Category: Book Reviews

If These Wings Could Fly

If These Wings Could FlyIf These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062885022
Pages: 400
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Being a HS senior with a huge goal is stressful enough for any young person but Leighton is also faced with domestic violence, two scared siblings, a budding romance and a somewhat magical home.  While her community is concerned about the huge influx of crows our heroine is busy juggling life at home and in school.   McCauley knows and treats the subject of domestic violence with tender care, it is obvious that the father has a problem, the three sisters are in no way viewed as weak or complacent.    The boyfriend is perfectly written into the story, his gentle and loving attention is an exact opposite to the violent father.   Teen readers are going to adore Liam, stand by Leighton, respect strong Campbell and Love sweet Juniper.

Each character has been well developed and yet readers will wonder why the mother does not stand her ground.  That is not easily answered and remains the question in many domestic violent situations.  Oh, and the crows, so many crows but there is one very special one named Joe who almost resembles an angel.   The author uses the crows to drive the inner story of Leighton’s love of writing while tying it into the overall plot.   This is a coming of age story that blends part magic, love, relationships, and to a large degree courage.   Add to HS and middle school media centers and to public libraries who collect YA.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

 

four-stars

The Peacock Detectives

The Peacock DetectivesThe Peacock Detectives by Carly Nugent
Published by HarperCollins on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 0062896709
Pages: 288
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This story takes place in Australia. Cassie, the girl telling the story, lives with her parents and her fourteen year old sister Diana. The novel begins with the neighbor’s peacocks escaping and Cassie starting to write this story. Cassie is eleven years old and good at noticing things. She found her neighbor’s peacocks when they escaped the last time so she is ready to do it again. Cassie’s father is a high school English teacher who has given her many tips about writing. Cassie shares these writing tips throughout her story. Jonas is her best friend and helps her try to find the missing peacocks. He is very good with science and math facts. Cassie knows a lot about reading and writing. In many ways they are opposites. Cassie notices that her family is changing. Diana has become a vegetarian and is interested in Buddhist meditation. Her mother starts cooking differently, her father is acting strangely, and her interaction with her grandfather has been altered. There is much more to this story than finding the missing peacocks. The variety of themes in this book include adoption, mental illness, bullying, friendship, death, family and marriage issues, etc. Although some of these are heavy topics, the book is written in a charming and sensitive manner. I highly recommend this well written novel for young readers 10-12 years old. Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

The Good Hawk

The Good HawkThe Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott
Published by Walker Books US on January 21, 2020
ISBN: 9781536207187
Pages: 368
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This fantasy is told in two voices. Agatha, the heroine, is fifteen and has Down Syndrome. Her job in the clan as a “Hawk” is to guard their wall and watch for attackers. She is very proud of her role. Jaime is also fifteen and an “Angler.” He does not enjoy his position and would rather build boats than be on them. Their clan lives on the Isle of Skye. The book is divided into three parts: Skye, Scotia, and Norveg. When disaster strikes their clan circumstances dictate that Agatha and Jaime must cross Scotia to Norveg to rescue their people. Agatha has the gift of communicating with animals including her pet vole, Highland bulls, and more. Part of the plot also deals with the plague. This well written fantasy is action packed, full of mystery, has touches of humor, and magic. Having the story told in two voices adds much to the depth of the characters and the interpretation of what takes place in the story. This is the first in the Shadow Skye trilogy. I highly recommend it for ages 12 and up. Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

A Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz

A Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of AuschwitzA Delayed Life: The True Story of the Librarian of Auschwitz by Dita Kraus
Published by Feiwel & Friends ISBN: 9781250760895
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This memoir of Dita Kraus is about her life in Prague before WWII, her survival of the Terezin ghetto and Auschwitz, forced labor in Germany, and her survival and liberation from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. It follows her life after the war up to the end of this memoir at age 89. The title refers to the time she was in the Kinderblock at Auschwitz. At the age of fourteen and a half she was appointed by a fellow prisoner to watch over the dozen or so books that had been taken from the luggage of other prisoners. The Nazis were not aware of this small collection of books. This is explained in a couple of paragraphs in one of the chapters about Auschwitz. Dita Kraus was the subject of the historical fiction novel, the Librarian of Auschwitz, by Antonio Iturbe that was published in 2017. This book refers to that title, though has very little about that experience as a “ librarian,” yet this memoir covers a wide range of places and people. Dita Kraus has an incredible memory for details. Her descriptions are vivid and truthful. It is an inspiring and powerful book. I recommend it to high school students and adults who are interested in a complete story of someone who has experienced the horrors of the Holocaust first hand and lived a full life following her liberation.

Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom

Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of DoomWayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar, Tim Heitz
on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062965387
Genres: Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Wayside School is BACK! Though young readers may not be familiar with the series, this new addition will surely spark their interest in the first three books. You don’t need to read the first three, however, to enjoy this book. The Wayside School has been shrouded by a giant cloud of doom, and it’s throwing everything out of whack. The already strange and quirky nature of the school is flipped on end because of the cloud. The book is full of puns, twists, wordplays, and just general silliness, and it’s sure to delight many a young reader. It’s a fun and light read recommended for 2nd – 4th grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Music of Life

The Music of LifeThe Music of Life by Louis Thomas
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 0374303150
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a really cute book. Louis, a composer, is lacking inspiration for writing a symphony when he begins to notice all the music in the noises that surround him. His cat, the street sweeper, a motorcycle, a jogger, etc. I love books that inspire people to notice the beauty and music in every day life. The illustrations are colorful and simple, and they are pocked with musical notes throughout. This book could be a great virtual read aloud followed by encouraging patrons to go out and explore the music around them. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Alba and the Ocean Cleanup

Alba and the Ocean CleanupAlba and the Ocean Cleanup by Lara Hawthorne
ISBN: 1536210447
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Alba loves to collect beautiful things, but as the years pass, she notices fewer and fewer beautiful things and more and more trash. When she’s washed ashore in a bottle, a young girl organizes an ocean cleanup to restore the ecosystem.

This story has a good message, it’s just not conveyed in a very engaging way. I like that it teaches kids about the need to avoid plastic use and to clean up the ocean, but the story itself just falls a bit flat. The illustrations are colorful and engaging so that may help hold attention longer. The back pages have information about some of the fish species encountered in the story as well as about how to help keep the ocean clean. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Busted by Breakfast

Busted by BreakfastBusted by Breakfast (Trouble at Table 5, #2) by Marta Kissi, Tom Watson
Published by HarperCollins on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062953443
Pages: 96
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Molly and crew are back for the second installment in the Trouble at Table 5 early chapter series. This time, it’s Simon at the center of the story. When Simon gets excited about something, he simply cannot stop talking about it. The more he talks the faster and louder he gets, and when this happens in school, sometimes he gets in trouble. In order to try to smooth things over with his parents, Simon, Rosie, and Molly hatch a plan to clean up the garage, but when things don’t go according to plan, can they get it all done in time?

Much like the first book in this series, this book celebrates neurodiversity in all of the main characters. This plot line isn’t as compelling as the first, and there’s a bit of humor at the expense of an older character. It is still a good book, and I look forward to seeing subsequent books from this series. Recommended for 2nd-4th grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

The Candy Caper

The Candy CaperThe Candy Caper (Trouble at Table 5, #1) by Marta Kissi, Tom Watson
Published by HarperCollins on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062953419
Pages: 96
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Molly and her friends Simon and Rosie share Table 5 in their classroom, and they’re also best friends. Molly spots a jar of Skittles in the office one morning, and she needs to know how many Skittles are in the jar. Other kids may feel like they want to know, but for Molly, numbers and other things stick with her. It isn’t a want to know situation, she needs to know. Molly, Simon, and Rosie hatch a plan to count the Skittles in the office without getting caught, but will they do it?

The story of this book is good, but the best part of it is the neurodiverse representation of the characters in the book. Molly is the real focus of the book, and she has clear obsessive compulsive tendencies. Her friends and family understand her and support her. The vocabulary is age-appropriate with a few more difficult words. The black, white, and red illustrations are appropriate for the age of the readers and help to break up the text. Recommended for 2nd-4th grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

InvestiGATORS

InvestiGATORSInvestiGators by John Patrick Green
Published by First Second on February 25, 2020
ISBN: 1250219957
Pages: 208
Genres: Adventure, Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
three-stars

Brash and Mango are two investi-gators for S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigaion Teams), and they’re hot on a case about a missing baker. Going undercover, they discover some nefarious and humorous characters, but will they be able to rescue the baker and save his secret recipes?

This new graphic novel series will be a hit with fans of Dog Man and the like. The story is fun, there are loads of puns and witty humor, and kids will love it. There are, however, some ethnic stereotypes portrayed for the sake of humor, and it feels unnecessary and inappropriate. Hopefully the subsequent books in the series will not include this aspect as I think the series will be quite popular. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars