Category: Book Reviews

How to Pack for the End of the World

How to Pack for the End of the WorldHow to Pack for the End of the World by Michelle Falkoff
Published by HarperTeen on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062680269
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Ever since her synagogue got set on fire, Amina has been having nightmares and obsessing over potential and past disaster in the world. She spends hours researching topics like the Holocaust and surviving a disaster. Fed up, her parents send her to a private school in Vermont known for its rich and preppy students. As a scholarship student, Amina worries she won’t make any friends.  Surprisingly, she meets some seemingly like-minded students right away and they begin a club based on teaching each other survival skills and playing games.  The book misses a little bit on character development and the movement of the storyline.  We get small pieces of characters’ backstories, but never enough to understand why they do what they do.  A small mystery presents itself, though the answer seems fairly obvious. The end is a bit anticlimactic, but it ends on a positive note.  This may be of interest to anyone who’s into protests and social justice topics.  Recommended for ages 14+. 

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

The League of Super Feminists

The League of Super FeministsThe League of Super Feminists by Mirion Malle
Published by Drawn and Quarterly on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1770464026
Pages: 60
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

Translated from French, The League of Super Feminists tackles high level topics like consent, beauty standards, and privilege by creating short comics addressing each one.  Malle somehow boils these incredibly complicated topics into simple, conversational short comics that perfectly explain what they mean. While geared toward tweens and teens, this is a great book to put into anyone’s hands and does really well at dispelling some of the myths of feminism. Recommended for ages 10+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

Northbound: A train ride out of segregation

Northbound: A train ride out of segregationNorthbound: A Train Ride Out of Segregation by Eric Stein, James E. Ransome, Michael S. Bandy
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0763696501
Pages: 40
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Michael lives in Alabama, and he loves trains. When he and his grandmother board a train to Ohio, he’s excited for the adventure ahead. What he doesn’t expect is that as they move from one state to another, the rules on the train change. When they start on their journey, he and his grandmother are in the “colored only” train car, but when they move into Atlanta, the conductor removes the segregation sign between the two cars. When they make their way into Chattanooga, the segregation sign goes back up. Along the journey, Michael befriends a white boy named Bobby Ray. When they’re allowed, the two boys play together, and when the segregation sign goes back up, they are forced to sit separately. This is a really well done book about a part of Black history many people may not know. It highlights the inequities felt throughout parts of the country and the varied pace of desegregation. The illustrations are life-like watercolor and do a wonderful job bringing the story to life. The story is easy to follow and will appeal to readers young and old. It will definitely spark some questions from younger readers. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Hello, Whale

Hello, WhaleHello, Mr Whale! by Sam Boughton
Published by Templar Books on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1536215414
Pages: 16
Genres: Animals
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a board book full of flaps and lots of information about whales. The concept is a good one, but the execution misses the mark. There is way too much text, and the layout is way too busy for the board book format. The information is good. The illustrations are very colorful, high contrast, and busy. They are digitally rendered to look like watercolor, and the contrasting colors along with all the minute details will keep some readers engaged. This would be a good board book for an older reader — someone at least 3 with a longer attention span.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Hello, Bear

Hello, BearHello, Bear! by Sam Boughton
Published by Templar Books on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1536215406
Pages: 16
Genres: Animals
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a board book full of flaps and lots of information about bears. The concept is a good one, but the execution misses the mark. There is way too much text, and the layout is way too busy for the board book format. The information is good. The illustrations are very colorful, high contrast, and busy. They are digitally rendered to look like watercolor, and the contrasting colors along with all the minute details will keep some readers engaged. This would be a good board book for an older reader — someone at least 3 with a longer attention span.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

My Words

My WordsMy Words by Grant Snider
Published by HarperCollins on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 0062907808
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

At the beginning of the book, the narrator announces that she loves words. She then goes back to talking about when she was a baby and didn’t have any words. The story carries the reader through babbles to first words to a growing vocabulary. It ends with the narrator using her now expansive list of words to write. The illustrations in this book are simple, colorful, and complete the story. The text is sparse so the illustrations add a lot of the context to the story. Overall, the book isn’t bad, but the message isn’t very clear. A second purchase for larger collections. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Exploring the White House

Exploring the White HouseExploring the White House: Inside America's Most Famous Home by Kate Andersen Brower
Published by Quill Tree Books on December 8, 2020
ISBN: 0062906410
Pages: 240
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is an entertaining and informative look inside the most famous house in our country. It is an account almost completely from the perspective of the full time staff who continue working in the White House when the residents change from one term to the other. It talks about the dedication of the staff to the House rather than to the people occupying it. It provides history of the White House, including the use of slaves, and includes how things have changed over the years. From flowers to china sets to dogs to bowling, this book covers the many facets of life in the White House. It is definitely interesting and an easy, quick read. Young historians and those interested in political figures will find it interesting. Every reader is certain to learn something. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Wild Girl: How to have incredible adventures

Wild Girl: How to have incredible adventuresWild Girl: How to have INCREDIBLE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES by Helen Skelton
ISBN: 1406387649
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Helen Skelton is a British TV personality who has managed to have some pretty amazing adventures. The title of this book is misleading, however, as it is mostly an autobiography and does little to help readers figure out how to have adventures they can actually attain. Most people aren’t going to run an ultramarathon in Namibia, solo kayak over 2,000 miles on the Amazon, or tight rope walk between two buildings. Most people shouldn’t attempt these things. While the book is mildly entertaining to read, Skelton has clearly lived a very privileged life and been very lucky and financially supported in her endeavors. Prior to signing up for most of these feats, she had little to no experience and was obviously able to devote most, if not all, of her time to training. The book is inspiring in that it shows that a lot of hard work can equate to success (and some failures, which she does discuss). The layout of the book will also appeal to young readers as it is full of graphics, sidebars, and lots of color. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up who love an adventure story or who are into extreme sports.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Anatomicum

AnatomicumAnatomicum: Welcome to the Museum by Jennifer Z. Paxton, Katy Wiedemann
Published by Big Picture Press on September 10, 2020
ISBN: 1536215066
Pages: 112
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This large format book is the latest installment in the Welcome to the Museum nonfiction series. The book is broken into various bodily systems: musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, digestive, etc. Each section opens with some text introducing the bodily system with cursory details, though that level of information works for a book like this. As with previous installments in this series, it’s the illustrations that really bring this book to life. The ink and watercolor illustrations are simultaneously gorgeous, detailed, and informative. Capturing the human form in a beautiful and scientifically accurate manner is extremely difficult, and this illustrator (and tattoo artist) has accomplished it wonderfully. This is a great book for reluctant nonfiction readers or anyone who appreciates beautiful art combined with science. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up though younger readers may enjoy the illustrations to help them learn about the inside of their bodies.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

Kitty and the Treetop Chase

Kitty and the Treetop ChaseKitty and the Treetop Chase by Jenny Lovlie, Paula Harrison
Published by Greenwillow Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062935771
Pages: 128
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Kitty and her feline friends are back for another superhero adventure, and this time, she’s got a new superhero friend, Ozzy. Ozzy is new in town, and when Kitty’s mom suggests a sleepover, Kitty is initially wary of how this will interfere with her nocturnal superhero adventures. Ozzy turns out to be another superhero in training who converses with owls, so the two are a perfect pair. This time, they’re working to find the dog who has wreaked havoc on the local bakery and to put things back before morning. Will they be able to figure it out, and how will their super powers work together to solve the mystery? This is the fourth installment in the Kitty series, and it’s every bit as sweet as the previous books. This is a great early chapter book series for kids who love mystery but who aren’t ready or interested in scary things. Kitty and Ozzy work together for good, and they’re bolstered by their animal companions. The illustrations are line drawings done entirely in black, white, and orange, as with previous books. They help to break up the text making the book more accessible for younger readers, and they add a level of fun and emotion to the story. Recommended for readers 2nd grade and up, though this makes a good read aloud for younger kids too.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars