Category: Book Reviews

The Bad Day

The Bad DayThe Bad Day by Frann Preston-Gannon
Published by Templar Books on June 14, 2022
ISBN: 1536223786
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This picture book written in first-person narratives by various forest animals explores how teamwork and friendship can turn a bad day into a good day. All of the animals are having a bad day, but no one more than Mouse! Rhyming verse coupled with ink, pencil, and paint illustrations depicting cute, colorful animals will have readers turning the pages to find out if poor Mouse can escape from Fox’s stomach. Consider purchasing this book if your library needs more books about teamwork and friendship for your youngest readers.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Dyer Elementary School

three-stars

Still Mine

Still MineStill Mine by Jayne Pillemer, Sheryl Murray
Published by HarperCollins on January 18, 2022
ISBN: 0063062771
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Still Mine is a heartwarming picture book about loss that reminds us that even if the person we love is gone they are still there in the sunshine, in a laugh, or in a cup of hot chocolate. This book illustrates many different families and relationships that experience a loss. It shows us that these losses happen to everyone and there are always signs we can look for to remember, and love, the departed person. The illustrations and the text go very well together and the reader can really see that even when someone is physically gone they can still be part of us. This book is recommended for grades K-4 and would be a great addition to any book shelf!

Reviewed by Erin Scott, MSAD 75, Woodside

four-stars

Nigel and the Moon

Nigel and the MoonNigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, Gracey Zhang
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on February 15, 2022
ISBN: 0063056283
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Nigel and the Moon is a beautiful story about a little boy who is scared to admit his dreams to his class, so he spends his evenings telling the moon all his hopes and dreams. When it is career day at school, he is afraid that his classmates will laugh about his parents’ jobs, but when his parents come in and explain their jobs as a postal carrier and a truck driver, the kids are impressed. Nigel works up the courage to tell his class his dream of being an astronaut and a dancer and a superhero. The ink and watercolor illustrations show Nigel trusting in the big bright moon to listen to his hopes and dreams. This book is recommended for grades K-2 and would be a great addition to any collection.

Reviewed by Erin Scott, MSAD 75, Woodside

four-stars

River

RiverRiver (Warriors: A Starless Clan, #1) by Erin Hunter
Published by HarperCollins on April 5, 2022
ISBN: 0063050080
Pages: 272
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The book starts with 8 pages of cats, listed by clan, grouped by status within the clan (leader, warrior, etc.), and gives the cats’ names followed by a color description. The book focuses on three cats: Flamepaw, an apprentice warrior trying to live up to his family’s warrior legacy; Sunbeam, a warrior with drama in her life involving a friend; and Frostpaw, a medicine cat apprentice with many responsibilities being thrust on her. This is Book 1 of a new series, the seventh in the extensive canon within Hunter’s Warriors books. This first book is the perfect introduction for new readers, while long-time fans will discover what unfolds after the events of The Broken Code. Faithful readers will eat up the new storyline and the many open strands at the end of the book promise more adventure and intrigue to come.

Reviewed by Betsey Noble, Marcia Buker Elementary School

three-stars

The Black Slide

The Black SlideThe Black Slide Published by HarperCollins on August 16, 2022
ISBN: 0062990551
Pages: 272
Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

Fifth-grader Griffin knows there is something strange about the new piece of playground equipment that suddenly appears at his school. After his classmates start to disappear, he accidentally follows his friend Laila though it and finds a world populated by pain-loving creatures made of rock and stone who are torturing the kids in a quest for immortality.

Griffin is no stranger to pain, thanks to an abusive father, but does he have what it takes to stand up to an entire dimension based on torture and angst?

Fans of Hellraiser will recognize the Merciless (the pain creatures) as Cenobites. This is no accident; in his acknowledgement Ocker mentions his “Hellraiser for kids” idea. Is Hellraiser for kids a good idea? It really could have been. Between great world-building and the edgy risk of the entire concept, there is a lot to offer here. Unfortunately, the characters would have been much more relatable had they been a little older. Because they’re supposed to be 10-11 years old, the dialog is unconvincing and weakens the character development. This might not bother some readers who are looking for unique middle grade horror, so cautiously recommended for middle grade horror fans.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Little Bad Book 2

The Little Bad Book 2The Little Bad Book #2: Even More Dangerous! by Magnus Myst, Thomas Hussung
Published by Delacorte Press on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 0593427645
Pages: 160
Genres: Fantasy, Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

The possessed little book is back and this time readers need to solve its riddles and read through its stories in order to get it to spill a massive secret, while sparring with a young girl named Sweet Marie who disapproves of all of this.

For those who enjoyed the first book, this is more of the same; choose-your-own-adventure, math problems, stories, riddles, gross-out humor, etc. For those who did not enjoy the first, this will be a similar experience as well, but with body-shaming thrown in.

The audience for this book is unclear so it’s difficult to recommend for either school or public libraries.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

two-stars

Something About Grandma

Something About GrandmaSomething About Grandma by Tania de Regil
Published by Candlewick Press on August 9, 2022
ISBN: 1536201944
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In the summer before she becomes a big sister, Julia is sent to stay with her grandmother in a picturesque area outside of Mexico City. The area is full of new smells and tastes as Julia experiences the local foods and flora. The two establish an affectionate bond that is extended to the newborn brother who appears at the end of the book.

Something About Grandma is a cozy, calm love letter to the grandparent/grandchild relationship and to the importance of experiencing small moments with someone who loves and understands you. This would be a nice read aloud book, both at school and at home.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

I am the Ghost in Your House

I am the Ghost in Your HouseI Am the Ghost in Your House by Maria Romasco Moore
Published by Delacorte Press on April 19, 2022
ISBN: 0593177215
Pages: 432
Genres: Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

“I am the Ghost in Your House” by Maria Romasco-Moore is surprisingly NOT a horror novel and is NOT about a ghost. Pie is like any other teenager with the exception of being invisible to everyone except for her mother, who is also invisible. The novel follows Pie as she tries to make friends, despite her mother’s rules that they leave no trace of themselves and hide away from people as much as possible. Pie’s mother was visible once, but developed the invisibility to cope with abuse. The idea of feeling/being invisible will resonate with many readers. The premise is interesting, but doesn’t feel fully fleshed out and could use more worldbuilding.  A young adult novel, “I am the Ghost in Your House,” should be an additional purchase for your library’s collection, but not a must-buy.

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

two-stars

Cake Eater

Cake EaterCake Eater by Allyson Dahlin
Published by HarperTeen on August 9, 2022
ISBN: 0063096773
Pages: 448
Genres: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you took the history of Marie Antoinette and stuck her in the far off future? Wonder no more. “Cake Eater” by Allyson Dahlin is a young adult science fiction novel set in 3070 where Maria Antonia, social media superstar, is sent to the Franc Kingdom to wed royal Louis-Auguste. This is a unique take on historical fiction and seems mostly true to the history even within this futuristic and dystopian world. Characters are believable, but parts of the futuristic world seem unbelievable; will texting really still be a thing over a thousand years from now?

Written for teens, this ya novel will appeal to fans of history (especially those interested in the French Revolution) and science fiction readers, but is not a must-buy for your library collection. Purchase for collections where futuristic historical fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

Violet Made of Thorns

Violet Made of ThornsViolet Made of Thorns (Violet Made of Thorns, #1) by Gina Chen
Published by Delacorte Press on July 26, 2022
ISBN: 059342753X
Pages: 368
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Violet Made of Thorns” by Gina Chen is a young adult enemies to lovers fantasy novel. Violet is the new Seer of the kingdom of Auveny and must deal with the internal politics and schemes while figuring out what she truly wants. Prince Cyrus is the cursed “enemy” love interest, though the romantic tension seems forced and both characters are difficult to like.

The worldbuilding Chen has done is creative and the fairy tale influences will remind you that many of them are much darker than we remember. Written for older teens and new adults, this book is not a must-buy, but would fit in well if YA enemies to lovers fantasies are popular at your library.

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

three-stars