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Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Brandon Sanderson
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Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson with "Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A comedic middle-grade series about Alcatraz Smedry, who discovers his talent for breaking things and battles the secret cabal of Evil Librarians.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 7 main titles released between 2018 and 2016. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

High Debate

"The comments primarily revolve around a large indie book sale, offering recommendations for various fantasy titles (e.g., *Iron Prince*, *The Wrack*, and *Street Cultivation*). A subset of the comments discusses a massive, 14-book epic fantasy series (not identified as AVEL) that readers found either deeply emotional and worthwhile or overly long, repetitive, and needing consolidation (suggesting 7 books instead of 14). There is no information regarding the reading order for 'Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians' in the provided text."

Key Reddit Advice

The most specific advice relates to pacing in the unidentified epic series: some readers recommend sticking through at least the third or fourth book, while others advise readers to stop if they are tired of the characters by the end of the third book, as the series does not improve for everyone.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

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Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Language:

Publication Reading Order7 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians

Pub: 2018

A hero with an incredible talent...for breaking things. A life-or-death mission...to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from a powerful secret network...the evil Librarians. Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them!...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutzines

2

Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians".

Copper Sun

3

Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia

Pub: 2016★ 4.14

Plot details hidden until you finish "Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones".

When Alcatraz and Grandpa Smedry make a pilgrimage to the Free Kingdom city of Crystallia, they are shocked to find the city under seige by the Evil Librarians--led by Alcatraz's own mother.

4

Los Caballeros De Cristalia / The Knights Of Crystallia

Pub: 2017

Plot details hidden until you finish "Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia".

Alcatraz confronts the secretive Knights of Crystallia, a group of shadowy spies who threaten to expose the Free Kingdoms to the control of the Evil Librarians.

5

Alcatraz Versus The Shattered Lens

Pub: 2018★ 4.17

Plot details hidden until you finish "Los Caballeros De Cristalia / The Knights Of Crystallia".

When a hero is needed to save the doomed kingdom of Mokia from the evil Librarians, thirteen-year-old Alcatraz Smedry, whose family talents include getting lost and breaking things, answers the call.

Curation Note:After the fourth book, original publisher Scholastic declined to commission further titles. Author Brandon Sanderson bought back the rights in 2013 and later sold them to Tor Books, causing a significant gap between the publication of the fourth and fifth books.

6

The Most Boring Book Ever

Pub: 2024Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "Alcatraz Versus The Shattered Lens".

Brace yourself for a truly uneventful narrative where absolutely nothing happens, making it the perfect—or most tedious—read of the century.

7

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Most Boring Book Ever".

Experience the action-packed first book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson's laugh-out-loud middle-grade fantasy series like never before—now in paperback with all new covers! AN ANCIENT RIVALRY REAWAKENS. Everything I'd known about the world was a lie. On my thirteenth birthday, I, Alcatraz Smedry (yes, I got named after a prison, don’t ask) received my inheritance: a bag of sand. And then I accidentally destroyed my foster parents’ kitchen. It’s not my fault, things just break around me, I swear! I thought the sand was a joke until evil Librarians came to steal it. You’re probably thinking, “Librarians are nice people who recommend good books,” but that’s just what they want you to think! It turns out they’re actually a secret cult keeping the truth from you—a hidden world filled with magical eyeglasses, talking dinosaurs, and knights with crystal swords! Or so my Grandpa Smedry claimed when he suddenly showed up to rescue me. So now I have to go with him to invade the local library and get that sand back, before it's used to conquer the world. And Grandpa says how I keep breaking things is actually an amazing talent. There’s no way that can all be true, right? Will I ever make it back home alive? "An excellent choice to read aloud to the whole family. Funny, exciting, and briskly paced." —NPR At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.

Can I read Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.