Good Enough

Good EnoughGood Enough by Jen Petro-Roy
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 19th 2019
ISBN: 1250123518
Pages: 272
Goodreads
four-stars

Twelve-year-old Riley has anorexia and enters a rehabilitation facility to confront her insecurities about herself, her body, her family, and her friendships in this important middle-grade story.  Because Riley is telling the story through her journal entries, readers can see her inner-thinking and experience how her mindset changes over time with support from her therapists and friends from rehab.  Much of her inner-thinking is laced with rich metaphors and symbolism that will help readers with Riley’s experiences.  This book would make for good family conversations about mental health for readers ages 10-13.

Reviewed by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

four-stars

The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets

The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne QuintupletsThe Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller
Published by Schwartz & Wade on August 27th 2019
ISBN: 1524713813
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

In May of 1934, in a small Canadian town, 5 baby girls were born into a family with 5 older siblings and became a global sensation as their lives and of their family are thrown into the spotlight. Their total birth weight was 13 pounds. Yvonne, Cecile, Emilie, Annette and Marie are subsequently removed from their home and basically raised by the government of Ontario across the street in a custom-built hospital — all of this to protect the girls from showmen and exploitation.

Respectfully written and sometimes heart wrenching story of the world’s most famous babies in a time when miracles were meant to be. Recommended for grades 10 and up. TOC, notes and indexes are available.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Just Because

Just BecauseJust Because by Mac Barnett
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0763696803
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

Every parent recognizes before-bed delay tactics and Barnett captures them in his picture book in a comic look at one parent’s attempt to counter his child’s curiosity with fanciful answers that she can incorporate into her dreams. The child decides to ask tough scientific questions like “why is the ocean blue” and “what are black holes” just as her father is putting her to bed. He, in turn, answers with inventive and silly answers perfectly illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault in a palette of muted colors of mint green, coral, aqua, gold, and lavender. The best use of this book would be as a bedtime story that lead to the investigation *during the day* of the answers to the child’s very real questions; then children could be in on the joke of the playfulness of the answers.

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

four-stars

Tunnel of Bones

Tunnel of BonesTunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake, #2) by Victoria Schwab
Published by Scholastic Press on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1338111043
Pages: 304
Goodreads
four-stars

Tunnel of Bones once again brings the reader into the world of Cassidy Blake, ghost hunter (City of Ghosts). This book finds Cass and her ghost best friend Jacob in Paris where her parents are filming their show about haunted cities. When Cass ends up in the Catacombs beneath the city, she attracts a poltergeist. As she races to find out more about this trouble-making apparition, the ghost grows stronger and more dangerous. Plenty of eerie, atmospheric scenes, lost of fast-paced action, and a mystery tied into the history of Paris and its dark practice of burying bones beneath its city make this a page-turning novel for middle school readers and up. Recommend to readers of V.E. Schwab’s other books (though this one is aimed at a younger audience than her Shades of Magic or Villains series (adult) or Monsters of Verity or Archived series (YA)) and to readers of Ellen Oh, Katherine Arden, or the next level for Alvin Schwartz fans (Tales to Tell in the Dark).

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

four-stars

All We Could Have Been

All We Could Have BeenAll We Could Have Been by T.E. Carter
Published by Feiwel & Friends on April 23rd 2019
ISBN: 1250172969
Pages: 291
Goodreads
three-stars

Lexi is overwhelmed by her family tragedy but her character and the book is somewhat underwhelming.  Her brother is guilty of a crime that embarrasses Lexi enough to keep her moving from relative to relative till her senior year.  Enter some friends that she values and a crisis arises that threatens to destroy her year and relationships.   The plot is interesting but its development is weak and the characters are just out of reach.  Lexi’s pain feels real and it is this fact that saves the book.   Teens who have faced physiological trauma will identify with the character and are sure to cheer for a good outcome.

Give this title to the middle and high school social worker and add to HS media centers where current fiction is collected.  All We Could Have Been might find itself in the hands of the teen who needs it.

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

three-stars

Squirrel in the Museum

Squirrel in the MuseumSquirrel in the Museum (Twitch the Squirrel, #3) by Vivian Vande Velde, Steve Bjorkman
Published by Holiday House on March 19th 2019
ISBN: 0823441679
Pages: 112
Goodreads
four-stars

Twitch does it again, as an adventuresome squirrel he manages to squeeze under school windows and to jump through an open bus widow to join a class taking a field trip.  When he hears about the science museum his single desire is to join the class on this educational outing.  The fun begins when Twitch comes out of hiding from a girl’s backpack and terrorizes the class and museum staff.  While enjoying this outing Twitch teaches readers about animals in the museum all the while entertaining them to the point of getting stitches from giggling.  Character development is expressed as the chaos gets thicker and thicker; readers are sure to love Twitch and to identify with students who interact with him.

This experienced author/ illustrator combination is perfect for the early primary grades, like the past two books about Twitch this is a delight.  Text is just right for 2nd – 4th grade readers and the illustrations are captivating expressing lots of movement and emotion.  Consider for a read aloud and add to primary school shelves.   Public libraries need to add this and the other two titles to their collection of early readers.

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

four-stars

One Wild Christmas

One Wild ChristmasOne Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland
Published by Kids Can Press on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1525302035
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Three friends : moose, bear and beaver are at it again. In this  latest addition of the Life in the Wild series, these three    set out to celebrate their first Christmas together. On Christmas Eve they are busy cooking, decorating and wrapping presents. As busy as they are, no one remembered to get a tree! Off to the forest to find the perfect tree and they do- but bear can’t let allow moose and beaver to cut it down. How will they celebrate their favorite holiday together? Can they come together with a compromise? A fun quirky story that both makes the reader laugh and think about what is most important about Christmas. Illustrations done in photoshop are  basic, and compliment the text so our youngest readers can follow the story.There are lots of sentimental, beautifully illustrated Christmas offerings available but there is room for the funny, the silly and the zany.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

four-stars

The Bear and the Star

The Bear and the StarThe Bear and the Star by Lola M. Schaefer, Bethanne Andersen
Published by Greenwillow Books on September 24th 2019
ISBN: 0062660373
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

On a winter morning bear observes a star in the East, a new star,a beautiful star and he knows it is time. Now to find a tree, the sturdiest, the one that would be the center of what was to come. Then comes his calls to the East, West, North and South, the call to all manner of animal and bird and then to all peoples, to come, to gather, under the star and around the tree for it was time. The Christmas theme is offered through the elements of nature and the message is simple – peace, hope, love and community. The text is supported and complimented with large, gentle, illustrations done in oil that evoke  Each year new Christmas books are introduced – this one is not to be missed.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

five-stars

Beyoncé: Shine Your Life

Beyoncé: Shine Your LifeBeyoncé: Shine Your Light by Sarah Warren
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on June 4th 2019
ISBN: 1328585166
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

This eye-catching picture book with its glittery cover and distinct size will appeal to many young readers on sight. The story inside is appealing as well. The book humanizes superstar Beyoncé showing how she was once a quiet little girl until she found her voice and made her way onstage; there she was a star. The book emphasizes that she had the support of her family and that she failed at times, but that she never gave up and therefore found success and happiness and that, with that success, she gives back to her community and the world. This is a book in which little girls can see themselves and they can dream that they, too, may find their voice or their passion and use it to make the world a better place. The artwork is rendered digitally so it’s not the sharpest and on a few pages looks cartoonish but it is bright and colorful and captures the joy of movement and performance that is a huge part of Beyoncé’s life. Includes a bibliography and media sites for further information. A lovely book to add to your biography collection or  as an example of a person using a growth mindset to find fulfillment in life.

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

four-stars

Small in the City

Small in the CitySmall in the City by Sydney Smith
Published by Neal Porter Books on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 0823442616
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

The reader meets a small boy who is familiar with moving about the city. As he navigates the various areas, he explains that although one is small, one can survive the big city. The boy gives advice about what parts of the city one should avoid, dark alleys, yards with dogs that chase and bite,  and what places are safe, under a  mulberry bush, under a dryer vent to take a nap, and where to find food.  What the reader has to figure out is, who is the little boy giving advice to. The author slowly lets the reader know as the story continues. The illustrations compliment the text and are somewhat graphic in nature. Some of them are bright and defined and then there are those that are darker and muted. They evoke a strong sense of emotion as the boy travels through the city. This is a unique picture book that should not be missed.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

consider for Cream

five-stars