Month: March 2019

Impostors

ImpostorsImpostors (Impostors, #1) by Scott Westerfeld
Published by Scholastic Press on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1338151517
Pages: 407
Goodreads
five-stars

Scott Westerfeld has done it again! With a cliffhanger ending, this has to be the first of a new series set in the author’s “Uglies” universe. Frey and her twin sister are inseparable — in private. Rafi (Rafia) is the face of her kingdom and the presumed heir to their domineering father. Frey has been trained to fight to protect her sister from assassination and as a body double. (An heir and literally a spare!) Frey is sent as Rafi to visit a neighboring city-state and quickly realizes that she is being sent as a hostage to insure negotiations between her father and the Palafox family go as planned. When Frey’s father leaves Frey for dead, she joins forces with Col Palafox to get back to her sister. A page-turner set in a future world of hoverboards, crash bracelets, and spy dust. Sure to be a hit with fans of Divergent and other fast-paced dystopian series.

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

five-stars

Speechless

SpeechlessSpeechless by Adam P. Schmitt
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on November 6th 2018
ISBN: 1536200921
Pages: 304
Goodreads
five-stars

8th-grader Jimmy has been tasked with giving the eulogy for his cousin Patrick. While trying desperately to avoid people at Patrick’s wake, Jimmy alternatively whines to his parents about his task and tries to write something nice he can say about Patrick. The problem is that Patrick was not a nice person — he was always wild, hurting someone, ruining family get togethers, taking risks, and erupting in major temper tantrums. Patrick’s mother leaned on her twin, Jimmy’s mom, for support while Patrick’s dad had his own anger management issues and drank perhaps a little too much. In each chapter, Jimmy learns a life lesson, e.g., “some people enjoy a wake like it’s a wedding,” and Schmitt weaves a page-turning story about Patrick. At the end of his journey, Jimmy figures out what to do at the funeral. This is a searingly beautiful, yet painful  — and occasionally humorous — exploration of family.

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

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

five-stars

The Eleventh Trade

The Eleventh TradeThe Eleventh Trade by Alyssa Hollingsworth
Published by Roaring Brook Press on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1250155762
Pages: 304
Goodreads
four-stars

Sami and his grandfather, Baba, are refugees from Afghanistan who have recently been relocated to Boston after journeying (for over three years) through Iraq, Greece, and Turkey before finally making it to the US. Baba earns money by playing his rebab — a traditional Afghani stringed instrument at a nearby “T” stop. While Sami is holding the rebab, a teenager rips it out of his hands and runs off with it. Sami is devastated at causing such pain to his Baba that he works out a solution to getting the rebab back through a series of trades with the help of his new friends. The depiction of a traumatized child refugee is so real and painful and the Afghani cultural references ring true. The author pulls her punches a little on the depiction of the bullies and criminals that Sami encounters. While the hateful language of the bully was cursorily dealt with by authorities, that storyline feels unresolved. The bully would probably not simply walk away. Perhaps the author will write a follow-up (please!) and explore this relationship a bit more.

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

four-stars

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say

Stella Diaz Has Something to SayStella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
Published by Roaring Brook Press on January 16th 2018
ISBN: 1626728585
Pages: 208
Goodreads
four-stars

Third-grader Stella lives with her mother and older hermano (brother) in Chicago. Stella struggles to fit in as a Mexican-American girl who doesn’t speak Spanish fluently yet has to spend time with a speech teacher because she has trouble with English pronunciation. Worse, her best friend was assigned to another classroom. She is hopeful for a new friend when she hears a new student will be joining her class but her shyness and anxiety make it hard for her to get to know Stanley. Over the course of the school year, Stella gains confidence and finds her voice by participating in a spelling bee and making a presentation on her favorite animals — fish. This is a great story about what it feels like to be different with a simple lesson that when people get to know each other, they actually might not be all that different.

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

four-stars

Where’s Waldo: The Spectacular Spotlight Search

Where’s Waldo: The Spectacular Spotlight SearchWhere's Waldo?: The Spectacular Spotlight Search by Martin Handford
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 1536201766
Pages: 16
Goodreads
two-stars

I was excited to see a new “Where’s Waldo” book, since I loved them as a kid, but this is actually just a repackaging of several old Waldo scenes with a new gimmick. The scenes are now printed on a dark-tinted plastic (that almost look like x-ray slides) and you are given a “Spotlight Searcher” to slide underneath the image and brighten up a small part of the scene. The “Spotlight Searcher” is just a black wand with a large white circle on one end and a small white circle on the other. When slid underneath the darkened transparent plastic scene, the white circles brighten up the images (by providing a white background, rather than a black one). This does look a bit like a spotlight zooming around the scene and kids will probably have fun using it to find Waldo and his friends. Aimed at children ages 5 through 9, the scenes have a lot of tiny detail to sort through. The book gives you several things to find in each page, so it can be revisited to find more items. If you already have most of the Waldo books, I would not bother purchasing this one. I do not recommend it for libraries because if the “Spotlight Searcher” gets misplaced, it will be very difficult for anyone to use the book.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

two-stars

When Nature Attacks: Extreme Hurricanes and Tornadoes

When Nature Attacks: Extreme Hurricanes and TornadoesExtreme Hurricanes and Tornadoes Extreme Hurricanes and Tornadoes by John Farndon
Published by Hungry Tomato on October 1st 2017
ISBN: 1512432237
Goodreads
three-stars

“When Nature Attacks: Extreme Hurricanes and Tornadoes” by John Farndon explains how destructive and powerful hurricanes and tornadoes can be. Aimed at kids in grades 3 through 6, every page has bright photographs and graphics and interesting facts. Did you know that birds can potentially hear tornadoes coming with their ultra-sensitive hearing? Scientists tracked golden-winged warblers that left their nests a day before a tornado struck and a few days later they returned safely! The book lists the most deadly, expensive, biggest, and strongest storms in history. Kids who enjoy learning facts that they can share and about potentially scary and powerful things (dinosaurs, sharks, earthquakes, etc.) will enjoy this book.

Farndon explains how hurricanes and tornadoes form and gives several examples of devastating storms. He includes mentions about Doppler science, storm tracking, and clearly explains the differences between the categories of hurricanes and the scale of tornadoes. The book doesn’t go into great depth, but provides a nice overview of the storms to spark interest in kids who read it. There is an Index in the back, but no glossary or bibliography. Not a must-buy unless you have a need for more juvenile non-fiction about weather.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

Honor Among Thieves

Honor Among ThievesHonor Among Thieves (The Honors, #1) by Rachel Caine, Ann Aguirre
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on February 13th 2018
ISBN: 0062570994
Pages: 467
Goodreads
four-stars

Honor Among Thieves

 

Zara had been living in New Detroit in the tough Lower Eight region.  Surprise, surprise, she is chosen to be one of the Honor group who will be journeying into space inside of an alien creature, the Leviathan, Nadim. Beatriz is another Honor and she and Zara become the closest of friends.  Through battles with evil creatures, helping to remove a painful rock from Nadim’s stomach, and a growing relationship with the Leviathan, a science fiction tale evolves.  This could have seemed weird but it wasn’t because of the writing talents of Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre.  There was never a feeling of difference in writing between the authors and it was impossible to tell who was writing which section.

This was an enthralling Dystopian story of what happens in the future when the earth has been nearly destroyed because of climate change and pollution.  The main character was African-American and the two girls were smart and strong and inspirational, which added to the story.

This is recommended for grades 7-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Animal Look-Alikes: Frogs and Toads

Published by Red Chair Press on 2018
ISBN: 978-1-63440-211-8
two-stars

Animal Look-Alikes: Frogs and Toads by Joanne Mattern is a photo illustrated nonfiction work for grades 1 through 3. The clear colorful photos will draw the children into the short 32 page informational work for new readers. There are graphs, charts, maps, labeled photos, table and contents, and a glossary. The writing style is weakened by the overuse and sensational misuse of exclamation points. The text briefly provides information on how one can tell the difference between frogs and toads by looking at their bodies and observing their smooth or rough skin. Much of the short text is devoted to general facts about these animals and what they have in common.

Reviewed by Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick, Maine

 

two-stars

Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life and Art

Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life and ArtThrough the Window: Views of Marc Chagall's Life and Art by Barb Rosenstock
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1524717517
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

The Caldecott Honor winning team of The Noisy Paint Box and Vincent Can’t Sleep is back again and this time they focus their immeasurable talent on the talents of artist Marc Chagall. From its arresting cover to the lush end papers, Grandpré is at her finest here. The palette is rich with the hues from Chagall’s own art, deepest blues, shimmering yellows, and pulsing red oranges. Rosenstock’s prose is lovely though this book calls on the inference skills of its reader since she does not tell the story outright, but rather uses an almost-poetic writing to tell of Chagall’s humble upbringing, acceptance to art school, and the many challenges and triumphs of his work as an artist. The Author’s Note at the end of the book has a more straight-forward narrative of Chagall’s life and should be used in conjunction with the text of the book to maximize understanding of this important artist and his place in history. Pair this with Eric Carle’s “The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse” and it will make that story come to life. Recommended for K-3.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

Blood, Poop, and Dead Skin: the Things Insects Eat

Blood, Poop, and Dead Skin: the Things Insects EatBlood, Poop, and Dead Skin: The Things Insects Eat by Ruth Owen
Published by Bearport Publishing - (Ruby Tuesday Books) on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 178856006X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Ruth Own’s Blood, Poop, and Dead Skin: the Things Insects Eat is a high interest science book for children grades 1-4 who like scary photos and gross miscellaneous facts. Slag is used “poop” “science stuff.” It includes labeled photos, a table of contents, and a glossary. It will appeal to  readers looking to satisfy their desire to learn odd facts about the animal world. Each different insect gets a two-page spread. Thirteen insects are discussed including the  dung beetle, green bottle fly, and bedbug. Large clear photos will draw the kids into the book. Sensational? yes Fascinating? yes

Reviewed by Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick, Maine

three-stars