Category: Book Reviews

The Deceiver’s Heart

The Deceiver’s HeartThe Deceiver's Heart (The Traitor's Game, #2) by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338045415
Pages: 384
Goodreads

Kestra was chosen as the Infidante, the one who would kill Lord Endrick and return the Scarlet Throne to the rightful people, but she failed. Her punishment for the attempt on his life, was to drain all of her memories, including those of the rebellion and of Simon, her true love. She is also forced to marry Prince Basil in order to unite two kingdoms and worst of all — an obedient Ironheart, who is at Lord Endrick’s  beckon call — life or death.

This is the second book in The Traitor Game trilogy. Definitely not a stand alone book, need to understand the back history to the plot. The ending of this book definitely sets you up well for the final installment. Recommended for those who like the settings of court — love, corruption, evil takeovers and loyalty of the court.  This series is a nice addition to fantasy collections.

Grades 7 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

Awake in the World

Awake in the WorldAwake in the World by Jason Gurley
Published by Roaring Brook Press on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 1250141834
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

Zach is a natural artist when it comes to drawing and understanding the wonders of what surrounds him. He captures the moment which makes his art even more intense. Living in a small, coastal town in California, Zach lost his father to a deep sea diving accident and no one is sure who to blame. But now, Zach’s older brother has dropped out of college to pick up the family business. Zach needs to finish high school, and has an opportunity to leave, but is torn whether to stay at home, where he feels obligated to tend to their younger sister, and a mother who mentally has never recovered from her husband’s death. Then, in steps – Vanessa,  who is financially better off then Zach, a little odd, but admires his art and wants Zach to want what she wants. Their worlds collide when a  disasters happen and the emotions are intense.

Recommended for grade 8 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race

American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space RaceAmerican Moonshot Young Readers' Edition: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley
Published by HarperCollins on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 0062660284
Pages: 272
Goodreads
five-stars

July 20, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historical landing on the moon. Author Douglas Brinkley, in this Young Adult version, has written an outstanding and equally as fascinating book that gives the beginnings of the race to the moon, but also the continuation of President Kennedy’s aspiration to be the first country to step foot on the moon.

Well organized and chronologically written which makes the text easier to follow with the various progressions of the great race — politically, patriotically and personally. Many photos of the time span that correlate with the chapters. TOC, bibliography and source notes present — no index. Great resource for research on the beginnings of the space race and information of President Kennedy’s involvement.

Recommended for grades 4 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

The Me I Meant to Be

The Me I Meant to BeThe Me I Meant to Be by Sophie Jordan
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1328977064
Pages: 304
Goodreads
five-stars

You would think that a girl code, never date a friend’s ex, would be easy to keep, but it has put Willa in an extremely difficult situation. See  Wiila’s best friend, Flor, has recently broken up with Zach, Willa’s childhood friend and neighbor. The problem is Willa has always been in love with Zach and now, of all times, he is returning her affection!

A fast paced, engaging story of friendship, romance and of course — the girl code. Any teen that reads this will understand what is being said and could easily place themselves or someone they know in Willa’s place. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Stolen Time

Stolen TimeStolen Time by Danielle Rollins
Published by HarperTeen on February 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062679945
Pages: 416
Goodreads
four-stars

Stolen Time

 

From dual perspectives Danielle Rollins has written a science fiction novel about time travel that is the first in a series.

Dorothy was engaged to be married to a doctor in 1913 but was looking for a means of escape.  Ash was a pilot of a time traveling  plane into which Dorothy has stowed away.  She ends up in the Seattle of 2077 in which horrendous earthquakes and floods have nearly destroyed everything.  Ash is searching for the professor who has perfected time travel.  The crew with Ash includes a strong man, a girl with the best medical knowledge from the past, and the daughter of the professor.  Through many battles with those who are also searching for the plane and the Exotic Matter energy source needed to fly it, Dorothy learns that Ash and his group can be depended on and that the life of scams that she and her mother had used to outwit adversaries was not the life Dorothy wanted now.  This book is recommended for grades 7-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

If You’re Out There

three-stars

When her friend Priya disappears, Zan starts to get worried.  She gets even more worried when Priya’s socials and emails start to feature uncharacteristic grammar errors and recycle old photos.  Where is Priya?  Is she safe?  Zan sets off to investigate, using whatever clues she can to find her best friend.  The premise outweighs the storytelling.  Recommended for readers ages 13 and up who like mysteries and stories of friendship.

Review by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

three-stars

One Speck of Truth

One Speck of TruthOne Speck of Truth by Caela Carter
Published by HarperCollins on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062672665
Pages: 288
Goodreads
four-stars

Alma knows family is more than just blood.  She leads fulfilling life, sharing everything with her best friend and cherishing her mother and her stepfather, Adam.  But when Adam disappears from the family and her mother starts acting funny and selling off all of their possessions, Alma begins to question the stability of her family situation.

An important book about family and knowing our histories.  Readers of Forever or a Long Long Time will appreciate Carter’s delicate handling of the main character’s internal thinking.  Suggested for readers ages 10 and up.

Reviewed by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

four-stars

The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Light the World

ISBN: 9781250120168

Light bulbs, the electric chair, and the World’s Fair all take the stage in this exciting peek at the battle between the proponents of alternating current and direct current.  Energized to bring electricity to the world, Edison (champion of DC current) and Tesla and Westinghouse (AC current) battled against public opinion and each other as they fought to show which current was better.  Readers who are curious about electricity and inventions would enjoy this suspenseful read, though they should be warned about a few grim descriptions of the first death by electric chair.

Reviewed by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

Get Out of My Bath!

Get Out of My Bath!Get Out of My Bath! by Britta Teckentrup
Published by Nosy Crow on December 31st 2018
ISBN: 1536202746
Pages: 22
Goodreads
three-stars

A board book version of the 2015 book. With her signature collage-style, Teckentrup introduces Ellie the Elephant who is taking a bath. Then in the style of Hervé Tullet, the reader is invited to help Ellie by shaking the book and moving it side-to-side; this is fun until a crocodile ends up in the bath followed by a flamingo, a tiger, and a mouse. Ellie is now too crowded and wants everyone out of her bath, so she sucks up all of the water and the wet, shivering animals shuffle off leaving her alone to enjoy and finish her bath. A strange message as the book starts off playfully and then shifts to dismay. Perhaps Ellie could have shared her bath and had more fun, or she could have asked the other animals to leave, or the reader could have helped shake them out of the bath? A good pre-bath read, but not a must-have.

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

three-stars

Make a Wish, Henry Bear

Make a Wish, Henry BearMake a Wish, Henry Bear by Liam Francis Walsh
Published by Roaring Brook Press on April 30th 2019
ISBN: 162672332X
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Make a Wish, Henry Bear, is written and illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist Liam Francis Walsh. The story is a hilarious spin on the classic, “be careful what you wish for” tale. The story opens with Henry Bear trying to go to bed, but his parents urge him to stay up just ten more minutes! The parents insist on cake for dinner, TV all day, and drawing on the walls. Children will enjoy this story of role reversal, but may need a little help figuring out that the reason Henry Bear’s parents are behaving as they are is because of his birthday wish: that detail is not revealed until halfway through the book. But, when Henry Bear meets a new classmate, Marjani, on his birthday, he finds a way to return to his life before the last wish. Marjani wears a hijab, and I appreciate how seamlessly Walsh incorporates this piece of diversity into his story. 

The illustrations complement and extend the text. The color pallette is simple, which makes the details of the teacher’s desk, for example, stand out even more. I discovered fun, new details every time I read the book. Recommended ages 4-8

Reviewed by Amy Roberson, Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth

five-stars