Month: June 2021

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could SeeMindi and the Goose No One Else Could See by Linda Olafsdottir, Sam McBratney
Published by Candlewick Press on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 9781536212815
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A little girl named Mindi says she is being visited by a big goose—a scary creature that is visible only to her. Her parents try everything they can think of to drive it away. Finally, they turn to their wise farmer friend Austen who proposes trading Mindi a goat in exchange for the goose. Sam McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You) explores the sensitive topic of childhood fears with charm and wit. The story has a feel of an old folktale. Ólafsdóttir’s delightful illustrations add to the old-fashioned look with idyllic mountainous green pastures, cute farm animals, and a farmer who wears Scandinavian sweaters, Wellingtons, and wool cap. The imaginary goose is represented only by a foreboding shadow. “McBratney’s posthumously published tale is filled with a gentle kindness, and the illustrations pick up on that, both treating the child’s fear with respect.” (Kirkus Review)

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States

Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United StatesSprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States by Floyd Cooper, Louisa Jaggar, Shari Becker
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 1984847627
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the country. Banning, a farm boy from Oklahoma, always dreamed of flying. After many struggles, he achieves a journey in an airplane that would span 3,300 miles, take twenty-one days, and inspire a nation. A well researched book, including Banning’s own writings and an interview with the aviator’s great-nephew, that is complemented by Floyd Cooper’s earth-toned dreamlike illustrations. This picture book biography content will appeal to fans of Hidden Figures and upper elementary and middle school students.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer. Liberty Library

four-stars

Welcome to Florida; Welcome to Texas; Welcome to Arizona

Welcome to Florida; Welcome to Texas; Welcome to ArizonaWelcome to Florida (Welcome To) by Asa Gilland
Published by Doubleday Books on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 9780593178256
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A series of picture books about each US state. Each book contains information about the state’s animals, plants, regions, food, people, customs, and fun places to visit. No author or authority is provided. Asa Gilland is the illustrator and her cutesy, cartoonish drawings are bright and amusing. There is not enough information for research, but preschoolers to 7-year olds from each state and those who’d like to visit the state will enjoy the illustrations and fact-filled picture books.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Time for Kenny

Time for KennyTime for Kenny by Brian Pinkney
Published by Greenwillow Books on January 12, 2021
ISBN: 9780060735289
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a family-oriented picture book full of action about a preschool boy’s day. It includes four simple stories. First, Kenny must get dressed. Then, he must overcome his fear of the vacuum cleaner, learn to play soccer, and get ready for bedtime. Pinkney’s bright, action-packed illustrations of Kenny and his African American multigenerational -family compliment the simple text. It will be fun for families to share and discuss this book together. It could also serve as an emergent reader book since the text is so controlled, but the large format may prove undesirable to beginning readers.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Jay’s Gay Agenda

Jay’s Gay AgendaJay's Gay Agenda (Jay's Gay Agenda, #1) by Jason June
Published by HarperTeen on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 0063015153
Pages: 368
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Jay is the only out gay boy in his whole town. But his life changes in a big way when his parents announce their move to Seattle. Jay is so excited to meet other gay boys that he creates his own Gay Agenda full of experiences he can’t wait to have. Number one is meet another gay kid. Number eight is to lose his virginity. Upon starting school there, he is immediately taken under the wing of genderqueer Max and becomes the Vice President of the school’s Queer/Straight Alliance. Max decides to become Jay’s Gay Guide and help him accomplish his list. Jay throws himself into his new experiences a little too quickly, and drama ensues. However, Jay and the other characters get their happy endings. This is June’s first young adult book and he clearly had fun writing these characters. However, many of the characters feel more like caricatures than well-developed characters. This whole book takes place during about 6-8 weeks, ending right after homecoming, which feels incredibly rushed for all the plots to have taken place. All in all, it’s a fun read, particularly for those in the LGBTQ+ community. The book features lots of sexual acts and kissing, but it’s not graphic. Best for ages 15+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

Franklin Endicott and the Third Key

Franklin Endicott and the Third KeyFranklin Endicott and the Third Key: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Six by Chris Van Dusen, Kate DiCamillo
Published by Candlewick Press on June 8, 2021
ISBN: 1536201812
Pages: 112
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A delightful addition to the Deckawoo Drive collection. DiCamillo and Van Dusen can do no wrong together. The story is gentle and literary and lovely, and the illustrations are a triumph.

The story revolves around Frank and his growing list of worries; his literal list of worries as he writes them down in his notebook. When his worries threaten to completely overwhelm him, he seeks help from a rather unlikely source: Eugenia Lincoln. Frank is calmed by Eugenia’s no-nonsense approach to worries: find a way to be productive and you will quiet those worries. It might have worked if she hadn’t taken him to the odd thrift shop where he meets proprietor Buddy Lamp and then accidentally procures the key from the title. The acquisition of this key is unsettling as Frank is unsure what it’s for and what to do with it. His list of worries grows. The plot is an ode to the calming power of stories and reading.  Mercy Watson takes a role as a therapy pig and though she doesn’t quite nail the part for Franklin’s purposes, she does snuggle up with Stella and she is quite an attentive listener when being read to.  “But to sit in the kitchen and read to someone he loved and to push back the darkness with a story–that was a wonderful thing.” Wonderful indeed. Recommend for all libraries.

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

five-stars

The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene ReviewedThe Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Published by Dutton on May 18, 2021
ISBN: 0525555218
Pages: 304
Genres: Non-Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Many John Green fans have been awaiting his next novel since the publication of Turtles All the Way Down in 2017. However, this is not a novel, instead, The Anthropocene Reviewed is more in the vein of his Crash Course work (in fact, I wondered while reading if some of these stories came from his research, but just didn’t make the final cut). As a collection, these essays explore our humanity and our connection to the Earth and some individual essays that could be great additions to classroom reading, such as “Our Capacity For Wonder” which explores the background of The Great Gatsby. The chapter titled, “Velociraptors” would is an excellent example of why we shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that Hollywood movies are teaching tools; this could be used in either a science or history class. And, “Canada Goose” would be an interesting conversation starter about our impact on the planet in an environmental science class. If fans had been listening to his podcast “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” they might find many of these chapters familiar; about half seem to be from the podcast, and readers can’t help but hear Green’s compelling, fast-paced voice in their head as they are reading. With a nod to the book, I give The Anthropocene Reviewed four stars. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

four-stars

Allergic

AllergicAllergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Michelle Mee Nutter
Published by Graphix on March 2, 2021
ISBN: 1338568906
Pages: 240
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars
An engaging and heartwarming graphic novel that tells the story of a girl, her love for animals, and the allergies that keep them apart. Maggie dreams of having a pet. When her parents agree to let her get a dog, her dream is close to coming true. But, in addition to finding her perfect pup, Maggie discovers her raging allergies to all things furred and feathered. She tries other pets from lizards to turtles to tarantulas (seriously?), but none of these quite fit. Resigned to allergy shots (which will lessen but not eliminate her allergic reactions) and a pet-less life, Mia is devastated. When a new neighbor, Claire, moves in next door, Maggie is thrilled to have a new friend to take her mind off of her dog-free life. In a typical coming-of-age story, things go wrong as Claire makes a decision that deeply hurts Maggie; Maggie attempts to thwart her own allergies; and a shift occurs in Maggie’s family dynamic that causes her to reassess her views. Lloyd’s story is well-crafted and Nutter’s cozy illustrations perfectly capture the turmoil and melodrama of the thoughts and feelings of a middle grader. The design of the book is clean with plenty of white space and an uncluttered flow. Fans of RainaTelgemeier and Jennifer Holmes will gravitate to this book, but all lovers of graphic novels will gobble it up.

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

five-stars

The Initial Insult

The Initial InsultThe Initial Insult (The Initial Insult, #1) by Mindy McGinnis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on February 23, 2021
ISBN: 0062982427
Pages: 370
Genres: Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
An intense, suspenseful young adult novel that is the first book in a duology. Filled with references to Edgar Allen Poe stories and characters, this is a deep dive into revenge gone horribly wrong. When Tress Montor decides that she’s had enough bullying. and that she finally needs to know the truth about the disappearance of her parents, she takes it out on her former best friend Felicity Turnado by chaining her in a basement and threatening her with a good, old-fashion entombment Amontillado-style. But like a good Poe story, there are twists and turns as they two young women recall their shared history in an effort to determine where their friendship went wrong and what Felicity knows about the dark night when Tress’s parents went missing. The plotting is fraught with things unsaid and actions unforgiven, or unforgivable. This has sex, drugs, violence, gore, and torture – sure to draw readers of other dark series like One of Us is Lying and Truly Devious. The book is a page-turner and the ending will have readers clamoring for Book 2. Recommend for grades 10 and up.

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

four-stars

The Shrinking of Treehorn

The Shrinking of TreehornThe Shrinking of Treehorn (50th Anniversary Edition) by Edward Gorey, Florence Parry Heide
Published by Holiday House on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 0823447030
Pages: 80
Genres: Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
I love that Edward Gorey is in right now and this book by Florence Parry Heide is a perfect companion to his illustrations. I originally picked this up because of Gorey but the book is hilarious and I’ll be reading more by Heide. It’s the story of Treehorn, a small child who is becoming smaller. And smaller. He’s shrinking and as obvious as it is to him, none of the adults in his life notice it, until they finally do, and then they dismiss it as unimportant. The book took a risk in that it could have come across as an indictment of all adults and our obliviousness to children’s concerns, and even though there’s definitely an element of that, it reads as more surreal than straightforward judgement. It’s laugh out loud funny and would be a great read aloud book for ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars