Month: October 2019

For Black Girls Like Me

For Black Girls Like MeFor Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
on July 30th 2019
ISBN: 0374308047
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

Eleven year-old Keda’s world changes drastically when her family moves from Baltimore to New Mexico. Keda is African American and has white adoptive parents and a white sister. In her new school, Keda is subjected to the silent treatment, ridicule, microaggressions, and overt racism from her new middle school classmates and teachers. When Keda’s mother decides to homeschool Keda and her older sister, Keda feels isolated from her peers. Keda and her sister also struggle to help their mother who has untreated bipolar disorder. Told in first person narrative, this coming-of-age story explores themes of race, identity, family and friendship. Keda’s story unfolds through a series of journal entries and email messages to her best friend in Baltimore as well as song lyrics Keda writes about her experiences. Highly recommended for middle school and high school libraries. (Recommended for grades 6 and up).  Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School Library, Falmouth
Recommended for Cream of the Crop

five-stars

Searching for Lottie

Searching for LottieSearching for Lottie by Susan Ross
Published by Holiday House on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 0823441660
Pages: 176
Goodreads
five-stars

Charlie (Charlotte) is a twelve-year-old girl researching her namesake, Lottie (Charlotte) for a school project.  Both share not only a name, but also the love of violin. When Lottie went missing during WWII, all assumed she perished since she was Jewish in a Nazi dominated society.  Charlie follows the trail discovering clues such as an old necklace and relying on researching primary sources to find her missing great aunt. Themes of family, perseverance, facing adversity, aging, and hope flow through this well written novel.  Searching for Lottie is an intergenerational mystery based on true events which explains the history of this time period in an age appropriate manner.  Readers 8-12 will enjoy the suspense while they follow Charlie through her day to day life auditioning, developing a crush, relating to her brother, and visiting elderly family members while learning about a difficult time in history.  Teachers and parents will find this book an enjoyable read aloud with a variety of topics to discuss. Both may also enjoy knowing that the author grew up in Lewiston-Auburn and continues to spend part of her time in Maine.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

five-stars

Women in the Military: From Drill Sergeants to Fighter Pilots

Women in the Military: From Drill Sergeants to Fighter PilotsWomen in the Military: From Drill Sergeants to Fighter Pilots by Connie Goldsmith
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1541528123
Pages: 120
Goodreads
five-stars

This book gives a thoughtful look to the women in all branches of the United States Military, ranging from a brief overlook of their history in the military to powerful changes that have taken place. Even though women are still the minority in the military, their numbers are growing and providing them opportunities that hadn’t been available in the past. Inside are mini-biographies of various women that share their outlook from just entering boot camp to well seasoned veterans.

Recommended for grades 7 and up. There is a TOC, timeline of Historical Advances for Women, sources notes, bibliography, further information and an index. The context, photographs, and graphs are well organized an compliment the text with information easily located.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Hawking

HawkingHawking by Jim Ottaviani, Leland Myrick
Published by First Second on July 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1626720258
Pages: 304
Goodreads

Jim Ottaviani has teamed up with Leland Myrick to put together this biographical graphic novel of one of the greatest minds ever to exist in the scientific community. Written in a first person narrative, the graphic novel discusses Hawkings’ earlier years and the struggles that he faced in choosing his profession and the  degenerative muscular disease that rapidly took over his body. There is a lot of scientific discovery written into the text, which unfortunately does make the reading a tad bit boring for those who aren’t into the physics field. Despite the scientific jargon and information, anyone interested in Stephen Hawkings life might find this a doable read.

The illustration are detailed and quite colorful and easy to follow along. Recommended for grades 10 and up, but would also considered to be an adult read.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

Old Souls

Old SoulsOld Souls by Brian McDonald, Les McClaine
Published by First Second on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 1626727325
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

Chris buys lunch everyday for a homeless man and is uncertain to why he feels obligated to do so. Eventually he understands the connection between he and the homeless man and it is unnerving. With his discovery, Chris enters into a world that leads him to his previous lives that maybe he should not have revisited. There is a previous life that needs closure in order for him to live in the present, can he do it or will his present life crash? This paranormal tale makes the reader think about how reincarnation may play within one’s life

Illustration are mainly black and white with minimal coloring. Easy to follow and a little  unsettling to read. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Raccoon Rescue

Raccoon RescueRaccoon Rescue by Kama Einhorn
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1328767051
Pages: 160
Goodreads
four-stars

Raccoon Rescue tells the adventures of four baby raccoons rescued in California when only two weeks old.  Their story is dictated through the eyes of one of the babies, Mr. Green. Mr. Green describes the process of the Fab Four from rescue to release.  Pictures are on nearly every page assisting the reader in visualizing the story. Examples of x-rays, an intake exam form, and a growth chart are included also.  The book is written in large clear font with bullet pointed lists teaching the reader a great deal of information about raccoons. A bibliography, glossary, index, letter from the author, and a “how you can help” section are all located at the back of the book.  Einhorn does an excellent job of sending the message that wild animals are not pets and describes the extensive steps it takes to get baby raccoons from rescue through rehabilitation to release. Readers 8-12 with an interest in raccoons, animal rescue, or just enjoy looking at pictures of baby raccoons will find this book appealing and may also be interested in the other “True Tales of Rescue” books in this series. Some readers may struggle with reading a book written from the perspective of a baby animal, but still find relevant information for research.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

four-stars

The Pennypackers Go On Vacation

The Pennypackers Go On VacationThe Pennypackers Go on Vacation by Lisa Doan, Marta Kissi
Published by Roaring Brook Press on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 1250154111
Pages: 272
Goodreads
three-stars

Charlie Pennypacker feels his dreams are finally realized when his penny pinching father agrees to take them on a Disney cruise. When Charlie sets his eyes on the old fishing boat labeled Wisney Cruises, he embarks on an unexpected adventure involving his former best friend (now enemy) and scary looking men (maybe involved with the mob).  Charlie ends up saving the day learning about friendship, forgiveness, teamwork, and second chances along the way. Doan has created a novel filled with eccentric characters, humor, mystery, and adventure.  From the six year old troublemaking sister to a chef who only prepares eggs each meal readers will find something to giggle about. Line drawings interspersed throughout the book assist the reader in visualizing the text.  Teachers and parents may find the mystery to quickly and easily wrapped up and characters relatively static. Readers 9-12 will enjoy this summer read while trying to solve the mystery and being glad they are not on vacation with the Pennypackers.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

three-stars

Pumpkinheads

PumpkinheadsPumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, Faith Erin Hicks
Published by First Second on August 27th 2019
ISBN: 1626721629
Pages: 224
Goodreads
five-stars

Pumpkinheads might be a romance, but there is quite a bit more to this graphic novel. It is about 2 friends, Josie and Deja, and their friendship. They decide, or more like Deja decides for the two of them, that they are going to try silly and fun things on their last night at their summer job before they head off to college. Yea, it’s high schoolers, but there is nothing in here that a 5th grader couldn’t read. And the sweet romance piece at the end is just right for 5th graders starting to want a book with a bit of romance in it but not too much for others. Love that the characters are not exactly what you’d expect. Great addition to all graphic novel collections.

Cream. Reviewed by Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

House of Salt and Sorrows

House of Salt and SorrowsHouse of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Published by Delacorte on August 6th 2019
ISBN: 1984831925
Pages: 416
Goodreads
three-stars

Annaleigh is the daughter of a duke, actually she is one of 12 daughters. Well, there were 12 daughters, but several have died so now there are only 8 left. Some folks on the island they live on think there is a curse but Annaleigh thinks someone has murdered her sisters. This fantasy which has similarities to The 12 Dancing Princesses fairy tale  is filled with dancing at balls, evil gods, good half-gods, maybe-an-evil-stepmother, passionate romantic moments and some creepy almost horror like scenes. Even with all of this going on it was hard to become attached to the characters and care about what was going to happen to them next because it took so long to get the exciting part of the story.

three-stars

Tree of Dreams

Tree of DreamsTree of Dreams by Laura Resau
Published by Scholastic Press on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0545800889
Pages: 336
Goodreads
four-stars

Coco and her once best friend Leo enter the same dessert contest. They both make a chocolate creation and they tie for the first prize- a trip to go to the Amazon. Coco wants nothing to do with Leo (her former best friend), she only wants to find the treasure she hears whispered to her by the Ceiba Tree deep in the Amazon rain forest. Bits of magic, lots of chocolate chemistry, eating lots of chocolate (really eating a lot of chocolate) and Amazon destruction run throughout the story. I did get a bit tired of the chocolate descriptions and found the treasure a bit hard to believe. But the Amazon deforestation and it’s impact on the people and animals that live there was interesting and something that isn’t often written about in stories for children.

Reviewed by Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Maine

four-stars