—literally—assigning her to do community service at the library for the summer. Bright, curious, and eager to connect with someone other than her off-the-grid hippie parents, Sunny coaxes Kit out of her self-imposed isolation. They're joined by Rusty, a Wall Street high-flyer suddenly crashed to earth.* *

In this little library that has become the heart of this small town, Kit, Sunny, and Rusty are drawn to each other, and to a cast of other offbeat regulars. As they come to terms with how their lives have unraveled, they also discover how they might knit them together again and finally reclaim their stories.

Editorial Reviews

MAY 2018 - AudioFile

Three narrators blend seamlessly to present a story that switches time, locale, and voice frequently. After stealing a book, young Sunny Arkinsky, portrayed by Dara Rosenberg, is “sentenced” to work in the Robbers Library. Sunny’s disposition enlivens the small, struggling library and the life of librarian Kit Sweeney, portrayed by Allyson Ryan. Most appealing are meeting the library’s regulars and hearing insider gossip. Ryan’s and Rosenberg’s performances are deftly enhanced by third narrator Josh Bloomberg’s winning storytelling. Diverse characters and personalities—many eccentric—add to the listening experience. The story centers on Ryan’s prickly Sweeney, who is beaten down by life and content in her isolation. Chatty Sunny and her uninhibited views make her the consummate change agent. This genial audiobook is also a love story about libraries, readers, and books. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Summer Hours at The Robbers Library is whip-smart, funny and moving all at once. A rare combination.

Julia Alvarez

This novel presents a full cast of intriguing, complex characters and a heart-warming message about how our losses are often what allow us to connect with each other.

Marilyn Johnson

Sometimes the best stories in the library aren’t found on its shelves; they’re walking through its doors and congregating by the reference desk. Sue Halpern knows this and mines the setting for comic and tragicomic gold.

Donna Seaman

Finely choreographed and lucidly told, Halpern infuses this tale of derailments and second chances with free-ranging empathy, lithe humor, and penetrating insights into the human psyche. [Halpern is] a discerning and sensitive novelist.

MAY 2018 - AudioFile

Three narrators blend seamlessly to present a story that switches time, locale, and voice frequently. After stealing a book, young Sunny Arkinsky, portrayed by Dara Rosenberg, is “sentenced” to work in the Robbers Library. Sunny’s disposition enlivens the small, struggling library and the life of librarian Kit Sweeney, portrayed by Allyson Ryan. Most appealing are meeting the library’s regulars and hearing insider gossip. Ryan’s and Rosenberg’s performances are deftly enhanced by third narrator Josh Bloomberg’s winning storytelling. Diverse characters and personalities—many eccentric—add to the listening experience. The story centers on Ryan’s prickly Sweeney, who is beaten down by life and content in her isolation. Chatty Sunny and her uninhibited views make her the consummate change agent. This genial audiobook is also a love story about libraries, readers, and books. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173842961
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/27/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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