Category: Book Reviews

The Search for Carmella

The Search for CarmellaThe Search for Carmella (Hidden Wonders) by Chloe Savage
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153623897X
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Oceans, STEM
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Dr. Rose is a marine biologist, passionate about the ocean and all its creatures. She always loved listening to the tales of old fisherman, especially about the mythical(?) creature Carmella. One day, Dr. Rose is determined to search for Carmella. She puts the word out to her colleagues, recruits a crew for her ship, and sets sail. Dr. Rose explores the deepest waters in a submarine with her partner (and pilot), Anne, and her dog, Stanley. Dr. Rose feels frustrated and impatient when they don’t find Carmella right away. Anne reminds Dr. Rose that they are still seeing so many wonderful new things, and that they have so much to explore. In the end, Dr. Rose is looking forward to having a lifetime of adventures with Anne, even if they haven’t found Carmella yet.

This picture book would be a wonderful addition to any collection. In the forefront, it showcases a female scientist. But it also has other more subtle (or inferred) inclusive references, such as a possible service dog, a character that uses gender neutral pronouns, and a possible same-sex partnership. The main character also practices mindfulness when she struggles in her journey. The illustrations are lovely and fun, celebrating science and the ocean, and include Carmella sneaking up or behind Dr. Rose and Anne throughout their explorations. Recommended for ages 5 to 7 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade). Cream of the crop nominee.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

five-stars

Getting Ready for First Grade

Getting Ready for First GradeGetting Ready for First Grade: A First Day of School Book by Debby Rahmalia, Vera Ahiyya
ISBN: 0593810015
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Getting Ready for First Grade by Vera Ahiyya (The Tutu Teacher)

Getting Ready for First Grade paints a great picture of first grade. The book clearly helps students learn what to expect and what first grade might be like for them. This would be a fantastic resource for kids who are reaching the end of Kindergarten or feeling nervous about first grade. While much of the content is to be expected (an overview of circles, going through the lunch line, etc.), there’s also incredible representation in the drawings (many types of people are represented) and the author adds several SEL components. First, the author discusses how it’s okay to be nervous and then also includes a student who is new to the school and the ways in which the other students look out for her and take care of her to help her feel welcome. As someone with a Deaf family member, I also appreciated the inclusion of sign language at one point in the book. While the content is routine, the author and illustrator’s efforts to be inclusive, provide strong representation, and include SEL aspects made this a four-star book for me. The age range is pretty niche since this is about first grade but it could be a good addition to a library that has Kindergarten patrons or to recommend to your Kindergarten teachers or guidance staff.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

four-stars

The Wombats Go Wild For Words

The Wombats Go Wild For WordsThe Wombats Go Wild for Words by Beth Ferry, Lori Nichols
on June 17, 2025
ISBN: 059371105X
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The Wombats Go Wild For Words by Beth Ferry and Lori Nichols

The Wombats Go Wild For Words is about a group of wombats who visit Evergreen Forest, where all of the animals use very simplistic, general words (ex. Hungry, tired, etc.). The wombats start giving each of the animals words they could replace these with: verdant, exhausted, ravenous, etc. and show each animal how fun it can be to use more dynamic language. In the back, the authors include a dictionary of words in the book (which they call a duck-tionary because a duck starts taking on the wombats’ job and becomes an honorary word wombat). This book is cute and fun and will certainly spark great discussions about word choice. It would be perfect paired with a vocabulary activity like the spectrum of describing words on a paint chip. This would be a good read for first through 4th grade but also could be used for older grades to talk about word choice. Since this book is a bit niche (mostly for word choice, no other lesson/bigger ideas, etc.) I would rate it three stars in general, four stars for the context of writing/ELA classes.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

three-stars

Sun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern by Lindsay Moore

Sun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern by Lindsay MooreSun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern by Lindsay Moore
on February 18, 2025
ISBN: 0063061007
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Sun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern by Lindsay Moore

Sun Bird is an incredible non-fiction story of the Arctic Tern and their travels from the Arctic to the Antarctic. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and really show us the story as much as the words tell us the story. The words are artfully woven between the illustrations in a way that adds to the story while letting the illustrations be the star of the show. The author balances telling the story with giving us important information to keep us both engaged and learning. The end of the book includes more information about the Arctic Terns and shows their migration—from pole to pole! At the end of the book it also gives links to videos and resources for teachers and librarians to play. This would be a fantastic addition to any elementary library, classroom unit on animals, migration, or birds, or a differentiated or alternative text for secondary students. This is definitely a five-star read and I’m recommending it for cream of the crop!

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Rose Weaves a Garden

Rose Weaves a GardenRose Weaves a Garden by Rashin Kheiriyeh
ISBN: 0593705114
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Rose Weaves a Garden by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Rose Weaves a Garden is a beautifully written and illustrated story about a girl named Rose and the special relationship she has with her grandfather. Rose has always admired her Baba’s talent and skill with weaving and hand making rugs. Her Baba joyfully agrees to teach her and she’s astonished by how fast his hands can move. Day by day they work together on a rug that’s as beautiful as their gardens—but one day her Baba becomes ill and can’t work on the rug any more. Rose takes over and her hands move faster and faster as she learns. After a while Baba is feeling better and they finish the rug together. Not only is the story touching and has great representation of a positive grandparent-grandchild relationship but also highlights the path of learning and growth mindset. At the end Rose sees her hands moving faster than his as he’s recovering from his illness and she’s started to become more confident and weaving and knotting. The author’s note in the beginning explains that the story was inspired by her own grandfather in Iran and how she learned to make rugs from him. Her illustrations were inspired by Persian and Oriental rugs and that definitely comes through on the pages. The colors are striking, the illustrations are stunning and engaging, and it really draws us into Rose’s world to see it so colorfully drawn. I would recommend this for Kindergarten through forth grade and definitely rate it five stars! I would recommend it for cream of the crop as well.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey

All’s Fair in Love and Field HockeyAll's Fair in Love and Field Hockey by Kit Rosewater
on May 6, 2025
ISBN: 0593898451
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey

By Kit Rosewater

All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey is a sweet, sapphic romance about two rival hockey players. It’s also largely about Evelyn’s grief after her mother’s passing and her trying to work through the tension between what she thought her future should be and what she might want it to be. Evelyn and her mother loved field hockey–her mom almost went pro–but when her mom is dying Evelyn promises to carry on her legacy and play field hockey at Duke. However, now in her senior year, Evelyn realizes that all she really has is field hockey and as she starts to spend more time getting to know the soccer player turned (forced) field hockey player Rosa from a rival team, she realizes she might not want that anymore–but can Evelyn live with herself for making her own future? I appreciated all of the complex discussions the characters had, how they tried to navigate their lives, and the queer rep (Evelyn’s brother is also trans). I do think Evelyn and Rosa’s relationship moved very fast (spoiler aler,t but they had sex the second time they kissed); I don’t think this is necessarily atypical of high school/teenage relationships but I also think it made their romance feel a little mis-paced (they hadn’t even been talking that long when they were previously arch rivals). Their friendship didn’t really make sense (Evelyn drove to Rosa’s school–and somehow got through security–just to tell Rosa off, and then they essentially fell into friendship). I appreciated Evelyn’s “queer crisis” (her brother’s words, not mine) and how the characters talk about sexuality. I really liked that we find out that Evelyn’s mother wasn’t perfect–and neither is her father–and while those things don’t get resolved, we see Evelyn actually dealing with things in a way she hasn’t in a long, long time. I think this book could be triggering if you’ve lost a parent or loved one, but otherwise I think it’s a solid sports/romance read for high schoolers and will be adding this to our 9-12 library collection. This was four stars for me because of the representation and important conversations.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

four-stars

These Vengeful Gods

Genres: Fantasy
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

These Vengeful Gods
By Gabe Cole Novoa
These Vengeful Gods is a dystopian story with Hunger Games-like competition and action, inclusive and thoughtful representation, and fantastical magic and mythical gods. Crow is a trans and disabled fighter who lives in The Shallows--the lowest rung of society that is constantly flooded, and people live in poverty and strife. We discover that Crow lives with his uncles after the death of his father and a falling out with his mother, who is now the president of Crow's country. When Crow's uncles are arrested for helping "death children," Crow enters a competition (much like the Hunger Games) to win money and a favor from the gods (which he hopes will be his uncles' freedom). In Crow's world, the president rules in consultation with the gods who wield mythical powers--but, a very long time ago, the gods voted and decided to kill off all of Death's children because they could potentially kill. Some of Death's children made it out alive and the descendants -- "death children" were made illegal and, if found, would be killed to prevent their powers. Only a few gods voted against this, but not enough to keep it from happening. As Crow continues on in the competition, he learns more about why the world is the way it is and who's behind it -- all while fighting for greater systemic equality and change and fighting opponents. Anyone who likes dystopian reads like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, etc. will enjoy this read, but what sets it apart is Novoa's characteristic representation and use of storytelling to fight for systemic change. I particularly appreciated how Novoa uses magic to accommodate Crow's transition and use of testosterone and shares how otherwise this would be logistically and financially challenging for people transitioning in the Shallows. This would be a great addition for any secondary library especially those who serve populations with a strong interest in dystopian literature.
Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Cruel is the Light

Cruel is the LightCruel Is the Light by Sophie Clark
on January 21, 2025
ISBN: 0593810724
Pages: 496
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark

Selene, also known as the “Butcher of Rome,” is an exorcist working for the Vatican city in a VERY bloody battle against demons.  Jules, a talented Vatican soldier,  is an orphan with a mysterious background.  The two are forced to join together in an unusual alliance where Jules pretends to be Selene’s estranged fiance.  Together, they track down one of the most powerful demons wreaking havoc on the city, only to find out that not everything they have been taught to believe is true.  

This YA romantasy is advertised as an epic love story.  It has all tantalizing ingredients to make readers prepare to be amazed: war, forbidden love, religious turmoil, mysterious twists. Yet, it just doesn’t deliver.  The writing seems chaotic and it is very easy to lose track of what is happening.  The double point-of-view third person becomes tricky to follow.  The “dream” sequences come out of nowhere and the reader can’t determine if one is happening or not.  Constant backtracking is needed to keep things straight.  The pacing is all over.  There are ten pages of an index like handbook to introduce the reader to the world, the war, the characters, etc, only to have some of those characters killed off in the first three pages.  The amount of blood and gore is excessive to begin, and then the war fizzles out to attempt the romance plot line.  Of all the narrative structures, the romance is the most successful, but it’s still almost forced to the point of being false.  

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME.

two-stars

Grin

GrinGrin by D.W. Gillespie
Published by Delacorte Press on August 26, 2025
ISBN: 0593814886
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller
Format: Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars

Middle schooler Danny can’t believe his mom is actually going to let him stay with his uncle Bill for a week. Bill owns a retro-style arcade, full of every 80s and 90s game imaginable, and Danny has high hopes of beating them all. When Bill shows Danny the new game he managed to track down, Grin, Danny realizes it’s the same one his favorite YouTuber has just described as being rumored to be haunted. As Bill falls deeper and deeper under Grin‘s trance, Danny has to figure out how to save him and destroy the game, once and for all.

Gamers will love this thriller and its numerous references to old school games. The suspension of disbelief is easy enough to roll with thanks to Grin‘s pace and setting, and Gillespie does a good job making Bill menacing while possessed but ultimately redeemable. Suitable for both middle and high school readers.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a TuesdayThe Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney
ISBN: 0593811518
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday” is a young adult realistic fiction novel by Kelsey B. Toney. Delia is a teen who has very painful menstrual periods. When her period starts early and she desperately needs to go into school to stay in her program, she tries a THC tincture that ends up getting her expelled. We follow Delia as she goes to a public school and as she learns that there may be a reason behind the extreme pain she feels (beyond the dismissive “periods stink” mindset). This humorous coming-of-age story will appeal to teens, especially those with chronic illnesses. The parts about chronic illness and interacting with doctors felt very realistic (which makes sense that the author has experienced life with endometriosis). A recommended purchase for YA collections. For ages 12-18.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars