Category: Book Reviews

Kit and Kaboodle Go Camping

Kit and Kaboodle Go CampingKit and Kaboodle Go Camping by Michelle Portice, Mitch Mortimer
Published by Highlights Press Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

In this Level 2 early reader, Kit (a cat) and her friend Kaboodle (a mouse) decide to take a camping trip. They prepare, pack, and head off into the woods. 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

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost

Gustavo, the Shy GhostGenres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
five-stars

This is the sweet story of Gustavo, a painfully shy ghost who would like to be noticed and play with friends but feels unseen by everyone. He’s determined to change this, though, so he invites everyone to a violin concert and then, finally, feels truly seen. This is a basic but well written story of dealing with the discomfort of shyness and the importance of letting others get to know you. However, the real attraction with this book is how beautifully it’s illustrated. Using a muted color palette that somehow becomes vibrant, each page is worth lingering over (particularly for plant or paper cutting enthusiasts as there is painstaking attention given to houseplants and papel picado).

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and YouStamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi, Jason Reynolds
on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 0316453692
Pages: 294
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
A history book on racism that claims to not be a history book but rather a book that “contains history.” Reynolds brings the history (not history) of racism alive in this accessible remix of Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped From the Beginning. Clearly delineating assimilationists (cowards) from segragationists (haters) from antiracists (people who truly love), Reynolds leaves readers with a call to action — “Scrolling will never be enough. Reposting will never be enough. Hashtagging will never be enough… We have to be participants. Active.”

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Like the Willow Tree

Like the Willow TreeLike the Willow Tree by Lois Lowry
Published by Scholastic Inc. on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1338724320
Pages: 224
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
A very timely update for this entry in the Dear America series. Lydia and her brother are orphaned suddenly when their parents and baby sister die of the Spanish Flu in Portland, Maine. After a brief stay with their Uncle and his family, they end up with the Shaker community in Sabbathday Lake, Maine.

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

four-stars

When Stars are Scattered

When Stars are ScatteredGenres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Graphic Novel
five-stars
Omar and his nonverbal brother Hassan grow up in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, having fled war-torn Somalia after their father was killed. They spend their days looking for their mother, helping their neighbor/foster mother Fatuma, doing chores, and playing as best they can (they play soccer with balls made of plastic bags). When Omar is given an opportunity to attend school, he must decide if he should leave his brother during the day. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy — Omar and Hassan’s story and the stories of their friends and neighbors is heart-breaking and sadly all true. Omar tells the story with the help of talented graphic novelist Jamieson.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Catherine’s War

Catherine’s WarGenres: Historical Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
five-stars
This graphic novel is a fictionalized account of the author’s life as one of France’s “hidden children” during the German occupation of France during World War II. Catherine, nee Rachel, had to move from school to convent to orphanage to farmhouse whenever she was in danger of her Jewish identity being discovered. She was an avid photographer and was able to document much of her life during the War.

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

five-stars

In the Red

In the RedIn the Red by Christopher Swiedler
on March 24, 2020
ISBN: 0062894412
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Sci-fi meets survival meets… panic attacks? Michael is determined to overcome his suit (as in spacesuit) anxiety and pass the suit exam so he will be allowed out on the surface of Mars. Later that night, he and his friend Lilith decide to sneak outside on the very night the solar flares cause problems on the planet. Will they be able to get back home before their air filters are depleted? Will Michael overcome his anxiety? A page-turner you won’t be able to put down!

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

five-stars

Superman Smashes the Klan

Superman Smashes the KlanGenres: Historical Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
five-stars
A fast-paced graphic novel featuring Superman (and his alter ego Clark Kent) in his early days still trying to figure out what powers he has and remembering more about his origin as an alien immigrant. The Lee family moves from Chinatown to Metropolis and become targets of the Klan of the Fiery Kross. The essay at the end provides a brief history of Superman, the discrimination of African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and Chinese-Americans, white supremacy, and the Ku Klux Klan. This graphic novel is based on a radio series from 1946.

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

five-stars

Chirp

ChirpChirp by Kate Messner
Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 1547602813
Pages: 240
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
This mystery involving entomophagy, or eating insects, is a #metoo book for middle school readers. Mia must come to terms — with the help of strong female characters — with the trauma of surviving (not-graphic) sexual harassment. Mia and her family move back to Vermont to help her grandmother with her cricket farm. Mia’s parents think her grandmother should sell but Mia and her new friends are determined to save the farm. There is also a mystery surrounding Mia’s sudden loss of interest in gymnastics.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

What Lane?

What Lane?Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
five-stars
A book to introduce Black Lives Matter to middle-grade readers. Stephen, who is bi-racial, enjoys hanging out with his best friend Dan, who is white. Stephen starts to notice how people treat them differently; they treat Stephen with suspicion even when Stephen and Dan are doing the exact same thing. Stephen wears a bracelet that says “What Lane?” and tries to figure out which lane he will take through life. This is a brief chapter book that would be great for a read-aloud and discussion.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars