Category: Book Reviews

Twin Tides

Twin TidesTwin Tides by Hien Nguyen
on December 9, 2025
Genres: Horror, Mystery
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
three-stars

Vietnamese-American 18-year-old identical twins Caliste and Aria are completely unaware of each other’s existence. Unfortunately, they are brought together under tragic circumstances–identifying the body of their mother, who disappeared 14 years ago. Caliste and Aria get swept up in a tangled web of family secrets, betrayal, and generational trauma as they seek to solve the mystery of their mother’s death.

The story starts out strong with a promising premise and interesting main characters, including a river ghost bent on seeking vengeance against nefarious men. However, the dimension of said ghoul ends up falling flat, which pulls away a piece of the story’s tension. The dynamic between Caliste and Aria is sweet, although a little unrealistic–they trust and rely on each other quite quickly. There are also some unfinished and rushed plot points that I wish had been fully realized. However, the glimpse into Vietnamese culture and the immigration experience, in particular stemming from the Vietnam War, is appreciated and well done. The character development of Caliste and Aria overall is solid, and there are some genuinely chilling moments, which may be enough for mystery/horror fans to see past the book’s flaws. 

Grades 8 & up

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

three-stars

The Summer I Remembered Everything

The Summer I Remembered EverythingThe Summer I Remembered Everything by Catherine Con Morse
ISBN: 0593711424
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
three-stars

After being grounded for the summer for a bad grade, Emily Chen-Sanchez is not sure how she is going to survive, considering her best friend Heather is overseas, and she hasn’t spoken to her other best friend Matt in two weeks. Add in her mother’s thyroid cancer diagnosis and the fact that she can never live up to the standard set by her older sister, Emily is desperate to get out of the house. So when she sees a job posting to be a companion to an elderly woman, Emily jumps at the chance. The only problem is that Mrs. Granucci is showing signs of Alzheimers. When she accuses Emily of stealing a piece of jewelry, everything changes. 

Emily’s struggle to feel at home with her overbearing family and a sister who can do no wrong will be relatable to many teens. Undoubtedly, seeing an older person succumb to the tragedy of Alzheimer’s will be a scenario readers may be familiar with. Emily’s decision to reach out to Mrs. Granucci’s family about her illness, even though she promised not to, reminds teens that sometimes doing the hard thing is the right thing in the end. A gentle coming-of-age story with Asian-Latine representation. 

Grades 7 & up

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School. York

 

three-stars

Rica Baptista: The Box of Possibilities

Rica Baptista: The Box of PossibilitiesRica Baptista: The Box of Possibilities by Gladys Jose, Janet Costa Bates
Series: Rica Baptista #3
Published by Candlewick Press on 11/11/25
ISBN: 1536227676
Genres: Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Rica Baptista is back and this time, she and her friend Laini, are impatient to find out what’s in the box that Uncle Moose sent.  Their imaginations run wild, with creative ideas like a polka dotted unicorn, lava from an erupted volcano, and a variety of superpowers.  While the girls imagine endless possibilities, Rica worries about her cousin, Serenity, who is staying with them.  Serenity’s brothers are camping with their dad, and Serenity is feeling left out.  Rica and Laini try to cheer her up with their antics and by just being there for her.  At the end of the story, Uncle Moose returns from his vacation in Cape Verde and reveals what’s in the box and Serenity’s dad clears up a miscommunication with Serenity and she returns to normal.  There is a big porch party, celebrating being together as a family.

This book is part of a series but would work as a standalone.  It is ideal for newer readers to chapter books.  The font is big and there is a lot of space between the lines.  Some pages are full text, but others include black and white drawings.  The story doesn’t have a lot of action, but young readers will still enjoy the balance of silliness with more serious topics like Serenity’s feelings.  Rica’s family is black and that is evident in the illustrations and Cape Verdean culture is mentioned, especially in relation to a meal that is served.  Serenity’s parents are divorced, but Serenity’s dad is still a welcome part of the porch party at the end of the book.  There is a religious component as Rica writes a couple of letters to God.  This is not overly done in any way and is more just a mechanism for readers to learn Rica’s inner thoughts.  This would be a good addition to a library looking for early chapter books with diverse characters and experiences.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

All the Way Around the Sun

All the Way Around the SunAll the Way Around the Sun by XiXi Tian
on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 0063086077
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“All the Way Around the Sun” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Xixi Tian. The book follows Stella Chen as she looks at colleges. Her brother passed away unexpectedly while at college months ago and she is still grieving. Her parents need to go to China to help family, so Stella visits the colleges with her ex-best friend, Alan. The book switches in timelines between Stella’s years with her Nai Nai and brother and her life now. Tian handles the high emotional stakes in this coming-of-age story deftly, dealing with family dynamics, identity, and grief. A suggested purchase for YA collections.

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

four-stars

The Princess Swap: Rapunzel and the Sea Witch or The Little Mermaid and the Tower

The Princess Swap: Rapunzel and the Sea Witch or The Little Mermaid and the TowerRapunzel and the Sea Witch (or, The Little Mermaid and the Tower) (The Princess Swap #3) by Kim Bussing
Series: Princess Swap #3
Published by Random House on 11/11/25
ISBN: 0593708113
Genres: Adventure, Fairy Tale
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
In this third installment of the Princess Swap Series, Rapunzel and the Little Mermaid switch places.  Before being swapped, both princesses felt trapped. Rapunzel was forced by her mother to stay in a locked tower and Hana, the Little Mermaid, felt a pull towards land and humans and felt trapped by being in the ocean all of the time.  Now that their locations have been switched around, both princesses find themselves in danger.  There are evil forces trying to gain control of the merpeople and war looms over land and sea.  Rapunzel and Hana, along with their friends, put their lives on the line to confront the dangerous people with bad intentions.

This story is great for elementary readers who like fairytale mashups with a little bit of adventure.  There is a lot of action in this novel and readers will no doubt want to see how these characters get themselves out of trouble.  The two princesses learn about the power of their magic, but more importantly, they discover the power of their voices and their ability to make their own decisions.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

The Obsession

The ObsessionThe Obsession by Natasha Preston
Published by Delacorte Press on December 2, 2025
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars
Though a widely popular author of teen thrillers, Preston’s latest may ultimately be a hard sell due to its predictable plot and unlikeable main character. 

Connie is tired of constantly living under a magnifying glass, as the daughter of a popular family vlogger who spares no detail: no matter how personal. But what happens when those eagerly watching her move from online to in real life? 

This book has a promising premise of addressing the dangers of having your entire life online. However, the main character is painfully oblivious in a way that can frustrate the reader and make the “plot twist” no surprise at all. It is definitely still a fast-paced book that will entice readers initially, but overall if you’re on a tight budget there are better thrillers for young adults out there. 

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Broken Dolls

Broken DollsBroken Dolls by Ally Malinenko
Published by HarperCollins on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 0063355191
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This spooky story explores how to manage grief, mental health, and some dolls that are alive with vengeance. 

Kaye is going through lots of changes. A summer move to upstate New York after her grandfather’s death leaves her coping in unique ways. She’s started counting everything around her to calm down and literally cannot find the words to speak. That is until she has no choice but to use her words to warn her family that the dolls her little sister keeps finding have sinister intentions of making her their forever playmate… 

This middle grade book is a great reflection on how to cope with the loss of a family member, especially when grief feels isolating. Students will take away the message that you are not alone, and it’s always good to reach out to friends and family for help. These more serious topics are sprinkled in amongst chilling imagery of human-like dolls, reminiscent of classic horror authors like R.L. Stine and Mary Downing Hahn, but with a modern take. Characters are also openly queer, with a hint of romance between Kaye and her new friend Joey. Recommended for ages 10 and up. 

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

five-stars

Keep Your Friends Close

Keep Your Friends CloseKeep Your Friends Close by Cynthia Murphy
Published by Delacorte Press on September 2, 2025
ISBN: 059380578X
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
This fresh twist on the dark academia trope will immediately pull even the most reluctant of readers in.  

Chloe is having a rough start to her senior year. Her best friend not only stole her guaranteed spot of Head Girl, but also stole her boyfriend. At least she still has hopes of obtaining a university scholarship as a member of the elite secret society on campus, Jewel and Bone. Though when her fellow members start showing up dead, she wonders what the real price of success is… 

This is a solid, quick read with lots of red herrings that will keep the reader guessing. Though normally an abrupt ending would be disappointing, in this novel it can be a great tool for students to continue discussions of the book long after it is finished. Characters will be most relatable to teens grades 9 and up.  

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

The Peach Thief

The Peach ThiefThe Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith
Published by Candlewick Press on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 1536237787
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Scilla, a hungry and desperate workhouse orphan, risks sneaking into an earl’s walled garden to get a peach. Caught and mistaken for a boy, she’s given a job washing garden pots to work off her crime. Finding the food better and the bed softer than she’s ever had, Scilla hopes to stay. She learns about gardening and discovers she has a passion for it, but unfortunately she cannot pass as a boy forever. The situation is complicated by a handsome, young troublemaker,  a housekeeper from India, and the head gardener, and others. Beautiful, detailed descriptions of an 1850s English estate and its gardens.

(I have not yet finished this book so may adjust my opinion after I have finished it.)

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

four-stars

Snow

SnowSnow by Meera Trehan
Published by Walker Books on January 14, 2025
ISBN: 1536219258
Pages: 304
Genres: Adventure, Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This is a smart modern fairy tale about the friendship between a strong princess and a modern-day Indian American girl in the kingdom of Mistmir. This story combines science and magic to create a moving setting with charming, detailed worldbuilding that’s tinged with eeriness and sadness. There is a good bit of humor in the book, as well. An enjoyable read that I have been vacillating between a rating of a 4 or 5. Reading age 8-12 years.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars