Category: Book Reviews

Leaving the Station

Leaving the StationLeaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow
Published by HarperCollins on August 19, 2025
ISBN: 0063078775
Genres: LGBTQ+, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Zoe’s first semester at college was a disaster. She was supposed to have been figuring out how she wanted to present to the world – definitely more masc than she allowed herself to be in high school – and meeting her first girlfriend. Instead she met Alden, and was instantly, confusingly, attracted to him. But as their romantic relationship developed, Zoe began to realize that it was not straightforward attraction; it was more that she wanted to embody his masculinity. This was exciting but also deeply confusing, and between the relationship and inner turmoil, Zoe found herself increasingly isolated, missing classes, and generally…failing. So when Thanksgiving break arrives, she boards an Amtrack train to travel back to Seattle, with no intention of returning but hoping she will have figured out a way to explain that to her parents by the end of the four day cross-country journey.

On the train she encounters Oakley, who appears to be a beautiful loner with her life utterly together. But as they get to know each other it becomes clear that Oakley has her own complicated problems that she’s both running from – and heading towards.

Arlow’s sophomore work is a nuanced YA novel that hits the balance between grappling with some big issues – gender, identity, religion, sense of self and belonging – while also being a genuinely enjoyable read. There is some romance (Zoe and Oakley are definitely attracted to each other, and they do act upon that, but not with a this-will-end-happily-ever-after default expectation, because of what of what they are each grappling with outside of the train journey), and excellent supporting characters. The experience of all this playing out over four days in a distinct and unusual environment adds a layer of fun.

This book will fit well in any library’s YA collection. Zoe’s feelings, and her struggles with identity, will no doubt resonate with the teens who need to see that on the page; other readers will enjoy it for the sapphic romance in an unusual setting. Highly recommend; 5 stars.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

In the Desert(Paws, Fins, Feathers, Claws)

In the Desert(Paws, Fins, Feathers, Claws)In the Desert (Paws, Fins, Feathers, Claws) by David Elliott, Gordy Wright
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536223387
Genres: Nature
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Sahara Desert is a huge and imposing piece of Africa covering more than 3 million miles. It can look quite sparse and desolate. This book tells the story of many of the animals and insects that call the Sahara home in verse form. The reader will explore the Desert Horned Viper, the Deathstalker Scorpion, the Anubis Baboon, and many more through short poems and more information included in the back matter.

Each subject has a dedicated two page spread in the book with gorgeous illustrations and brief interesting and sometimes funny verse.

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Night Flight

Night FlightNight Flight by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, David Barclay Moore
Published by Candlewick Press on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 1536223263
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

As a little boy is tucked snugly into bed for the night in his safe, warm home, sleep continues to escape him. He’s missing his dads who are out for an evening together. As he stares groggily out the window into the winter evening his imagination soars bringing to him a pterosaur, like the mobile in his room, to fly him out over the nighttime city scenes until they come home to him.

Gorgeous illustrations bring to life this story. We are at once cozy at home and also out on an almost mystical nighttime journey.

4-9 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Wiggling Words

Wiggling WordsWiggling Words: Loving Language with Dyslexia by Kate Rolfe
Published by Candlewick on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 1536244554
Genres: Learning Disabilities
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Learning to read can be a challenge for anyone.This book focuses on a child learning to read with dyslexia. We follow along as they work through their book, anxious to find out the ending. They struggle and work doggedly, focusing on how they best deal with words seemingly piled on a page in front of them until they achieve success!
The illustrations are just as powerful, if not more so than the words, bringing the emotion our main character is feeling to us as we read his story. This is an important book to allow kids to feel seen and raise understanding among others.

4-9 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Floor It!

Floor It!Floor It! by Bex Tobin Fine, Federico Fabiani
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593904990
Genres: Adventure, Babies/Infants
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Preschoolers, kindergartners, and/or anyone who has a crawling sibling will enjoy this fast-paced, rhyming, picture book chronicling a baby’s quadrupedal race across the house. Wearing a helmet for good measure, the baby explores it all while we get to enjoy seeing the house and family from their perspective. The illustrations are fun, the race car themed rhymes flow nicely, and the momentum stays strong throughout. All family members are described in nonbinary terms (i.e., sibling, they/them, parent).  A great choice for story time.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Incredibly Penelope

Incredibly PenelopeIncredibly Penelope by Lauren Myracle
Published by Walker Books US on August 12, 2025
ISBN: 1536206067
Pages: 336
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Penelope is living the big life- travelling the world with her mom and her mom’s best friend, Queenie, who happens to be a famous reality tv star and Penelope’s godmother.  But Penelope feels like something is missing- she wants to go to school because she’s never been before.  She convinces her mom and Queenie to let her attend a boarding school for girls in Georgia.  While there, most of the girls are impressed with Penelope (since she’s practically related to a famous star!) and Penelope enjoys making friends, especially with Tate, one of her roommates.  Tate helps Penelope deal with Dilly, another roommate who despises Penelope immediately.  When tragedy strikes and Queenie and Penelope’s mom are lost at sea and presumed dead, Penelope is forced by the cruel headmaster to live in the dingy basement and do chores, since she can no longer pay for her tuition.  Penelope tries to make the best of her terrible situation, cleaning her clothes in a nearby marsh and befriending a rat, though she does grieve for her mom and Queenie.  

