Month: July 2021

Ghosted

GhostedGhosted by Michael Fry
Published by Clarion on January 19, 2021
ISBN: 9780358269618
Pages: 272
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

It is difficult when your best friend dies, but when he reappears as a ghost, that’s when life gets strange and really confusing.  Larry’s best friend, Grimm dies while rescuing a cat in a tree during a lightening storm. Grimm is in limbo and it is up to Larry to figure out how to help him cross over to the other side.  Together, they brainstorm many ideas  on how to get Grimm to transition on.   Would  completing their ‘’Totally To-Do bucket list” that was cut short when Grimm died be the answer?   Is he hanging on due to unfinished business on this list?

The story carries the reader through the various pranks on this list that both boys thought up in happier times.  Some are crazy like taking a bath in spaghetti while others are scary like kissing a girl.  Grimm (in ghost form) encourages, teases and taunts Larry  as he completes the various tasks all alone.   Along the way,  Larry is confronted with dealing with grief, loneliness and courage.  He learns about himself as a person and aspects of Grimm that he was not  aware of when he was alive.  All alone without his best friend,  he learns to make new friends.  Surprisingly, in people he never would have befriended before.

This is a fun story that has illustrations similar to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ books.  It is a book that is good for tweens and boys may identify with the two characters and the pranks they carry out.  It addresses the difficult topic of death of a friend in a light hearted  yet caring  manner.

Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

The One Thing You’d Save

The One Thing You’d SaveThe One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park, Robert Sae-Heng
Published by Clarion Books on March 16, 2021
ISBN: 1328515133
Pages: 72
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The big question is – What would you save if your home were on fire?  If you only take one thing, excluding your family and pets and if  the size and weight didn’t matter.  What would you choose? This is the question a teacher poses to her classroom. It is interesting to read what each student feels is  valuable to rescue and how they arrive at their decisions. Some choices are sentimental while others are practical. The class argues over choices, some change their minds, and some discover things about their peers that they never knew before.  It is a thought-provoking book that makes the reader think of what they might too save in this situation.

This book is written in verse that is inspired by the Korean poetry form- “Sijo”. Classic Sijo has three lines of thirteen to seventeen syllables. It is a small, easy-to-read book with many pictures. Regrettably, I wish the illustrations were done in color.   However, there are many illustrations to compliment the text which is nice.  This would be a good book for teachers to read with children in a classroom environment.

It is appropriate for ages 8-12 and is a book that would definitely inspire some meaningful conversations afterward.

Reviewed by Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

Napoleon VS. The Bunnies

Napoleon VS. The BunniesNapoleon vs. the Bunnies by Anna Kwan, Jenny Fox
Published by Kids Can Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 1525302027
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Goodreads
five-stars

I had no idea what to expect from the cover of this book but I definitely was not expecting this story at all. This book made me laugh out loud and I’m going to recommend it to everyone. We all have at least a vague idea of who Napoleon was and of his accomplishments and failures but the story of Napoleon being defeated by hundreds to, by some estimates (I read more about the story because I was so delighted), thousands of adorable rabbits was a new one for me. The story goes: Napoleon wanted to have a celebratory rabbit hunt after he signed his 1807 treaty with Russia. Tasked with finding the rabbits, his Chief of Staff just bought them all from local farmers. They were so used to humans and domesticated they just ran right toward Napoleon because they assumed he had food for them. He panicked and ran and the rest is human/rabbit history. Really funny story, cute illustrations, and the bonus of a few French vocabulary words, this is a great read aloud picture book for just about anyone.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski. Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Bloodsworn

BloodswornBloodsworn by Scott Reintgen
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on February 16, 2021
ISBN: 0593119223
Pages: 400
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Many of the riders from the phoenix-horse races in Ashlords are back. The rebellion hinted at in Ashlords has become a war between the ruling Ashlords (and their Gods), the Dividians, and the Longhands. The action is just as scorching as Ashlords but readers may miss the focus on the horses. (Ashlords 2)

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

An Occasionally Happy Family

An Occasionally Happy FamilyAn Occasionally Happy Family by Cliff Burke
Published by Clarion Books on May 18, 2021
ISBN: 0358325676
Pages: 224
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

 Theo is off on a family vacation with his dad and older sister to Big Bend National Park in western Texas. It’s been two years since his mom died and this is their first vacation without their mother. Theo’s dad awkwardly reveals that the real purpose of the vacation is to introduce his new girlfriend to the family which prompts Theo to finally face his grief. This is a touching and humorous upper-elementary/middle-grade novel. With Theo and his family stuck in their grieving, the secondary characters shine a little more. Theo is an artist working on a graphic novel and he uses his writing to process his feelings.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Ghosted

GhostedGhosted by Michael Fry
Published by Clarion Books on January 19, 2021
ISBN: 035826961X
Pages: 272
Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

With cartoon drawings and humor, Fry tackles grief for young children. Larry is struggling to process the sudden death of his best friend Grimm when Grimm shows up in his treehouse as a ghost. Larry and Grimm assume that Grimm must have unfinished business to complete before he can move on so they set out to tackle their “Totally To-Do List” with hilarious results. A good introduction to death and grief for elementary age children who enjoy chapter books with lots of illustrations.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

Erik vs. Everything

Erik vs. EverythingErik vs. Everything by Christina Uss
Published by Clarion Books on August 3, 2021
ISBN: 0358126711
Pages: 288
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Erik is the youngest of Sheepflatteners, son of Inge and Thorfast, brother of Brunhilde and Allyson, and Viking through and through. Except for the part where he suffers anxiety and is fearful of all the fierce, exciting things his family does. Erik and his sister Brunhilde spend the summer with their Minnesota cousins and Brunhilde takes on Erik’s fears as her summer project, starting with a trip to the library to check out the Big Book of Fears and the Art of War. Although Erik would much rather hide under his bed, he does indeed face some of his fears and even takes up mountain biking. A creative and humorous tale about anxiety and finding your place in your family.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

 

five-stars

Katie the Catsitter

Katie the CatsitterKatie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable, Stephanie Yue
Published by Amistad, Random House Books for Young Readers on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 0593306325
Pages: 224
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Katie wants nothing more than to join her friend at summer camp but her Mom simply can’t afford it. Katie tries her hand at various odd jobs in her building to earn money but fails at all but cat sitting. Her neighbor Ms. Lang hires her to take care of her 217 (yes, 217!) cats each evening while she heads out to work. Meanwhile, the superhero Eastern Screech (as in owl) is trying to track down the identity of the villain Mousetress. As the summer progresses, Katie hears less from her friend at camp and starts to make new friends while trying to figure out what it is that Ms. Lang does each evening — and what are those 217 cats up to?

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

VIP: Dr. Mae Jemison: Brave Rocketeer

VIP: Dr. Mae Jemison: Brave RocketeerVIP: Dr. Mae Jemison: Brave Rocketeer by Heather Alexander
Published by HarperCollins on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 006297808X
Pages: 128
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Dr. Mae Jemison

 

Dr. Mae Jemison had always loved science and space travel.  But, being an African American woman, there had been roadblocks.  She became a medical doctor and a Peace Corps volunteer, besides being an astronaut.  What was especially interesting was learning what astronauts must learn and be tested in to become a space traveler.

She learned to scuba dive, be ejected from a plane, and get used to wearing a three-hundred-pound space suit.  She finally had her moment in space in 1992.  There are interesting quizzes and questions and most pages have illustrations.  The facts are presented in an educational manner for personal knowledge and reports but the writing quality isn’t as high as I would expect.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

 

 

four-stars

Walking for Water

Walking for WaterWalking for Water: How One Boy Stood Up for Gender Equality by Nicole Miles, Susan Hughes
Published by Kids Can Press on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 1525302493
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Walking for Water

 

In Malawi when girls reach eight years old they leave school in order to carry buckets of water five times a day for their family.  Victor and his twin sister had always attended together but now she must leave.  Victor’s teacher talks about inequality and this spurs Victor to share the duties with his sister.  They alternate days and each benefits.  The solution came very quickly and I feel there would have been push-back in the community.  But this wasn’t included.  The illustrations were excellent and groups concerned with water and food resources were added for those wanting more information.  It is an excellent picture book.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars