Cage of Dreams

Cage of DreamsCage of Dreams (City of Nightmares Duology, 2) by Rebecca Schaeffer
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0358645549
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Cage of Dreams” by Rebecca Schaeffer is the second and final book in the “City of Nightmares” YA fiction duology. The premise in “City of Nightmares” is that when people go to sleep and dream, they can turn into their worst fear, including monsters, giant insects, and other terrifying things. By the end of the first book the main character, Ness, has discovered that the Nightmare Phantom creating these nightmares in dreams is trapped in the dream realm, so she makes a deal and releases him. Now at the beginning of the second book, Ness is still terrified of the violence in this post-apocalyptic world and wants to make a deal with the  Nightmare Phantom to make her more powerful and less vulnerable. Things go wrong and chaos ensues.

The book is both scary and humorous with lots of little quips from Ness and the other characters. Themes of friendship, acceptance, fear, and strength are strong in the series and Ness comes to terms with who they are and how they fit with their friends and in this terrifying world in general. Written for teens and young adults, this is a recommended purchase where the first book is popular.

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

three-stars

Greenlight

GreenlightGreenlight by Breanna Carzoo
ISBN: 006305406X
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Greenlight has an important job to do. So why do cars stop for Redlight and slow for Yellowlight.but every time when it’s Greenlight’s time to shine, the cars drive away. Greenlight gives up, closes his eyes, and has a bit of an existential crisis. He eventually decides that he wants to shine again and resolves the traffic jam. I confess, it took me some time to “get” this book, but after reading it a few times, the more I enjoyed it. The realization that being liked by others is less important than liking oneself turns out to be literally eye-opening. Young preschoolers will enjoy the cars and trucks and simple colorful paper collage illustrations but may need some support to understand the underlying concept. Or maybe they are smarter than I am? Anyway, this is why I gave the book a 5 star rating rather than a Cream of the Crop rating. The book is funny and children will enjoy the topic. It could easily be paired with Cazoo’s first book, Lou, about a fire hydrant for a Story Time.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Ketanji: Justice Jackson’s Journey to the U. S. Supreme Court

Ketanji: Justice Jackson’s Journey to the U. S. Supreme CourtKetanji: Justice Jackson's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court by Kekla Magoon, Laura Freeman
on June 20, 2023
ISBN: 0063296160
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

An aspirational picture book biography about Ketanji Jackson, the first Black female Supreme Court justice. Her parents named her Ketanji, which means “lovely one,” dressed her in dashikis, and kept her hair natural. More importantly they helped  her to develop pride and belief in herself and her future. As a young person, she was elected class president, competed on the debate team, and performed with an improv group. She excelled at Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She married, had two daughters, and held 10 different law-related positions before being nominated to the Supreme Court. Magoon’s straightforward prose allows Ketanji’s life story to speak for itself. The theme of Ketanji’s “shining star” connects the phases of her life and shows how she found her purpose. Freeman’s digital illustrations depict spreads showing loving relationships in her family – both with her parents and her husband and two children – as well as being a positive role model in all aspects of her life. Including her daughter Leila’s letter to then President Obama asking that he consider her mother for fill a seat on the Supreme Court was heartwarming, although the nomination did not come until many years later. I am normally not a fan of picture book biographies, but this one was inspirational and causes me to want to read more about her. Recommended for all libraries.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

How To Go Hiking

How To Go HikingHow to Go Hiking (Step into Reading) by Jean Reagan, Lee Wildish
Series: Step Into Reading/How To...: Step 2 "Reading with help."
ISBN: 0593644778
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A paperback copy of the popular Step Into Reading series: Level 2 “Reading with help.” An unnamed boy and his uncle each get new hiking boots. So of course they decide to go for a hike. They load their backpacks with snacks, water, map, and binoculars. The boy wisely adds a first-aid kit as the uncle discovers at the top of the hill that he has a gotten a blister  Created by the same author and illustrator team as How to Babysit a Grandma and others in series, it combines the same hilarity and colorful comic book-like characters. The characters all have dark-ish skin and characteristics. Mom is depicted but there is not a dad in this family. Geared for beginning readers with short sentences and colorful illustrations depicting the text. A fun Easy Reader!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Harry at the Dog Show

