Month: February 2019

Totally Middle School: Tales of Friends, Family, and Fitting In

Totally Middle School: Tales of Friends, Family, and Fitting InTotally Middle School: Tales of Friends, Family, and Fitting in by Betsy Groban, Karen Cushman, Lois Lowry, Margarita Engle, Gregory Maguire, Linda Sue Park, Ann Dobbin, Gary D. Schmidt, Mary Downing Hahn, Katherine Paterson, Jordan Paterson, Hena Khan, Joyce Sidman, David Wiesner
Published by Delacorte Press on August 7th 2018
ISBN: 1524772208
Pages: 192
Goodreads
five-stars

Totally Middle School is a heartwarming collection of short stories written by top-notch authors and beautifully compiled by editor Betsy Groban. There are eleven stories all dealing with tweens taking the leap from elementary to middle school. The stories cover a broad range of relatable topics and situations that even older readers will make a connection with.  Who hasn’t dealt with bullying, feeling inadequate, fear of the unknown, or having to deal with people that are very different from you?

Groban has strategically placed a photo of the author as middle schoolers along with a humorous snippet of that time period. These short stories will serve as a vehicle to lead a whole new generation of readers to quality literature.  Some of the more established authors are Karen Cushman, Lois Lowry, Gregory Macguire, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, and David Wiesner.

A fun, playful and heartwarming read, I recommend that every public and middle school library get a copy of this book! This is a cream of the crop nominee.

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

five-stars

Girls On the Line

Girls On the LineGirls on the Line by Jennie Liu
Published by Carolrhoda Lab (R) on November 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512459380
Pages: 232
Goodreads

Girls on the Line by Jennie Liu is a hard-hitting contemporary novel focusing on the inequality of class and gender in modern Chinese culture. The plot revolves around two young teenage girls who age-out of the orphanage they grew up in together. Lilu was dropped off by her grandfather whose failing health made it impossible for him to care for her. Yun never knew the love of family as her the mark on her face was considered unlucky and she was left as a baby.  

Yun leaves first,  then Lilu follows Yun, destined to live the rest of their lives as factory workers. But Yun has fallen in love with Yong who is suspected to have ties to human trafficking.

The chapters bounce back and forth between the viewpoint of Yun and Lilu. Yun has an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy. Yong runs from the authorities at the cost of Yun’s welfare.  Lilu struggles to stay afloat working in the factory without a real human connection in a cruel world.

This was a good YA read for high school and college-aged students. It would make for an interesting book discussion.

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

 

Color in Nature

Color in NatureCrayola (R) Color in Nature by Mari C. Schuh
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512466905
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

This is a browsing non-fiction picture book with 5 sections listed in a table of contents for readers in grades 1-3.  Each spread shows photographs of various animals that correspond with an opposing page with a singular idea and simple sentences.  The back grounds are a textured looking beige with squiggle crayon lines as accents.  The first section is only one page, while the others vary in length.  Colors in nature are used for hiding, warning and attracting.  Each section is introduced with a large font and a picture of a crayon with an interactive question inside.  A game in the back asks the reader to locate each crayon color pictured within the book.  There doesn’t seem to be much difference in the hues of the two blues pictured.  There are no keys for the game nor are any of the photos identified with location or animal names.  There is a glossary in the back and a “to learn more” page that lists three book titles and two websites for coloring pages.

Review by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

This Makes Me Angry

This Makes Me AngryThis Makes Me Angry by Courtney Carbone, Hilli Kushnir
Published by Rodale Kids on June 12th 2018
ISBN: 1635650720
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

This is one of four titles in a series called “Dealing with Feelings”.  It is a level 2 easy reader for children in grades k-2.  A school aged boy has small, irritating things happen as he goes through his morning routine until he takes his frustrations out by yelling at his friends at lunch.  He is sent to the principal who listens to everything and then provides him a book to draw all the things that made him angry.  He is then able to state that “I am feeling angry.”  He apologizes to the appropriate people at school and at home.  The text provides the young reader clues about feeling angry.  Beeping that sounds like yelling, heat rising inside, insides feel boiling like a tea kettle.  This would be useful to school counselors and parents as a discussion starter.  The illustrations of the boy’s facial features match the text with each level of anger expressed.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Everything is Possible

Everything is PossibleMary Poppins Returns: Everything Is Possible - Leveled Reader by Walt Disney Pictures
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on November 13th 2018
ISBN: 132856634X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

This is an easy reader movie tie-in to “Mary Poppins Returns” designated as level 2.  The story line follows the movie, which is quite a bit of information for a small easy reader.  The visual layout of the easy reader is done well.  Lots of white space, clear and singularly focused movie -still illustrations and simple sentences with a clear font.  Unfortunately, to be loyal to the sequence of movies events, the illustrations provide a set moment in the action and the text explains other information to round out the plot.  The illustrations don’t provide young readers clues about the text.   For example, text explains that “This is the home of Michael Banks…” and lists all the children’s names.   The accompany photo is just a head shot of Michael Banks, nothing to identify the home or house.  This results in quite a choppy reading experience.    It will still fly off the shelf, Mary Poppins style, due to the subject matter.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

This Is What It Feels Like

This Is What It Feels LikeThis Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
Published by HarperTeen on November 6th 2018
ISBN: 0062494236
Pages: 400
Goodreads
four-stars

Upon graduation from high school, three friends put their differences behind them enter their band in the Sun City Originals music contest. Hanna, a recovering alcoholic, has some fences to mend with friends Jules and Dia. The narrative alternates between past events and the present to reveal conflicts that led the friends to become estranged. Dia is a strong character who works hard to support her baby daughter while Jules is trying to move on after the recent breakup with her girlfriend. The diverse characters are strong role models, especially for female readers. Themes of friendship, love and forgiveness make this a story that will resonate with teens.

Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

The Midnights

The MidnightsThe Midnights by Sarah Nicole Smetana
Published by HarperTeen on March 6th 2018
ISBN: 0062644629
Pages: 416
Goodreads
four-stars

When senior high student, Susannah Hayes’ alcoholic, retired rock musician father tragically dies during a California wildfire, the bond that they shared and her natural skill of creating lyrics becomes blocked.  Susannah must navigate a new school when her mother moves them to her grandmother’s house; a grandmother she thought was dead.  Layers of relationships, teen flirtations, garage band scenes, teens using drugs, alcohol and fragile friendships are the back drop that Susannah outwardly survives in as she inwardly fights to find her songwriting muse.  Finding closure happens on a variety of levels as heartache breaks her apart and music puts her back together.  Smetana allows her characters to be untrustworthy, confused, impulsive and immature without apology.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

In Your Shoes

In Your ShoesIn Your Shoes by Donna Gephart
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers on October 30th 2018
ISBN: 1524713732
Pages: 336
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a sweet story about friendship for readers in grades 5-8.  Miles loves his family’s bowling alley business and it is the one place that his chronic anxious thoughts can be stilled.  Amy, who wears a wedge in one shoe,  has recently moved into her Uncle’s funeral home business.  Since her father is off training to understand the business, she is left alone to ponder her grief of her mother’s death to cancer in her story writing.  When a flying bowling shoe accidently brings Miles and Amy together, their own points of view are expanded in the areas of friendship, self –discovery and acceptance.  Gephart captures the natural ways of dialog between friends and sets up realistic family dynamics.  The one drawback is the insertion of an unnamed narrator who processes ideas about friendship a few times throughout the book.  It is presented in italics and seems unnecessary to the story.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Drive

DriveDrive by Joyce Moyer Hostetter
Published by Calkins Creek Books on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1629798657
Goodreads
three-stars

Told in alternating voices, the story follows the lives of twins Ellie and Ida. Even though the girls have a close relationship, they have different friends and very different interests. Ellie spends her free time watching NASCAR race while Ida enjoys writing and sketching. As they enter high schools, the girls venture in their own directions which causes conflict at times. Their father suffers from post traumatic stress disorder from his service in World War II which adds to the stress at home. Set in the small town of Hickory, North Carolina in 1952, this historical fiction novel explores themes of family, friendship and the effects of war. The characters are dealing with issues related to their high school classes and friends, yet at times they act like much younger students. However, readers who prefer character-driven stories will appreciate Drive.

Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School

three-stars

Storm-Wake

Storm-WakeStorm-Wake by Lucy Christopher
Published by Chicken House on July 31st 2018
ISBN: 054594032X
Pages: 320
Goodreads
four-stars

Lucy Christopher pays tribute to Shakespeare’s The Tempest in this suspenseful, middle grade fantasy novel. The story is organized into acts mirroring a play. In the first act, readers are introduced to Moss, a girl who lives on a magical island with her father. The two are far removed from all aspects of society and civilization. After a storm on the island, a boy and a horse appear on the beach and provide company to the lonely Moss. Christopher’s world building and descriptive language will immerse readers in life on the mystical island. When a boat crashes on the rocks and strands two boys from the outside world, Moss learns a shocking secret about her past, her father and the island she calls home. Middle grade and teen readers who enjoy magical realism will be drawn to this unique and mysterious story. Some readers may find the plot confusing at times, but the confusion will be cleared up in the last few chapters.

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars