Month: August 2025

Love Craves Cardamom

Love Craves CardamomLove Craves Cardamom (Love in Translation, #2) by Aashna Avachat
on May 20, 2025
ISBN: 0593571584
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Love Craves Cardamom” is a young adult romance by Aashana Avachat, and is the second book in the “Love in Translation” YA series (standalone romance stories by different authors. The first book was set in Paris, France with different characters). Archi is an Indian American student focused on spending her study abroad working and learning at a museum in Jaipur, India. While there, she meets a handsome young gardener named Shiv, but she has sworn off romance after a bad experience while dating her ex-boyfriend. While Shiv introduces her to the beauty of Jaipur and Archi learns more about Indian culture, romance starts to bloom, but of course there is a twist!

A predictable, but fun YA romance that shows what it is like to be an American teen and first gen immigrant being from and learning about both cultures and includes good information about the theft of Indian art/antiquities during colonialism. A suggested purchase for YA romance collections.

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

three-stars

After Life

After LifeAfter Life by Gayle Forman
on January 7, 2025
ISBN: 0063346141
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“After Life” is a young adult novel by Gayle Forman. Amber died years ago at the age of 17 in a hit-and-run accident while riding her bike, but now she rides back home like nothing happened (still age 17) and without knowing anything about her death. She wants to see her boyfriend, Calvin, and her parents are obviously shocked by her reappearance/resurrection, while her younger (now her age) sister Missy, seems to be handling it well. Forman changes from past perspective to current easily without too much confusion. We see how those in the community were affected by grief over Amber’s death. An emotional story with several different points of view. A suggested purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

three-stars

Somadina

SomadinaSomadina by Akwaeke Emezi
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on April 15, 2025
ISBN: 0593309073
Pages: 300
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Somadina” is a young adult fantasy novel by Akwaeke Emezi. Somadina and her twin brother, Jayaike, inherit great magical powers which causes a hunter to kidnap Jayaike and Somadina decides to go after him. This West African inspired fantasy world is very well developed and will immerse readers in Emezi’s novel. Somadina faces danger, abuse, and other trauma, and being othered. The novel feels a little short at just under 300 pages and I could have read more. A very interesting and well-written YA fantasy. A suggested purchase for all YA collections, especially those who have Emezi’s other novels.

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

four-stars

Kill Creatures

Kill CreaturesKill Creatures by Rory Power
on June 3, 2025
ISBN: 0593302311
Genres: Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Kill Creatures” is a dark young adult thriller novel by Rory Power (author of “Wilder Girls”). Nan’s three friends disappeared on a hike a year ago and suddenly one of them shows up alive. Nan was sure that she murdered all of them and doesn’t know what happened. Nan is a super unreliable narrator with dark thoughts and and stalkerish tendencies. The book contains several trigger warnings for the reader. An additional purchase for  YA collections where dark thrillers or true crime are popular.

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

three-stars

Lady Knight

Lady Knight (The Diamonds #2) by Amalie Howard
on April 1, 2025
ISBN: 0593705068
Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Lady Knight” by Amalie Howard, is a young adult period romance novel set in the same world as her previous novel “Queen Bee.” This novel can be read as a standalone. Lady Zia is tired of having to live up to other’s expectations of her. She becomes part of a secret group of Lady Knights, acting as Robin Hood and exploring her love of music. When her older brother’s friend, Rafi, discovers her secret, he agrees to keep quiet. Strong themes of empowerment and self-esteem, with a slightly predictable plot, this is a suggested purchase for YA historical romance collections.

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

four-stars

Amelia, if Only

Amelia, if OnlyAmelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli
Published by Harper on June 10, 2025
ISBN: 0063045923
Pages: 295
Genres: Humor, LGBTQ+, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Amelia might have a parasocial crush on Walter Holland, the somewhat famous bisexual teenage star of his own YouTube channel, whose coming out video made her feel seen properly for the first time. But really, her friends don’t have to make such a big deal of it, right? After all, it’s not like he took her up on her singing Instagram post inviting him to prom (cringe!)

But then Walter announces he’s going to be doing a live meet-and-greet at nearby(ish) Blackwell College, and Amelia rallies her three best friends – twins Mark and Natalie, and Zora – to take a pre-graduation long weekend road trip. Because surely, if she could just meet him for real, it would be obvious how perfect they’d be together.

Except…Walter might not actually be the person causing the butterflies in Amelia’s stomach. It is possible he has been a fun distraction for her real feelings for Natalie. And now that Nat’s on-again-off-again girlfriend is out of the picture, Amelia might just be facing those feelings head on.

Albertalli’s fans will not be disappointed in her latest rom-com starring a group of queer teens. Four of the five primary characters identify as bisexual, one as lesbian, and a minor character is nonbinary; Amelia and the twins are Jewish, Zora is Black. Amelia describes herself as “medium fat” but in a way that indicates overall feelings of body positivity. Social media plays a large role in the teens’ lives, and there is ample discussion about both the positives and negatives of that; time is spent looking at the big picture of online fandom, and how impactful it can be for both influencers and followers.

Those who enjoyed Imogen, Obviously will recognize the setting of Blackwell College and a few familiar characters who make a cameo. Amelia is an endearing protagonist coming to terms with her feelings for her best friend, and secondary characters are well rounded. An easy book to recommend for teens looking for a charming and fun read relevant to the times.

5 stars, cream nominee

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Area 51 Files: Way Off Base

Area 51 Files: Way Off BaseWay Off Base (The Area 51 Files) by Julie Buxbaum, Lavanya Naidu
Series: Area 51 Files #4
Published by Delacorte Press on 7/8/25
ISBN: 059389944X
Genres: Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Sky and her group of human and alien friends are back in this next installment in the humorous mystery series, Area 51 Files.  In this novel, Sky and her friends are determined to help her Uncle Anish figure out who the whistleblower who wants to expose Area 51, which would lead to the end of Area 51 and break up the peaceful community where aliens and humans co-exist.  On top of that, a 700 pound UFO goes missing, right before some dignitaries were supposed to see it.  Time is running out for Sky and her friends to investigate without getting into trouble or found out by the visiting politicians who don’t know that aliens are living among the humans.

Readers who enjoyed the previous books in the series will no doubt enjoy this one as well, but this is still a fun book for those who haven’t read others in the series.  The funny drawings and potty humor continue in this book and allow this mystery to not be too intense or suspenseful.  This is an entertaining read, great for upper elementary students.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt

The Haunted Scavenger HuntThe Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook: (A Halloween Haunted House Adventure with Engaging Rhymes and Surprising Twists - For Toddlers, Preschoolers, and 1-2 Graders) by Roland Garrigue, Steve Patschke
Published by Templar Books ISBN: 1536235237
Genres: Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Four delightfully disobedient children encounter a box that contains explicit rules for them to follow. They immediately break them, which leads to a series of additional rules that they have no intention of following. Suspense starts to build as the friends disappear, one at a time, until one child remains. In the dark. On Halloween night.

In addition to being a terrific read-aloud book, this picture book is an excellent introduction to the horror genre. It’s fun and has a great rhythm to it, and after things start to get a little uncomfortable, the upbeat ending sheds a new light on the entire story. Just read it in plenty of light,  not due to the scare factor, but because there is a lot of squint-inducing dark text on dark backgrounds.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free  Library, Bath

 

four-stars

Seven Little Ducklings

Seven Little DucklingsSeven Little Ducklings: (An Adorable Counting Book for Kids Ages 2-5) by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Published by Candlewick Press on January 7, 2025
ISBN: 1536235741
Genres: Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Seven Little Ducklings is a sweet and comical counting book featuring mama duck and her seven eggs. She awakes one more to find her ducklings have hatched while she was asleep and she leaps to action to gather her wayward offspring. As she finds some and rescues others from calamities she adds other young animals to her brood. When they get back to the nest that night she finds she has thirteen and not her original seven. A mother’s love knows no bounds and she settles them all under her wings for a good night’s sleep.

Gorgeous watercolor illustrations set the scene on each page with clarity and focus.

Ages 3-7

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

The Girl Who Tested The Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist

The Girl Who Tested The Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental ScientistThe Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist (Curious Minds) by Junyi Wu, Patricia Daniele
Published by MIT Kids Press on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 1536230057
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Ellen Swallow was born in 1842 with a love for all things in the natural world. Her family valued education and made sure she received not only a high school diploma but went on to college. Ellen then became the first woman ever admitted to MIT where she studied chemistry. She withstood the trials this brought to her and became a revered member of the student body and was offered the opportunity to study Boston’s water looking for environmental contaminants that were making people sick. From her results a water treatment plant was developed, the first of its kind which led to the water treatment facilities we all encounter in our daily lives.

The book’s content is highlighted with gorgeous illustrations and wrapped up with extensive back matter.

Ages 4-9

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars