Month: December 2018

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden GardenThe Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1328770028
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The follow-up to The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (soon to be a motion picture!), the continuing adventures of twins Isa and Jessie, their brother Oliver, and their sisters Hyacinth and Laney. When their beloved neighbor Mr. Jeet has another stroke, they decide they will reclaim the abandoned lot next to Triple J’s church (Triple J, also known as the Pastor James Joseph Jackson) and turn it into a beautiful garden. Unfortunately, Mr. Huxley has plans to sell the lot to balance the church budget. Will the Vanderbeeker children be able to create a beautiful garden before Mr. Jeet comes home from the hospital? Will they find a way to save the lot from development? It will take a neighborhood to solve all the problems. Includes beautiful pen-and-ink drawings by the author that grow more elaborate and detailed as the garden grows and a map of their neighborhood on the end papers.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

 

five-stars

The Shadow Hand

The Shadow HandBabysitting Nightmares: The Shadow Hand by Kat Shepherd
Published by Imprint on June 5th 2018
ISBN: 1250156963
Pages: 208
Genres: Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

First in a new series about a group of friends navigating the usual school and friendship issues who also happen to find themselves with an unusual supernatural situation. Rebecca is babysitting baby Kyle one night when a freak storm occurs. It’s a freak storm mainly because it seemed to only affect Kyle’s house. Rebecca and her friends with the help of Clio’s Aunt Kawanna become convinced that Kyle has been replaced by a changling and that they have until the next full moon to rescue Kyle. This is a light horror/fantasy book that should serve as a not-too-scary way for young readers to test out the genre.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

 

 

three-stars

1968: Today’s Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change

1968: Today’s Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change1968: Today's Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change by Marc Aronson, Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0763689939
Pages: 208
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

1968 was a momentous year in history. The Vietnam War was at its height and protests were also at a height. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy, Jr. were both assassinated, there were protests in Chicago at the Democratic Convention, Mexico City just ahead of the 1968 Mexico Olympics, at the Olympics, in Prague, and in Paris. China was undergoing a “Cultural Revolution.” This book of essays covers historic events that took place 50 years ago and many of these issues are still relevant today. The editors offer this book in hopes readers will reflect on issues and protests from 1968 and how they have shaped our world today. Some pieces are memoirs, others are extensively-researched. The book includes author notes, source notes, bibliography, and index.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

 

 

five-stars

Economic Inequality

Economic InequalityEconomic Inequality: The American Dream Under Siege by Coral Celeste Frazer
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (CT) on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512431079
Pages: 128
Goodreads
four-stars

Beginning with the American Revolution, Coral Celeste Frazer traces and defines economic inequality in America. She brings the topic right up to the present covering the outsourcing of jobs, the threat of automation, as well as the impact of gender and race on economics. Frazer expertly defines ideas like income versus wealth, gerrymandering, and potential solutions to such as basic income. Personal stories are highlighted from the main text throughout the book to bring the topics to a relatable level. Although Frazer works hard to remain neutral, readers will leave with a feeling that more could and should be done to rectify the worsening economic inequality in the United States. She encourages social action by highlighting the work of unions and encouraging readers to vote with their dollars. Source notes, glossary, a selected bibliography and index are included.

Grades 8 and up.

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

four-stars

The Reptile Club

The Reptile ClubThe Reptile Club by Maureen Fergus, Elina Ellis
Published by Kids Can Press on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 177138655X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars
The readership for this picture book is probably k-2 since the setting is the school. Rory has not been able to choose a club to belong to in his new school because he is not interested in glee club, ballet, knitting, karate, theater and/or cooking. His parents suggest that he start his own. He is interested in reptiles and proceeds to advertise his new club in the school with posters. The day of his new club meeting no one comes to his club. Just as Rory is ready to give up, there is a knock on the classroom door. In walk a crocodile, an anaconda and a gecko who each share a quick fun fact about themselves and want to join the club. As the other students return, they show an interest in joining, too. As the school year progresses, the club does all kinds of activities, in and out of school, “never in the history of the world had mammals and reptiles gotten along so well.” When it comes time for the reptiles to go hibernate the club realizes that they need to change topics. Dinosaurs anyone?

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

three-stars

Incredible Science Trivia

Incredible Science TriviaIncredible Science Trivia: Fun Facts and Quizzes by Heather E. Schwartz
Published by Lerner Publications on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512483346
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This book features trivia, fun facts and quizzes pertaining to the world of science and one book in a 5 book trivia series. The other trivia book topics include animals, history, sports and tech. Broken into fourteen segments, each two-page spread includes trivia questions and answers, and several facts on the topic. A sampling of the topics includes: Around Your Home, Crazy Cures, How Would Life be different in Space and Insect Science. The back pages include 10 true or false questions, a page that explains how trivia is big business, a popular pastime and workout for the brain. It also includes a further information page that includes a listing of websites and books and a photo acknowledgements page. 4-color photographs appear on all the pages breaking up the text that is broken up into easy to read text blocks and call outs. This book should hold children's interest and provides interesting tidbits into the fascinating world of science.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library

three-stars

Quiet Wyatt

Quiet WyattQuiet Wyatt by Tammi Sauer
Published by Clarion Books on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 0544113306
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars
Wyatt is a quiet guy, perfect for being a tree in the school play, a model museum visitor and ninja at camp. Wyatt’s quiet nature is tested when he is paired with Noreen, his complete antithesis, during a school field trip. Noreen’s loud and confident manner provides comic situations as her enthusiasm overrides her common sense, something that quiet Wyatt must provide in a loud way. In the end, their new friendship compliments their differences. Howard’s brightly colored and stylized cartoons show action, expression and the understated humor of the text. Perfect for the story time crowd and reassuring a young one who is known to be quiet.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Rosie’s Glasses

Rosie’s GlassesRosie's Glasses by Dave Whamond
Published by Kids Can Press on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1771389915
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars
In this wordless picture book, a grade school aged girl, assumed to be named Rosie based on the title of the book, wakes up late, gets ready for school, sits through dreary classes and walks with her father who is on the cell phone through the park. All of the illustrations are in black, white and greys conveying a sad Rosie with a grey rain cloud above her hear and irritating situations in a busy street where buildings bend low and dark clouds. When Rosie notices a butterfly in bright colors and follows it to a pair of glasses, she puts them on and everything appears in bright colors and the irritations and sadness displayed in all the background illustrations are resolved. Her new daily routine is still loud and busy, but in color and everyone on the busy street is smiling, giving, and sharing.

When Rosie accidentally drops the glasses in the river, it takes her happy dog to draw her back into the colorful/positive world, leaving the glasses for the next sad child to find. This picture book provides an illustrated way of describing either depression or point of view. It is left up to those sharing the reading experience to distinguish it’s use.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Play

PlayPlay by Jez Alborough
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on June 12th 2018
ISBN: 0763695998
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Goodreads
three-stars

Play by Jez Alborough is the sequel to Hug. (Alborough is also the author of Where’s My Teddy.) Once again baby chimp Bobo and his mother have a brief adventure told through one word speech bubbles and bold, colorful illustrations. Bobo wants to keep playing at bedtime. He plays with a giraffe and then a turtle before finally snuggling down with his mother after dark. Children 2 through 5 will sympathize with this young chimp’s love for life,  his unwillingness to stop playing until dark,and his love and need for his mother. While not quite as successful as Hug,youngsters who enjoyed Bobo’s first story will welcome and enjoy this sequel.  Recommended for libraries where Hug is popular.  Margy Soule, Coffin Elementary School , Brunswick.

three-stars

The cheerleaders

The cheerleadersThe Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
Published by Delacorte Press on July 31st 2018
ISBN: 1524718327
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-stars
This is an engrossing, slightly complicated, mystery for high school readers that brings each party involved into question and leaves room for a neatly engineered and satisfying ending.

Five years ago, five members of the high school cheerleading squad died within weeks of each other leaving the town reeling. The last death was sixteen-year-old Monica’s sister Jen who allegedly committed suicide. Monica calls out sick from school after having a secret abortion and fills her time snooping in her stepdad’s desk, the town police officer responsible for shooting the accused murderer. Monica is spurred on to re-open the various events that led up to the cheerleading deaths, when she finds her sister’s cell phone and anonymous threatening letters in his desk drawer. With a new friend from school, Monica begins connecting the dots and placing herself in situations of escalating danger. This is a solid mystery with the right amount of reveals and high school situations.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

four-stars