Category: Book Reviews

Jack Montgomery

Jack MontgomeryMedal of Honor: First Lieutenant Jack C. Montgomery by Michael P. Spradlin
Published by Flash Point on July 3rd 2018
ISBN: 1250157072
Goodreads
four-stars

Cherokee-American war hero Jack Montgomery received the Medal of Honor after bravely protecting his platoon in a World War II battle in Italy.  At his own peril, Montgomery launched grenades into three different axis controlled areas, alleviating gunfire on his troops. The Medal of Honor series features a military hero and is part biography and part informational text.  With details explaining the hierarchy of the US Army and its divisions, the black and white photos and small inserts throughout the chapters keep the text interesting. Despite its slim size, this is not an easy read. Prior knowledge of World War II is necessary to be able to jump into the military exploits of 1942.  End pages include key names and terms, notes and a selected biography. This would appear to be a high demand series as most middle school collections tend to see constant traffic surrounding wars of the past.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

four-stars

Alien: Echo

Alien: EchoAlien: Echo by Mira Grant
Published by Imprint on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1250306299
Pages: 304
Goodreads
three-stars

Author Mira Grant brings a new installment to the Alien franchise with young adult novel “Alien: Echo.” Olivia Shipp has traveled around the universe with her xenobiologist parents and her twin sister, Viola. Now they are on Zagreus, a new colony out in the middle of nowhere where most of the planet is wild and unstudied. Her parents were hired by the colony to do scientific research. Her sister Viola is so sick that she is housebound, so Olivia has to go to the school on her own with the colonist children. Even on a distant planet, there’s some typical high school drama: crushes, bullies, secret parties, etc. When the colony purchases an abandoned ship for cheap resources, that’s when things hit the fan.

Once the action starts, it barely slows down. There is plenty of gore and death, as in the original Alien movies, but teens will enjoy it. There is an LGBTQ romance that felt a little thin on Recommended for fans of the “Illuminae Files,” this young adult novel is a good addition where science fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

Neil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space Cowboys

Neil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space CowboysNeil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space Cowboys (Time Twisters, #3) by Steve Sheinkin
Published by Roaring Brook Press on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 1250148979
Pages: 176
Goodreads
four-stars

Steve Sheinkin, nonfiction author extraordinaire, has a new humorous yet informative fiction series Time Twisters.  Neil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space Cowboys is the third novel following siblings Doc and Abby who have discovered a time portal in the school library connecting them to Abe Lincoln.  Frustrated that kids dreaded learning about history, Abe decided to mix things up, historically speaking, and suddenly text books across America are showing so many changes that history teachers are scratching their heads!  This time Texan cowboy Nat Love from 1869 meets astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969. The cowboy is naturally baffled by the modern technology of a space shuttle landing on the grange and Doc and Abe quickly transport themselves to try to help.  It almost works out except Nat gets on the shuttle and Buzz gets left behind. The kids, Abe and Buzz race back to NASA while Buzz and Nat land on the moon. As the Columbia comes back to earth, Buzz and Nat sneakily switch places and with the help of the kids, Nat gets back to his own time.  Textbooks return to normal…until the next time Abe gets restless! An “Un-twisting History” chapter at the end of the book explains what was real in the story. This is a quirky and funny read with short chapters, black and white cartooning throughout and a highly interesting take on reading a biography.  This series would make for great read-alouds.  

Grades 3 and up.  

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

four-stars

Elon Musk: A Mission to Save the World

Elon Musk: A Mission to Save the WorldElon Musk: A Mission to Save the World by Anna Crowley Redding
Published by Feiwel & Friends on July 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1250313627
Pages: 256
Goodreads
four-stars

Elon Musk:  A Mission to Save the World

 

From a very young age Elon Musk was planning, experimenting, reading, and thinking about ways to use technology to save the planet.  His family life was difficult and one time at school he was beaten and pushed down a flight of stairs, which ended with him in the hospital.  He was bullied, but all through this he wanted to learn more and more.  From this beginning he went on to higher education and became the CEO and founder of TESLA as he looked for ways to eliminate earth’s dependence on gasoline, Spacex to bring about travel to Mars, and the Boring Co. to make tunnels under the earth to speed travel—which, with living in California, was one of Elon’s pet peeves.  Readers also learn about Elon’s marriages, divorces, one set of twins, a set of triplets, and a baby who died of SIDS.  One interesting question that Elon always asks in interviews is “What serious problem have you faced, and how did you solve it?”  This, in itself, will make for some very fascinating conversations.  This book is recommended for grades 5-8.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited

The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Carey Pietsch
Published by First Second on July 16th 2019
ISBN: 1250229286
Pages: 240
Goodreads
three-stars

This is the second book from the creators of The Adventure Zone roleplaying game podcast, the McElroys. The first one was set in a middle earth type environment and this one is now on a train (still with wizards and elves, but now there are trains involved). The first book was a hilarious send-up of D&D type games and this one makes jokes about mysteries and whodunits. Taako, Merle, and Magnus are back and on a mission to retrieve a lost (and powerful) artifact that is believed to be on the Rockport Limited train. Mishaps befall them, jokes are made, and a lot of laughter is had by all. Not as good as the first novel, but still a lot of fun.

The artwork by Carey Pietsch is detailed and humorous and really works with the RPG elements of the game, like having the Game Master pop up in little bubbles when he has to tell the players something. Aimed at teens and adults, there is some profanity and gore involved, but nothing over the top. A definite purchase for any YA or Adult graphic novel section where RPG games are big.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

The Year They Fell

The Year They FellThe Year They Fell by David Kreizman
Published by Imprint on July 30th 2019
ISBN: 1250179874
Pages: 384
Goodreads
two-stars

The first thing we learn about the five main characters in this book is that that most of their parents have died in a plane crash while they’re partying. What we spend the rest of the book uncovering about them is that they’ve known each other since pre-school and were a tightknit circle of friends who fell apart once they hit high school. They all have their own secrets and burdens, but the death of their parents brings them back together. This trite use of that particular storyline is surprisingly not the most dramatic thing to happen to this group of friends in this book.  What follows the death is narcotics addiction, adultery, ADD, PTSD, a concussion, severe anxiety, sexual assault, and oh yeah, there’s a teen pregnancy thrown in at the end.  The sheer amount of drama that these teens are meant to deal with is ridiculous, and there’s so much that several storylines are left unaddressed.  It’s unsurprising to learn that the author is a former writer for several soap operas.  He sure does like the drama.  While teens may find some relatable things to pick from here, it’s just too much.  Not recommended as a purchase.  Best for ages 15 and up.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library, Augusta

two-stars

Dragons eat noodles on Tuesdays

Dragons eat noodles on TuesdaysDragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays by Jon Stahl, Tadgh Bentley
Published by Scholastic Press on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338125516
Pages: 40
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Dragons eat noodles on Tuesdays” starts with a monster beginning a story. Unfortunately, the story is “once upon a time…The End!” He then tries to make the story more interesting by having a kid get eaten by a dragon, the end! Another monster joins him and lets him know that people don’t want to read stories about kids getting eaten by dragons. They argue about this, each starting their own story where people do or do not get eaten by dragons. Jon Stahl’s writing is funny and keeps your interest, while Tadgh Bentley’s silly and colorful illustrations make you laugh.

The story ends with a brave damsel  saving a knight from getting eaten by showing the dragon a scroll that says that dragons can only eat noodles on Tuesdays. Problem solved? Aimed at ages four through eight, this book is silly and funny and would make a good read-aloud. Not a must-buy for your library, but if dragon picture books are popular, you should consider purchasing “Dragons eat noodles on Tuesdays.”

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

The Light Jar

The Light JarThe Light Jar by Lisa Thompson
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338216309
Pages: 240
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Light Jar” by Lisa Thompson is a middle-grade novel about a boy named Nate and his mother who are running away from domestic violence. They head to a small abandoned home that they visited long ago. The house hasn’t been used for years and is very run down. There is even a chicken living inside! Nate’s mother goes out for a quick grocery trip and doesn’t return. Nate is worried and unsure what to do. He isn’t alone for long, though: his old imaginary friend appears and he meets Kitty, a girl who lives in a large house nearby. He doesn’t trust Kitty at first, so he hides the fact that his mother is gone. Kitty asks for his help with an old scavenger hunt clue and part of the story involves Nate and Kitty figuring out what the clues mean.

This book does a very good job describing an abusive household. Gary starts out as a nice guy, but slowly starts to get worse as the relationship goes on. Once he starts living with them, he cuts them off from everyone. Nate and his mom cannot even use lights when Gary isn’t home. Nate has deep fears of the dark and has a jar of lights that he uses as a nightlight, but Gary says that the light bothers him and takes it away and smashes it. Aimed at grades 4 to 6, the plot is a bit bizarre and leaves questions, but the domestic violence situation is described very well.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

Exploring the Great Outdoors

Exploring the Great OutdoorsLittle Critter: Exploring the Great Outdoors by Mercer Mayer
Published by HarperCollins on February 19th 2019
ISBN: 0062431455
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

Little Critter narrates an adventure that he and his classmates have when they take a hike in the Critterville State park.  The group is met by a forest ranger that goes over the Park rules.  They buy snacks, then walk and walk.  Along the way, Gator falls down, the park ranger falls off the rope bridge and they encounter a bear cub.  Snacks are lost, shared and poison ivy is identified.  They all make it safely on the bus for the tiring ride home.  The story reads more like a grocery list of negative park experiences than a story that quickly pulls a reader into a succinct plot line.  The illustrations are classic Mayer in colors and landscapes that fill up the pages.  There are a few simple sentences per page.  The busy illustrations may be distracting to new readers.  Little Critter fans will want to read this one, otherwise pass on the adventure.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

Chicken in Charge

Chicken in ChargeChicken in Charge by Adam Lehrhaupt, Shahar Kober
Published by HarperCollins on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062364251
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Chicken Zoey is back in this Level 1 easy reader for new readers.  Zoey has made herself in charge of caring for the new lambs on the farm.  Dinner, bath and bed is the plan.  Dinner becomes pie because “Everyone likes pie”.  Baths become a “muddy puddle” with a roll in the hay to dry off.  Zoey beds them down in a “nest” and reads them Lehrhaupt’s 2016 book “Chicken in Space”.  Kober’s illustrations provide clues of the action and enhance the simple three and four sentence texts with barnyard animal reactions.  Envision Amelia Bedelia in chicken form to fully appreciate the humor and comic timing that Lehrhaupt and Kober have provided.  The binding is sturdy which will be necessary for Chicken Zoey fans’repeat readings.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

five-stars