Month: August 2024

Blood at the Root

Blood at the RootBlood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams
Published by Labyrinth Road on May 7, 2024
ISBN: 0593711920
Genres: Cultural / African American, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Seventeen-year-old Malik has been living with the tremendous burden of believing he was responsible for his mother’s death a decade ago. He remembers her dying the night he realized he had magical powers and he has since carried that pain while growing up in the foster system. After rescuing his beloved foster brother Taye, Malik sets out for a new life away from his memories. Along the way he discovers not only can he control his magic, but that he comes from a long line of magic practitioners, and that he has earned a place in an historically Black college dedicated to Black youth with magical abilities.

Written to fill the void of magical stories featuring young Black men, Blood at the Root is an exciting idea: an HBCU dedicated to students learning Hoodoo and Vodun magic that draws on their history and ancestry for its operational power. The book is long and slow, though, and the magic is outweighed by the constant trauma and betrayal Malik is subjected to. Older fantasy and magical realism fans might enjoy it, and there will undoubtedly be sequels.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library

three-stars

One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them

One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed ThemOne Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them by Loree Griffin Burns, Jamie Green
Published by MIT Kids Press on May 14, 2024
ISBN: 1536228680
Pages: 56
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

The first book in a new nonfiction series called Discovery Chronicles. This title follows the pine processionary caterpillar and focuses on two scientists who studied it. Jean-Henri Fabre researched and wrote about this fascinating creature in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and then, a half century later, Terrence Fitzgerald picked up on Fabre’s work and refined it. The two scientists wondered why processionary caterpillars followed a leader, if they will follow a particular leader, if they use silk to make a trail, among other questions. Fitzgerald used Fabre’s earlier work to make a hypothesis and then conducted experiments to prove it. The thesis of the book is that science is a “long line of learning” and that scientists are curious people who have a wonder and then use the scientific method to test a theory (or two) and record their work for others to read and build upon. Burns does an excellent job laying out this method and provides the reader with plenty of information about the caterpillars who are the star of this title; illustrator Jamie Green adds enough visual detail to help the reader understand what it looked like to study this captivating species. Hand this to budding scientists in grades 2-5.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars

K9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police Dog

K9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police DogK9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police Dog by Mark Tappan
ISBN: 140024658X
Genres: Animals, Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

K9 Mattis On the Job follows a typical day in the life of Mattis, a police dog, with his partner Sergeant Mark Tappan. As part of the Alpharetta Police Department, Sergeant Mark and Mattis hand out assignments, practice important skills such as tackling and tracking, and use their custom police car with a kennel in the back to report for duty. But today is Mattis’ favorite day: he and Sergeant Mark get to visit an elementary school to show off all the skills Mattis has learned. 

Being a police dog is more than just learning how to sit, stay, and high five. Mattis also practices tackling in the park and rescuing someone from the lake. In showing off for the students, Mattis not only finds a student’s stuffed turtle, but also Sergeant Mark’s hat, lost inside his police vehicle. 

A fun additional fact can be found on every page. These facts include details about Mattis and Tappan’s career together — Mattis has more awards than any other police dog in their department! Other facts are about police dogs in general, such as that German Shepherds can run up to 30 miles per hour. These tidbits add a wealth of information and provide additional context to this nonfiction read. 

This would be a great book for a lesson on community helpers, first responders, or even the life of a working dog. The realistic style of the illustrations feel kid-friendly without coming across as whimsical or childish, which helps kids relate to the story. This book would be perfect for early elementary students (PreK through grade 2) but maybe be adapted to be part of an older curriculum. 

Reviewed by Amie Martin, HB Emery Jr. Memorial School, Limington

four-stars

Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever

Grumpy Monkey Spring FeverGrumpy Monkey Spring Fever by Max Lang, Suzanne Lang
Published by Random House Studio on January 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593652339
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Grumpy Monkey (Jim Panzee) is back again – and this time with spring fever. At first, his friends suggest different ways to help Jim relax and calm down. But no matter what he tried, Jim just could not relax – he had too much energy! His friends then pivot their suggestions to ways that he could enjoy his spring fever, by using his extra energy to do seasonal activities. By the end of the story, all of the friends are romping through the jungle delighted to have caught Jim’s spring fever. The illustrations are colorful and fun, emphasizing the personalities and emotions of the different jungle friends. The moral of the story is somewhat confusing – and shows wavering support and inconsistent recommendations from the other animals.  Overall this seasonal sequel feels lacking compared to the original, but fans of Grumpy Monkey will likely still enjoy the story. Recommended for ages 5-6 (Kindergarten to 1st Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

three-stars

Back Home: Story Time with My Father

Back Home: Story Time with My FatherBack Home: Story Time with My Father by Arlene Elizabeth Casimir, Ken Daley
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536223204
Genres: Cultural / African American, Realistic Fiction, Short Stories
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book is Arlene Elizabeth Casimir’s love letter to her immigrant parents, and in particular, their stories of “Back Home” or “Lakay”. The book follows Lune, who loves to hear her father’s stories about Haiti – so much so that she will wait up for her father to catch him in-between late night work shifts just to hear another one. Lune dreams of Haiti, a place that she has never been, but carries such significance to her family. By the end of the book, Lune learns that there is also value to her own unique story, and that she can be a storyteller as well. Ken Daley’s illustrations are lush, vibrant, and gorgeous – merging Lune’s life in America with her father’s stories from “Back Home”. The text includes words in Haitian Creole, including a glossary at the end. This diverse story is a great addition to any picture book collection, especially representing the lives of immigrants and their children. Recommended for ages 5-7 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Go and Get with Rex

Go and Get with RexGo and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka
Published by Candlewick Press on May 7, 2024
ISBN: 1536222062
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals, Children's Beginning Readers, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

In this picture book, the reader gets to play a game of “Go and Get”, in which Jack, Jill, and Rex (the dog) are sent to retrieve an item that begins with a specific letter. The text and illustrations provide hints of what each character brings back for each round, providing fun opportunities for guessing. Rex comically brings back items that (at first blush) don’t appear to start with the requested letter. The illustrations are simple, fun, and effective. The text includes many alliterations, and the text font showcases the letter for each round of the game, which is helpful for early readers to follow along. This is sure to be a story time favorite and will have little readers simultaneously learning and laughing out loud. Recommended for ages 5-6 (Kindergarten to 1st Grade). Nominated for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

five-stars

Snowglobe

SnowglobeSnowglobe by Joungmin Lee Comfort, Soyoung Park
ISBN: 0593484975
Genres: Psychological thriller, Science Fiction, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In this ambitious young adult Korean sci-fi thriller the entire world is a frozen wasteland with the exception of the Snowglobe, a domed climate-controlled area where the elite live. Chobahm is a teen who lives in a frozen settlement outside of Snowglobe and works with everyone else in the settlement at a power plant where they produce electricity by running on treadmills. The people who live in the frozen lands all live for their favorite television shows starring the residents of Snowglobe. Chobahm, who looks identical to the biggest star in Snowglobe, Goh Haeri, is offered the opportunity to secretly take the her place before the public discovers Haeri committed suicide. Believing this could be her chance at achieving her dream of being a director, Chobahm eagerly takes over Haeri’s life in Snowglobe. Soon she discovers the dangers of investigating what was really going on before Haeri’s death and the dark secrets hidden behind the glamor of Snowglobe.

Quick paced and full of intrigue, Soyoung Park’s Snow Globe has all the appeal of a K-drama infused with mystery, class struggles, and the allure of fame and fortune. Many plot points are left unresolved in this novel, leaving plenty of room for further development in the second book of this duology. 

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

four-stars

Under This Red Rock

Under This Red RockUnder This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 19, 2024
ISBN: 0063230410
Genres: Mental Health, Mystery, Psychological thriller, Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In this suspenseful young adult novel, sixteen year old Neely does her best to hide her audio and visual hallucinations because her father and brother cautioned her never to let people know about their shared symptoms of mental illness. Neely is under constant pressure not to reveal the severity of her hallucinations while trying to fit in with her peers and not worry her grandparents. Desperate to find some meaning in life after her brother’s suicide, Neely starts working in the local caves, the only place she doesn’t experience hallucinations. Neely quickly develops a crush on her coworker, Mina, but doubts anyone could care about her in return if she told them about her hallucinations. When Mina goes missing, Neely realizes she’s missing chunks of time and her hallucinations are getting worse. Fearing a complete mental break and desperate to find out what really happened to Mina, Neely works to put the pieces together even if she can’t trust her memory.

A long list of heavy subjects such as depression, untreated mental illness, suicide and suicidal ideation, torture, rape, murder, drug use, and gaslighting all contribute to the somber and at times, bleak tone of this young adult novel. Vulnerable and dealing with unprocessed trauma and untreated mental illness, Neely is a tragic character in desperate need of something positive in her life. Under This Red Rock is recommended for readers who enjoy unreliable narrators, mysteries, and realistic fiction.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

four-stars

Willa and Wade and the Way-Up-There

Willa and Wade and the Way-Up-ThereWilla and Wade and the Way-Up-There (Willa and Wade, 1) by Judith Henderson, Sara Sarhangpour
Published by Kids Can Press on 2024
ISBN: 1525308424
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Two best friends, an ostrich and a penguin, cheerfully attempt to fly in an increasingly dangerous, and always amusing series of stunts, starting with pogo sticks and ending with catapulting themselves off a cliff. Miraculously, they somehow avoid hurting themselves. However, the book ends with the two friends in mid-air after the catapult launch, looking thoroughly blissful… but it never shows them landing.

This book is adorable and definitely illustrates a strong and joyful friendship. Willa and Wade’s attempts to achieve the impossible do lean toward a Wile E. Coyote kind of story. (Maybe it should come with a “Do Not Attempt” kind of warning?) They do look like they are having a wonderful time!  As someone who watched all of the Roadrunner/Coyote cartoons as a kid, I can definitely see the appeal of this book.

This is listed as the first book in a series starring the two friends and is recommended for 5-7 year-olds (K-2nd grade).

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library

three-stars

Cat Out of Water

Cat Out of WaterDr. Seuss Graphic Novel: Cat Out of Water: A Cat in the Hat Story (Dr. Seuss Graphic Novels) by Art Baltazar
Published by Random House Graphic on 2024
ISBN: 0593703030
Genres: Animals, Children's Beginning Readers, Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

The Cat in the Hat is back in this early reader graphic novel. The full-color illustrations are more cartoonish and the simple text does not rhyme as in the original story, but the cast of characters include the same Brother and Sister, and the troublemaking Thing 1 and Thing 2, the stressed-out Fish, and the Cat, of course. The Cat thinks it would be fun to turn the whole house into a huge fishbowl so the Fish will be able to have fun with everyone else. He brings in Thing 1 and Thing 2 to help make this happen and they flood the first floor of the house. Even the Fish starts to have fun, but then he realizes that the house is waterlogged and starts to protest. The Cat had promised not to make a mess when he first arrived, so he spends the second half of the book cleaning up the house and drying everything off, so the siblings won’t end up in trouble. (Who keeps leaving these kids home alone??)

As an added bonus, the book ends with instructions for drawing the characters in the story.
This is a fanciful, fun read that would appeal to new readers who might prefer a graphic novel layout to a traditional beginning reader format. It is recommended for 5-8 year-olds.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library

three-stars