Category: Book Reviews

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire

Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire (The World of Gustavo) by Flavia Z. Drago
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Vlad the Fabulous Vampire” is written and illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago. Vlad is a vampire who loves fashion, but has a terrible secret… His cheeks are rosy pink! Too lifelike! Too bright! What would his friends say if they knew?!? So he tries designing different fashion looks to hide his cheeks. The book ends with the theme that it is better to love what makes us unique rather than force ourselves to fit in. I like that the book admits that even when being yourself, you may still feel insecure at times, but your real friends will still love you.

I love the bright crayon-like illustrations. Characters are cartoony and fun and each image has a lot of details to delve into. Written for kids 4 to 8, this book is a recommended purchase for picture book collections, especially where monsters like vampires and ghosts are popular. I read both the English and Spanish editions of this book.

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

four-stars

Esperanza Caramelo the Star of Nochebuena

Esperanza Caramelo the Star of NochebuenaEsperanza Caramelo, the Star of Nochebuena by Elisa Chavarri, Karla Valenti
ISBN: 0593488679
Genres: Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Esperanza Caramelo the Star of Nochebuena” is written by Karla Arenas Valenti and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. Esperanza Caramelo is a spun-sugar ornament who awakens on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) and begins dancing around the Pasteleria, bringing all the other ornaments to life. All of the ornaments are having a grand time when a cat knocks everything onto the floor! What will they do now?

Inspired by the author’s abuela who made elaborate cakes for Nochebuena, the story is fun and full of movement. The illustrations are bright and dynamic, with the ornaments singing and spinning around the bakery. Written for kids age 3 to 6. I read both the English and Spanish editions of this book. A recommended purchase for libraries with Latinx, Hispanic, and Filipinx patrons, or for large holiday collections.

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

three-stars

Monsters Play Peekaboo

Monsters Play PeekabooLos monstruos juegan . . . ¡Cucú! by Flavia Z. Drago
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233315
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Monsters Play Peekaboo” by Flavia Z. Drago is a board book featuring several monsters playing peekaboo with the reader behind flaps. Vampires, ghosts, and skeletons all make different noises under their costumes and the reader lifts the flap to find out who they are. I read the Spanish version and it’s fun to read the different sounds the monsters make: “Auuuu!” for a wolf, or “clic-clac” for a skeleton’s bones. The illustrations are bright and colorful. Babies and toddlers will have lots of fun making noise with the monsters and lifting the flaps!

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

four-stars

We Still Belong

We Still BelongWe Still Belong by Christine Day
Published by Heartdrum on August 1, 2023
ISBN: 0063064561
Pages: 256
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Day does the admirable job of writing a middle grade book about a regular girl, living her middle school life, who is also a part of an Indigenous community and who is struggling to figure out where she fits in there. Wesley Wilder has a big day planned. She has had a poem printed in the school newspaper giving voice to her feelings about being Indigenous, and she anticipates being asked to read it out loud in English class; and the dance is coming up and she has the perfect plan to ask her crush, Ryan. Of course nothing goes as planned; her teacher criticizes the poem for not taking a stand against Columbus Day and for not having a thesis statement, and Ryan is asked to the dance by someone else while Wesley is offering emotional support to a new friend.

Readers will feel for Wesley as she navigates the ups and downs of her day.  All middle school readers will recognize the quest for identity while also trying to quietly fit in. When Wesley ends her day at an intertribal powwow, things get better: her poem is praised and she is asked to share it, and she and Ryan connect. The message is clear from Day that Wesley does belong, both in her Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and at Shorelands Middle School. Through her engaging prose and relatable character, she has done a fantastic job offering a mirror to any middle school reader, and a window into the life of an Indigenous teen. Highly recommend to realistic fiction readers in grades 5-7.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

Wrecker

WreckerWrecker by Carl Hiaasen
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0593376285
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Valdez Jones VIII, known as Wrecker, lives in Key West and loves the water. If he’s not out in his skiff fishing for dinner, he’s diving just like the original Valdez who salvaged shipwrecks. When Wrecker finds a stranded cigarette boat and tries to help, he ends up over his head helping “Silver Mustache,” a mobster-type criminal in his scheme to distribute fake vaccination cards. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hiaasen also weaves in the true story of the lynching of Manuel Cabeza. With delightful characters, including “7,” Wrecker’s wannabe singer dad, and Wrecker’s friend Willi, fans of Hiaasen won’t be disappointed.

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

four-stars

Confessions of a Candy Snatcher

Confessions of a Candy SnatcherConfessions of a Candy Snatcher by Phoebe Sinclair, Theodore Taylor III
Published by Candlewick Press on August 15, 2023
ISBN: 1536213683
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Jonas and his friends don’t bother trick-or-treating – they just steal candy from other trick-or-treaters. Last Halloween, Jonas hurt someone snatching their candy and has not apologized or made amends. Worse, he accidentally hurt the same classmate during PE class. When Jonas starts getting “I know what you did” notes in his locker and starts to see his friend for the homophobic bully that he is, he finds himself questioning his actions and his choice of friends. Meanwhile his parents have separated and might be headed towards divorce. When his home-schooled friend C. (Concepcion) encourages him to create a Zine with her and poses the question, “What’s the worst thing you ever did?” Jonas starts writing poems using the old typewriter his Mom’s employee finds in the back of his Mom’s store. Readers will enjoy the Zines that illustrate the book and will be enamored by Jonas learning how to use a typewriter.

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

four-stars

Something Like Home

Something Like HomeSomething Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango
on September 12, 2023
ISBN: 0593566181
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This poignant novel in verse tells the story of Laura and how she comes to be living with her Aunt Silvia who she barely knows. Laura worries that she should not have called 911 when she found her parents because then things would be the same – she’d be home in her cozy trailer, attending her old school, and hanging out with her friends. Instead she is placed in kinship care, living with a relative she’s never known who doesn’t quite know what to do with Laura. One day Laura rescues an abandoned dog and her aunt allows her to keep the dog. When Laura learns about therapy dogs, she decides to train her dog so she’ll be able to visit her parents in rehab with her therapy dog. Along the way, she makes a new friend and starts to see that other people have challenges in their lives too.  A realistic and age-appropriate look at how addiction hurts families and how children are impacted. A powerful and important book for middle grade readers.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story Graphic Novel

All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story Graphic NovelAll the Lovely Bad Ones Graphic Novel: A Ghost Story Graphic Novel by Mary Downing Hahn, Naomi Franquiz, Joamette Gil, Brittany Peer, Scott Peterson
Published by Clarion Books on August 29, 2023
ISBN: 0358650143
Pages: 160
Genres: Horror, Supernatural
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Graphic Novel adaptation of Hahn’s horror story. When Travis and his sister Corey land themselves in a little too much trouble and are disinvited from their summer camp, their parents send them to Vermont to spend the summer with their grandmother. Their grandmother has recently purchased an old Inn but is worried that business is down. The Inn has a reputation as being haunted but tourists aren’t coming because there have been no alleged ghost sightings in years. Travis and Corey hatch a plan to fake ghost sightings to increase business. It works for awhile – business picks up and ghost hunters start visiting – but their grandmother is increasingly unhappy. When Travis and Corey’s antics wake up the real ghosts, things go from bad to worse. Travis and Corey learn the history of the Inn – it served as a poor house and was run by an evil brother and sister. The sister may be one of the ghosts they’ve awakened and her depiction by the artists is especially scary. This horror story is the perfect level of creepy and scary for upper elementary and middle grade readers.

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

four-stars

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your AssYaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass: The Graphic Novel by Meg Medina, Mel Valentine Vargas
Published by Candlewick Press on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 1536234737
Pages: 288
Genres: Mental Health, Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars
It’s hard enough to move away from your best friend and start a new high school, but Piddy Sanchez also has to deal with an invisible bully who allegedly hates her guts and would like to physically harm her. Piddy has no idea why; she doesn’t even know who Yaqui Delgado is. As the bullying inflicted by Delgado and her group escalates, Piddy withdraws emotionally which distresses her mother and others who love her.

This book is a graphic novel adaptation by Mel Valentine Vargas of Meg Medina’s 2013 novel and it belongs in every school library. Those who have been bullied or who have loved ones who have been bullied will recognize the despair and helplessness that it causes in teens and their families. It’s an honest look at the ripple effect of trauma that bullying causes and refuses to shy away from the frustration that can be felt when dealing with seemingly uncooperative school administrations. But it also highlights the support and love of family and friends; Piddy has some strong, consistent support even when she is unable to see it. Vargas’ illustrations are done in blue and grey tones which work well to carry the story’s emotions.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Give What You Can

Give What You CanAll Are Welcome: Give What You Can (Step into Reading) by Alexandra Penfold, Suzanne Kaufman
Series: All Are Welcome
Published by Random House on 09/05/2023
ISBN: 0593430077
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
 

Give What You Can, part of the All Are Welcome series, is an early reader book with a great message for children.  The kids in the story work together to make their community better.  The bright, colorful illustrations are full of diverse characters with different ethnicities, religions and physical abilities.  This book is designed for children who recognize sight words and have basic decoding skills.  Some of the text repeats, which will also help the readers build their fluency skills.  This book is very inclusive and would be a great addition to an early reader collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars