Month: October 2022

Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy

Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard BoyTales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy by Jonathan Hill
Published by Walker Books US on September 27, 2022
Pages: 288
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

When Tommy and his family, who are lizard people,  have to flee their subterranean world due to dwindling resources, they decide to do everything they can to fit in with their new human neighbors.  Tommy starts middle school with a new identity and struggles culturally and socially until he becomes friends with Dung, a new Vietnamese student, and Scarlett, a social outcast. Middle school drama ensues, further complicated by Tommy’s hidden identity.

This graphic novel would be a great suggestion for anyone struggling to be themselves, anyone looking to understand the experience of those living in a new country, or anyone simply looking for an engaging middle school sci-fi drama. Tommy works through a lot, and even when his behavior is difficult, it’s hard not to root for him.

The book also has a fascinating author’s note that nicely explains Vietnamese names, the author’s reasoning for portraying the Vietnamese family’s speech the way he did, and a description of some of his favorite Vietnamese foods. A solid addition to any collection!

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Revenge of Zombert

Revenge of ZombertRevenge of ZomBert (The ZomBert Chronicles #3) by Kara LaReau, Ryan Andrews
Published by Candlewick Press on July 1, 2022
ISBN: 1536201081
Pages: 144
Genres: Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

This is the third installment of the Zombert trilogy but it also might be an updated retelling of Larry Cohen’s 1985 horror classic The Stuff. Revenge of Zombert starts in the midst of a zombified community; a result of eating a mind-possessing ingredient called Yummconium created by evil food empire Yummco. Zombert, or just Bert, is a cat who has escaped from the Yummco lab and has befriended the book’s protagonist, Mellie. The tests run on Bert allow him to telepathically communicate with Mellie and they work together to save their town.

The book is not a smooth read. The point of view changes occasionally in a clunky way. Bert has his own internal battle happening with his brother, who is named Brother, which feels separate from the rest of the story and takes up a lot of space in such a short book. It’s illustrated, which will appeal to younger readers.

If you have the other two books in the series you might add this for closure. I’m not sure who I would recommend this to, other than people who have read the other two, or fans of The Stuff who wish the movie had a  tormented cat protagonist.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

 

two-stars

Playing the Cards You’re Dealt

Playing the Cards You’re DealtPlaying the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson
Published by Scholastic Press on October 5, 2021
ISBN: 1338348531
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The top concern for ten-year-old Anthony Joplin is winning this year’s Spades Tournament in an effort to restore his good name (he lost big time last year). He is also navigating his first crush, growing apart from his best friend, and having his eyes opened to the flawed person that is his father. Anthony would rather solve problems with words and diplomacy in a world in which peaceful resolutions are not seen as an option and a boy who doesn’t want to use his fists is not seen as “man enough”.  The story is told by an omniscient narrator that turns out to be one of the Joplin men watching from above. Johnson has a way with language, peppering his prose with similes and metaphors and fantastic sentences like “After forty-six photos and way too many kisses to count…” describing the morning of the first day of school. Johnson takes on tough family issues like alcoholism and gambling, and offers an alternative to toxic masculinity through Aaron, Anthony’s older brother, and through wisdom from the unseen grandfather narrator. The book offers a window into a Black family that is struggling but also supporting one another and it does it in an engaging way that fans of realistic stories about struggle and lessons learned and with a hopeful message in the end will enjoy.

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

four-stars

A Day For Sandcastles

A Day For SandcastlesA Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson, Qin Leng
Published by Candlewick Press on May 10, 2022
ISBN: 1536208426
Pages: 48
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A wordless book about a family of five that journey to the ocean on a hot summer day. Illustrator Qin Leng’s ink and watercolor technique comes to life with every turn of the page. Readers can easily relate to the family’s journey, visiting the beach, playing in the water, and building sandcastles. This picture book is a great conversation starter between friends and family, as well as a resource for teachers who are educating youth about storytelling structure like beginning, middle, and ending. The target audience is all ages and libraries should consider adding this beautiful picture book to their collection.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

four-stars

Strangeville School is Definitely Not Cursed

Strangeville School is Definitely Not CursedStrangeville School Is Definitely Not Cursed (Strangeville School, #2) by Darcy Miller, Brett Helquist
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 13, 2022
ISBN: 0593309936
Pages: 240
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

In order to understand the main character’s unique ability, the reader will need to read the first book Strangeville is Totally Normal. The author does not recap past events to help new readers understand the fictional world they have created. The author’s writing structure between different narrations is poorly executed and became repetitive, particularly when they repeated the phrase “Let’s get back to Harvey” after breaking the fourth wall and dispensing science facts. Readers who like the Goosebumps and the School of Phantoms series will be drawn to this book because of all the strange things that take place inside the school. The target audience is 3rd to 6th graders. The illustrations in the novel help to visually see the secondary characters, monsters, and events which is a nice contrast to the repetitive writing style used.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

two-stars

Never Coming Home

Never Coming HomeNever Coming Home by Kate Williams
Published by Delacorte Press on June 21, 2022
ISBN: 0593304861
Pages: 320
Genres: Suspense, Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Ten young adult influencers head to Unknown Island as the first group of people hand-selected to experience the trip of a lifetime. The 10 are expecting all inclusive luxury and an opportunity to mingle with other elites, maybe even a chance to build their brand but what they find instead is no Wi-Fi, shabby accommodations, and murder. The influencers all share a dark secret and someone on the island is out for retribution. The athlete, the beauty blogger, the DJ, the environmentalist? No one is safe. No one is going home.

Lies and secrets and murder are all the rage right now as the YA thriller genre continues to grow. While there is nothing groundbreaking happening here, Never Coming Home will still be a fun read for teens looking for something similar to a Karen McManus book or other related fare. The character development is shallow and the tech mentions will date the book quickly but that is forgivable with books such as this. Light gore, the dark side of social media, and the curiosity of who is behind Unknown Island will no doubt draw readers in. Add to teen collections where this genre is popular. Recommended for 8th grade and up.

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School

three-stars

Castles in Their Bones

Castles in Their BonesCastles in Their Bones (Castles in Their Bones, #1) by Laura Sebastian
Published by Delacorte Press on February 1, 2022
ISBN: 0593118162
Pages: 514
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Triplet sisters Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia have turned 16, and as such, it is time for them to leave their homeland of Bessemia and marry the princes of three other countries they’ve been betrothed to since childhood. Their mother, Empress Margaraux , has trained the girls to drive each monarchy into war so that she may rule over the entire continent herself. Armed with a variety of skills and a bit of stardust, the three sisters test themselves and each other in hopes of accomplishing their tasks and staying in their mother’s good graces, all the while hurtling towards a destiny they are completely unaware of.

Castles in Their Bones, the first in a planned trilogy, is a bit formulaic but nevertheless did manage to surprise me in a few areas, especially towards the end. While the book is difficult to get into initially because it is written in present-tense, the story itself picks up rather quickly and the distraction of the writing style is quickly forgotten. The sisters take turns narrating the story, each with a distinct voice and circumstance, which makes 500 pages worth of content surprisingly easy to keep track of. Fans of palace intrigue, family secrets, and a touch of magic will want to add this to their reading list. Recommended for general purchase. Ages 14 and up.

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School

four-stars

And I Think About You

And I Think About YouAnd I Think About You by Rosanne L. Kurstedt, Ya-Ling Huang
Published by Kids Can Press on September 20, 2022
ISBN: 1525304593
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A mother bear (per the book description, the character is a mother but the character is non-descript enough to be a parent in general) tells her child about her workday. She describes one activity after another and follows each description with “And I think about you.” Illustrations show her at her tasks with a corresponding activity she imagines doing with her child. Turn the page, and the child is shown participating in a parallel activity at school. Reassuring book for both working parents and their offspring. Ya-Ling Huang uses watercolor and colored pencils to create soft, descriptive illustrations that beg to be discussed. The repeated refrain — “And I think about you” — is comforting and relays that even when a child is out of sight, they are never out of their parents’ thoughts. Give to parents whose children are attending preschool or school for the first time to read together.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks!

Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks!Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks! by Jonathan Roth
Published by Kids Can Press on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 1525305662
Pages: 104
Genres: Adventure, Humor, Science Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This graphic novel, the first of a new series by the author of “Beep and Bob,” is quite enjoyable even for those who are usually not fans of graphic novels. Rover is, well, a rover, who crash lands on a planet. His antenna is broken (it humorously takes the appearance of a tail), so he has no way to communicate with his ship. He rescues a robot, Speck, whom he finds a little annoying but allows him to accompany him to explore this new planet. When they make their first big discovery, their only mission is to escape from the rock creatures that are chasing them! The easily understandable and colorful illustrations accompany a fast-moving plot, humorous moments, and endearing characters. There is even thought-provoking philosophy: “How do we know we haven’t discovered it yet, if we haven’t discovered it yet?” The asides in boxes throughout the story contain science facts. End matter includes a draw-your-own-rover activity and an overview of some real-life rovers. With its popular topic, clever wit, and accessible science, this series promises to be a hit with readers in grades 2-5.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big AdventureHaven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Published by Candlewick Press on August 2, 2022
ISBN: 1536216577
Pages: 144
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Haven is a gripping story about a cat who tries to get help for her sick human, Ma Millie. They live alone, and there is no one else to help. Haven is scared to be in the forest but gets help along the way from a savvy fox. Their friendship is humorous and touching. This is a fast-paced adventure story that will hold readers’ captivated, wanting to find out how it ends. The descriptions of cozy cottages and the vast wilderness are terrifically portrayed, and the ever-present lurking bobcat will keep readers turning pages. The dangers presented might be too scary for a sensitive child and death is present for both animals and humans. Overall, recommend this bittersweet novel to readers who enjoyed Pax by Sara Pennypacker and the Warriors series.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars