Month: January 2019

Strange Star

Strange StarStrange Star by Emma Carroll
Published by Delacorte Press on March 20th 2018
ISBN: 0399556052
Pages: 240
Goodreads
four-stars

This novel intertwines Lord Byron, Mary and Percy Shelley, Dr. John Polidori, and Claire Clairmont with fictional characters for an interesting story concerning a scientist, a wolf, and two sisters. Lord Byron and his guests are gathered at his villa at Lake Geneva in June 1816 for dinner with ghost stories to follow. It is a dark and stormy night. One of the guests screams that someone is outside. There are a variety of noises and then silence. A young girl is found outside. She appears to be dead and has an unusual scar. The story goes on to introduce Dr. Francesca Stein and her experiments with electricity. The fictional character Felix, a black servant, plays a large role in the story as well as the girl discovered outside. Some of the same themes of Frankenstein are explored in this well written and fast moving novel. In the afterward the author explains how the story of Frankenstein inspired this novel. It was previously published in the UK in 2016. This is the first U.S. edition. Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

Tough Cookie

Tough CookieTough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway
Published by Henry Holt and Company on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1627794417
Pages: 34
Goodreads
three-stars

The Sugar Cookie Man is not sweet nor tender, can’t run fast, can’t build a proper gingerbread house, so what is he good for? Fox tries to eat him, chase him, and then helps him find what he is good at for the benefit of Christmastown.

End papers show numerous holiday characters that can be found throughout the story if one has a careful eye. Full-color art “created with oils on board sprinkled with Adobe Photoshop.” Some pages have double-spread, some have silhouettes, some have closeups, and others show large sections of the town.

Recipes for a gluten-free  “Tough Cookie” recipe, and a non-edible Tough Cookie ornament are included.

Encourages self-discovery and perseverance in finding one’s place.

Good for libraries needing Gingerbread Man variants.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School Library, Old Town

three-stars

Knights vs. Dinosaurs

Knights vs. DinosaursKnights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0062686232
Pages: 160
Goodreads
four-stars

“Knights vs. Dinosaurs” may be just the book to rekindle interest in either of these topics for middle elementary or readers transitioning to chapter books. The first chapter could be a little slow if they don’t know much about Camelot.

After Merlin challenges four bragging knights, they find themselves mysteriously transported to a strange place. Along with their confusion at this, battles with creatures they’ve never seen before, and the surprise of finding out one of the knights is a girl, there is humor. Imagine giant chickens that are purring one minute, then attacking you the next!

Merlin helps them discover their individual strengths are much more effective when used as a team. Generous line spacing and short sentences keep the action moving. Readers may also be pulled in by the action in the cartoon-style strips that appear in various places throughout. The black and white illustrations have broad brush strokes and fine lines for details.

The author clearly states in the backmatter that dinosaurs did not live during the same era or regions and includes short descriptions of the six dinosaurs featured in story.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School Library, Old Town

four-stars

Little Fox in the Snow

Little Fox in the SnowLittle Fox in the Snow by Jonathan London, Daniel Miyares
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on November 13th 2018
ISBN: 0763688142
Pages: 40
Goodreads
two-stars

What would a winter day in the life of a young fox be like? This book attempts to bring the reader into his survival struggles.

The narrative gives an irregular rhythm, some phrases flow, others are jarring and abrupt with intermittent rhyming. Some of the phrases are literal, others are figurative: “You’re a blur of fur…The sinking sun sets your coat aglow.” and “eyes flare up lie struck matches.”

Ink and watercolor illustrations take the reader into the fox’s forest domain, and begins and ends the day right in the safe, dark den. Some readers may recognize the yellow/pink/reds in the distance as sunrise/sunsets; others may think the forest is on fire. Text in bold font is appropriately placed on white spaces of the double-page spreads.

Some readers may recognize the nature of life (foxes need to eat mice and rabbits); other may be horrified at the death of the cute cuddly bunny.

In one scene, the fox smells a vixen, but instead sees a wolverine. The vixen is not mentioned again until he dreams of her later. In several places the word ‘foxling’ is used, but if the fox is that young, would a vixen be of interest to him yet?

This book could be used for food web and predator/prey studies, although several sources I examined about wolverines and fox did not indicate that wolverines eat foxes. Wolverines will eat large animals and dig into dens and eat hibernating animals, but I could not find that fox was specifically listed as one of their dietary staples. As much as the wolverine adds drama to the fox’s day,  and though their eyes may glow at night, the illustration show them glowing red.

Fans of Jonathan London may want to purchase this, but the inconsistencies are a distraction.

Libraries needing picture books on fox may want to consider Laurence Pringle’s “The Secret Life of the Red Fox” c2017.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School Library, Old Town

two-stars

My Family Divided

My Family DividedMy Family Divided: One Girl's Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope by Diane Guerrero
Published by Henry Holt & Company on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 1250134862
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

With all that is happening with immigration in the United States today, Diane Guerrero’s autobiography about her experiences as the daughter of undocumented immigrants is sad, angering and leaves the reader asking questions. This book is the YA version of  In the Country We Love: My Family Divided . The photographs  are of her family and are placed throughout various chapters.

Her personal account is filled with happy family moments, celebrations, love of family, community and country along with the determination of not only her family , but others like theirs, to be hard working and lawful members of the country they hoped to be citizens of.

At the back of the book there are sources listed where the reader can learn more about the immigration reform debate being held in the United States and how the reader can get involved, if interested. Recommended for grades 7-12.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School

five-stars

Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

Assassination of Brangwain SpurgeThe Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson, Eugene Yelchin
Published by Candlewick Press on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 0763698229
Pages: 544
Goodreads
five-stars

This character-driven and wonderfully funny book is centered on two main characters — Spurge, the Elfin historian, who is sent to the Goblin kingdom, by his childhood nemesis to give the Goblin overlord, what Spurge thinks is a peace offering. Meanwhile the goblin historian, Werfel, is to host Spurge like his life is at stake, until the evil overlord is ready to meet Spurge. Needless to say things don’t turn out as either Spurge or Werfel expect! A quote from Kirkus Review (7/1/18) describes this book perfectly, “Monty Python teams up with Maxwell Smart for a wrestling match with Tolkien”.

The illustrations are done in pen and ink then assembled digitally. Most of the chapters that pertain to Spurge are illustrated, telling his thoughts and journeys; then they are unfolded with Werfel’s viewpoint in the next chapter.  Recommended for grades 5- 8, but anyone who likes a good fantasy will enjoy this book.

Highly recommended!

five-stars

My Life as a Youtuber

My Life as a YoutuberMy Life as a Youtuber (My Life, #7) by Janet Tashjian, Jake Tashjian
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on April 3rd 2018
ISBN: 1627798927
Pages: 272
Goodreads
three-stars

The seventh book in the “My Life” series,  “My Life as a YouTuber” finds Derek Fallon taking a class on how to make his own YouTube videos. Set up in the same way as the others in the series, this story begins with Derek and his friends doing something innocent enough, but Derek can’t seem to help himself and quickly makes a series of bad decisions. Derek decides to use the family’s Capuchin monkey, Frank, in his videos without telling his parents or his teacher, and gets caught up in trying to get subscribers and video views and competing with his classmates whose videos are much more popular.

While this book is fairly formulaic, as with the rest of the series, kids will relate to the topical social media story line and to Derek’s struggles. Purchase where the series is popular.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

Misfits

MisfitsMisfits (Royal Academy Rebels #1) by Jen Calonita
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 1492651281
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

Princess Devin can talk to animals and wants to be a magical animal caretaker, but her mother has other ideas. She is a princess and has to go to the Royal Academy to train to be one. But when she gets there, something is wrong. The fairy godmother running the academy is not the person Devin thought she was. Fun book with magic, humor, dragons and mystery to boot. Princess Devin is definitely not your typical princess and the challenges she faces in being who she wants to be will be well received by readers. There is action and drama in the story but with enough humor to lighten it up. A good choice for readers that enjoy a touch of fairy tale to their humorous adventures and a royal female character that might not be what you expect her to be.

Recommended for ages 9 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Me

five-stars

The Fall of Grace

The Fall of GraceThe Fall of Grace by Amy Fellner Dominy
Published by Delacorte Press on April 10th 2018
ISBN: 1101936231
Pages: 304
Goodreads
three-stars

A young woman’s happy life is thrown into upheaval when her mother, a broker, collapses and is hospitalized after her office is raided by investigators who suspect her of fraudulent activity with her investors’ money. Grace has been raised in a wealthy and insular community and many of her friends’ families were heavily invested in her mother’s fund, leading them to turn against Grace even as her mother lies unresponsive in the hospital. The novel moves between this dramatic event and a time several months in the future when Grace decides to travel to one of her mother’s favorite destinations in Colorado and climb a mountain there, ostensibly looking for answers to the many questions she has about her mom’s history. However, she is trailed to her destination by Sam, a boy she knows from school whose family has lost everything due to her mother’s deceptions. This sets up a perfect (and predictable) premise in which the two are tortured by their burgeoning feelings for one another as they navigate the demanding path up the mountain. Readers may be willing to accept the somewhat outlandish set-up that places Grace and Sam in a wilderness survival scenario together but many will have a harder time sustaining interest as the protracted machinations of their star-crossed relationship play out. Still teen readers in grades 8-12 who’ve liked mystery/thrillers by authors like Gillian Flynn and Karen McManus will find enough to like and keep them engaged here.

Reviewed by Brooke Faulkner, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford

three-stars

The Parker Inheritance

Pages: 331
three-stars

Candice finds a letter in the attic. It turns out the letter was written by her grandmother. The letter has clues that will lead to a treasure, one that is worth a lot of money. But solving the mystery is not going to be easy especially when many people don’t want the mystery solved. Some of the mystery sections in the book were quite interesting, but there weren’t enough of them . Many of the issues going on in her friend Brandon’s life didn’t really add much to the mystery and ended up slowing it down as did Candice’s parent’s problems. These side stories were a bit unnecessary and took away from the mystery. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

three-stars