Science Comics – Cars

Science Comics – CarsScience Comics: Cars: Engines That Move You by Dan Zettwoch, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky
Published by First Second on May 28th 2019
ISBN: 1626728224
Pages: 128
Goodreads
four-stars

Ever wonder about the history of the wheel? How about how transportation evolved through the ages and how we got to where we are in our modes of transportation now. You will learn about all this and more in this wonderful edition of Science Comics about Cars.
I am very glad that this series continues to bring science topics to kids in an entertaining and engaging way.

 

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

four-stars

Science Comics – Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology and Climate

Science Comics – Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology and ClimateScience Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate by M.K. Reed, Jonathan Hill
Published by First Second on April 16th 2019
ISBN: 1626727899
Pages: 128
Goodreads
four-stars

In this book 11 of the Science Comics series we learn about weather and the components of weather as well as the tools a meteorologist uses when making a prediction.
The difference between weather and climate,  how weather satellites help us predict future weather as well as other fun facts are all explained in this book. These wonderfully illustrated graphic novels offer  entertaining views of their subjects.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan retired Youth Services Librarian

four-stars

Mystery Club – Wild Werewolves Mummy Mischief

Mystery Club – Wild Werewolves Mummy MischiefMystery Club (graphic novel): Wild Werewolves; Mummy Mischief by Davide Cali, Yannick Robert
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 1328528480
Pages: 112
Goodreads
two-stars

In this double mystery the kids in the Mystery Club, Zoey, Tyler, Kyle and Ashley, get to work solving the questions “ Do werewolves or mummies exist in London?”. There are many high kinks and crazy events as the kids work to solve these two mysteries.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan- retired Youth Services Librarian

two-stars

Bringing Down a President

Bringing Down a PresidentBringing Down A President: the Watergate Scandal by Andrea Balis, Elizabeth Levy, Tim Foley
Published by Roaring Brook Press on August 6th 2019
ISBN: 1250176794
Pages: 240
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A just-in-time publication as Americans face another impeachment, Bringing Down a President: The Watergate Scandal, introduces a new generation to “All the President’s Men.”  With a consistent layout throughout the text, there are “Fly on the Wall” explanations of the events surrounding the Watergate break along with direct quotes from the key players (both those supporting and opposing Nixon).  The book has black and white illustrations throughout and has the appearance of a nonfiction text designed for middle schoolers in mind. However there is prolific profanity throughout the book, some within the quotations, and others used simply to add sensationalism.  While thought-provoking and informative, this is a complicated and terrifying era of American history that many middle and high school students will struggle to make sense of.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

three-stars

Life: The First Four Billion Years

Life: The First Four Billion YearsLife: The First Four Billion Years: The Story of Life from the Big Bang to the Evolution of Humans by Martin Jenkins, Grahame Baker-Smith
Published by Candlewick Studio on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 153620420X
Pages: 80
Goodreads
four-stars

Life is one of Candlewick’s recent spate of oversized book releases.  Clocking in at 14 inches long, with the heft to match, this is will not be an easy book for kids to carry around.  Life begins with facts about humans and follows their lineage back in time to lead you into the beginning of the book which starts at the forming of the sun and our galaxy. The book leads the reader through the historic time periods up to the Neogene, where our ancestors the primates were living around 22 million years ago.  Each time period has illustrations of creatures that were likely alive during that time as well as explanations of what was taking place on the planet.  The illustrations are fascinating, and you learn some really interesting facts, such as there was once a relative of a mushroom as tall as a tree.  However, the vocabulary is difficult, even with the glossary at the end.  And the text is quite small in most places. While very thorough and well-researched, this book is very academic and therefore not necessarily a good choice for kids.  Best for ages 12+ but probably enjoyed by teens and adults.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library, Augusta

four-stars

Jane Doe and the Cradle of all Worlds

Jane Doe and the Cradle of all WorldsJane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1541539214
Pages: 368
Goodreads
five-stars

Jane and her father are hated by almost everyone in the village they live in. That’s because when they arrived, the Manor a portal to the Otherworlds closed behind them and left the village stranded without anyway to access all the wonderful things the Otherworlds had to offer. But then the Manor opens briefly and Jane’s dad goes through it leaving her behind. Now it is going to be up to Jane to find away to get into the Manor and to find her dad. Lots of action and adventure in this fantasy as well as bizarre creatures. Definitely a few twists that readers might not see coming. It does take quite a bit of time to get through to the last adventure and then the reader is left hanging at the ending.

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Maine

five-stars

Now Entering Addamsville

Now Entering AddamsvilleNow Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 0062935275
Pages: 368
Goodreads
four-stars

Now Entering Addamsville

 

Zora can see ghosts, has a mother who has been missing for five years, a dad who was just released from prison, and is thought to be a firestarter.  She lives in Addamsville who’s claim to fame as a town is  the thought that it is haunted.  Zora knows she must save the inhabitants from being burned by the real firestarter.  She has lost two of her fingers in the past so she knows that the risks are real.  Along with her other challenges, Zora is searching for her mother and feels, in her heart, that her mom is still alive.

Bravery, friendship, and stick-to-itiveness are themes.  At first Zora feels that she is all alone in her quests but by the end she has friends, relatives that love her, and has rid the town of one of the worst firestarters.  It is helpful to have a two-page map of Addamsville at the start of the book to aid in keeping track of the characters’ whereabouts.  There are also drawings of the main characters.  This book is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

She’s the Liar!

She’s the Liar!She's the Liar by Alison Cherry
Published by Scholastic Press on May 28th 2019
ISBN: 1338306146
Pages: 208
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This novel about siblings and misunderstandings is a good addition to any middle school realistic fiction collection.  6th grader Abby has recently transferred to her sister’s boarding school in Vermont. Making this big change to a new school is exactly what withdrawn and scared Abby needs to become someone new.  She is now Abbi, an outgoing and friendly girl and is loving her new life until she has to go head to head with her popular and powerful 8th grade sister Sydney. Syd also acts very differently than she did in elementary school and Abbi is shocked to see how much sway (and fear) she holds over the student body.  The novel is divided into two sections, first offering a glimpse at Abbi’s perspective and then delving into Syd’s thoughts and motivations. Both girls are not what they portray to the school and it is only because they are sisters that they can let their guard down with each other. While the title (She’s the Liar!) implies that there is one big issue they both are fighting about, the story goes a bit deeper into identity and self-actualization.  A nice read for young middle schoolers, this story explores how hard it can be to show your real self.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

three-stars

The Fishy Treasure Caper

The Fishy Treasure CaperThe Fishy Treasure Caper (Graphic Novel) by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1328495795
Pages: 144
Goodreads
three-stars

The second graphic novel based on the Netflix show which is based on an old computer game “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” The game was created to teach geography skills as Carmen hopped from country to country stealing items. The player was asked geography-related questions to determine where she was. In the Netflix series, Carmen has left a life of crime with VILE (Villains’ International League of Evil) and is determined to thwart them before they can commit crimes. In this book, Carmen is off to Ecuador and the book jumps right into the action as Carmen appears in full scuba gear searching for a sunken ship containing treasure. The treasure in this book is an old doubloon which, it turns out doesn’t have a lot of monetary value, but has cultural significance to the Ecuadorians.  Carmen has plenty of gadgets and a crew to help her navigate her mission and she has VILE operatives to fight. As the VILE villains try to acquire the doubloon, assuming that if Carmen wants it, it must be worth a lot, the reader is introduced to the importance that the fishing industry plays in Ecuador.  Action, decent pacing, and interesting geographical facts combine to make a readable book. This series will be popular in collections where readers are familiar with the show or where readers like adventure stories mixed with a little geography.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

three-stars

Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Pet

Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a PetGinny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet by David Goodner, Louis Thomas
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 0544764161
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

If you can’t have a goat for a pet, how about giant monster or fire-breathing monster or petrifying monster? No? Well, then, compared to those, maybe a goat IS the best option! 

The reader is invited into the story from the second page, “Maybe if we help Ginny…”.. Text is well-spaced in dark brown font  and is large enough for beginning readers to attempt reading. A few dark pages have text contrasted in white. Sentences vary in length with some interesting words such as ‘unequivocally’ and ‘tentacles’. 

Simple, cartoonish illustrations done in gouache and pen & ink rely on eyes to show emotions. Mostly white background helps keep the reader’s eye drawn to the important elements

This book could provide much humor with lower elementary ages in discussions of pet acquisition! A good purchase where ‘Ginny Goblin Cannot Open This Box’ is popular.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town.

 

four-stars