Month: July 2019

Secret Engineer How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge

Secret Engineer How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn BridgeSecret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Dougherty
Published by Roaring Brook Press on February 19th 2019
ISBN: 1250155320
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

This biography is wonderful for all ages. It’s the story of a very smart woman in the times when most women weren’t educated.  Emily married an engineer, Washington Roebling,  who was as bright as she was. John J. Roebling was Emily’s father-in-law. He built bridges for a living. He heard about new technology in Europe. He sent his son who brought along his wife.

They learned about Caisson breaks. It’s like a room built at the bottom of the river. Men can work, dig out the river bed, then they can fill the tube/room with,  cement. Only it made a lot of people very sick including Washington. Emily stepped up and took over the job for her husband.

The illustrations are very easy to understand.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

 

 

 

 

 

four-stars

Maybe a Mermaid

Maybe a MermaidMaybe a Mermaid by Josephine Cameron
on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0374306427
Pages: 288
Goodreads
three-stars

Maybe a Mermaid

 

Anthoni and her mother are always on the move, from one town to another, as her mother attempts to sell Beauty and the Bee make-up products and recruit other “worker bees”.  Now they have landed at a run-down resort in Wisconsin by a lake.  What Anthoni is always searching for is a “forever friend” and maybe Maddy will be the one.  What isn’t always evident to Anthoni is that your best friends aren’t always who you plan for them to be but, rather, are those who will attempt to be a mermaid and swim underwater or who will go in the water with an arm cast on, if that’s what is needed.  There are many lists of goals and positive thoughts throughout which, in the case of the “True Blue Friend Criteria,” change as Anthoni does, too.  There are mentions of Vaudeville which may be of interest to some.  This book is for students in grades 5-8.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

three-stars

Iron Will Surviving the Mountain

three-stars

Recommended for mature readers. It’s nonfiction.

This book contains 5 true stories of survival, a quiz, activity, glossary, read more, internet sites, and an index. It is part of the Iron Will series Jungle, Dessert, and Sea.

One of the stories is about a plane crash in the Andies and people survived by eating passengers who hadn’t survived the crash. Other stories talked about how some people lost limbs, fingers, and toes. Through determination and the will to live, they did.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

 

 

three-stars

Anything but Okay

Anything but OkayAnything But Okay by Sarah Darer Littman
Published by Scholastic Paperbacks on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1338177583
Pages: 352
Goodreads
five-stars

This is great for high school mature audiences. It’s also a great look into city life.

Stella and Farida are best friends  but Stella has “white girl” glasses and really doesn’t understand how hard it is for Farida to fit into American society. Farida was born here, but she is Muslim.

Stella’s brother, Rob<  came home from a tour with the US Marines in Afghanistan. He is paranoid and angry.Then his best friend from the same division killed himself. The war has the same effect as the Vietnam war, no heros and help is hard to get.

Stella thinks she can help him by getting him out of the house. She  didn’t know going to the movies and a food court would freak him out. He sees a person of color being bullied, he steps up to defend a weaker person (like he was taught in service). He breaks the bully’s nose, it was videoed and it goes viral.

Stella decides to run for class president, but everyone thinks her brother is crazy and should go to jail. They spray paint their home, and the Amvets come to help clean up the mess.

Stella’s history teacher asks, “…what do think makes a patriot?” For a school project. Both of Stella’s parents were in the Army.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

five-stars

Digging Up Danger

Digging Up DangerThe Story Pirates Present: Digging Up Danger by Hatem Aly, Jacqueline West, The Story Pirates
Published by Rodale Kids on January 15th 2019
ISBN: 1635650917
Pages: 288
Goodreads
three-stars

A fun and zany mystery, Digging Up Danger is another novel by The Story Pirates, a collective of authors and actors who encourage kids to share with them their wild and interesting storylines.  The adults then turn the ideas into novels, music, performances and a podcast. In this adventure, twelve year old Eliza and her botanist mother travel to New York for a summer job of identifying many rare and unusual plants.  Eliza is less than thrilled to leave home and now live on the fourth floor of Carrolls’ Gardens. The Carrolls are also hosting their 13 year old nephew Tommy. Eliza is supremely bored by plants and wants nothing more than to creep around this old building investigating for ghosts.  As a paranormal researcher, she definitely can tell that something unusual is going on at the gardens. First there are the voices, then all of the Carrolls suddenly have yellow eyes and finally there is the black shadow. With the help of her mother, Eliza slowly begins to piece together this strange turn of events and much to her chagrin it is not ghosts at work but rather a powerful and rare plant that is turning humans into dogs.  The chapters often end with a cartoon illustration of Rolo Vincent (the captain of the story pirates) and Phoebe (the kid writer of Digging Up Danger).  The two cartoon characters connect the ongoing plot with suggestions at the back of the book, in the Mystery Creation Zone, of how to become a mystery writer, how to introduce clues, how to build suspense, etc.  While the majority of readers will only read the mystery in the front half of the book, those who are interested in becoming an author or a better writer will enjoy the suggestions and encouragement of the back half.  This is a unique series that will interest readers and writers alike.  Grades 4-6.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

three-stars

Trace

ISBN: 9780062698841
four-stars

Trace Carter has gone to live with his Auntie Lea in New York after the death of his parents. She lives in a brownstone, listens to music that matches whatever she has for supper, gave Trace her artist studio, and has no clue how to be a parent. Too much wine with dinner one night, Trace doesn’t share what his parents would have thought about that.

