Wolf Girl: Into the Wild

Wolf Girl: Into the WildInto the Wild (Wolf Girl, #1) by Anh Do
Series: Wolf Girl #1
Published by Harper on 3/18/25
ISBN: 9780063346024
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Wolf Girl: Into the Wild starts with an unexplained crisis that drives Gwen and her family from their home. When an accident separates them, Gwen must learn to survive on her own in the wild.  She forms a pack with abandoned dogs and Puppy, who turns out to be a wolf.  With them, she learns to hunt, using materials found in cars left on the road.  They keep each other safe, working together to stay alive.  They even rescue an eagle who joins their unusual family.  After years on her own, Gwen decides to try to find her family.  The book ends on a cliffhanger, when the first humans Gwen sees since the accidents, kidnap her, separating her from the animals.

This fast paced dystopian novel would be ideal for readers who enjoy survival stories.  The content isn’t graphic, but some readers might find parts of it disturbing.  There are lots of black and white illustrations and bolded, enlarged words and phrases throughout the text.  The reading level would probably be most appropriate for third or fourth graders, but the content might be better suited for older kids.   Readers who enjoyed this book will want to read the others in the trilogy.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

two-stars

Unhallowed Halls

Published by Delacorte Genres: Horror, Supernatural
Format: Fiction, Young Adult
four-stars

Page is struggling emotionally and physically after she unintentionally caused a terrible accident at school. When she receives a surprise scholarship to Agathion College, a boarding school in the Scottish moorlands, she takes the opportunity to leave Florida and dedicate her mind to her studies. Once there, she is immersed in rigid academia, a dreary yet beautiful campus, and a new group of friends. Things are strange from the start though, and Page feels increasingly unsettled as students randomly “graduate”, teachers seem possessed, the mascot pig won’t stop screaming at her,  and her Samhain birthday is mentioned by the faculty far more often than it should be. What is Agathion College hiding?

The first half of this book is so fun; the mood is perfect, the character development is excellent, and the foreboding gloom keeps the pages turning. The second half loses momentum somewhat but certainly not enough to discourage dark academia, classical studies, and/or demonology fans from devouring it in a few sittings.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Octavio and His Glasses

Octavio and His GlassesOctavio and His Glasses by Marc González Rossell
ISBN: 1525313789
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Octavio can see the whole world better, thanks to his new glasses. He is now able to see things far away, close up, and all much more clearly. He is even able to see beyond what lies in front of him, as he enjoys reading at bedtime. A new world of possibilities, adventure, and imagination are opened up.

A fresh illustrative style features bold black and sparse white on a rich yellow background. This book will be reassuring for a child who is getting their first pair of glasses, but it will appeal to everyone who adores the journey of a good book. While the pages contain simple text, the meaning is celebratory and will be widely appreciated. A first choice for picture book collections; recommended for grades 1-2.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

five-stars

Alex’s Field Guides: But Where Do Sea Turtles Live?

Alex’s Field Guides: But Where Do Sea Turtles Live?But Where Do Sea Turtles Live? (Alex's Field Guides, 3) by Elina Ellis
ISBN: 1525306766
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

An exciting third book in this series, Alex and her friends generate questions and answers in an exploration of sea turtles. Ellis carefully blends storytelling elements with informational pages presented as a journal. While this approach has the potential to create an abrupt and disjointed book, segues are masterful, and everything makes perfect sense in the order it is presented.

Illustrations reflect racially diverse characters, and science-loving readers will devour the fascinating information about sea turtles. A charming, solid read. Recommended for all libraries serving children in grades 1-2, especially those looking to add to their nonfiction picture book selection.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

four-stars

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower FairiesFairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Lenny Wen, Megan McDonald
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536201421
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Young Eliza rushes home from school to dive into an imaginary world of fairies, magic, and adventure. After crawling through a tiny door beneath her stairs, she discovers a group of fairies, each named after a different flower. After tumbling through a forbidden hedge, she is faced with a curse cast by a pair of witches and must hurry to find a solution.

The creator of the Judy Moody series brings us a new option to replace or renew early chapter series about fairies. Wen’s charming illustrations are the star in this book, with whimsical and botanical elements gracing the pages. The text itself is sometimes captivating: “Magic is not loud. It is soft, like the fur of a rabbit. Or a whisper.” At other times the wording is somewhat flowery and may be confusing for the targeted age group.

Recommended for libraries who are looking to replace older fairy titles in their first chapter section. Grades 1-2.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

three-stars

The Most Magnificent Team

The Most Magnificent TeamThe Most Magnificent Team (Most Magnificent, 4) by Ashley Spires
ISBN: 1525312952
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The Most Magnificent Team

Ashley Spires

This picture book for ages 4-8 is the latest in the Most Magnificent book series by Ashley Spires. It is about a girl and her dog who are ready to build something.   After she gathers her tools and supplies, she finds that her neighbor, along with her cat, not only had the same idea but also chose the same space in which to work. The girls decide to work together, but tensions start to rise when they quickly discover that each one has very different ideas and methods.

This book captures the rewards and challenges of working collaboratively as a team. It provides functional strategies to resolve conflicts that arise from teamwork.  It would therefore be an excellent addition to classroom libraries.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers: And Other Mysterious Creatures by Jami Gigot
ISBN: 1525312634
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)

Written and illustrated by I. M. Furry with help from Jami Gigot

 

This picture book for ages 4-7 tells the story of an unlikely yet serendipitous friendship between Anna, a young camper, and Bigfoot.

To Bigfoot, the most fearsome and dangerous creatures in the forest are human campers. They’re invasive, loud, smelly, and messy. Thankfully, Bigfoot has ten simple guidelines to ensure that everyone is kept safe from them. However, after failing to adhere to Guideline #2 – “Never EVER allow yourself to be seen by a camper.” – Bigfoot can’t help but ignore his own advice. Perhaps he’s had the wrong idea about campers all along?

The text gives advice about what not to do, which is a playful juxtaposition to the illustrations that often contradict it! I laughed out loud reading this book. This book playfully encourages readers to reconsider any preconceived notions about what makes a good friend. It also reminds us that what we fear is often more afraid of us.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars

All the Best Dogs

All the Best DogsAll the Best Dogs by Emily Jenkins
Published by Delacorte Press on 11/05/24
ISBN: 0593650433
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

All the Best Dogs is a fun book about a group of kids from the same Brooklyn neighborhood…and their dogs.  There’s a lot for readers to keep track of, so fortunately the novel starts off with a labeled picture of the people and their dogs and a map of their neighborhood.  Readers learn right away that the book centers around a wild weekend in June that ends happily.  The story follows four kids, their families, and their dogs. Ezra and Kaleb have a strained friendship and aren’t speaking to each other and then Ezra’s dog goes missing. Jilly is living with her aunt and starting a new and easier life while her mother is in rehab.  And May-Alice is in the school play, but is very nervous and struggles to be understood by her classmates.

What ensues is a fun story, sometimes told from the perspective of the dogs, focusing on the common struggle for sixth graders to navigate their relationships with their peers, while also dealing with family life at home.  This book is perfect for elementary school readers.  The plot is fun and relatable and the chapters are relatively short.  There are black and white illustrations throughout the book that really show the emotions of the characters while breaking up the text.  Although some difficult topics are mentioned, it is done in an age appropriate way that won’t upset sensitive readers.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

On the Block

On the BlockOn the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh
ISBN: 0593648447
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“On the Block: Stories of Home” is a collection of short stories about kids living in an apartment building and their different cultures. Edited by Ellen Oh and featuring stories written by many popular middle grade authors, each chapter in this book is about a different kid living in the building and their various situations. All of the stories are interesting and the characters are very realistic. The only critique is that the stories didn’t really feel like they were all set in the same apartment building, but each chapter is great on its own. A must-buy for all middle grade fiction collections.

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

four-stars

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond

The Curse of the Dead Man’s DiamondThe Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell
on September 17, 2024
ISBN: 0593707605
Genres: Adventure, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond” is a middle grade paranormal fiction novel about Charlotte, a girl who is forced to move with her dad from New York to a small town in Florida. Their new house is creepy and supposedly haunted by ghosts. There is supposed to be a cursed diamond hidden in the house and Charlotte wants to find it and sell it to move back to New York.

The point of view of the book switches between Charlotte and the ghosts. Kids who have reluctantly had to move will empathize with Charlotte and her single-minded desire to go back “home.” A funny and not really frightening story, this is an additional purchase for libraries where paranormal fiction is popular.

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

three-stars