Category: Book Reviews

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

The Little Match Girl Strikes BackThe Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll, Lauren Child
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233358
Genres: Fairy Tale, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Little Match Girl Strikes back is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic folk tale, but with a social justice focus.  In this version, the little match girl has a name- Bridie.  She sells matches made in the factory where her mother works.  Despite long hours in dangerous working conditions, their family struggles to pay rent and put food on the table.  Bridie decides to strike her last three matches instead of selling them, and experiences a bit of magic that shows her a better life for her family and how to accomplish this.  Once the magic wears off, Bridie helps to lead a strike at the match factory, demanding pay increases and a safer work environment.  The author’s note reveals that this is based on a true story of a London strike in 1888.  This chapter book would be most appropriate for upper elementary/middle school students.  Readers will enjoy Bridie’s tenacious and fiery spirit, which is reflected in the illustrations that are black and white, save for Bridie’s red hair and the red of the match flame.  This is a quick read as the pages are small in size and the font is larger, but the living and working conditions described in the text and the power of the women to improve them, will stick with readers long after they finish reading.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Pizza y Taco: ¿Quién es el mejor?

Pizza y Taco: ¿Quién es el mejor?Pizza y Taco: ¿Quién es el mejor?: (A Graphic Novel) (Pizza and Taco) (Spanish Edition) by Stephen Shaskan
ISBN: 0593704320
Genres: Humor
Format: Early Reader, Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Pizza y Taco: ¿Quién es el mejor?” is the Spanish edition of “Pizza and Taco: Who’s the best?” by Stephen Shaskan. Pizza and Taco are best friends, but which one of them is the best? They vote on it, but end up in a tie (or with a write-in candidate winning their second voting attempt). They decide to have a competition! Who is the best? Bright and engaging illustrations that are a combination of photos and cartoony drawing catch the eye. Written for ages 5 through 8, this is a silly graphic novel about friendship with lots of goofy antics, this book is a must-buy for all youth graphic novel collections.

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

four-stars

Cantora Mercedes Sosa, La Voz de Latinoamerica

Cantora Mercedes Sosa, La Voz de LatinoamericaCantora (Spanish Edition): Mercedes Sosa, la voz de Latinoamérica by Melisa Fernández Nitsche
ISBN: 0593704991
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“Cantora Mercedes Sosa, La Voz de Latinoamerica” by Melisa Fernandez Nitsche is a picture book biography about Argentiniean singer and activist Mercedes Sosa. We start with Mercedes’ childhood in Argentina, growing up among the sounds of the cicadas and the smell of oranges. She enters a radio competition under a false name and wins handily. From there her singing career took off. She sang songs about poverty and injustice and was called the voice for those who have no voice. The government dictatorship arrested her and she then fled to Europe and spent three years in exile before returning to the country she loved to continue singing.

The illustrations are stylized and colorful. The back of the book contains a note from the author, a timeline, playlist, and selected sources, so there is a lot of supplemental information given in case readers want to learn even more about Mercedes Sosa. Recommended for ages 6 to 8, this book is a suggested purchase for all youth biography sections. I read the Spanish edition of this book.

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

four-stars

Pepita y Bebita

Pepita y Bebita (Pepita Meets Bebita Spanish Edition) by Gabriel Frye-Behar, Maribel Lechuga, Ruth Behar
ISBN: 0593705033
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Pepita y Bebita” is the Spanish edition of “Pepita meets Bebita” by Ruth Behar and Gabriel Frye-Behar, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga, translated by Yanitzia Canetti. Pepita is a little dog and is the baby of the house, but then things start to change. Papi is building all kinds of things. Abuelo and Abuela bring a blanket instead of treats or toys for Pepita. Inevitably, a baby arrives. Pepita has a very hard time getting used to Bebita and no longer being the center of attention, but things turn all right in the end. Colorful and funny images uplift the emotional story about Pepita learning about Bebita and eventually becoming friends. Written for ages 4 to 8, a recommended purchase (either in English or Spanish) for your picture book collection.

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

four-stars

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