Month: February 2023

The Burning Swift

The Burning SwiftThe Burning Swift by Joseph Elliott
Published by Walker Books US on January 4, 2022
ISBN: 1536207497
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Burning Swift” by Joseph Elliott is the third and final installment of the Shadow Skye trilogy, a teen fantasy series set in a mythical version of Scotland. Our protagonists come from different clans: Agatha is a Hawk, Jaime is an Angler, and they partner with Sigrid who has an amazing memory. They must unite Scotia and the Isle of Skye against the coming war.

Fans of fantasy, especially those who enjoyed the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, will feel at home in this series. The characters are unique and keep the novel from being just another standard fantasy. Not a must-buy, but the series is a good additional purchase at libraries where teen fantasy is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Finding Jupiter

Finding JupiterFinding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on May 31, 2022
ISBN: 0593429257
Pages: 320
Genres: Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Finding Jupiter” by Kelis Rowe is a young adult romance with two protagonists that have tragic backstories. Ray is named after her father who died on her birthday and feels like she can’t separate herself from that tragedy. Orion’s little sister died in a crash years ago and he can’t get his happy family back. The two meet and sparks fly. There’s supposed to be a huge plot twist, but readers will likely figure it out early on.

Characters are interesting, especially that Orion has sensory processing disorder, which I haven’t often seen in Black book characters. The plot feels a little rushed. Told from the alternating points of view, I found Ray’s chapters more compelling than Orion’s, but both were well done. A good alternate purchase for libraries who have a large young adult fiction collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Creep: A Love Story

Creep: A Love StoryCreep: A Love Story by Lygia Day Peñaflor
Published by HarperCollins US on February 1, 2023
ISBN: 035869292X
Pages: 272
Genres: Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Creep: A Love Story” by Lygia Day Peñaflor is a young adult thriller where the main character, Rafi, becomes obsessed with Laney and Nico, her high school’s perfect couple. Rafi finds ways to get involved in their lives and the title “creep” is completely accurate. When Laney and Nico’s relationship hits the rocks, Rafi can’t handle it and goes to extremes to get them back together.

The level of creepiness in this book is off the charts, and even make you feel like you are also creeping on Laney and Nico’s relationship. Character building felt a little weak and while the plot keeps twisting and keeping the reader in suspense about what will happen next, I never really cared about the main characters. A suggested purchase for young adult collections where psychological thrillers are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Children of Ragnarok

Children of RagnarokChildren of Ragnarok (Runestone Saga, #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
Published by Balzer&Bray on November 8, 2022
Pages: 536
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Children of Ragnarok” by Cinda Williams Chima is the start of a young adult Norse-based fantasy epic. If you like your books long and filled with magic and machinations, this book is for you. Following Eiric and his half-sister Liv, who comes with her own mysterious background, we explore the world and its politics. After killing their stepfather to protect themselves, they are forced to take on a quest. Another storyline features Reggin, a magical healer who is enslaved by a demon.

Though slow at times, the novel features plenty of adventure and the characters are extremely compelling. Readers will want to know how the characters will eventually meet and how they will hopefully be successful in their quests. Aimed at teens and young adults, this is a must-buy for libraries with a strong YA fantasy collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

I Am Not a Tin Can

I Am Not a Tin CanI Am Not a Tin Can! by Barroux
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525305549
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is an offbeat book for young children about the nature of friendship and what makes a someone (or something) a friend. A child and a robot essentially bicker through most of the book about whether or not the robot is a tin can. The resolution is that it doesn’t really matter because they get along, have fun together, and each complements the other’s personality.

With the exception of one drawing showing the robot plunging into despair when it realizes that it doesn’t have a heart, the illustrations are bright and appealing. This will circulate and would be a good book to open a discussion about feelings; kids might have an interesting take on whether this robot is, indeed, a tin can and why or why not that might be.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

This Appearing House

This Appearing HouseThis Appearing House by Ally Malinenko
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on August 16, 2022
ISBN: 0063136570
Pages: 288
Genres: Horror, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“This Appearing House” is a middle grade horror novel written by Ally Malinenko. Middle schooler Jac was diagnosed with childhood cancer five years ago and hopes to be told she has “No Evidence of Disease” soon. As if that isn’t enough, she also has to deal with her helicopter mom’s constant worries. One day a mysterious house appears out of nowhere. Jac and her friend Hazel are dared to go into the creepy house and find themselves trapped. Each door features its own scares including a really creepy part involving teeth. While trying to escape the house, Jac faces her own fears and owns her anger that things are not fair!

A good scary book that also has a heartfelt and welcome message that the world isn’t fair, but also that sick kids don’t always die at the end of the book (an annoyingly common trope that Jac mentions in the book). Written for ages 8 – 12, this book is a suggested purchase for middle grade collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Shipwreck Island

Shipwreck IslandOrphans of the Tide #2: Shipwreck Island by Struan Murray
Published by HarperCollins on December 13, 2022
ISBN: 0063043165
Pages: 416
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

“Shipwreck Island” by Struan Murray is the second novel in the “Orphans of the Tide” middle grade series. In a post-apocalyptic fantasy world where one island of inhabitants have survived The Great Drowning and some have godlike powers, main characters Seth and Ellie have already left their island, escaped the Enemy (an evil god) and survived the trip to another island where they must now deal with the problems their new island faces.

Characters are likable and I enjoyed the worldbuilding put into the setting, but the narrative felt choppy and a bit overly clichéd at times. Written for ages 8 – 12, this book is a suggested purchase at libraries where the first volume is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

two-stars

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of AlexandriaShad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije
Published by HarperCollins on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 0063094819
Pages: 304
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria” by George Jreije is a fun new twist on the Harry Potter/Percy Jackson model where the main character discovers that they have special powers and get to go to a special school to learn more about them. Shad has always felt like an outsider, focusing more on his baking in his grandmother’s Lebanese bakery in Maine and avoiding bullies rather than making friends.  When he discovers that he is descended from alchemists, Shad goes to the Alexandria Academy to learn as much as he can.

Facing challenges from within the academy and outside, Shad Hadid focuses on friendship, family, and finding oneself. The author has clearly put his love for Lebanese culture into the book and readers will either enjoy seeing themselves represented as a fantasy hero or will learn more about Lebanese and Arabic culture while enjoying a fun magical ride. The author also is a Maine author, so the descriptions of Maine are true to life. Written for middle graders, “Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria” is a must-buy for all libraries in Maine.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

The 9:09 Project

The 9:09 ProjectThe 9:09 Project by Mark H. Parsons
Published by Delacorte on October 18, 2022
ISBN: 0593309758
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“The 9:09 Project” by Mark H. Parsons is a young adult novel about Jamison, a teen boy whose mother died a few years ago. He worries that he is forgetting her, so he begins an art project where he takes photos at 9:09pm every day at the same place. Parsons’ description of the photos and the way that Jamison uses photography to form relationships and connections with other people keep the novel interesting and compelling.

The themes of grief and healing are woven throughout. I was initially worried that the book would be very depressing, but while it is sad, the author keeps the reader interested in Jamison’s journey as his photos lead him to discover his true self. Written for teens and young adults, this book is a suggested purchase for libraries where YA realistic fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Katzenjammer

KatzenjammerKatzenjammer by Francesca Zappia
Published by Greenwillow Books on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0063161656
Pages: 304
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
High school student Cat and her classmates live in a school they can’t escape from. The school is a living entity, constantly shifting and changing, and its influence is manipulating the bodies of some of the students. Cat and her best friend Jeffrey set out to solve the mysterious and brutal death of their class president and must reach out to the different cliques that have formed as a necessity for survival.

Katzenjammer is told in short chapters that alternate between the current nightmare landscape and memories that are trickling back to Cat and helping her make sense of how she and her friends (and enemies) came to be trapped. Cat is a talented artist and the book is sparsely but effectively illustrated. Just look at that cover! It is impossible to put down until the very end and then it is absolutely gutting.

Without spoiling it, the book missed explicitly listing an important trigger in its content warning. Even without the devastating twist, the last quarter of the book descends into a downright Dostoyevskian exploration of cruelty, humiliation, collective guilt, and violence. It’s well written and creative and has good character development. Unfortunately, for all of the book’s accomplishments, it’s so bleak and troubling that I don’t know how I could recommend it to anyone, which accounts for the lower star rating.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

three-stars