Category: Book Reviews

Fake Plastic Girl

Fake Plastic GirlFake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon
Published by Henry Holt & Company on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 1250156297
Pages: 288
Goodreads
three-stars

Readers will be suspicious of Eva-Kate’s and Justine’s friendship right away. They will question what Eva-Kate Kelly, former child actress, and A-List celebrity, sees in Justine, an average teenager who is obsessed with Taylor Swift, bored with summer, and dealing with her parents’ divorce. It all starts with a Gatsbyesque party at Eva-Kate’s new house, across the canal from Justine’s. The party is filled with careless, rich people, pseudo-celebrities and hangers-on. Justine crashes the party and is flattered by Eva-Kate’s attention and for the rest of the summer, Justine ignores her family and high school friends to spend all her time with Eva-Kate. Again, readers will not be able to ignore that niggling feeling that something is not right with this friendship. Little hints are dropped along the way, but Justine is too dazzled by her new friend and surroundings to notice. Then on the last few pages, major secrets are revealed. When Justine is about to confront Eva-Kate, Eva-Kate is found dead! This is a page-turner filled with extravagant details of an Instagram, celebrity lifestyle that reveals just enough secrets to keep readers satisfied, but holds just enough back to keep them clamoring for the sequel! Recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

three-stars

The Music of What Happens

The Music of What HappensThe Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338215507
Pages: 338
Goodreads
five-stars

This romantic novel is filled with poetry, food, and art, but it also tackles the serious issues of consent, grief, and gender conformity. Through happenstance, Max and Jordan end up in the hot, Arizona summer heat working on a derelict food truck, “Coq Au Vinny.” The food truck belonged to Jordan’s deceased father and Jordan desperately needs it to be successful. Max’s lives with his mother since his parents divorced and his plans for sleeping in, playing video games, and hanging out with his friends have been thwarted by his mother who is forcing him to work instead. Romance ensues as the boys spend time learning about each other and making the food truck successful. They take turns narrating the chapters and Konigsberg masterfully creates a unique voice for each boy. This most important feat of this novel is the insight it gives to the issue of young men and rape; it feels as powerful as Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak. Recommended for grades 10 and up.  Recommended for Cream of the Crop. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Everybody Needs a Buddy

Everybody Needs a BuddyEverybody Needs a Buddy by James Preller
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1328857190
Pages: 96
Goodreads
two-stars

In this second installment of the Big Idea Gang series, the PTA has a surplus of money (wouldn’t that be nice!), and the gang has noticed a new kid spending most of every recess alone. They decide to convince the school to install a buddy bench so kids don’t have to feel alone at recess, but the PTA has already decided to allocate the money to the library. Through learning about forming an argument and persuasion, the kids and the school find a solution that works for everyone.

This story in this book is an improvement over the first book in this series, but there is still some troubling language that is hard to overlook. Specifically, there are a couple instances of what feel like racial stereotyping. The overall story is a good one, and the concept and message behind it are important and relevant. This book is best for one-on-one sharing with 2nd-4th graders. It would also be appropriate for new independent readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

The Liar’s Daughter

The Liar’s DaughterThe Liar's Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson
Published by Holiday House on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 082344418X
Pages: 284
Goodreads
four-stars

In this debut realistic fiction novel for grades 9-12, Peterson presents a before and after drama of seventeen year old Piper, who was kidnapped at a young age from her mother, brainwashed and raised in an abusive, neglectful religious cult.  The story is told in the first person voice of Piper whose worldview exists only of the teachings of the “father” and “mother”.  The novel’s layout is in before and after chapters, but they don’t follow a designated pattern.  At times, the changes or setting transitions come too abruptly between them and the setting is slightly muddled or lacking clear identifiers for the reader in the “after” chapters when they are voiced in Piper’s confessional or disassociated state.  That will be forgiven as Piper’s biological mother goes from prisoner guard status to an actual potential relationship in Piper’s eyes with time, medication and therapy.  The book cover art will draw in some readers.   In an author’s note, Peterson shares about her own experiences when she was a teenager in a type of religious cult which will appeal to those interested in the such groups and lends credibility to this fiction story.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Fake it Till You Break It

Fake it Till You Break ItFake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen
Published by Swoon Reads on May 28th 2019
ISBN: 1250308011
Pages: 304
Goodreads
three-stars

This lighthearted, high school romance for readers in grades 9-12 fits the bill for happily ever after fans.  Mia, who is Asian, and Jake, who is not, have been neighbors as far back as they can remember.  Their single mothers are best friends and have been scheming to make them a couple since they were two, so their solution is to be a fake couple and then stage a breakup.  This arrangement starts to backfire when Mia begins to take interest in Ben from theater and Jake is challenged to perform an original song, secretly written for Mia, at a festival.   First kisses, loyal friends and interfering moms result in personal growth and a “real” relationship for Mia and Jake.  The pacing flows smoothly and sarcastic humor provides some chuckles.  Told in the first person voices of Mia and Jake, not always in alternating chapters, the awkwardness, secret crushes and all the unnecessary emotional jeopardy shine through.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Worst Mascot Ever

Worst Mascot EverThe Worst Mascot Ever by James Preller
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1328857182
Pages: 96
Goodreads
three-stars

In this first installment of the Big Idea Gang series, four third-grade friends have an idea — their elementary school needs a new mascot. The current mascot, an armadillo, isn’t exciting or ferocious enough. They approach the principal, and it’s decided the school will vote — either Arnold the armadillo will stay, or the school will adopt a new mascot, Drake the Dragon.

This series is aimed at 2nd-3rd graders, but some of the language, and the tone of the interactions between the characters seems a bit older than that target age range. The students do (and hence, the reader will) learn about forming an argument and preparing for public speaking. This book could be read aloud to a new reader, or it would be great for a reader ready to tackle some harder words and a little bit longer chapter book. A second purchase for libraries looking to expand their early chapter book sections.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

three-stars

The Rhythm of the Rain

The Rhythm of the RainThe Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith
Published by Templar Books on August 20th 2019
ISBN: 1536205753
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

The water cycle has never been so gorgeously depicted as within the pages of The Rhythm of the Rain. The text follows a jarful of water that Isaac pours into the mountainside pool near where he plays. Traveling down the mountainside, over a waterfall, past animals drinking by the water’s edge, its journey continues through a riverside city and is eventually washed out to the ocean, where it is swallowed by a whale, blown out through its blowhole, turned over in a great wave, evaporated in the heat of the sun and rained down in a torrent upon a mountainside.

The text is light; the pictures are stunning. Full-bleed illustrations depict life all over the world, all dependent upon water. Beautiful. A great addition to any school or public library. Grades PreK and up.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

 

five-stars

The Knight Who Said “No!”

The Knight Who Said “No!”The Knight Who Said "No!" by Lucy Rowland, Kate Hindley
Published by Nosy Crow on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1536208132
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Ned is lonely, the only child living in his medieval village. He’s an agreeable fellow, though, always answering “Yes!” when asked to do something. Until one day he wakes and feels a little different, a little mad, a little hot, maybe even a little mischievous.  On that day, Ned says “No!” and everything changes. When the dragon swoops into town, Ned refuses to hide inside as he usually does, and when the dragon refuses to roar, the two discover they are both lonely and find friendship in each other.

The colorful cartoon illustrations are charming and fun. Characters have telling expressions and little treasures can be found on each page. The story is told in playful rhyme, and children will delight in chiming in with the  repeated “Yes!” or with the occasional No!” The overall message is a good one: sometimes even the most agreeable kids can be a little bad-tempered, and that’s okay.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

 

four-stars

The Shortest Day

The Shortest DayThe Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, Carson Ellis
Published by Candlewick Press on October 22nd 2019
ISBN: 0763686980
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Winter solstice is beautifully captured in this lovely picture book rendition of Susan Cooper’s poem, written for the theatrical Yuletide celebration known at Christmas Revels. The poem’s simple words, written in spare verse, belie the warmth and significance of the message. Death gives way to memory, gives way to history, gives way to life, gives way to death, and around it goes again. The cycle is celebrated in words, and it is carried through with lovely illustrations that depict solstice celebrations through the ages and across cultures.

End notes by the author give a bit of history about the solstice and Christmas Revels. For grades K and up. A great addition to the seasonal book shelf.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

 

five-stars

Dasher

DasherDasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 1536201375
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

Dasher is a reindeer in a traveling circus with a cruel owner. She dreams of escape, into the cool nights and soft snow that her mother has so often described. When her gate is left open, she leaps at the chance of escape and soon runs into Santa and Silverbell, Santa’s horse, who is tired from pulling the too-heavy sleigh. Dasher offers to help, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Children will like this new take on the story of Santa’s reindeer, but parents might find it shallow. The story is carried by Matt Tavares’ gorgeous artwork. The story itself is on the weak side, barely acknowledging surprising details, like Dasher’s reaction to her first time in flight. That the remaining reindeer in Santa’s entourage are Dasher’s family, saved from circus living, is unimaginative, neat and altogether too expedient.

Dasher is a good addition to a Christmas collection, particularly a collection that may feel tired and in need of new life. Will Dasher go down in history? Not likely.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

 

 

four-stars