Month: November 2019

Jane Doe and the Cradle of all Worlds

Jane Doe and the Cradle of all WorldsJane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1541539214
Pages: 368
Goodreads
five-stars

Jane and her father are hated by almost everyone in the village they live in. That’s because when they arrived, the Manor a portal to the Otherworlds closed behind them and left the village stranded without anyway to access all the wonderful things the Otherworlds had to offer. But then the Manor opens briefly and Jane’s dad goes through it leaving her behind. Now it is going to be up to Jane to find away to get into the Manor and to find her dad. Lots of action and adventure in this fantasy as well as bizarre creatures. Definitely a few twists that readers might not see coming. It does take quite a bit of time to get through to the last adventure and then the reader is left hanging at the ending.

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Maine

five-stars

Now Entering Addamsville

Now Entering AddamsvilleNow Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 0062935275
Pages: 368
Goodreads
four-stars

Now Entering Addamsville

 

Zora can see ghosts, has a mother who has been missing for five years, a dad who was just released from prison, and is thought to be a firestarter.  She lives in Addamsville who’s claim to fame as a town is  the thought that it is haunted.  Zora knows she must save the inhabitants from being burned by the real firestarter.  She has lost two of her fingers in the past so she knows that the risks are real.  Along with her other challenges, Zora is searching for her mother and feels, in her heart, that her mom is still alive.

Bravery, friendship, and stick-to-itiveness are themes.  At first Zora feels that she is all alone in her quests but by the end she has friends, relatives that love her, and has rid the town of one of the worst firestarters.  It is helpful to have a two-page map of Addamsville at the start of the book to aid in keeping track of the characters’ whereabouts.  There are also drawings of the main characters.  This book is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars