Month: January 2021

Nature’s Light Spectacular

Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
four-stars

Any science book that inspires you to immediately do further research is a good one. Nature’s Light Spectacular led to a Google search of all sorts of natural light phenomena I had never heard of. Our planet is so amazing. Light pillars?! Yosemite Firefall?! WOW. The book illustrates and describes twelve different natural phenomena. The science is easy to grasp and the drawings are beautiful. A good one for any age group. The only reason I’m not giving this five stars is I think there was a missed opportunity for an appendix with photographs. The illustrations are great but the actual images are awe-inspiring.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Chance

ChanceChance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0374313717
Pages: 336
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A middle school level memoir, Chance might be a perfect book for helping kids learn about the Holocaust. Shulevitz was a small child living in Poland when his parents decided to flee. What follows is, at times harrowing and at times touching, a memoir of his family’s ability to avoid being captured by Nazis. Shulevitz writes so easily, so conversationally, that it seems he’s sitting there with you, telling you his story. He never shies away from the horrors of his ordeal but he also relays some fond memories of the time, especially of his mother, who seemed to be  a wonderful person. Drawing is a major theme and his current illustrations are mixed with illustrations he did as a child. This is an exceptional book, both for its readability and its potential to educate.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

The Survivor: A Pioneer Novel

The Survivor: A Pioneer NovelThe Survivor (The Pioneer #2) by Bridget Tyler
Published by HarperTeen on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062658093
Pages: 432
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
In this sequel to Pioneer, Earth no longer exists and the few remaining survivors need to come to grip with their new home, Tau and the native occupants who reside there. The initial encounter with the natives did not go as well as expected when Jo and other scientist arrived. Jo almost didn’t survive  and now, she and her companions, need to make this work, but elder members of the survivors, her grandfather included, have different plans.

Recommended for grades 7 and up. A good continuation from the first in the series and would be enjoyed by sci-fi fans alike.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

four-stars

The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea

The Mermaid, The Witch and The SeaThe Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
on May 5, 2020
ISBN: 1536204315
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
Set in a fantasy world that has been taken over by Imperialism, with the only territory that remains free of Imperialistic control, is the sea. Main characters, Flora aka Florian, a pirate prodigy, and Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a noblewoman on her way to an arranged marriage, meet aboard the ship The Dove, a pirate ship that lures unsuspecting passengers aboard, but in all actuality is a slave ship with a valuable cargo — the passengers! But Flora and Evelyn escape, defying the Imperial forces and find themselves in a swashbuckling adventure filled  with mermaids, witches, sea gods and the love they find for themselves.

Recommended for grade 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

The Upside of Falling

The Upside of FallingThe Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Published by HarperTeen on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 0062918052
Pages: 288
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Becca is disillusioned with love, her parents divorce didn’t help her cause. So she delves into romance novels and their happy endings, because in real life, love never ends well. Until one day, when she finds herself in a “fake relationship” with her high school’s golden boy, Brett. What leads from here, is a fake relationship that realizes that love does end well and that friendships return and blossom when love is real and sincere.

Fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Colasanti will enjoy this light hearted read. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee

Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite MatineeRayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner
on February 26, 2019
ISBN: 1524720232
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Josie & Delilah have their own late night horror show on their local cable TV network, which shows “hokey” horror movies that were left behind when Delilah’s father left. The girls  have amassed a following with the show being syndicated in a few other cities. Josie has always wanted to go into TV production and Delilah wants to know why her father left. Delilah manages to get them an interview with another famous late night horror show host, but they have to go to ShiverCon in Florida to meet him. Josie hope this gets her the foot-in-the-door that she needs and Delilah hopes to see her father that abandoned her years ago. Love interest evolve along with the two girls’ friendship, while both try to find out what the future will bring and the compromises that will come with it.

A great read, with quite a bit of witticism and sarcasm between friends that will keep the readers going. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Cast Away: Poems For Our Time

Cast Away: Poems For Our TimeCast Away: Poems for Our Time by Naomi Shihab Nye
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0062907697
Pages: 176
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Young People’s Poet Laureate, Naomi Shihab Nye has created a set of poems about the unwanted and discarded products of our world today. Each poem reflects on a discarded item, whether it is an old sock found lying around, apiece of trash and even a pine cone that was found on a daily walk. Everything has a story, even trash and discarded items, but they also send a warning about how and why, we as a society regard trash in general.

Recommended for grades 5 and up. Would be an ideal book for teaching poetry that doesn’t fit in the normal realms of writing.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

How to Live on the Edge

How to Live on the EdgeHow to Live on the Edge by Sarah Lynn Scheerger
on August 4, 2020
ISBN: 1541578899
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
Teens Cayenne and Saffron lost their mother as toddlers to what seems like a family curse that doesn’t allow women to live past the age of 37.  Knowing this has taken the sisters down two different paths.  Saffron is all about safety and order and being educated on the options.  Cayenne is all about taking risks and testing death by jumping off cliffs and dodging trains.  Their aunt, having tested positive for the BRCA breast cancer gene, decides to get a preventative mastectomy, which brings the subject to the forefront for the girls.  They also discover a journal and videos from their dead mother which brings even more perspective to their lives.  The essential question here is how to live with so much uncertainty and dread.  The author splits the narrative between the normal issues for teens (friends, boys, etc.) and specific information regarding the potential for breast cancer and the issues surrounding that.  Focusing more on one or the other would attract more readers. Most likely of interest mostly to those with some knowledge or experience with breast cancer. Back matter does include a list of resources.  Best for ages 14+.

Reviewed by  Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

Ready to Fly

Ready to FlyReady to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina by A. LaFaye, Jessica Gibson, Lea Lyon, Sylvia Townsend
Published by HarperCollins on January 28, 2020
ISBN: 0062888781
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
 

An enchanted family tale staring a little girl who wants to learn ballet.   This is a biography about Sylvia Robertson Townsend who grew up poor in goods and wealthy in family love and support.  Told in rich and distinctive text by first time author Lea Lyon is the story of Sylvia’s childhood desire to dance.  Her personal story is shared with authors Lyon and LaFaye who bring the character to life.   Gibson’s illustrations add sparkle to the storyline.  Period clothing and household technology do not date the book, they add to the richness of the content and help expose the racism of the period. Colors are lavishly used and movement is throughout.

It may have taken a small group to write, illustrate, and produce this book but the completed picture book is a quality product.   All young girls who dream of flying (be it performing arts, sports or academics) will be reassured that they are capable.  All it takes is interest, practice, supportive parents, and a local helpful librarian.   An added plus is the short history of the bookmobile, many children may be hearing about this institution for the first time.  Add to all primary school media centers and to every public library as this book is lovely and faces issues of our past and present.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

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

five-stars

A Girl Like Me

A Girl Like MeA Girl Like Me by Angela Johnson, Nina Crews
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 1541557778
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
A lovely powerful poem complimented by vibrant active illustrations combine to make this book a winner.  Not only do we learn of the dreams of each character but we feel a sense of their spirit. Three girls have places to go and things to achieve; the first dreams of flying; the second of walking over tall buildings; and the third dreams of swimming deep in the ocean.   Johnson’s poem is simple yet powerful and Crews has provided a dramatic bird’s eye view of each dream using her stunning collages.   Readers will identify with the primary and secondary characters who are brave and strong girls on their way to future success.

Girls from the age of 4 to adult will cheer for the individuality shown in the photos and introductions of each character.  The interaction between the various girls is playful and dramatic especially against the stunning backdrops.  Purchase this book for primary school media centers and add to public library collections.  Consider this as a gift of an art teacher and for any future strong women that you may know in your family or social circle.

Cream of the Crop

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

five-stars