Month: November 2023

Ready, Set, Dough!

Ready, Set, Dough!Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
ISBN: 0593429184
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Zoe is an aspiring writer and loves her journalism class. She has so many good ideas for future news stories that she needs a reliable computer. She dreams of owning a new laptop especially when the family computer keeps crashing. When she learns the top seller in the cookie dough fundraiser will receive the laptop of their dreams, she becomes a selling machine. Unfortunately, her selling tactics come at a price – she neglects  her best friend and misses his state championship swim meet, she only sees her brother as someone to give her a ride and not someone with his own dreams and aspirations, and most importantly, she doesn’t realize something is going on with her father’s job until after he loses his job. This realistic fiction book will appeal to upper elementary readers. The author conveys an important message about empathy and selfishness in a gentle and at times humorous way. Readers will find the fundraiser a little over the top but it is really just a vehicle to show the growth of Zoe’s character as she learns to pay attention to her family and friends. While not quite in league with the author’s other 2023 middle grade title (Eb & Flow), younger readers should enjoy this book.

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

three-stars

Land of Broken Promises

Land of Broken PromisesLand of Broken Promises by Jane Kuo
ISBN: 0063119048
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Anna is a middle schooler growing up in Southern California in the 1980s. She and her parents are from Taiwan and her parents own a fast-food business. When Anna discovers a cabinet full of mail that her father has ignored – partly because he struggles to read English – the family discovers that they are “illegal.” Their visas have long since expired and they are now officially undocumented. When her parents consult an attorney, they realize they need money for the attorney’s fees so Anna’s mother moves to San Diego for the summer to work in a friend’s bakery under the table to raise the funds. When her best friend’s father loses his job, Anna realizes that she is not alone worrying about her family and eventually finds the courage to confide in her friend. This verse novel is based on the author’s life and while technically a sequel, this reads like a stand-alone novel. This is a tenderly told glimpse of the immigrant experience in America. A good choice for younger readers as the author downplays the harsher realities of the immigrant experience in America. Family is at the center of this story.

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

four-stars

Project F

Project FProject F by Jeanne DuPrau
on October 10, 2023
ISBN: 0593643801
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Project F is set in a simple world that no longer uses fossil fuels. People live in cities and only travel when necessary via steam trains. Power is used sparingly and turned off at night. People travel via carts – there are no more automobiles and no airplanes. When Keith’s aunt and uncle are killed, he is tasked with taking a 2-day train ride to pick up his young cousin Lulu who has been orphaned. An quirky guy named Malcolm takes the seat next to Keith and tells Keith he is working on a secret engineering project called Project F. Malcolm then disembarks at a small station in the middle of nowhere. When Keith arrives at the Inn that night (because trains must stop to reload their wood supply each night), he realizes that he and Malcolm have accidentally switched bags. Keith’s curiosity is piqued by papers in Malcolm’s bag that depict strange drawings. Is this Project F? After Keith picks up Lulu, he and Lulu stop at the small station near Project F to swap bags and learn more about the mysterious project. But what is Project F and will Keith find himself caught up in something he doesn’t understand? With a simple yet slightly off-kilter look at what life on Earth might be like without our reliance on fossil fuels, DuPrau has created a dystopian world that is not menacing but is, in fact, rather drab. Could this be enough of a warning to climate change naysayers to change their ways? From the creator of The City of Ember, this upper elementary novel also Includes the not-so-subtle message that paying attention in school can save a lot of trouble.

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

three-stars

How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney?

How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney?How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Jon Klassen, Mac Barnett
ISBN: 153622376X
Genres: Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
This holiday book by wonder duo Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen is just as delightful as everything else they’ve teamed up on. Between Barnett’s deadpan text and Klassen’s funny yet beautiful illustrations (those string lights!), this is a must have for any school or library and would be perfect for a read aloud. It starts with a timeless question and offers multiple ridiculous solutions. Be sure to look out for the reindeer’s hoof slipping Santa through a mail slot like a letter.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Hatchet Girls

Hatchet GirlsHatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Published by Delacorte Press on October 10, 2023
ISBN: 0593643410
Pages: 336
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
When Tessa convinces her family to move to Fall River, Massachusetts after the sudden death of her father, she has no idea how many horrific secrets and curses the area holds.  It’s also the town in which the Lizzie Borden Murders were committed a hundred years ago. History repeats itself and Tessa’s brother, Vik, is arrested after being found holding a bloody axe over his wealthy girlfriend’s parents’ bodies. Tessa is convinced that Vik is innocent and enlists her friend Phil, an expert in Fall River history, to help her prove that her brother is not a murderer.

What starts out seeming like a crime book about classism quickly morphs into a tense witchcraft thriller with some folk horror vibes. It has a nice cover and an interesting section in the back which describes the places mentioned and their haunted histories in more detail. A quick and fun read that will appeal to both horror and true crime fans.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for EveryoneHow to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone by Alex Norris
ISBN: 1536217883
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“How to Love” by Alex Norris is a teen/young adult graphic novel all about feelings and relationships. Featuring brightly colored and simple line drawings, Norris brings humor to difficult situations, like dating someone and finding out they are not who you thought they were, or getting in arguments. Some topics may seem a little too simplified, but Norris still manages to convey a deep sincerity, even while making you laugh about it. Some of the topics covered include gender expression, having a crush, friendship, getting dumped, and having arguments in your relationship.

Aimed at ages 14 and up, “How to Love” is a recommended purchase for teen and young adult graphic novel collections.

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

four-stars

Alex Wise vs. The End of the World

Alex Wise vs. The End of the WorldAlex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0593564294
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Alex just wants this summer to be like last summer when he and Sky were friends and it felt like their relationship might be growing into something more. That was all ruined on the first day of school when the school bully made fun of Alex and Sky reacted by laughing. Alex’s summer dreams are dashed when his mom announces he and his younger sister Mags will be leaving on a cruise with their estranged dad and his dad’s new family. When a mysterious “shadow man” pulls Mags overboard, Alex doesn’t hesitate to dive in to save her. They end up on a mysterious island after being rescued by a boy named Liam. Liam turns out to be a demigod and explains that the shadow man took Mags for Moritz, aka Death. When Death possesses Mags, the other three horsemen of the Apocalypse – Pestilence, Famine and War – are also awakened. Alex is possessed by Orin, a god of sense (empathy) but something is blocking Alex’s ability to channel and communicate with Orin. To make matters worse, Liam assumed he would be chosen by Orin and takes out his frustration on Alex. To save Mags from the clutches of death, Alex and Liam – with the help of Alex’s best friend Loren – will have to work together to defeat the four horsemen before they destroy the world. This page turner features strong Black heroes and cries out for a sequel!

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

four-stars

Oh, Panda

Oh, PandaOh, Panda by Cindy Derby
Published by Random House Children's Books on 9/5/2023
ISBN: 0593564723
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
 

In this tale told through beautiful, transporting illustrations & sparse text, young Panda loses his new butterfly friend over a mountain and tries with all his might to surmount this obstacle & their caregivers’ hesitancy so they can play together. 

Written as though speaking directly to Panda, the narrator is initially unsupportive and overly cautious in regards to Panda’s challenge. As Panda makes several unsuccessful attempts to climb the towering, slippery mountain, the narrator repeatedly tries to distract them with playing or snacks, telling Panda the problem is too large for them to solve on their own. Once the narrator realizes Panda has no interest in giving up their goal to play safely, they come around and give them the encouragement & support they need to finally climb the mountain, where they find their butterfly friend waiting for them. 

The message could get a little jumbled depending on who’s reading the story – our narrator can come off as a little overly cold towards Panda at times, and their communication with Panda is lacking. Overall, this is a tale that will speak to every cautious toddler & preschool caregiver’s heart, reminding them that love is sometimes letting them do the tough stuff. 

 

Reviewed by Paiten Price – Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME

 

three-stars

I’m Not Here to Make Friends

I’m Not Here to Make FriendsI'm Not Here to Make Friends by Andrew Yang
Published by Quill Tree Books on July 18, 2023
ISBN: 0063223279
Pages: 352
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Sabine Zhang, one of the only Asians in her midwestern high school, has been chosen as one of six cast members for a low-budget teen reality show with an all-Asian cast, aired on a local streaming service that nobody really watches. She is a fan of the show, which is a low-stakes month at a house in California where the cast gets to know each other and have fun.

But this year, things are different: a major streaming service has picked it up, and everything has changed, from how the cast is selected to the staged drama. Sabine is the only one there who loved – or even watched – the old version of the show, and she feels totally out of her depth. For the first time she is surrounded by Asians, and she’s never felt less like she belonged. Worse, the showrunners seem to have picked her to be one of the dramatic leads in their contrived storyline, pitting her against housemate Yoona Bae, a confident, beautiful girl from NYC.

Told in alternating POV between Sabine and Yoona, readers gain insight into the struggles that each is trying to keep hidden from the cameras and each other, and how the curated dramatics of the show are working to make their rift even worse. Despite this, Sabine begins to understand just how much the strings of her experience are being pulled, and how little of it is real; she and Yoona take steps to work out their differences and realize just how much they have both been manipulated.

This book will appeal to fans of reality TV above all; it is an interesting look into the behind the scenes work that goes into portraying a storyline out of unscripted content, and gives insight into how drama is created by the showrunners. The emphasis on friendship being the “happy ending,” instead of romance, was a plus. On the downside, the other four cast members and smaller supporting characters felt two-dimensional, since narration came from only Sabine and Yoona. The story would have overall been stronger had we been inside the heads of the other four housemates. The cast was all Asian American but lacked any other diversity (all cis hetero, with backgrounds that were indistinguishable in any meaningful way).

Entertaining, but not a must have.

Three Stars

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

three-stars

Grandpa Is Here!

Grandpa Is Here!Grandpa Is Here! by Chuck Groenink, Tanya Rosie
on August 29, 2023
ISBN: 1536231266
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Grandpa Is Here! is a sweet picture book that cherishes the fleeting special moments shared between a little girl and her grandfather visiting from afar. Grandpa comes from Iran, speaks in Farsi, and brings with him spices, walnuts, and Nana’s fig jam. The duo shares an outside adventure, and the whole family shares a traditional dinner together upon a sufra (or a mat placed on the floor). The beautiful illustrations celebrate childhood, nature, family, and culture – with new details to notice each time you read this book. The rhyming verse, while sometimes feeling like a a stretch, is still thoughtful and effective, making this book an enjoyable read-a-loud. The theme throughout remains bittersweet – perfectly capturing the emotion of wanting to soak up visits with loved ones that live far away. This diverse book would be a lovely addition to any library collection. Recommended for ages 4 – 6 (pre-K to K).

Reviewed by Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars