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
One Speck of Truth by Caela Carter 
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
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! by Britta Teckentrup 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
Make a Wish, Henry Bear by Liam Francis Walsh 
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
I Love Space: Explore with sliders, lift-the-flaps, a wheel, and more! by Allison Wortche A colorful, informative board book to introduce the youngest readers/listeners to the concept of outer space. The science in the book is sound and the planets are represented well. Told in simple, clear text and illustrated with bright colors and glitter, along with plenty of flaps, this will appeal to little fingers.
Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth
Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me by Susan L. Roth Primary teachers and librarians may select this book because it highlights bowerbirds, perhaps to learn more about this Australian species of bird. Art teachers will select this book because it provides the experience of viewing an artist at work. It is parents and children who will make the choice to purchase Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me just because it is fascinating and beautiful. Roth points out the artistic eye of the bowerbird and compares his creations to her own. His composition is made using different tools but his materials are found object like hers. The bowerbird’s goal of attracting a female bird is achieved, the artist’s goal of depicting her work process is presented and the result is a winning package.
Each page is delightful, some two page spreads are busy while others offer white space. Readers learn about a new species of bird but it is Roth’s artistic illustrations that make this a fantastic read. Backgrounds vary, materials are organic and the colors used are consistent throughout the book. Children will question if the author used feathers to make her hair and wonder how long it took her to collect all her bits and pieces for these stunning collages. A recommended addition to grade k-3 schools and public libraries. Art teachers working with all ages would love to be gifted a copy of this title.
Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad was originally written by African American author Ann Petry. The 2018 edition features a forward by the renowned author, Jason Reynolds, and cover art by acclaimed illustrator, Kadir Nelson. This biography is written in a smooth, narrative style that makes it an easy read. The book chronologically recounts the story of Harriet Tubman’s life. The end of each chapter features one or two paragraphs of contextual information that helps the reader understand historical events beyond the narrative of Tubman’s life. The table of contents and index helps the reader navigate the text, and extension activities at the end will guide teachers and librarians as they continue to incorporate this text in their classes. However, this book would benefit from a list of sources–it is unclear how the author gained knowledge of Tubman’s heroic efforts to lead enslaved people to freedom and her thoughts and feelings during those years she served as a “conductor.” For this reason, I might be hesitant to share it with students as an exemplar of nonfiction writing. Recommended grades 5 and up
Reviewed by Amy Roberson, Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth
Deep Water by Watt Key I was pleasantly surprised by this book. But, then again, this is the first book I read by Watt Key, and I will definitely be reading more by this author. This adventure-filled novel features Julie Simms, a strong, accomplished 12-year old SCUBA diver, who lives with her father, Gibson. Gibson owns a struggling SCUBA diving tour company on the coast of Alabama, and Julie often tags along with her father, especially when he is not feeling well. Gibson believes his SCUBA diving business is about to take off when he finds an untouched sunken ship. The first customers Gibson and Julie take out to this new site are Hank Jordan and his son, Shane who happens to be Julie’s classmate. The Jordans are wealthy, entitled, and arrogant, which leads to them making poor decisions under water. Julie, Hank, and Joran become separated from Gibson and the boat, and find themselves in deep water, both figuratively and metaphorically.
Those interested in strong female leads, adventure, or SCUBA diving will enjoy this novel, and middle graders coping with divorce will relate to Julie’s relationship with her parents. This is a middle grades novel recommended for ages 10-14.
Reviewed by Amy Roberson, Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth
Over the Moon by Natalie Lloyd In the town of Coal Top, now smothered by the Dust, 12 year old Mallie and the rest of the citizens must work for the wealthy people of the valley and toil in the mines in order to get by. When the opportunity to gain “riches untold” by performing a dangerous task presents itself, Mallie jumps at the chance only to discover that things in her town are not quite what they seem. The Head Guardian, Mortimer Good, is keeping a secret and if Mallie can figure it out, it could change everything.
There is lots to enjoy here! Mallie is spunky and determined and has great confidence in herself despite the fact that she only has one arm. Perhaps the greatest gift to readers is the message that we do not have to live the story we are given. We can fight fear and oppression and bring back the light, we just need a little courage (and maybe a flying horse).
Grades 3rd-6th
Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York