One of the novel’s narrators and main characters, Evan is a kind and insightful fifth grader living in Martinville with his parents. Evan is comforted by routine and regularity; he always stops at the same tree, for example, on his way to school. While his peers look forward to fifth-grade graduation, he is anxious about the end of elementary school because it means he must attend middle school. Evan is highly nervous about the changes this will bring, laying the groundwork for a character arc centered on Growing up and Finding One’s Purpose.

Evan has a natural curiosity about the world around him that leads him to explore the little free library, which catches his attention because it is new and out of the ordinary. Likewise, Evan notices his father’s strange behavior around the library books and senses something is amiss. He exercises bravery and intelligence when he sets out to learn more about the fire that destroyed the Martinville Library, the secrets surrounding which further bring out Evan’s desire to know the truth. Evan’s love for his father and concern that his father is upset about the fire also motivate him to discover what truly happened.