Category: Book Reviews

Nic Blake and the Remarkables

Nic Blake and the RemarkablesNic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy (Nic Blake and the Remarkables #1) by Angie Thomas
Published by Balzer + Bray on April 4, 2023
ISBN: 0063225131
Pages: 354
Genres: Adventure, Cultural / African American, Fantasy, Folklore, Humor, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A super fun trilogy-kicking-off novel that draws from African American history and folklore, classic fantasy adventure stories and current issues seamlessly, all while subversively riffing on modern fantasy tropes. Nic Blake has been raised by her single Black father outside of the magical community where most other Remarkables live. On her twelfth birthday, she asks – again – to be taught how to use the Gift, but as has happened every year, he puts it off. However, a chance encounter with her favorite author cracks open her world, and it turns out her dad was keeping more than just magical instruction from her – he was keeping her hidden from her whole large, powerful family and the world they inhabit. Worse, he’s accused of a crime she knows he did not commit, and it’s up to her, her newly discovered Remarkable brother, and her best friend PJ (an Unremarkable) to figure out how to save him – before it’s too late.

This book was nonstop enjoyment, full of action, suspense, tension, magic, sci-fi, silliness, and plot twists. At the same time there is a grounding in reality: the entire cast is Black, and readers confront real issues of racism, as seen through Nic’s brother, Alex’s, eyes. Having grown up in the Remarkable society, Alex has no concept of why Black people are treated differently in her world, while for Nic and her friend PJ, they have learned how to navigate that reality, and the resulting commentary is both critical and sobering. Supporting cast are well defined and likeably flawed, which provides depth to the primary storyline.

This is an easy book to highly recommend. It’s a unique, engaging and clever adventure that will keep the reader hooked, all with Thomas’ trademark wit and fierce, character-driven writing. For patrons who love audiobooks, the recorded version is excellent.

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

five-stars

Dear Rosie

Dear RosieDear Rosie by Meghan Boehman, Rachael Briner
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on July 11, 2023
ISBN: 059357186X
Pages: 208
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Millie and her friends have not yet processed the death of their friend Rosie. As they head back to school, they find themselves getting upset over little things like another student sitting in what had always been Rosie’s chair. They seem to be always arguing and spending less time together. Claire spends too much time talking with strangers online and runs away to meet her boyfriend. The group must come together to find Claire. Millie finds a sketchbook that may have been Rosie’s that helps her to find a way that she and her friends can remember Rosie. This gentle graphic novel uses animals – deer, mouse, fox, etc. – for the characters which serves to soften the heavy topic of loss and grief for younger readers. The classic signs of grief are illustrated by the friends as they experience depression, anger, poor decision-making, and ultimately something resembling acceptance. This is a beautiful book but not quite Cream as I think there may be a smaller audience than a typical graphic novel.

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

four-stars

The Grimoire of Grave Fates

The Grimoire of Grave FatesThe Grimoire of Grave Fates by Hanna Alkaf, Margaret Owen
on June 6, 2023
ISBN: 0593427459
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Eighteen YA authors contributed sequential stories to this whodunit set in a school for magic. When universally despised Professor Dropwort of Galileo Academy for magical students was found murdered, an investigation revealed a large suspect pool of students and faculty. Galileo Academy claims to welcome all students – from those with a variety of magical abilities to those of different races and socioeconomic backgrounds – and demonstrates this by moving the school each month to dock in a different location around the world. Dropwort was an equal opportunity bigot who left many enemies behind. Dropwort felt so entitled, he frequently confiscated valuable family artifacts from his students. The editors did a superb job of weaving the stories into one single narrative. The book builds to an exciting climax and readers will find the denouement surprising and satisfying. For upper middle school and high school readers.

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

four-stars

You Are Here: Connecting Flights

You Are Here: Connecting FlightsYou Are Here: Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh
Published by Allida/HarperCollins on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 0063239086
Pages: 251
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Short Stories
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Twelve intertwined short stories written by and about Asian Americans, set in an overcrowded Chicago airport during the height of the COVID pandemic. A combination of stormy weather and an incident at TSA, which occurs in the first story, create delayed and cancelled flights, and tempers among many travelers run high.

Each chapter follows a different young person as they navigate their identity as being Asian and American through scenes of both subtle and overt racism. The beauty of the interwoven stories becomes apparent as main characters from one pop into another: often with just a glance or a smile, but all the same, providing solidarity and support to other kids who are otherwise strangers, when they most need to know that they are not alone.

A really wonderful read from an amazing group of authors. The seamless connections between stories made the whole flow perfectly; but the twelve distinct voices gave every character their own unique identity. An easy book to put in readers’ hands.

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

five-stars

Lo & Behold

Lo & BeholdLo and Behold: (A Graphic Novel) by Gabi Mendez, Wendy Mass
Published by Random House Graphic on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593179633
Pages: 224
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars
Addie is dealing with the absence of her mother when her dad packs the two of them up and moves across the country for a summer job. Addie immediately  connects with her dad’s team and makes a friend named Mateo,  but a new interest in virtual reality draws her inward instead of hanging out with her new group. Addie finds it hard to pull herself away from her comforting virtual world, but recognizes that it’s something she needs to do.

There is a lot going on in Wendy Mass’s graphic novel debut. Addie contends with social withdrawal, a parent fighting prescription drug addiction, and a new friend’s tragic family situation. It’s a heavy read, but a good one, and will interest empathetic kids who enjoy learning about other people’s lives. It also contains a lot about virtual reality and will appeal to kids interested in gaming and VR. This is a great one to have on school and library shelves as the drug-addicted parent is something not present in  many kids’ books, but the need for representation of how this affects families is definitely there.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Family Fortuna

The Family FortunaThe Family Fortuna by Lindsay Eagar
Published by Candlewick Press on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 0763692352
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars
The youngest of three siblings in a travelling carnival, Avita has always had a special bond with her father, Arturo. Arturo looked at her as an infant and saw not a monster, but a show-stopping circus act. While she is human, Avita was born with a large black beak, black feathers, jagged black teeth and black eyes. Arturo soon puts her to work biting the heads off of chickens to illicit screams from the audience.

But what if there’s more to life, and to Avita herself, than decapitating birds? Can Avita prove to Arturo that she is more than a horrific sideshow act?

This book had potential but it was very hard to get through. Forced language, particularly the swearing, and odd narrative choices weigh it down and detract from the story.  The intended audience is unclear, so it is not a must-buy.

(Note: Fans of carnivals and large, black birds will be drawn to the excellent cover art.)

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

two-stars

Talia’s Codebook for Mathletes

Talia’s Codebook for MathletesTalia's Codebook for Mathletes by Marissa Moss
Published by Walker Books US on June 13, 2023
Pages: 240
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
two-stars
A graphic novel inspired by the author’s short-lived experience being the only female mathlete in her middle school. Through Talia, Moss imagines the path she might have taken had she not given up after one math meet. The book is set in the present day but is layered with scenes that must have been pulled from the author’s memory of the early ’70’s, feeling jarringly outdated.

The story starts with Talia’s best friend, Dash, explaining to her that they can no longer be friends while they are at school, because he is getting teased. She is crushed. They both earn a spot on math team, but she’s the only girl. The other boys are mean or ignore her, and Dash pretends not to be her friend. The male coach makes it clear he doesn’t think she belongs there.

In reaction, she recruits her own math team, made up of all girls. This is a positive idea, though another girl steps in to lead as team captain without any discussion, and this makes Talia upset (though she never says anything – which feels odd given how big a deal it was for her to create a new team, and particularly given its roots in female empowerment). At the first meet, an anxiety-ridden Talia makes a mistake and does not answer her question correctly, but despite this the girl’s team wins – even beating the boy’s team from their own school. Bizarrely, Talia’s parents, instead of being excited for her and all she has accomplished, are angry with her for her for making the mistake.

In the end Dash feels he can be friends with Talia again because he has essentially gotten permission from his new male friends that it’s okay, now that her team won. He asks, “why do we have to be just one thing – like a boy or girl?” which, if written differently could have been a clever math binary joke, but instead negatively highlights a gender binary view that is outdated and exclusionist in a book published in 2023.

Overall, the story pulled in too many outdated sensibilities, threw them into a big pot, and resolved only one thing – Talia and Dash fixing their friendship, which had only been broken over cringy “boy-girl avoidance” reason to begin with. The coach was not called out for misogynistic behavior, the parents were not called out for their unreasonable and hurtful expectations, Talia never had a frank conversation with any of the characters (coach, mother, father, Dash, team captain) who made her feel unworthy, and the openly sexist expectations set out by some of the worst characters were never addressed or corrected. All this makes it hard to recommend despite its potential.

Positives: quirky format, expressive illustrations, some nicely developed characters. Two stars.

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

two-stars

Money Out Loud

Money Out LoudMoney Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us by Berna Anat, Monique Sterling
Published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins on April 25, 2023
ISBN: 0063067374
Pages: 258
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Berna Anat has written an irreverent and savvy guide to financial management for those feeling left out by the “hella male, pale and stale financial world”. The book is full of hip slang, pertinent black and white illustrations and, most importantly, sound financial advice aimed primarily at women, people of color, and children of immigrants; marginalized groups who often receive minimal financial guidance, if any. Teens and young adults will find it very readable – chapters are divided into short sections, with text bubbles, illustrations, sidebars and funny footnotes – and relatable, as Anat breaks concepts down to be inherently manageable by meeting readers where they are. She covers every financial topic from a first savings account to retirement. Her voice is unique and her writing style engaging; highly recommend.

5 stars

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

five-stars

Liar’s Beach

Liar’s BeachLiar's Beach by Katie Cotugno
on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593433289
Genres: Mystery
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Linden is excited to stay at his boarding school friend’s house on Martha’s Vineyard for a few weeks before school starts up again. He joins Jasper and his family and a few family friends for long summer days of swimming, drinking, romance…and murder? Linden is first a little startled when he runs into his childhood best friend, Holiday Proctor, as she might accidentally share details from his youth that he would like to keep secret. But it turns out Holiday is an amazing super sleuth and Linden realizes he needs her help.

This book is full of lies, secrets, and rich kids behaving badly; it’s a quick read and perfect for summer. It’s heavily inspired by Agatha Christie and her own super sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Holiday Proctor steals the book, she’s fun and smart and inexplicably fond of Linden, who is a less than endearing main character. Mystery and thriller fans will enjoy trying to solve this one.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Turtles of the Midnight Moon

Turtles of the Midnight MoonTurtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald
Published by Knopf on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 0593488709
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
This mysterious, magical realistic story is told in the alternating viewpoints of Barana, a Honduran girl and Abby, an American whose father is from Barana’s village. When Abby’s father, a physician who helps scuba-divers avoid the bends, is asked to visit Pataya to train divers, he invites Abby to join him. Abby is a photographer and she jumps at the chance to visit her father’s homeland, although with a bit of anxiety. Barana is passionate about saving sea turtles and protecting their nests and is an accomplished artist and poet. When poachers start destroying nests, the girls must work together to solve the mystery and save the turtles. They are helped by a bit of magic – both girls discover a totem of a turtle under their pillows that gives them strength. The location and cuisine are beautifully described and the author includes information on sea turtle conservation. Even though readers will easily figure out who-done-it well before the end, this is a solid mystery with a touch of magical realism. 

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

four-stars