Category: Book Reviews

Kit and Kaboodle Take the Train

Kit and Kaboodle Take the TrainKit and Kaboodle Take the Train (Highlights Puzzle Readers) by Michelle Portice, Mitch Mortimer
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

In this Level 2 early reader, Kit (a cat) and her friend Kaboodle (a mouse) want to visit Sillyville, but they’re not sure how to get there. They ask the reader to discover how by giving hints as to what sounds they may hear in Sillyville. They prepare, pack, and head off on their journey. This is a great book for new readers. There are simple sentences with a few more tricky words thrown in to help push reading development along. Throughout the book, the colorful and detailed illustrations double as search-and-finds which will help keep new readers motivated to keep going. Recommended for readers 5 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Lucky Caller

Lucky CallerLucky Caller by Emma Mills
Published by Henry Holt & Company on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 1250179653
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

High school senior Nina is taking a radio broadcast class purported to be the most fun elective to finish off her high school career. While her dad is a deejay in another state, Nina knows nothing of the radio business. As it turns out, a childhood friend is also taking the class. The problem is that we discover early on that something has caused friction in Nina and Jamie’s relationship.  As luck would have it, they end up in the same group.  Through working together on the show, Nina comes to terms with her past poor behavior. The group has struggles but eventually gets themselves an unlikely public following–fans of a 90s metal band. They get themselves into a bind but it ties itself up nicely by the end, through very little effort on the part of the characters.

Nina’s family is also dealing with an absentee father and an incoming step-father. Interpersonal strife is abundant. By the end, Nina is in a much better place with most of them. While all the major characters are high school seniors, the tone of the book feels much younger.  Recommended for ages 13+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

Girl, Unframed

Girl, UnframedGirl, Unframed by Deb Caletti
Published by Simon Pulse on June 23, 2020
ISBN: 1534426973
Pages: 357
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

As if growing girls and teens do not face enough challenges Caletti has given readers a riveting story that goes unmatched.  Sidney returns to her mother’s house for the summer and finds that everything about herself, her environment and her mother has changed.  Mom is a Hollywood star who has a new somewhat shady boyfriend.  The character has left childhood behind and is struggling to find her way as a young woman; her internal desires and ultimate choices are not surprising.   This novel contains social and family problems that plague our world and may help some readers who suffer such situations.  The storyline is part mystery, part thriller and definitely a coming of age tale.  Family loyalty, abusive behavior, and sexual awareness are reoccurring issues that may not be totally resolved.

Relationships with Sidney’s best friend and a love interest add to this compelling story.  High School libraries and public library YA rooms need to have this book added to their shelves.  Fans of the author will be delighted with this novel.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

Lubaya’s Quiet Roar

Lubaya’s Quiet RoarLubaya's Quiet Roar by Marilyn Nelson, Philemona Williamson
Published by Dial Books on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 0525555552
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A sensitive and gentle story that depicts current events in society.  A quiet girl, Lubaya is a budding artist who sees and listens to others without contributing verbal comments.  Her response to negative historic events is to draw what is within her heart.   The story offered by Nelson is powerful even as the protagonist is quiet and the illustrations stretch the storyline.  Each page is covered in intense colors implying the magnitude of the subject matter.  This is a story about a family who are aware of current events and takes part in peaceful demonstrations.  There will be readers who have their eyes opened to some of the reasons individuals and families take to the street in protest of American society.

Add Lubaya’s Quiet Roar to primary school media centers and to public libraries.    Consider purchase for places of worship and as a gift to families who advocate for social justice.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME.

four-stars

Window

WindowWindow by Marion Arbona
ISBN: 1525301365
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book grew on me from beginning to end. I was impressed with the illustrations immediately but I wasn’t too drawn in and neither were my kids. By the end of it, though, we were all really excited to see what was behind each window and the discussion of each page got more enthusiastic. Each page is a window that opens up to reveal what a child is imagining lives behind it. The final page combines all of the previous pages and we were excited to go back to make more connections and find things we had missed.

It’s wordless, black and white, and will definitely appeal to fans of Edward Gorey. This might be a great book for kids who enjoy the I Spy or Where’s Waldo series. It doesn’t ask you to find anything but you just can’t get help it.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Copycat

The CopycatThe Copycat by Wendy McLeod MacKnight
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062668331
Pages: 432
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Seventh grader Ali comes from a long line of copycats, people who can change into other living beings.  It’s her Sloane family secret and up until now only Digger, her father, and Gigi, her Great grandma, are the copycats in her family.  For some, it’s a magical ability while others it’s a curse.  When Ali and her parents move into her father’s birth home to help Gigi, Ali changes like copycats do for the first time.  Unfortunately, she is at school when it happens.  Readers intrigued by the copycat phenomena will be left with questions about why only the Sloane families are copycats.  Is it DNA?   How do their clothes change too?  Why does the boring book about fog become readable by the copycats?  The story line provides themes of friendship building, family forgiveness and grieving in the context of the school setting and the chaos in Ali’s family life.  Suggested for readers in grades 4-6 who enjoy some magic in their school routine.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1: Girl on Fire

School for Extraterrestrial Girls #1: Girl on FireSchool for Extraterrestrial Girls #1: Girl on Fire by Jamie Noguchi, Jeremy Whitley
ISBN: 1545804923
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
two-stars
High schooler Tara lives a predictable life with a steady routine and parents who encourage her to keep her head down and just get through.  After an incident one day, she discovers that her entire life is a lie.  Turns out, she’s not even human!  She’s an alien who has been kidnapped, which she discovers as she’s enrolled in the School for Extraterrestrial Girls.  There she mights plenty of other aliens, of all different kinds.  But can she adapt?

The art is creative and very inclusive.  When each alien is in their human form, there’s representation of all kinds: head scarves, myriad skin colors, differently abled, etc.  While it’s an interesting world to get into, the main character is really poorly behaved,  narcissistic, and slow to learn any better.  Students into science fiction and world-building will be interested in this first of a series. 

Recommended for ages 10-14.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

two-stars

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
Pages: 320
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Start with a boarding school, add a group of friends who all feel misunderstood, include a little bit of romance to the friend group, and finish it off with the darkest secrets of each group member being revealed to the whole campus by an unknown source. Falkoff’s novel reads like the love child of John Green and Maureen Johnson; a blend of Looking For Alaska and Truly Devious. Sent to Gardner Academy by her parents to help ease her anxiety about the crises facing the world, ironically, Amina meets a group of friends who form a group who make a game of how to survive the end of the world. Each member of the group takes a turn creating a scenario that the rest of the group must survive. As the competition and romance heat up between the friends, secrets about each of them are revealed to the whole campus. This is a timely read with references to current events that will resonate with many readers, particularly when Amina comments, “‘I mean the world kind of sucks right now…’” Despite contemplating the end of the world, the story never becomes overwhelming and leaves the reader with a satisfying ending. Recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Great Escapes #1 Nazi Prison Camp Escape

Great Escapes #1 Nazi Prison Camp EscapeNazi Prison Camp Escape (Great Escapes, #1) by James Bernardin, Michael Burgan
ISBN: 0062860364
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Bill Ash was born in Dallas Texas and grew up during the Great Depression. As a young man he traveled the country. He read about Hitler and the Nazis. United States had not yet entered the war. He decided to volunteer in Canada and train as a pilot in the Royal Air Force. After training, he headed to England and ended up flying Spitfires, one of the world’s best fighter planes. He flew many successful missions, but on March 24, 1942 he was shot down over France. Eventually, he was captured by the Germans and sent to a POW camp. He met other prisoners as intent as he was on escaping. After thirteen attempts, transfers to other camps, and punishments upon capture, he finally made it. I highly recommend this informative and well written book for reluctant readers and others interested in this true story of courage and determination. There are black and white illustrations, an author’s note, bibliography, and map.  This is the first in the Great Escapes series.

Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

Emily Writes: Emily Dickenson and Her Poetic Beginnings

Emily Writes: Emily Dickenson and Her Poetic BeginningsEmily Writes: Emily Dickinson and Her Poetic Beginnings by Christine Davenier, Jane Yolen
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 1250128080
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
The author imagines what Emily Dickenson’s early childhood was like growing up with a mother who often took to her bed in the afternoons and a stern father who only read on Sundays. Emily had a younger sister and an older brother. She was fascinated with writing, words, and nature. The colorful ink and watercolor illustrations add to the charm of this well written story. The author’s note offers much information about Emily and her family. After the author’s note there are short samples of Dickenson’s poetry and a bibliography. Yolen’s work about this famous American poet is creative and inspiring. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars