Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics

Back at the motel, Kyle interrupts the other teams’ breakfasts to ask for their help. Akimi explains about the missing books. Some of the other contestants grumble about being asked to help complete the 12th game when there are no additional prizes to be won. Kyle reminds them that they, too, love the Lemoncello Library and should want to see it saved. This turns the tide, and other contestants begin chiming in that they will help. Kyle says that the first step is to look at all the medals. The Midwest team tells him not to worry about whether Marjory will cooperate because one of their chaperones made Marjory turn over all their medals to her. When Kyle asks where Marjory is, they tell him that she has gone for a walk with their other chaperone, a Catholic priest. Andrew enters and tells Kyle that they need to talk.

Andrew tells Kyle what he has learned about Marjory’s theft of the book on behalf of Woody and Susana. He says that he suspects Marjory has gone to talk with the priest because she is feeling guilty. After asking Akimi and Miguel to stay at the motel, collect the medals, and try to figure out their coded message, Andrew, Sierra, and Kyle head back to the library to check out Clarence’s complete list of missing books. As soon as Sierra and Andrew look over the list, they see an obvious pattern—but Kyle has no idea what they are seeing.

Andrew and Sierra realize that all the missing books have something to do with squirrels. Andrew explains that his uncle hates squirrels because they mess with the feeders for the birds Woody loves so much. They conclude that Woody hates squirrels so much that he does not want anyone else to be able to read about them. Kyle thinks that this is why the Squirrel Squad Six game was the only video game not working at the motel. Andrew tells Kyle and Sierra that he would like to help them find the missing books: No matter how “loony” Lemoncello’s ideas about libraries are, he says, he will defend Lemoncello’s right to stock the library’s shelves with whichever books Lemoncello chooses. Akimi calls them and asks them to meet at Liberty Park, across the street from the motel.

On the way to the park, Kyle calls Akimi and learns that she, Miguel, and one player from each team will meet them at the park. One of the Mountain team players decoded this location from the first letters of the names of the medals. Once they are all at the park, Kyle remembers Lemoncello saying that the “Yertle the Turtle” medal was the most important of all of them. He heads for a climbing structure shaped like a turtle, where they find a bright yellow envelope labeled “Clue.”

Inside the envelope is a card containing GPS coordinates. Two of the players with geocaching experience explain how to find the coordinates. They lead to the mailbox outside the Blue Jay Extended Stay Lodge. Inside the mailbox is another yellow “clue” envelope. This one contains riddles, so one of the Southeast team members who is an expert in riddles takes charge. She explains that all three riddles have the same answer: a dumpster. Andrew leads them to the motel’s dumpster, which is smelly and covered in flies. Akimi says that Kyle should be the one to search it because he is this impromptu team’s captain. Kyle says that he is only the captain of the Ohio hometown team, but the rest of the group responds by quickly electing him captain, and Kyle is the one who has to open the dumpster.

Fortunately, the next clue is taped inside the lid and Kyle does not have to climb inside the trash container. This time, the clue is a package; the group decides to go “somewhere a little less rank” before opening it (239). In the parking lot near the lobby, Andrew opens the package and finds a book: “Louie the Locksmith’s Big Book of Padlocks, Dead Bolts, and Tumblers” (239). Pranav, a member of the Pacific team, says that he earned his place on the team using the Dewey decimal code of this exact book as the combination for a lock. When he glances at the book’s spine, however, he realizes that its code has been altered. Andrew thinks of Woody’s storage vault and suggests that this altered Dewey decimal code might be the combination to Woody’s vault. The group enters the lobby and slides back the wall that hides the vault. Their first try at the combination does not work; Kyle suggests reversing the direction of the spins, and this time, the vault opens.

The enormous safe has nothing in it except for some birdseed sacks. They can see indentations in the carpet where the boxes of books were most likely stored, however. They hear Marjory outside, screaming at someone to stop what they are doing; they race outside to see all the other Library Olympians and their chaperones staring in horror at the fire Woody has started in the motel’s fire pit. Marjory is crying and begging Woody not to burn the crates of books stolen from the Lemoncello Library. Woody claims that he is trying to protect children from “lies” about friendly squirrels. Kyle proposes that they play a game, and if the Olympians win Woody cannot burn the books. Woody asks what he gets if he wins the game, and Kyle is not sure what to offer him. Marjory steps forward and offers her a “Go to College Free” card, saying that Woody can burn it along with the books if he wins.

Kyle urges Marjory to reconsider since the card is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Marjory says that freedom of speech is more important than money. Inspired by her commitment, Kyle offers his own card. One by one, the other Olympians follow suit. Giggling, Woody crumples the cards into a ball. He tells Kyle that they will play a riddle game. Kyle says that this is fine since there are many good riddle-solvers among the Library Olympians. Woody says that Kyle must be the one to solve the riddle since he issued the challenge. He asks whether Kyle is afraid to be the one to lose everyone’s chance at college, and Kyle admits that he is not the best Olympian at solving riddles. The other children express support for Kyle and faith in his abilities, and Woody delivers his riddle. It is a difficult one that Kyle struggles to solve, but eventually, Kyle gives the correct answer. Woody suddenly has a British accent as he congratulates the Olympians on their victory, calling them “true champions.” Just then, Lemoncello and Zinchenko arrive, their cars flanked by a police escort.

Lemoncello calls to “Donald” to put out the fire. Woody complies cheerfully. Lemoncello explains that Woody is Donald Thorne, the famous actor he previously mentioned as his acting coach. Thorne’s real job was to train Zinchenko and Lemoncello to pretend to be devastated by the theft of the books and to play the role of Woody. Having tested the Olympians’ devotion to the library and to freedom of expression, Lemoncello now intends to make the Library Olympians the new board of directors for the library. Marjory apologizes for stealing the book. Lemoncello says that it was all part of his plan, and Marjory has redeemed herself by fighting so hard to save the library.

At the closing ceremonies, Lemoncello gives all the Olympians—plus Andrew—college scholarships. Zinchenko gives Kyle a copy of Ohio River Pirates and Scallywags, explaining that the book contains information about a pirate ancestor of Susana’s. This book was her real target when she got the original Alexandriaville Library shut down. Zinchenko tells Kyle, “Knowledge can be a very powerful and, for some, frightening thing” (261). Kyle finds Lemoncello and asks whether part of his plan was to get Andrew interested in libraries again. Lemoncello implies that this is correct.

Two weeks later, Kyle goes to the Lemoncello Library after school. Charles is outside, picketing. Inside, the Lemoncello statue is back, and a new slogan has been added: “A LIBRARY IS AN ARSENAL OF LIBERTY” (265). The library is full of patrons, and Kyle is happy to know that he and the rest of the board help to protect the library’s ability to serve them. Miguel and Akimi tell Kyle that there is a new game in the Electronic Learning Center, but Kyle tells them to have fun without him: He is volunteering in the Children’s Room today. In the Children’s Room, a child holds a copy of Flora and Ulysses. Kyle tells the child that it is a good book, and he feels wonderful when the child runs off to check the book out.