It’s a special day at The Mixed-Up Files! I am thrilled to host the cover reveal for THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES (Holiday House 7/22/25) written by Jenny Lundquist and illustrated by Erwin Madrid.
Summary: THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES
Twelve-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald discovers the library her estranged grandfather runs is filled with magical objects—but only one holds the key to her family’s mysterious past.
After being expelled from boarding school—again—Rowan isn’t sure what to expect upon arriving at Fitzgerald Manor. But it sure isn’t this.
The estate is opulent. Lush. Grand. Mind-boggling. And at the heart of it all is Cillian Fitzgerald, her enigmatic grandfather, and his pride and joy: the Library of Curiosities.
Now, everyone knows that libraries are the best. But the Library of Curiosities is the best of the best, because its collection contains a vast trove of magical objects from which lucky patrons can borrow to fix their everyday problems. Still stuck on that language arts story assignment? Try writing it on the enchanted typewriter and see if that doesn’t get the words flowing. Hoping to land the lead in the school musical? Check out a wishing sock. (Use high heat to activate.)
It doesn’t take long for Rowan to realize that in this wondrous place, her own problems—her painful want of family, her deep desire for friends—might actually be solved for the first time in her life.
And now that we have piqued your interest, it’s time for the cover reveal. Drumroll please . . . Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you—THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES!
COVER REVEAL!
Isn’t it GORGEOUS?!
And now it’s time to meet the author . . . Jenny Lundquist.
Lisa: I absolutely LOVE the cover! Erwin Madrid truly captured the magic of the story. How much were you involved in the design process?
Jenny: Holiday House gave me a list of illustrators they had in mind for the cover. I was familiar–and a fan!–of Erwin Madrid’s work and asked if they would reach out to him about doing the cover and was thrilled when he said yes. I LOVE the cover so much! I think he captured so many incredible details, from the whimsical items on the shelves to the shadow of the villain standing behind the window.
Lisa: Tell us about THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES.
Jenny: THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES is about twelve-year-old Rowan Fitzgerald, who gets kicked out of boarding school (again) and is forced to live with her estranged grandfather at his opulent estate and discovers the library he runs is filled not with books, but magical objects, and that he and their family’s archenemy have both been searching for an enigmatic curiosity called the Everheart, that’s been lost for decades. If Rowan and her grandfather don’t find the Everheart first, they’ll both lose everything they’ve ever loved.
Lisa: I read an early version of this book and immediately knew it would find its way into the hands of young readers. It is middle-grade perfection!
Now, on to the questions.
Lisa: Do you base characters on people you know? If yes, spill the beans!
Jenny: No, I never base my characters on real people. I always design my characters according to the plot. For instance, the plot of LIBRARY called for a character who was impulsive and a go-getter, but also had a high amount of empathy. I crafted Rowan after those needs.
Lisa: What was your biggest challenge when writing this book?
Jenny: I’ve been wanting to write a book about a family who collected magical objects for years, but I couldn’t seem to get the setting right. First, I tried having them work at a tent in a flea market, and then in an obscure antique store, and there might have been another setting somewhere in there. But it never landed right. Finally, one day I came up with the idea of setting the story in a library and everything immediately started falling into place. I loved every minute of designing the library and all the wondrous objects it contains inside!
Lisa: How much of your real-life experiences play a role in the stories you tell? (Translation: Do you know of a magical library?)
Jenny: Sadly, I don’t know of any magical libraries in the sense that I think the question is implying. Although, as someone who loves libraries, I have to say my personal belief is that libraries are inherently magical, just as they are, because they grant us passports to worlds we would otherwise not have access to. I put a line to that effect in toward the end of the book because I believe that so strongly!
Lisa: What books did you like to read as a kid? Do those books influence your writing?
Jenny: I loved the Narnia series when I was in elementary school and I have never outgrown the sense of wonder I first felt when reading it. I am still the person that opens a door or a wardrobe and hopes I’ll find a magical world on the other side. 6. What advice would you give twelve-year-old Jenny? I would tell twelve-year-old Jenny not to worry so much about what others are thinking. Everyone is so worried about their own life, that they think about you a whole lot less that you think they do.
Lisa: If you could have one magical object from your story, which would you choose?
If I could choose one object from the story, I would choose a wishing sock. They are socks that grant wishes, but require high heat to activate their magic powers. You can toss one in the dryer but they are single use, so your sock will disappear afterward. The drawback is you’re going to end up with a lot of mismatched and/or lost socks, but the benefit is your wish will come true!
Lisa: What are you working on now?
Jenny: In addition to middle grade, I write for adults. I’m currently revising my debut adult novel, THE STARS OF SOMEWHERE ELSE, which I describe as Narnia for adults with multiple love stories (between romantic partners as well as estranged sisters), shadowy billionaires, and luxury mindsets. I’m also drafting the second book in the contract, so 2025 is shaping up to be a busy year!
Lisa: Thank you so much for stopping by The Mixed Up Files for the cover reveal for your magical new book. We can hardly wait to hold this beauty in our hands! To all our readers, be sure to add THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES to your Goodreads list and pre-order at your favorite local indie or click on the link below.
Happy reading!
Author—Jenny Lundquist
Evoto
As the author of several whimsical middle grade and young adult novels, Jenny Lundquist is no stranger to literary magic. But she also finds plenty of real-world wonder in her home state of California, where she lives and writes alongside several beloved humans, one beloved rescue pup, and, more often than not, a beloved mug of coffee. Jenny received her MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and is proud to say she has never once enlisted the assistance of a magic typewriter. The Stars of Somewhere Else, Jenny’s debut novel for adults, is set to publish in Winter 2026 with Forge/Macmillan. Find her online at Instagram or at Substack, where she hosts her newsletter, Dispatches From Somewhere Else.
Illustrator—Erwin Madrid
Erwin Madrid grew up in San Jose, California. In May 2003, Erwin earned his BFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, CA. During his last semester of college, Erwin was hired by PDI/DreamWorks Animation where he contributed production illustrations for the animated feature film, Shrek 2. He later became a visual development artist for the ongoing Shrek franchise, the Madagascar sequel and Megamind. Erwin has also done conceptual art for the video game industry for titles like Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. His has designed cover art for children’s books for publishers that include Harper Collins, Random House and Simon and Schuster. In his spare time, Erwin travels and paints whenever he has a chance. He currently lives in the Bay Area, California.
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