Category: Book Reviews

Kids Fight Climate Change

Kids Fight Climate ChangeKids Fight Climate Change: Act now to be a #2minutesuperhero by Martin Dorey, Tim Wesson
Published by Candlewick Press on March 8, 2022
ISBN: 1536223484
Pages: 128
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
three-stars

This book takes a serious subject and makes it inviting and fun for young children to learn, understand and do a few small things to help save our planet. The book gives a brief overview of climate change and why it’s important for everyone including the very young to get involved. Readers see opportunities to become a superhero activist! At the same time children learn why this fight matters, as they learn about wind turbines, solar power, renewable versus non-renewable energy, as well as not wasting water. There are 60 different types of small actions and changes that children can adopt and help make life on earth a wee bit better. Although this book is a good introduction to young children learning their part, the information provided about climate change seemed overly simplistic and incomplete – even for the targeted age group.

The illustrations by Tim Wesson are well done; creative,  lively, colorful, and fun. There are several end pages that begin with, “Your Superhero Rating…” which take the reader into completing a small survey with points that tally up at the end and give you a superhero rating. This rating is then described in detail based on the # of points the reader accumulated. In addition, readers have 6-8 accessible links – Campaigns and Activism – in which to investigate on their own.

Ages 5-8

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Library

three-stars

Girl Dad

Girl DadGirl Dad by Sean Williams, Jay Davis
Published by HarperCollins on March 22, 2022
ISBN: 0063113635
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A picture book celebration of #GirlDads everywhere by The Dad Gang CEO, Sean Williams! The story is a fun read-aloud with simple text wrapped around daily activities of what young girls love most; princess and fairy costume dress-up, hair bows, dancing, ballet, tea parties, star gazing, and art. Girl Dad is a picture book that honors the strong men who raise, love, and uplift strong girls. It is evident through the text and illustrations that the theme of spending time together – father & daughter – is joyous and together takes center stage in this worthy celebration of proud dads who love and support their daughters.

The illustrations are vivid, colorful, and show a lot of actionable movement. Together the text and art build a fatherly portrait that simultaneously embraces and expands upon traditional dad types, while wrapping itself around each daily life event in a cheerful celebration. The facial expressions of the characters are lively depicting many emotions – tenderness to astonishment to joy – and truly brings the story to life.

There is no Author’s Note, however a brief statement on the front book flap says: “From the founder and CEO of The Dad Gang and debut illustrator Jay Davis comes a heartfelt celebration of fathers and their daughters.” https://thedadgang.com/ “To Change the Way the World Views Black Fatherhood”.

Ages 4-8

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Library

three-stars

Super Sidekicks: Trial of Heroes

Super Sidekicks: Trial of HeroesSuper Sidekicks #3: Trial of Heroes by Gavin Aung Than
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on April 19, 2022
ISBN: 0593175131
Pages: 160
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
two-stars

The Super Sidekicks who just saved the world reappear in this book and have been invited to join HERO, the Heroic Earth Righteousness Organization. It’s an exclusive club for the planet’s most famous superheroes. But before they can become members, they must pass the hardest challenge in the universe – a very scary test that only the truly heroic survive. The setting is Sydney, Australia and is a refreshing change from inner city locales.

This story calls all fans of Captain Underpants and Hilo! Sidekicks are action-packed – expect bugs, clowns, dinosaurs, and lots of goo!

Gavin Aung Than is a best-selling New York Times cartoonist. He fully embraces his characters; Dinomite, Goo, Flygirl, and Captain Perfect, although some might not care for the clown character. It’s an entertaining book with bright full-color illustrations and lots of humor. The panels are easy to follow and some readers will move through it quickly, especially with the action sequences.

Ages: 8-12

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T Graves Memorial Library

two-stars

The School for Whatnots

The School for WhatnotsThe School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 1, 2022
ISBN: 0062838490
Pages: 304
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

At the end of elementary school, Max learns that his classmates have all been “whatnots.” Whatnots are android students that wealthy parents arrange to have as fellow students for their children to protect them from bullies and mean children. Max’s best friend Josie comes from a poor family and is given the opportunity to attend a good school by posing as a whatnot. The world Haddix creates has a huge divide between the haves and have nots and verges on the dystopian.

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

three-stars

The Last Mapmaker

The Last MapmakerThe Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Published by Candlewick Press on April 12, 2022
ISBN: 1536204951
Pages: 368
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Sai works for the famous mapmaker Paiyoon in the kingdom of Mangkon. Now that Mangkon has won a long-time war, the Queen wants to explore her newly conquered territory and arranges for boats to search for the never-seen continent in the Southern Hemisphere. Paiyoon signs on as mapmaker on a ship and arranges for Sai to travel with him. Sai jumps at the opportunity as she comes from a poor background and her father is a grifter. She’s worried that her apprenticeship will come to an end when she turns 13 and does not receive a lineal necklace from her family representing her ancestry. At its heart, this is a swashbuckling sea adventure with a strong female protagonist that features mutiny and sea creatures and readers will be hoping to read more of Sai’s adventures!

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

The Beast of Buckingham Palace

The Beast of Buckingham PalaceThe Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams
Published by HarperCollins on March 1, 2022
ISBN: 0062840126
Pages: 320
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Set a hundred years in the future, London is a glum place where the royal family hides in Buckingham Palace, there is rampant poverty and pollution, and the Lord Protector has the King following his orders. When Prince Alfred’s mother (the Queen!) is thrown into the tower of London and accused of helping the Revolutionaries, Alfred springs into action to try to save his  mother. This is a silly book that would be a delightful read-aloud with lots of ZAPS! and BOOMS! and CLUNKS! and plenty of potty humor.

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

three-stars

Message Not Found

Message Not FoundMessage Not Found by Dante Medema
Published by Quill Tree Books on March 29, 2022
ISBN: 0062954431
Pages: 400
Genres: Mystery, Psychological thriller
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

When Bailey’s best friend Vanessa dies in a car accident Bailey struggles to make sense of the death. Bailey “borrows” an AI app from her mom and programs a virtual version of Vanessa she names V so they can continue to exchange text messages. Bailey becomes a little too obsessed – going so far as to mine personal data from communications Vanessa had with her boyfriend and others. Will Bailey discover why Vanesa was nowhere near her house the night of the accident? Will she uncover the secrets Vanessa kept from her? Written in a unique mix of text messages, notes, and brief chapters, readers will scarf down this YA thriller/mystery in one sitting.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Unfadeable

UnfadeableUnfadeable by Maurice Broaddus
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on April 19, 2022
ISBN: 0062796348
Pages: 288
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Bella “Unfadeable” Fades, a graffiti artist – and a kid, is on her own in her Indianapolis neighborhood. She spends her days scrounging for food, laundry money, paint supplies, and a place to charge her phone. Fortunately she has neighbors who look after her. When her neighbor hires her to investigate a gentrification project that seems to be spending a lot of city money with few visible results, she is determined to fight for the future of her neighborhood.

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

four-stars

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

Maizy Chen’s Last ChanceMaizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee
Published by Random House on February 1, 2022
ISBN: 1984830252
Pages: 288
Genres: Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Maizy and her mother spend the summer in Last Chance, Minnesota so they can help take care of her ailing grandfather. Maizy’s grandparents – who have been estranged from Maizy’s mom – own and run a Chinese restaurant and don’t understand Maizy’s mom’s career as a food stylist. Maizy can’t wait to get back to her life and friends in Los Angeles but she finds that she enjoys getting to know her grandparents and hanging out at their Golden Palace restaurant. Maizy’s grandfather shares the story of her great-grandfather Lucky who first ran the Golden Palace and how he got to Minnesota. She also learns how challenging it was to be a Chinese immigrant in the late 1800s/early 1900s when Lucky came to America. Maizy is curious about the photographs of young men in the restaurant office and learns about “paper sons” that came through Last Chance. The only pathway for citizenship for Chinese immigrants in the wake of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was to show proof that they were the children of US citizens of Chinese descent. It was fairly easy to purchase fake documents and thus become “paper sons” of US citizens. Maizy also experiences racism first hand  but unlike Lucky, she is able to confront it head on. Includes an author’s note with more historical information.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Moonwalking

MoonwalkingMoonwalking by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Zetta Elliott
on April 12, 2022
ISBN: 0374314373
Pages: 224
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This verse novel tells the story of two classmates who become unlikely friends in alternating poems of various styles written by two authors. It is set in the 1980s against the backdrop of the air traffic controllers strike, Poland’s Solidarity movement, and punk rock. Pie, an African/Puerto Rican-American is an aspiring artist who experiences discrimination and has to take care of his younger sister when his mother is unable. JJ and his family are forced to move into the basement flat of his Polish grandparents after his father loses his job. He too feels out of place as one of the only white students in his school. Raises interesting questions about discrimination and profiling, for example, Pie’s stepfather mistreats Pie because Pie’s father is African and JJ is placed in honors classes seemingly because he is white in a mostly black school.

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

four-stars