Harry at the Dog ShowHarry at the Dog Show (I Can Read Level 1) by Gene Zion, Margaret Bloy Graham
ISBN: 0062747789
Genres: Animals
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Harry, the beloved black and white dog, is back in an Easy Reader format. When Harry goes to the park, he accidentally gets mixed up in the dog show and finds himself running the obstacle course. In typical Harry outcome – he is the blue ribbon winner. Anyone who is familiar with this adorable puppy will enjoy his antics in this book, as well. I, for one, am glad that Harry has been rediscovered for a new generation – or perhaps third generation. The original Harry the Dirty Dog was published in 1956. He ages well!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

How to Rock a Snow Day

How to Rock a Snow DayHow to Rock a Snow Day (Step into Reading) by Jean Reagan, Lee Wildish
Series: Step Into Reading/ How To...
ISBN: 0593644808
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Realistic Fiction
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A paperback copy of the popular Step Into Reading series: Level 2 “Reading with help.” A subject that every kid in the north will relate to. School is canceled because of snow so the kids have a snow day. There is so much to do: snow angels, snowmen, soup, and sledding. Created by the same author and illustrator team as How to Babysit a Grandma and others in series, it combines the same hilarity and colorful comic book-like characters. Geared for beginning readers with short sentences, repeated words, and colorful illustrations depicting the text. Nicely done and recommended for all Easy Reader collections.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Rez Ball

Rez BallRez Ball by Byron Graves
on September 12, 2023
ISBN: 0063160374
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Rez Ball” is a young adult novel by debut author Byron Graves (Ojibwe) about a teen from Red Lake Nation Reservation who wants to succeed at basketball. Tre’s brother was a basketball star, but died in an accident, so Tre feels driven to follow in his footsteps and beyond, to become a player in the NBA. Tre has to deal with grief, racism, and general teen high school issues. It’s clear that Graves knows what he writes about and the main character and his family and friends have a lot of depth. Exploring the themes of bereavement and figuring out who you are, this is a recommended purchase for all YA collections.

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

three-stars

Ryan and Avery

Ryan and AveryRyan and Avery by David Levithan
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 12, 2023
ISBN: 0399553096
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

As the kid from The Princess Bride movie would put it, Ryan and Avery by David Levithan is a kissing book. The omniscient third person narrator starts the novel by showing us Ryan and Avery’s fourth date where they are very much already smitten with each other. The story floats between earlier and later dates allowing us to witness their improbable beginning and the mostly parental obstacles trying to keep them apart. Their love is simple and innocent, but Levithan never shies away from the harder parts of teenage life, so it may be helpful to let your patrons know that there are mentions and instances of homophobia, transphobia, and eating disorders.

The narrator spends more time soliloquizing about love than developing the characters or plot in the beginning chapters, so this should only be recommended to serious fans of the romance genre. Non-romance readers could get cavities from how earnestly sweet this love story is at times. This book could also be recommended to parents whose queer teens are starting to date as it demonstrates the difference between logical boundaries placed with love and irrational rules imposed with fear. That being said, Ryan and Avery reads like a contemporary fairy-tale romance and would be a lovely spoonful of sugar in YA collections that too often focus on the harder aspects of queer youth experiences.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

The Magicians

The MagiciansThe Magicians by Blexbolex, Karin Snelson
Published by Enchanted Lion Books on November 7, 2023
ISBN: 1592704042
Pages: 210
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This stunner of a graphic novel is the story of three magicians who appear in a house after a mysterious absence and are immediately chased by a hunter and a mechanical lion, aka The Clinker. The magicians escape and scatter but are eventually rounded up after three separate adventures.

Blexbolex has created a visually arresting, captivating fairy tale that can easily be recommended to anyone. While it’s a terrific children’s book, the vintage story book style prints are beautiful enough to consider it an art book. It would be easy to get swept up in the images and ignore the text but that would be a mistake; the story is well written, witty, and magical, and uses phrases like “exasperating, long-reigning silence”, impudent companion”, and “thriving, exuberant mess”. The text is advanced, but the illustrations help explain the meanings of tougher words and will broaden vocabularies. A must have!

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

five-stars

Wearing My Mother’s Heart

Wearing My Mother’s HeartWearing My Mother's Heart by Sophia Thakur
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536230162
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Wearing My Mother’s Heart” is a collection of poems about Sophia Thakur’s love for her mother and grandmothers. Some poems are very short and others are long, but all of them are beautiful. Some are written from the point of view of her family members and many are from Thakur herself. Topics range from family life to politics to religion and give you an emotional glimpse into Thakur’s life and what her family has been through. Written for ages 14 and up, this is a recommended purchase where poetry is popular.

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

three-stars