Trace hasn’t made any real friends yet at his new high school, but he is hoping that will change when he is assigned to create a workgroup for SS the 1860’s decade of America.

Trace sees a boy lost in the basement of the Public Library. When he tries to report it, he finds out he was downstairs illegally and misses his hookup with the study group.

Tracing his own history, trace discovers the boy is a ghost. Trace was in the car when his parents went over the bridge. Someone’s arms grabbed him and pulled him clear from the car even though the windows were all closed.

Great middle school and older ghost story read.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

four-stars

My Weirder-est School 1 Dr. Snow Has to Go!

My Weirder-est School 1 Dr. Snow Has to Go!Dr. Snow Has Got to Go! (My Weirder-est School #1) by Dan Gutman
Published by HarperCollins on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 0062691023
Pages: 112
Goodreads
three-stars

This is book 1 of in a series of 9. Ella Mentry School is the setting for the series. A.J. is the narrator of this book. Dr. Snow is a scientist who has come to the school to help teach the kids about STEM and science fair projects.

The story is written for 3rd graders and up. I read it with my soon to be 7th-grade grandson in a day. He loved it for the figurative language that everywhere in the text. “the all-Porpose”  room = the all-purpose room, my teacher passed out…passed out pencils, the vomitorium = cafetorium, there was electricity in the air… Well not really…we would all get electrocuted.

The science fair choices beyond volcanoes, egg drop from the school roof, Galileo in the library (librarian), and a leaf blower to blow out birthday candles.

I’m planning on using this series to help teach the difference between connotative and denotative  meanings of words in middle school.

 

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

three-stars

Like a Lizard

Like a LizardLike a Lizard by April Pulley Sayre, Stephanie Laberis
Published by Boyds Mills Press on March 12th 2019
ISBN: 162979211X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Lizards in all sort of shades and sizes are introduced in these colorful pages.  Although there is not enough information for report writing the back pages do provide some essential information regarding all 28 varieties of lizards presented.   There are several pages that will spark discussions regarding reptiles in general and their place on the food chain.  Many future naturalist will search for the Komodo Dragon but some will be enthralled by the less scary gecko.  The illustrations are very life like and show how the animals blend into their environment.

Like a Lizard will be useful in STEM programs but there could be many request and a long waiting time for grade 1-3 students at the school library.   Public libraries should add this to their animal collection, the book will not sit on the shelf for long.

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

four-stars

The Day the Universe Exploded My Head

The Day the Universe Exploded My HeadThe Day the Universe Exploded My Head: Poems to Take You Into Space and Back Again by Allan Wolf, Anna Raff
Published by Candlewick Press on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 0763680257
Pages: 56
Goodreads
four-stars

Hang on tight for a raucous bounce through the solar system and back -- propelled by funny, fanciful, factually sound poems and exuberant illustrations.

The universe poured into me. My brain was overloaded. It smoked and glowed red-hot. And then it actually exploded.

Ever wonder what the sun has to say about being the closest star to Earth? Or what Pluto has gotten up to since being demoted to a dwarf planet? Or where rocket ships go when they retire? Listen closely, because maybe, just maybe, your head will explode, too. With poetry that is equal parts accurate and entertaining -- and illustrations that are positively out of this world -- this book will enthrall amateur stargazers and budding astrophysicists as it reveals many of the wonders our universe holds. Space travelers in search of more information will find notes about the poems, a glossary, and a list of resources at the end.

Explode indeed, this is a unique take on the universe that is sure to appeal to grade 3-6 readers.  Poems delve into all things space covering shooting star, planets and moons before it ramps up with reader’s theater.  Several lengthy poems have multiple parts that can be easily read in different voices or performed by two or more individuals.  Even Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have their two minutes of glory when discussing eclipses.

The illustrations are amusing and creative, adding educational and silly value to the text.  Unfortunately it looks like a picture book and may be shunned by readers who feel too old for the design. There is a lot to ponder and learn within these pages making it a good purchase for intermediate schools and public libraries who collect poetry.  The notes page and glossary will be a hit with both librarians and teachers. The Day the Universe Exploded My Head will make a great gift book for intermediate readers who love outer space.

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

four-stars