Month: June 2020

One Mean Ant

One Mean AntOne Mean Ant by Arthur Yorinks, Sergio Ruzzier
Published by Candlewick Press on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0763683949
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

The cover may draw readers to try this book; some will relate to the self-absorbed, arrogant ant, some will find humor in his disagreeable state, such as when he says, “Where the jalapeño am I!?” The story has irregular arcs and at times the reader may wonder where the story is leading. After reading, the reader may wonder where the story went. 

Pastel illustrations in a variety of layouts have mostly desert-yellow with a vast sky mirroring the ‘lost’ feeling of the ant. The ant and fly have very buggy eyes, and the surprise spider appearing at the end is sufficiently weird.

This book could be used as a read aloud, if you don’t mind the near-swears (such as above). Was the ant lost because he was mean or was he mean because he was lost? Discussion would be easy to lead about friendship, kindness, self-awareness.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

two-stars

Nature’s Ninjas: Animals with Spectacular Skills

Nature’s Ninjas: Animals with Spectacular SkillsNature's Ninja: Animals with Spectacular Skills by Rebecca L Johnson
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on October 1, 2019
ISBN: 154154241X
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

I truly wanted to love this book: the organization, the clever comparisons, brilliant photographs, and extensive research had me jumping up and down with excitement. But then I read on page 13: “Other animals shoot out defensive weapons. Think of a porcupine’s quills…”

With all due respect, porcupines DO NOT SHOOT their quills. I even wrote to the author but as of June 30, have had no response. I will gladly update this review if she does respond. I don’t understand how such a book can have such extensive research done then miss a simple detail like this.

I would give this 5 stars but I cannot mislead elementary students about porcupines’ quills. Anyone considering purchasing this book will have to decide for themselves if they can live with that one glaring error.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary Library, Old Town

 

three-stars

The Roots of Rap

The Roots of RapThe Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford, Frank Morrison
Published by little bee books on January 8, 2019
ISBN: 1499804113
Pages: 48
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The Roots of Rap is fun, engaging and informative. The text is almost secondary to the pulsing, bursting-with-color, perfect illustrations and together they outline the beginning of Rap and Hip-Hop. It’s a quick read but for those who would like to know more it includes a glossary, notes by both the author and illustrator and a Who’s Who of Hip-Hop. It’s colorful enough to read to young kids but I think this would be especially good for older kids who are familiar with rap and would enjoy learning about its origins.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

five-stars

What I Carry

What I CarryWhat I Carry by Jennifer Longo
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on January 21, 2020
ISBN: 0553537717
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Having spent her entire life moving from one foster home to another, Muir has learned to pack light and carry only essentials. Now, months from aging out of the foster system, she finds herself in one last foster home on an island off the coast of Washington. What she doesn’t expect is to actually like the place and the people. She doesn’t expect to want to stay.

This book has so many things going for it — family, love, nature, friendship, trust in oneself and in others, and so much more. Throughout the book, Muir describes the few “extra” things she carries and what significance they have in her life. Each piece brings some memory, emotion, or life lesson with it. This is a heart warming story with a little romance thrown in. Recommended for students 8th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Clique Bait

Clique BaitClique Bait by Ann Valett
on April 28, 2020
ISBN: 0062918087
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Debut Wattpad author Valett has brought us a tale of  revenge without redemption.  High school senior Chloe is starting off her year with a plan for revenge against a group of 6 “level one” students who rule the school and harass the student body.  We find out that something happened to Chloe’s best friend Monica in the previous year and that Chloe  blames the level ones for it happening.  Chloe’s plan starts off by blackmailing her way into the group so that she can dig up their secrets and take them down.  Over the span of a few months, Chloe exhibits the very behavior she is supposedly standing against, from bullying to actually breaking several laws (breaking and entering, blackmail, and stealing emails).  While there’s no doubt that the rich are powerful, this school goes as far as to have the teachers walk away and pretend they don’t see the level ones bullying the fellow students, which is incredibly unrealistic.  The characters are finally humanized at the very end, but it’s too late to make the story any better.  Chloe predictably falls for Will, the level one she blackmailed, and at the end has absolutely no consequences for her horrid behavior.  This book has the building blocks of something good, but it doesn’t get there.  Best for ages 14+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

Noise Makers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World

Noise Makers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the WorldNoisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World - A Graphic Collection from Kazoo by Alitha E. Martinez, Ashley A. Woods, Brittney Williams, Chan Chau, Emil Ferris, Emily Flake, Erin Bried, Jackie Roche, K.L. Ricks, Kat Leyh, Kiku Hughes, Little Corvus, Lucy Bellwood, Lucy Knisley, Mari Naomi, Maris Wicks, Molly Brooks, Naomi Franquiz, Rebecca Mock, Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, Sarah Winifred Searle, Shannon Wright, Shauna J. Grant, Sophie Goldstein, Weshoyot Alvitre, Yao Xiao
on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 0525580174
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

I loved this book. It’s a graphic collection of mini biographies about 25 revolutionary women. The book is broken into 6 sections with 3-5 women highlighted in each section. Each biography is illustrated by a different talented female or non-binary artist, and many of the pairings are delightfully perfect. Mary Shelley, for example, has some nicely creepy illustrations. From Eugenie Clark to Frida Kahlo to Mother Jones, this book has something for everyone, and it has a nice mix of well-known and not so well known women.

Recommended for middle grade readers, this is a great way to get them reading some nonfiction. Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar StreetThe Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Ethan Aldridge, Lauren Oliver
Published by HarperCollins on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0062345079
Pages: 348
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

It’s the end of the 19th Century, and Cordelia Clay and her father secretly take care of, heal, and save magical creatures in their Boston home. One morning, Cordelia wakes up to find her father and nearly all the creatures gone. She only has a few clues and a ragtag crew of magical creatures to help her find her father and the missing creatures in a world that doesn’t support them or the work they do.

This book was, overall, an entertaining read, but there wasn’t anything overly captivating about it. It has good messages about friendship and feelings of isolation. It was well written and the plot was easy to follow. It did feel, however, that everything wrapped up very rapidly and too easily. An additional middle grade purchase for larger libraries.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins
Published by Scholastic on May 19, 2020
ISBN: 1338635174
Pages: 517
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

What an ambivalent delight it was to return to the cruel world of Panem. In this prequel to Collins’ best-selling trilogy, readers return to the reaping and the brutal preparations for the Hunger Games on the very first page. Set years before Katniss enters the arena, a teenage Coriolanus Snow is a mentor in the Hunger Games; ironically, he is assigned the female tribute from District 12. There are many other such blatant nods to the trilogy, which readers will either love or find trite. Overall, this book explains how Snow becomes a ruthless dictator. There is not as much action as in the original books, but there are many themes to ponder. Readers who are interested will find references to the philosophical themes of Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau to consider (all of whom are quoted in the epigraph). This book is a must purchase for libraries serving tween and YA readers. 

Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World

Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the WorldBrave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World by Cheryl Hudson, Erin K Robinson
ISBN: 0525645829
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Written with consultation from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institute, Brave. Black. First. is a testament to 50+ African American women who have shaped the course of history. Each eye-catching double spread pairs a page of biographical text with a beautiful portrait illustration of the subject. The text provides enough information for a brief overview of achievements and historical significance, and is a good introduction for further research and exploration. Final pages include additional factual information about each featured woman, a section dedicated to highlighting artifacts held at the National Museum of African American History and Culture along with a brief overview of the museum, a list of media on display at the National Portrait Gallery, and an index. With the current, reinvigorated global spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement, this book would be a welcome addition to any public or school library. Well-suited for kids ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

four-stars

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed

Wonder Woman: Tempest TossedWonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson, Leila del Duca
Published by DC Comics on June 2, 2020
ISBN: 1401286453
Pages: 208
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
three-stars
This Wonder Woman origin story starts as most do, with Diana coming of age in Themyscira, the protected and hidden home of the Amazons.  In this installment, Diana is just turning 16 and struggling with puberty, which the Amazons think makes her a changeling and not just a teenager.  She’s not as strong or graceful as the other Amazons, but she more than makes up for it with her strength of character.  That empathy is what leads to her becoming  trapped outside the Themyscira protective bubble.  She ends up in a Greek refugee camp and then moving on to the U.S.A where she moves in with a family and gets to know the horrors of life outside her island.  The book features issues of human trafficking, refugees, environmentalism, homelessness and poverty.  While those are surely noble issues to discuss, it’s a bit much to have them all in one graphic novel.  Particularly as some of them are wrapped up as being the work of the same man.  The message ends up being muddled.  The realistic  art starts off with shades of green and orange and moves to blues and browns with the change of location.  Back matter includes resources for human trafficking and the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.  Recommended for grades 8+

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars