Category: Book Reviews

When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea

When Sally O’Malley Discovered the SeaWhen Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on March 25, 2025
ISBN: 0593650573
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the sort of historical fiction I love to read but find it a tough sell to children. Orphan Sally O’Malley makes her way across 1894 Oregon in the company of a spoiled kid, a persnickety donkey, and a wise woman. 13-year-old Sally is determined to see the sea. Her colorful vocabulary and the well-developed secondary characters make for a rollicking adventure with a happy ending. Warning: there is a death towards the end of the book that may affect sensitive children.  Recommend this book to  7-12 year olds who are fans of  Little House on the Prairie. It also would make a good family readaloud.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars

The Fangirl Project

The Fangirl ProjectThe Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles
Published by Delacorte Press on November 4, 2025
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Fangirl Project” is a young adult romance by Beth Reekles. Cerys is a teen with a huge crush on her best friend, Jake. She is worried that she will miss her chance at dating him when they go to different schools. She concocts a plan where she will become a huge fan of Jake’s favorite fantasy book/tv series and win his affection that way (by becoming a fangirl). Unfortunately, Jake’s friend Max keeps getting in her way in person, so she decides to use Discord to reach Jake. The book switches between regular first person narration and Discord exchanges.

Cerys slowly learns that you don’t have to pretend to be someone different for people to like you. A lot of teen embarrassment and situations that could have been solved easily with a little communication occasionally made this a tough read, but fans of rom coms will enjoy it. An additional purchase where YA romances with a bit of humor are popular.

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

three-stars

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes

Trail Rides and Starry EyesTrail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel
ISBN: 0593904060
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Trail Rides and Starry Eyes” is a young adult romance by Katrina Emmel. Cassidy works at her family’s ranch. Wilder is an actor trying to learn how to ride a horse to hopefully get his big break in a Western miniseries. We get both Cassidy and Wilder’s points of view in different chapters while we watch their relationship grow. They learn the importance of being willing to try something new and that being very different from each other doesn’t mean things can’t work out. This is an enjoyable YA western romance and a good additional purchase where teen romance is popular.

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

three-stars

Magicalia

MagicaliaMagicalia by Jennifer Bell
on April 2, 2024
ISBN: 1536241601
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Bitsy and her best friend Kosh are having a regular sleepover – playing Mario Kart and recording the next episode of Bitsy’s local news podcast (which much to her disappointment, the most exciting news she has to report on includes odd-shaped vegetables and potholes). Bitsy feels disappointed and wants more than anything to live up to her deceased mom’s legacy of being a world-famous news reporter. But their evening gets turned on its head when a gorilla-sized rodent called a Grobble crashes into her house, eating everything in sight. They overhear Bitsy’s dad arguing with a strange woman, and watch as he summons his own magicore – a Wayworm charged with protecting the kids at all costs. Then in an instant the woman has kidnapped Bitsy’s dad and vanished into thin air.

Bitsy and Kosh, who have (up until this point) led “regular” lives, are now faced with the impossible – can they follow the clues available hiding in Bitsy’s house into this magical world to save her dad? They discover a world beyond their wildest imaginations based on conjuring magical creatures called magicores, which are made from the energy of emotions. They find themselves at the heart of a conflict between different groups of conjurers that goes back centuries. A conflict so engrained in conjurer culture that it ostracized many from society, tearing apart families and loved ones in the process. They are also forced to question everything – including who they can trust. Bitsy finds herself following in the footsteps of her mom, and discovering there was so much more she didn’t know.

This story is a thrilling adventure to read. Beyond the fantastical creatures, it includes deep friendships, long-lost family members, questioning of established systems, and bringing people together to resolve conflict against all odds. Recommended for ages 8 to 12 (3rd to 6th Grade). Cream of the Crop nominee.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

five-stars

Bubblegum Shoes

Bubblegum ShoesThe Case of the Contraband Closet (Bubblegum Shoes #1) by Goldy Moldavsky
ISBN: 0593813766
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

While she might not be on the “good list”, Maya Mendoza always notices the details of those around her – classmates passing notes or reading comics behind a textbook, a teacher’s shoes being one size too small, and her best friend taking way too long on her trip to the “bathroom”. Maya also loves a mystery – and will stop at nothing until she solves it (even if that means putting her friendships or herself in trouble).

At Marlowe Middle School, Principal Spade runs a tight ship. He has no qualms about confiscating anything that is a distraction or disruption at school; and anything he confiscates goes straight into the contraband closet. His most recent mission is against Legends cards – which have been so sought after by students and teachers alike, they have become a sort of currency at school. The contraband closet is the stuff of legends – and its contents go back decades.

Maya hasn’t spoken to her (used-to-be) best friend Jordan since the “incident” last year. But she desperately wants her friend back. Jordan is eagerly trying to get accepted into show choir; to prove herself, she needs to recover the choir’s pitch pipe – which was put in the contraband closet. Together, along with Clementine and Ava, they break into the contraband closet. But when they get it open – it’s empty. Follow this unlikely crew as they make deals with the principal, sneak out of detention, uncover an underground gaming ring, keep up with their extracurriculars, and hopefully – catch the real thief to clear their own names.

While unrealistic at times, this middle school mystery was full of drama as the Bubblegum Shoes club chased their leads. It gently wove in themes of disinterested parents, separated families, strained friendships, and questioning systems/authority. Recommended for ages 8 to 12 (3rd to 6th Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Dragon vs. Unicorn

Dragon vs. UnicornDragon vs. Unicorn: Friends or Frenemies? by Lisa Wiley, P.J. Hoover
on October 7, 2025
ISBN: 1525310836
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
three-stars

Dragon and Unicorn are best friends – but they are always disagreeing. They can’t decide what kind of clubhouse to build, what to do at a sleepover, or what to play on the playground. These friends have differing viewpoints and frequent miscommunications, but care so much about each other. In this “choose-your-own-adventure” style graphic novel, the reader gets to decide how these friends navigate these obstacles – and see if they can make it to a happy ending. This is a quick read, but with many different choices for the adventure, this story can be read over and over again. The big feelings and challenges faced by the characters are simple, and likely relatable for the youngest readers, with some good lessons along the way. This book includes three different short stories, which are relatively disjointed, so there is a lack of an overarching story or conclusive ending. The digital illustrations are colorful and expressive. Recommended for ages 6 to 8 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

three-stars

Flat Stanley

Flat StanleyFlat Stanley: The Graphic Novel: The Classic Children's Tale of a Flat Boy and His Adventures, in a Full-Color Graphic Novel by Corey Egbert, Jeff Brown, SB Wilson
ISBN: 0063095092
Genres: Adventure, Family
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Flat Stanley is back – this time in a new graphic novel format showcasing his original adventures. One morning, Stanley wakes up flat after a bulletin board falls on him in the night. After a quick visit to the doctor (who seems surprisingly unconcerned), and a shopping trip to get some new clothes, Stanley is ready to rock his new lifestyle. He gets shipped in an envelope across the country to visit a friend in California, gets flown like a kite by his brother, and even helps the police catch some museum robbers. After numerous adventures, Stanley is feeling tired of being different, so his brother re-inflates him using a tire pump. The colorful digital illustrations are fun and expressive. Flat Stanley is the epitome of physical comedy, and the graphic novel format is wonderfully suited to that. Recommended for ages 6 to 10 (Kindergarten to 4th Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Strange Creatures

Strange CreaturesStrange Creatures by Cristina Sitja Rubio, Cristobal León
ISBN: 1525313800
Genres: Animals, Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It had been an uneventful summer for the forest animals, until one day they are invited to a party full of dancing and cake. When they return, their tree homes had disappeared, and only their skeletons (stumps) remained. The animals tried to communicate with the strange creatures (humans) that took their homes, but had better luck communicating with the small guardians (pets) of the strange creatures. The animals concocted a plan to lure the strange creatures to another party, for they also liked to dance. During the party, the animals moved the homes of the strange creatures, to make a point and better communicate the need for their forest home. In the end, the strange creatures understood and helped to replant the forest. This dramatic fable is full of striking and emotive gouache illustrations and hand lettered text. Could be used as a starting point for conversations about refugees, deforestation, climate change, and more. Recommended for ages 4 to 8 (Pre-K to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

The Richest Cow in the World

The Richest Cow in the WorldThe Richest Cow in the World by Barroux
ISBN: 1525314114
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A new take on the classic fisherman’s parable. Cow is taking a nap beneath his apple tree, when Pig comes along imagining all the ways Cow could turn a profit from the apples (making pies, selling merchandise, buying more trees and more land). Cow is intrigued and asks what happens next, after he becomes the richest cow in the world. Well – then the fun begins, explains Pig, by selling the business, Cow can then buy a small island and find a peaceful spot to nap in the shade. This reimagined classic tale is a great reminder to have balance and enjoy life. Watercolor and ink illustrations are so fun and expressive. Recommended for ages 4 to 8 (Pre-K to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Baa Haa

Baa HaaBaa Haa by Audrey Perrott, Ross Burach
ISBN: 1546134034
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Everything makes Babette laugh. Babette laughs when she is surprised, excited, and glad. But she also laughs when nothing is funny – when she is nervous, scared, in trouble, mad, or sad. It is just easier for Babette to cover up her real feelings with silliness. Until one day – the knot in her stomach is just too big to ignore. Her caring friends come to the rescue, sensing that she’s not really okay, and remind Babette that they love her for her, no matter what she’s feeling. From then on – Babette lets her real feelings show.

The text is full of animal puns, and the cartoon-like illustrations are bright, colorful, and full of emotion. A sweet book with an important message; this book could be used as a tool to remind children to share their true feelings, even if those feelings aren’t positive. Recommended for ages 4 to 8 (Pre-K to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars