In a slightly fantastical New York City, one very special library branch has been designated for possible closure. Bookish, socially awkward Pearl, the daughter of the librarian, can't imagine a world without the library—its books, its community of oddballs, its hominess. When the head of their Edna St. Vincent Millay statue goes missing, closure is closer than ever.
But Pearl is determined to save the library. And with a ragtag neighborhood library crew—including a constantly tap-dancing girl who might just be her first friend, an older boy she has a crush on, and a pack of raccoons who can read and write—she just might be able to.
With an eclectic cast of richly drawn characters, a hint of just-around-the-corner magic, footnotes, sidebars, and Jessixa Bagley's classic illustrations throughout, this warm-hearted, visually magnificent tale of reading and believing from beloved author Karen Romano Young tells of a world where what you want to believe can come true.
"I adore A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon—a tale bursting with charm, lovable characters, and excitement that builds and builds until I almost exploded.... It's a paean of praise to books, reading, librarians, and the preciousness of home, wherever home may be." —Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted
"[A] fast-moving plot with an entertaining narrative reveal. Bagley's illustrations bring Pearl's world to life."—The Horn Book Magazine
"[A]n enchanting plunge into the underbelly of a failing library and a city brimful of secrets.... The magic of reading is given a refreshingly real twist."—Kirkus Reviews
"Big-hearted and dazzling, this classic-in-the-making is not to be missed."— Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan
"Hilarious and brilliant, you'll be rooting for Pearl as she fights to keep what she loves most."—Girls' Life