Category: Book Reviews

Shipwreck Island

Shipwreck IslandOrphans of the Tide #2: Shipwreck Island by Struan Murray
Published by HarperCollins on December 13, 2022
ISBN: 0063043165
Pages: 416
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

“Shipwreck Island” by Struan Murray is the second novel in the “Orphans of the Tide” middle grade series. In a post-apocalyptic fantasy world where one island of inhabitants have survived The Great Drowning and some have godlike powers, main characters Seth and Ellie have already left their island, escaped the Enemy (an evil god) and survived the trip to another island where they must now deal with the problems their new island faces.

Characters are likable and I enjoyed the worldbuilding put into the setting, but the narrative felt choppy and a bit overly clichéd at times. Written for ages 8 – 12, this book is a suggested purchase at libraries where the first volume is popular.

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

two-stars

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of AlexandriaShad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije
Published by HarperCollins on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 0063094819
Pages: 304
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria” by George Jreije is a fun new twist on the Harry Potter/Percy Jackson model where the main character discovers that they have special powers and get to go to a special school to learn more about them. Shad has always felt like an outsider, focusing more on his baking in his grandmother’s Lebanese bakery in Maine and avoiding bullies rather than making friends.  When he discovers that he is descended from alchemists, Shad goes to the Alexandria Academy to learn as much as he can.

Facing challenges from within the academy and outside, Shad Hadid focuses on friendship, family, and finding oneself. The author has clearly put his love for Lebanese culture into the book and readers will either enjoy seeing themselves represented as a fantasy hero or will learn more about Lebanese and Arabic culture while enjoying a fun magical ride. The author also is a Maine author, so the descriptions of Maine are true to life. Written for middle graders, “Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria” is a must-buy for all libraries in Maine.

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

four-stars

The 9:09 Project

The 9:09 ProjectThe 9:09 Project by Mark H. Parsons
Published by Delacorte on October 18, 2022
ISBN: 0593309758
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“The 9:09 Project” by Mark H. Parsons is a young adult novel about Jamison, a teen boy whose mother died a few years ago. He worries that he is forgetting her, so he begins an art project where he takes photos at 9:09pm every day at the same place. Parsons’ description of the photos and the way that Jamison uses photography to form relationships and connections with other people keep the novel interesting and compelling.

The themes of grief and healing are woven throughout. I was initially worried that the book would be very depressing, but while it is sad, the author keeps the reader interested in Jamison’s journey as his photos lead him to discover his true self. Written for teens and young adults, this book is a suggested purchase for libraries where YA realistic fiction is popular.

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

four-stars

Katzenjammer

KatzenjammerKatzenjammer by Francesca Zappia
Published by Greenwillow Books on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0063161656
Pages: 304
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
High school student Cat and her classmates live in a school they can’t escape from. The school is a living entity, constantly shifting and changing, and its influence is manipulating the bodies of some of the students. Cat and her best friend Jeffrey set out to solve the mysterious and brutal death of their class president and must reach out to the different cliques that have formed as a necessity for survival.

Katzenjammer is told in short chapters that alternate between the current nightmare landscape and memories that are trickling back to Cat and helping her make sense of how she and her friends (and enemies) came to be trapped. Cat is a talented artist and the book is sparsely but effectively illustrated. Just look at that cover! It is impossible to put down until the very end and then it is absolutely gutting.

Without spoiling it, the book missed explicitly listing an important trigger in its content warning. Even without the devastating twist, the last quarter of the book descends into a downright Dostoyevskian exploration of cruelty, humiliation, collective guilt, and violence. It’s well written and creative and has good character development. Unfortunately, for all of the book’s accomplishments, it’s so bleak and troubling that I don’t know how I could recommend it to anyone, which accounts for the lower star rating.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

three-stars

A Library

A LibraryA Library by Nikki Giovanni, Erin K Robinson
Published by Versify on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 0358387655
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Many readers think of their local library as a wonderful building full of books, but for Giovanni’s character the library is much more. The character within these pages celebrates the existence of her special place to be free and to dream. Sparse lyrical sentences perfectly portray the emotion and imagination contained within a lovely picture book.

Several illustrations express the sense of space; behind the laundry, within the library, and on the street. The two-page spreads are especially significant as they reveal the loving relationship between the girl and her grandmother as well as the girl’s affection for the librarian. Colors range from pastel to bold shades of primary colors. Robinson wraps her character in a cherished colorful quilt that is sure to engage any reader. This book honors the author’s first librarian and acknowledges her importance. An author’s note reveals how the author views her own childhood summer library.

Media center librarians located in primary schools should purchase a copy of A Library. This book can be utilized in poetry units, displayed for Black History Month, and offered as a read-a-loud in primary classrooms.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired Youth Services Librarian

five-stars

The Lost Whale

The Lost WhaleThe Lost Whale by Hannah Gold
Published by HarperCollins on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 0063041111
Pages: 304
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
The Lost Whale is a sensitive family story that goes beyond the maternal bonds of mother, grandmother, and child. When Rio’s mother falls ill, he is sent to America to stay with his grandmother whom he barely remembers. Feeling depressed and far-removed from home, Rio suffers a difficult transition before he makes a friend on the beach.  Although the title highlights White Beak the whale, this storyline expresses the power of love and protection offered by family and friends. Gold has written a book that is deeply sensitive to relationships as well as to the natural environment. With compassion and tender dialogue this novel is up to par with Gold’s previous work “The Last Bear”.

Budding naturalists and those who have experienced whale watching tours will love the ocean adventure. Readers are sure to cheer for the lost whale and to envy the love between humans and mammals expressed in this book. Librarians in middle grade schools and those in public libraries should add this title to their collections. Hand to readers who appreciate the underwater world of mammals and have dreams of swimming with a whale or dolphin.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired Youth Services Librarian

four-stars

Ghostlight

GhostlightGhostlight by Kenneth Oppel
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 0593487931
Pages: 400
Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Suspense, supernatural creatures, and a tight storyline make this newest novel by Oppel a winner. Gabe lands a summer job telling stories while taking tourist on tours of Toronto Island. This novel quickly reveals the underlying historical ghost tales of a long-dead lighthouse keeper and his daughter. Readers are introduced to two additional teen characters who add immensely to the storyline. Each have necessary talents which Gabe leans upon to solve the mysterious long-ago deaths . These three characters appear larger than life, and readers come to know their individual abilities and fears.

Oppel is one of a few authors who can portray ghosts as living creatures, giving them personality and emotion. While reading Ghostlight we come face to face with true evil and yet there is room for compassion. This story reveals the possibility of a human /ghost relationship that goes beyond our human experience.

A great, fast-moving ghost story that is a well-written, creative read. Add this to any middle school media centers or public library collection as librarians will delight in handing this book to middle grade readers.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired Youth Services Librarian

five-stars

Under Pressure

Under PressureUnder Pressure by Cory McCarthy
Published by HarperCollins US on February 1, 2023
ISBN: 0358362148
Pages: 208
Goodreads
Under Pressure is the second book in the near-future Sci-Fi trilogy about a group of friends from their school at the Tower of Power (ToP), who are trying to rescue their friend Grayson, who has gone missing. Grayson is the son of the creator of the largest tech company in the world, Bixonics, which fits people with their bionic enhancements. In their quest to find Grayson, the friends are rescued at sea and taken to New Atlantis, a world under the sea that is home to the Resistance who are secretly trying to take Bixonics down. This fast-paced novel is told from two perspectives: Jayla (she/her), a black tech expert who stays at New Atlantis and Leo (they/them) a white wheelchair athlete who has two moms and returns to ToP to hopefully be fitted for a rare aug. As they overcome several obstacles in their search for Gray, including new information about Gray’s parents and Bixonics, they learn to rely on themselves and each other. This book is appropriate for middle grade readers, especially those who enjoyed the first book in the series, Ace Takes Flight. This novel ends in a cliffhanger, which will no doubt entice readers to pick up the yet to be released third book in the trilogy.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

The Bridge Battle

The Bridge BattleThe Bridge Battle (The Lemonade War, #6) by Jacqueline Davies
Series: Lemonade War #6
Published by HarperCollins US on March 8, 2023
ISBN: 0358692997
Pages: 240
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
The Bridge Battle is the sixth installment of the popular Lemonade War Series by Jacqueline Davies. Siblings Jessie and Evan each find themselves in new and uncomfortable situations. Jessie, a science nerd, is stuck in a summer day camp singing songs and making fairy houses when she’d rather be in the group building bridges. To make matters worse, her former bullies are part of her group. Evan, normally the popular leader in a group, is accidentally placed in a summer school class with older students. He witnesses bullying and feels guilty for not stopping it, and then feels even worse when he joins in the tormenting of a weaker student. Everything comes to a head when Evan and Jessie try to stop the bully from destroying the bridge Jessie plans to enter into a contest. Chapters alternate between the siblings, but the themes of right and wrong, bullying, and being yourself, are woven throughout this book.

This middle grade novel was well written. The main characters are well rounded and readers can feel their confusion and anguish as they are faced with difficult situations. The antagonists are appropriately cringeworthy and are authentic to the middle grade experience. Although this novel is part of a series, it definitely also works as a stand alone. It would be appropriate for middle grade readers who enjoy realistic fiction with a mostly happy ending or as a read aloud. This book explores some difficult topics such as bullying and learning challenges that could lay the foundation for some important discussions.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

A Child’s Introduction to Jazz: the Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World’s Coolest Music

A Child’s Introduction to Jazz: the Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World’s Coolest MusicA Child's Introduction to Jazz: The Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World's Coolest Music (A Child's Introduction Series) by Jabari Asim, Jerrard K. Polk
Series: A Child's Introduction
Published by Black Dog & Leventhal ISBN: 0762479418
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
This selection introduces the reader to the history of jazz music; how and where it originated starting with those who came over on slave ships. The music of each African region came together and blended with the music of Mexico and the Indigenous peoples and became a genre known as Jazz. It gives profiles of famous musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong, along with those who are not so well known, that made the genre what it is today. The author has given the reader a comprehensive history of Jazz and those musicians and instruments that have moved it along adding to and blending the music of each of the decades so that is a living and changing thing. Also offered in this book are downloadable links and QR codes so the reader can listen to the music and/or the instruments. This is a good solid addition to any library public or school that has patrons that love music. It can be used in both history and music units.

Reviewed by Kathy George, Retired Children’s Librarian

five-stars