Elementary readers will enjoy the spunky and generous Penelope and will be excited by the way things turn out for her at the end, with her family being restored in unexpected ways.  The headmaster, Mrs. Grimsley, is an excellent villain who becomes more cruel as the novel unfolds and Dilly, who is Penelope’s rival, shows great transformation by the end of the book.  Readers who like well developed characters will enjoy this novel.  This is a fun riches to rags story with a satisfying ending.

three-stars

The Found Things

The Found ThingsThe Found Things by Petr Horáček
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153624130X
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Follow Rabbit as she searches for a missing sock, only to be excited by what she finds in unlikely places (her scarf in the bathtub, for example). Assisted by friends, she is reunited with the sock, having thoroughly enjoyed the search process.

Vivid, scribbly illustrations and cute cut-out windows that tie each page to the next add to the joy of this picture book for young children. We can all relate to losing something we need, and it’s a nice approach to reframe it as an opportunity to delight in whatever else might we find during the search.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Yours, Mine, Ours

Yours, Mine, OursYours, Mine, Ours: A Celebration of Service and Community by Andrés Landazábal, Arun Gandhi, Bethany Hegedus
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233447
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Channeling his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi, the late author Arun Gandhi created a partner to his 2023 book You, Me, We: A celebration of peace and community.  This new book is a great introduction to community service and, while the text is simple, it is largely question-based, with each page offering plenty of opportunity for discussion. The illustrations are bright and happy, and help to show how fulfilling volunteering to support one’s community can be. An excellent choice for any classroom or family preparing to participate in any form of public service.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Angelica and the Bear Prince

Angelica and the Bear PrinceAngelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen
on October 7, 2025
ISBN: 0593125479
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Angelica and the Bear Prince” is a YA graphic novel by Trung Le Nguyen. Angelica (“Jelly”) is a teenager getting over a mental burnout after taking on too many things by herself. She speaks with a counselor and has now just one additional thing on her plate: an internship at a local theater. Jelly has strong memories of this theater as a child and wants to do her best to help. She has also been exchanging online messages with a theater fan account based on the theater’s mascot, Per the Bear Prince. Readers will follow Jelly as she deals with the grief from the death of her beloved grandmother, along with her relationship with her best friend, and her mysterious online friend.

Nguyen does a great job of exploring teenage anxiety, expectations, grief, family dynamics, and friendship. The anonymous online account did make me hesitate a little, since it’s usually not a good idea to share personal information with strangers, but her friend brings up the concerns I had in a conversation with Jelly. A must-buy for all YA graphic novel collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

four-stars

Love at Full Tilt

Love at Full TiltLove at Full Tilt by Jenny L. Howe
on July 22, 2025
ISBN: 0593809106
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Jenny L. Howe, the queen of plus sized rom coms, has done it again with her first YA romance, Love at Full Tilt. In their last hurrah before going to college, Lia invites her best friends, Tess and Issy, to help her compete in a scavenger hunt style competition at the most magical place on earth, Fableland (Disney World). Lia believes that the grand prize ($50,000) is the only thing that can free her from her suffocating parents and the life they have planned out for her, but tensions rise when her friends don’t take the competition seriously and Lia teams up with a handsome local, Mason.

Mason is a balanced match for Lia. She is loud – He is quiet. She is a dreamer – He is a realist. And though this romance takes place in less than a week, there is something about the setting and competitive atmosphere that makes this whirlwind insta-love feel believable. For a romance set at a Disney World-like theme park, Howe expertly crafts a sweet romance without letting it get too saccharine. Themes of abandonment, anxiety, and false assumptions are very present in the plot. Lia is aware that her friends have outgrown the Fableland magic that used to hold them together and struggles with feeling left behind as they get ready to go to college without her. Her mother has extreme anxiety that controls Lia’s entire life and even threatens to end the trip if Lia isn’t in constant contact with her. And instead of confronting the people she loves, Lia often assumes the worst and runs away.

Lia being plus sized (and this being prominently featured on the cover) will be a breath of fresh air for readers who need it most and will hopefully be a window for others to learn about the accessibility issues and harassment that people with bigger bodies too often face. Though there are mentions of having previously lost her virginity and one PG-13 make out session, the story is appropriate for the younger audience this may attract. There is a saturation of romcoms at the moment and many teens may not pick it up because of its setting, but Love at Full Tilt is worth purchasing to increase the body-diversity in your romance collection.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars