Category: Book Reviews

Is This the Bus For Us?

Is This the Bus For Us?Is This the Bus for Us? by Harriet Ziefert, Richard Brown
Published by Red Comet Press on June 20, 2023
ISBN: 1636550584
Pages: 30
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ziefert takes a simple concept, colors, and adds a fun and silly twist that will entertain and engage young readers. A family waits for their blue bus at the bus stop. As each bus pulls up, Leo wonders if this is their bus, but not only is it the wrong color, it also is full of passengers who provide a hint about where it’s going. The first is red and filled with animals — going to the farm. Another is green and filled with dinosaur bones — going to the museum. The book acknowledges the long wait and the patience exhibited by young Leo, and when his bus finally arrives, its parts are labeled, it’s destination is revealed, and an invitation is extended to the reader to go along to the park (perhaps a second book?). The end papers aren’t wasted as the front jump right into the story by showing the front end of an orange bus and the back encourages the reader to draw a bus and think about the buses they might take. Fans of vehicles, concepts, and fun twists will enjoy this picture book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Frank and Bert

Frank and BertFrank and Bert (Frank and Bert, 1) by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Published by Nosy Crow on February 3, 2022
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Frank the fox and Bert the bear are friends who enjoy playing hide-and-seek, and though they love it, Bert never wins. Finally, Bert asks for more time to hide and Frank, of course, complies. The book invites readers to count to 100 with Frank so that Bert has plenty of time to find the perfect hiding spot, but unbeknownst to him, his scarf has unravelled and left a trail for Frank to follow. When Frank gets to the end of the yarn, he could easily find Bert, but recognizing that Frank’s happiness is more important than winning, he calls for Bert to come out, that he has won! Then it’s Frank’s turn to hide and Bert has his own secret, which he shares with the reader with a wink. A large enough book for story time with pleasing illustrations and a delightful message about friendship and good sportsmanship.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Bravey (Adapted for Young Readers)

Bravey (Adapted for Young Readers)Bravey (Adapted for Young Readers): Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas by Alexi Pappas
Published by Delacorte on 08/22/23
ISBN: 0593562747
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Mental Health, Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Brave (Adapted for Young Readers) is a motivating memoir by author, film writer, actor and Olympian, Alexi Pappas. Pappas describes some of the most meaningful moments in her life as she shares valuable insights to help young readers, especially girls, become brave and chase their dreams.  Important lessons include seeking out mentors, changing can’t to maybe, and how to deal with mental and physical pain.  Despite her success, life has been hard for Pappas, and she doesn’t shy away from discussing difficult these challenges, starting with her mother’s suicide when she was four. Pappas also struggles with significant mental health challenges and details this personal journey as well.  Middle school readers, especially those interested in self-improvement or chasing big dreams, will enjoy this book.  Each chapter starts with an inspiring quote or message and ends with bullet points of what readers can take away from each section.  While the tone of this book is generally upbeat and optimistic, the part about her mother’s self harm and suicide is a bit graphic and might be hard for some young people to read.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library, Orono, ME

four-stars

Moon’s Ramadan

Moon’s RamadanMoon's Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi
Published by Versify on February 28, 2023
ISBN: 0358694094
Genres: Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Since the Islamic calendar is based on a lunar cycle, this large picture book centers the moon as a character as it peeks on on practices and celebrations of Ramadan and Eid around the world. The moon has a delighted expression as it travels to different countries to watch as people fast, clean their spaces,  and perform acts of kindness and charity. Foods and traditions are highlighted. Muslims of all sizes and skin tones and ages are shown, some with head coverings, others not. With a color palette of rich purples and golds, the illustrations offer details about the types of acts practiced as the phases of the moon progress. The book is useful for teachers who want to introduce the holiday and for public libraries who would like to diversify their holiday offerings.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

First Year Orientation

First Year OrientationFirst-Year Orientation by Adi Alsaid, Aminah Mae Safi, Anna Birch, Bryan Bliss, Dana L. Davis, Eric Smith, Farah Naz Rishi, Gloria Chao, Jennifer Chen, Kathleen Glasgow, Kristina Forest, Lance Rubin, Lauren Gibaldi, Olivia A. Cole, Phil Stamper, Sam Maggs
Published by Candlewick Press on April 4, 2023
ISBN: 1536224499
Pages: 336
Genres: Short Stories
Format: Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Sixteen college first-years arrive on campus and experience that first tremulous day. Each chapter is a short story told by a different author, so voice, style and even genre vary widely – but woven throughout are shared experiences that link them together; a scavenger hunt, frat party, concert on the quad, and the like. Characters and events from one chapter are frequently referred to, ususally in passing, in others. This serves to tie the reading experience together even while each piece offers something unique and different, from realistic fiction to magical realism. The undeniable theme throughout is that the first day at college can be scary for everyone, but in the end, each student will find their place.

A nice addition to shelves, especially if your library has a lot of older college-prepping teens who might enjoy that “first day” experience through literature before real life.

– Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

four-stars

One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth

One World: 24 Hours on Planet EarthOne World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth by Nicola Davies, Jenni Desmond
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

An ideal book to put on display for Earth Day, this gorgeous over-sized picture book uses the device of children traveling around the world to see what is happening at the exact same moment. At one minute to midnight on April 21 (the minute before it changes to April 22, the day that Earth Day is celebrated), two sisters from London, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) 11:59PM, witness that same minute across the globe. Focusing on natural scenes like turtles in India and pollinators in California, Davies’ clear prose highlights the flora and fauna at each location. Jenni Desmond’s beautiful, mixed-media illustrations fill each page and readers will delight in finding the sisters as they interact with the scene. Notes at the end of the book offer further insight into the book’s concept and defines climate change as well as suggesting actions readers can take to help preserve all of the wondrous sites and vulnerable plants and animals mentioned in the text. A well-crafted, thoughtful, and beautiful book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

There’s No Way I’d Die First

There’s No Way I’d Die FirstThere's No Way I'd Die First by Lisa Springer
Published by Delacorte Press on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 0593643178
Genres: Horror
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

When Noelle is ready to debut her horror movie podcast, she shrewdly invites her school’s biggest influencers to her exclusive Halloween bash. The house is all decked out for the occasion, as are her guests, but when the hired clown shows up things get truly terrifying. As the teens start getting murdered, Noelle has to figure out who this clown is, and why he is after them. Luckily, she has an extensive repertoire of horror movie knowledge, and she is determined to be the Final Girl.

Final Girls are having a moment (as they should), and this book will be a hit with horror lovers, specifically lovers of slashers. It’s a tense, gory, cautionary tale about oversharing online. It’s so quickly paced it’s easy to ignore less interesting subplots and plausibility issues. Suggest to fans of the Terrifier and Scream movies, or Clown in a Corn Field, or any horror fans who can tolerate a high level of violence.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

My Father, The Panda Killer

My Father, The Panda KillerMy Father, The Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang
ISBN: 0593642961
Genres: Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“My Father, the Panda Killer” by Jamie Jo Hoang is a young adult historical fiction novel about a daughter’s relationship with her abusive Vietnamese father. Jane is leaving for college and is having trouble telling her younger brother that she’ll be leaving. The story switches from Jane’s life in 1999 to her retelling of her father’s story in 1975 of trying to escape the Vietnam war. The book is unflinching in its depiction of violence, both during the war and from Phuc, Jane’s father in the present day. Themes of generational trauma and abuse are clear. Hoang does a great job of making the characters seem like real people, flaws and all. We may not like all the characters, but we learn their backgrounds and see where they are coming from.

The author includes a note at the beginning of the book in all caps that “THIS BOOK IS NOT A HISTORY LESSON,” which I appreciate because too often readers will assume that historical fiction is specifically to teach about history, but this story is not meant to teach us about that historical event. It is its own fictional story. Readers may find the abuse and violence very hard to get through, but it is a key part of this novel. Recommended for ages 15 and up, this is a recommended purchase for YA collections.

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

four-stars

Shannon in the Spotlight

Shannon in the SpotlightShannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller
Published by Delacorte Press on April 25, 2023
ISBN: 0593486056
Pages: 272
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Shannon and her friends love participating in their community theater’s summer musical each year. Shannon and her friend Fatima work behind the scenes, while their friend Elise prefers to be up on stage in front of the audience. Shannon, suffering from severe OCD, sticks to her routines and tries not to draw attention to herself. However a chance encounter at auditions lands her one of the starring roles – unfortunately the role her bff Elise wanted. As rehearsals get underway, Elise distances herself from the friendship, Fatima becomes increasingly busy in the tech side of the play, and even her mom has misgivings about her ability to perform and doesn’t seem supportive. Just when things couldn’t get more stressful, a fire forces her cantankerous grandmother to move in with Shannon and her mother – and it is not an ideal living situation due to the stress and fighting between her mom and grandma, and her grandmother’s refusal to accept Shannon’s mental health issues. But Shannon relishes being on stage, and with the help of her new friend (crush) Micah, a fellow actor, she finds her place in the spotlight. This is a great middle grade read highlighting coping with mental illness, navigating rocky friendships and family situations, and overcoming your fears to let yourself shine. A solid pick for a middle grade collection.

Recommended for grades 4-7

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

three-stars

A Snow Day For Plum

A Snow Day For PlumA Snow Day for Plum! by Matt Phelan
ISBN: 0063079208
Goodreads

Sequel to Leave It To Plum! This book finds six animals from the Athensville Zoo in a van on the way to a school visit in the middle of a snow storm. Plum the peacock is nervous about the visit, but when they arrive, they find that the children have been sent home for the day. Plum is relieved but his anxiety returns when he learns that due to severity of the weather, the animals will spend the night in the gym while zookeeper Lizzy stays at a nearby inn. When classroom pet mice show up to open the cages and set the zoo animals free to roam the school, the gang splits up to explore.  Talents are discovered, fears are confronted, an exiled class pet is reunited with his teacher, and the myrna bird speaks up for the first time to enact a rescue of animals in trouble.

With short chapters, copious pen-and-ink illustrations, and lots of action from the wandering crew of animal characters, this series will appeal to early chapter book readers. More titles in the series would be welcome.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School