Month: November 2018

When Life Gives You Demons

When Life Gives You DemonsWhen Life Gives You Demons by Jennifer Honeybourn
Published by Swoon Reads on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 1250158230
Pages: 272
Goodreads
three-stars

In her humorous self-deprecating voice, meet Shelby Black, high school exorcist- in- training.  If that sounds exciting, it’s not as exciting as being tutored in geometry by Spencer, the hottest guy in school.  Her uncle Roy, priest, guardian and kick-ass exorcist relentlessly keeps her focused and continues to save her from her failures as various demons try to take over the people in her world.   Like all underappreciated hero’s, Shelby keeps her abilities a secret.  As the mystery around her mother’s disappearance deepens, Shelby must learn to follow the strict lines of safe “exorcistic” practice, work as a team member and communicate with Spencer without hyperventilating.  Maybe all that training will land her a date!

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

three-stars

Not Even Bones

Not Even BonesNot Even Bones (Market of Monsters, #1) by Rebecca Schaeffer
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1328863549
Pages: 368
Goodreads
four-stars

Nita has always helped her mom dissect dead monsters or “Unnaturals” that she brings home to sell the sought after parts on the black market.  Dissection is Nita’s thing or ingrain need.  Up until now they have kept under the radar of the International Non-Human Police (INHUP).  Their status changes and their system is dangerously jeopardized when her mom brings home a live boy and expects Nita to dissect him.    Nita helps him escape and then finds herself kidnapped and placed in a cage on a deserted island in the South American jungle as part of a “live” part monster trade.  Fortunately, Nita is not human and is able to heal herself and negate responses from her pain receptors.  Unfortunately, there is a market for her special skin.

Schaeffer provides minute to minute action and one dangerous situation after another intertwined with Nita’s personal budding self-awareness of the “rules” she wants to live by that guides her monster-ish needs.  The content of cutting up bodies and monsters (human and non-human) that have a psychopathic  need to cause pain, dissect bodies, and eat parts of bodies is graphic and slightly disturbing, a horror reader’s dream.  Envision a monster “Dexter” for the mature high school reader.   There is a cliff-hanger ending which will have reader’s holding their breath until the next installment.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

four-stars

Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Sea Monsters

Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Sea MonstersPip Bartlett's Guide to Sea Monsters (Pip Bartlett, #3) by Jackson Pearce, Maggie Stiefvater
Published by Scholastic Press on June 26th 2018
ISBN: 0545709326
Pages: 176
Goodreads
two-stars

This is the third installment of the Pip Bartlett’s series on different monsters and magical creatures.  The focus and setting of this story is the seaside and creatures associated with the sea.  Pip and her older cousin Callie are spending a seaside vacation with Pip’s best friend Tomas and his family.  Pip’s ability to understand non-human creatures helps assist the small town and it’s aquarium as it becomes the target of vandals and bizarre happenings.   The theme of missing family and “being homesick” runs through the human and sea creature story lines.

The book layout is similar to the others in the series, with short chapters interspersed with illustrative pages representing a sea monster guide that shows various sea monsters, corresponding to the story that provides sizes, personal habits and other fun facts.  There was an abrupt transition of scene and setting between Chapters 4 and 5 that proved jarring.  It also seemed unclear what the actual ages of Tomas’s triplet brothers were throughout the story.   Fans of Pip Bartlett won’t be deterred from this seaside mystery by those few quibbles.

 

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

two-stars

The Lost Causes

The Lost CausesThe Lost Causes by Alyssa Embree Schwartz, Jessica Koosed Etting
Published by Kids Can Press on September 5th 2017
ISBN: 1771388447
Pages: 344
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A small group of high school kids is tricked into taking a drug by the FBI. This drug enhances their psychic abilities.  They are the loses of the high school, no friends, parents don't care about them, and teachers have given up on them. The FBI needs them to help solve a murder mystery and find the missing drug that causes their new psychic abilities. 

The action is stronger than the character development, but it is a fun fast moving story with many twists. 

A small group of high school kids is tricked into taking a drug by the FBI. This drug enhances their psychic abilities.  They are the loses of the high school, no friends, parents don’t care about them, and teachers have given up on them. The FBI needs them to help solve a murder mystery and find the missing drug that causes their new psychic abilities.

The action is stronger than the character development, but it is a fun fast moving story with many twists.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

three-stars

If Animals Celebrated Christmas

If Animals Celebrated ChristmasIf Animals Celebrated Christmas by Ann Whitford Paul
on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0374309019
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Twelve types of wild animals find themselves celebrating the fast approaching Christmas Day.   Each prepares in their own way, combined their traditions cover most of the human activities surrounding the holiday.  The animals find ways to be involved that seems logical for that species; including singing, gift making, decorating, letter writing and cuddling.  Paul’s text imagines lovely individual and group activities and Walker’s illustrations bring it all to life.  The color selection is very bright and pleasing.

The story-line and illustrations contained in “If Animals Celebrated Christmas” make a warm and cozy read.  From pre-school to grade 1 children will want to sit in a big comfy chair with their favorite adult as the story is read aloud.    This is a comfort book, one that will make a good Christmas gift for little children on everyone’s shopping list.   Public librarians will want to order a copy for their picture book or holiday picture book section.

four-stars

Spy Penguins

Spy PenguinsSpy Penguins by Sam Hay, Marek Jagucki
Published by Feiwel & Friends on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1250188385
Pages: 240
Goodreads
four-stars

Best friends Jackson and Quigley desperately want to be FBI (Frosty Bureau of Investigation) agents and are out to prove their value.  Alas the bureau does not hire young penguins and more disturbing, they do not even listen to these two inspired and creative youths.  When fish go missing from an aquarium the buddies make use of Quigley’s tinkering creative talents.   The storyline is more humor than mystery but it is a quick and humorous read.  Black and while sketches enhance the text.

 This reader has a copy with missing pages, the story ended on page 200 with no resolution.  The next 25 pages plus title and index of a young adult book where included within the cover pages.   Certainly this was an accident as student readers will want to read how the friends’  story ends.   Add this to intermediate schools media centers as grade 3-5 students will enjoy the humor, sketches and mystery. Librarians beware, ask if the books available from your distributor are complete.

four-stars

Dino-Christmas

Dino-ChristmasDino-Christmas by Lisa Wheeler, Barry Gott
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on September 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512403156
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

As Christmas approaches the local dinosaurs are making preparations all over town.  While T.rex munches s’mores, Raptor is enjoying the first snow with other dino buddies.  This book is humorous and silly to the max, readers will tour the community, meet all the residents and laugh at their pranks.  Wheeler offers a fun folic to her Dino loving readers but many of the rhyme patterns feel forced.  Gott’s illustrations are large and very colorful as well as being dynamic.  Best is the size of the font which is readable for the intended audience of early readers in K – grade 3. 

This reader is somewhat off put by the total elimination of any religious observation within the community.   Christmas is a religious holiday yet this is totally secular.  Add this where other titles  by this author are cherished. 

three-stars

Girls can’t Hit

Girls can’t HitGirls Can't Hit by T.S. Easton
Published by Feiwel & Friends on April 18th 2017
ISBN: 1250102324
Pages: 288
Goodreads
three-stars

“Girls can’t Hit” is by T. S. Easton, the author of “Boys don’t Knit.” It is not a direct sequel, but is a kind of spiritual successor. In this story, Fleur is a British teenager who has two parents who argue often. Her mother is extremely overprotective, to a ludicrous degree. When Fleur decides on a whim to try out boxing, her mother and father are both upset. Fleur finds out that she really enjoys the way that boxing makes her feel powerful and alive, even though her parents, friends, and longtime boyfriend do not understand.

There is a decent amount of British slang, which may throw off American teens a bit, as well as a lot of teen drinking, since British teenagers can drink in pubs. But other than that, it has very relatable moments for all readers. There are feminist themes as Fleur discovers who she wants to be and the book handles difficult issues with realistic humor. I would recommend this book for YA readers of realistic fiction, especially if they enjoy British fiction. I may not have loved all aspects of the book, but by the end I was seriously considering trying out boxing.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

Vivid: Poems & Notes About Color

Vivid: Poems & Notes About ColorVivid: Poems & Notes about Color by Julie Paschkis
Published by Godwin Books/Henry Holt and Company on July 31st 2018
ISBN: 1250122295
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Colors bounce, bloom and dive into a world made bright by a talented author/ illustrator.  Vivid is a total artistic experience, what you see is movement and action all over the two page format.   Brightly colored illustrations are teamed with both a poem and an information block combining to make a winning concept poetry book for primary grade students. Background space is not limited to white, adding variety and interest.  Indigo is the most striking illustration, readers will anticipate entering the cool water as the girl dives in.  Many of the facts offered go beyond the grade K-2 audience making the book a fun fast read for older students.

Purchase this book for public library collection and then decide where to shelf.  Should it be among poetry or concept books?   Art teachers would be thrilled to receive this book as a gift and primary school media specialist will want it available to language teachers and students.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

Poop Detectives

Poop DetectivesPoop Detectives by Ellen Lawrence
Published by Not Avail on August 1st 2017
ISBN: 1684022452
Goodreads
three-stars

Young readers interested in early man and wild animals may find Poop Detectives enlightening and a little gross.  Lawrence shows how scientists and dogs search for poop in the field which is then testing in the lab.   The study of poop provides answers to questions about the health of endangered animals, establishes the DNA of dogs, and reveals facts about prehistoric eating patterns.   This is a nonfiction picture book that includes a simple lab, explains in text and pictures the science words used, and offers an index.   Clear and colorful photographs enhance the text and blue informative bubbles provide more specific facts.

A good match for K – grade 2 audience who enjoy bathroom talk, there is much content they will enjoy. Young scientist and Captain Underpants readers would make up most of the audience. Purchase of this book is not essential and the price is rather high for many libraries.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

three-stars