Sweet Valley Twins Sneaking Out

June 8, 2025

Sweet Valley Twins: Sneaking Out: (A Graphic Novel) by Claudia Aguirre, Francine Pascal, Nicole Andelfinger
ISBN: 0593807219
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

The twins are back! In this latest graphic novel, one of the hottest bands is coming to Sweet Valley. It seems as though everyone is going to see the concert, except for Elizabeth and Jessica (whose parents won’t let them go). But Jess is determined to go to the concert anyway. Throughout this story Jess goes to extraordinary lengths to: 1) come up with the money (she hates dogs, but that doesn’t mean she can’t dog-sit, right?), 2) get to the concert (a well-timed sleep over with a friend who is going should do the trick), and 3) have the perfect outfit so that Johnny Buck notices her at the show (her sister wouldn’t mind letting her borrow that new dress, right?). In all of her scrambling to make it come together, Jess neglects her relationships and her responsibilities. Can she make it up to everyone that she hurts along the way? This story was full of good lessons about following through with your promises – though reading it was a little like watching a train wreck. The illustrations were colorful, fun, and accurately depicted the emotions of the characters/drama of the story. Overall, it was a quick read that’s sure to circulate with younger graphic novel readers. Recommended for ages 8 to 10 (Grades 3 to 5).

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

Coven

June 8, 2025

Coven: A Graphic Novel by Soman Chainani
Published by HarperAlley on April 1, 2025
ISBN: 006297968X
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Witches Anadil, Hester, and Dot, or The Witch Coven, live in The Endless Woods and are available to provide protection or investigative services to those in need. Their friendship is tested when they are asked to travel to Red Isle, where not only has a long-term battle between the Light and the Dark reached crisis level, but ongoing abuse of the environment and the overconsumption of the precious resource raaka has left the area barren and broken. On top of that, they need to stop a murderer who is killing townspeople by stealing their faces, and figure out who the three witches who look just like they do really are. The trio must rediscover what unites them and rely on the strength that each provides in order to defeat the seemingly insurmountable trouble plaguing Red Isle.

This is the first graphic novel based on Chainani’s hit series The School for Good and Evil and fans will be thrilled. Having some familiarity with the books might be helpful, particularly with the dynamics between the Witch Coven, but is certainly not necessary as this reads easily as a standalone volume. The illustrations are bright, energetic, and help keep the story as light as possible despite some bleak themes.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

Outspoken Paul Robeson Ahead of His Time: A One-Man Show by Carole Boston Weatherford & Eric Velasquez

June 4, 2025

Outspoken: Paul Robeson, Ahead of His Time: A One-Man Show by Carole Boston Weatherford, Eric Velásquez
Published by Candlewick Press on 2024
ISBN: 1536212970
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

In this first person narration, biographical, picture book in verse, Newbery Honor Winner Carole Boston Weatherford steps into the shoes of the multitalented Paul Robeson. Those talents expand to All-American Football, baseball, and basketball player, valedictorian of Rutger class of 1919, Columbian Law Degree recipient, actor, singer, and activist. His impact reached far and wide as he traveled around the world, using his amazing voice and strong influence to, “…speak out against the injustices against the Negro people of this land… fighting for the rights of my people, who are still second-class sitizens in this United States.” There are so many things to say about this remarkable man, but you just have to read the book to learn more.

While this is a “picture book,” it is written for a middle grade and older audience. The verse is layered with lyrics from spirituals and folk songs. The illustrations by Eric Valasquez are exquisite and add a lot to understanding the wonderful and tragic events of Robeson’s life. The back of the book contains a timeline of Robeson’s life as well as a bibliography for further reading.

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

Lonely Bird’s Dream by Ruth Whiting

June 4, 2025

Lonely Bird's Dream by Ruth Whiting
Published by Candlewick Press on 2024
ISBN: 153622619X
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Lonely Bird’s dream is to fly. Yet, Lonely Bird is a hand sketched, nearly wingless, paper bird. Through research, imagination, experimentation, and trial and error, she creates a usable airplane. Her dream of flight is a success, but landing is not. After her flight is unpredictably cut short, she gets some help from a very clever spider who helps her find a way back home in flight using dandelion seeds, riding the wind.

This is Whiting’s follow up to her book Lonely Bird. The story is so well told through the artwork, that the simplistic prose is almost unnecessary. Her amazing artistry is on display with layered paintings that make the eye believe the 2D Lonely Bird is living her best life in a 3D miniature world. This book will appeal to ages four through nine.

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

A Day at the Beach

May 30, 2025

A Day at the Beach by Gary D. Schmidt, Ron Koertge
Published by Clarion Books on April 1, 2025
ISBN: 0063380927
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A Day at the Beach is a snapshot of one summer day at a Jersey Shore beach. Each chapter introduces readers to a new character or group of characters, all middle school age youth. These kids are dealing with things readers will no doubt relate to: self-esteem, strained family relationships, and obsession with devices, to name a few. While the connection for these characters is their presence at this particular beach on this particular day, there is no major plot line that brings them together, though occasionally there is some overlap of characters. Instead, the message is to be present on this summer day, have fun, be creative, and don’t worry about pressures you may face. Middle grade readers who are plot driven and like a lot of action won’t be drawn to this book, but readers who like getting to know new characters and who crave a summer read will enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

A Pinecone!

May 29, 2025

A Pinecone! by Helen Yoon
Published by Candlewick Press on 2024
ISBN: 1536226262
Genres: Adventure, Family, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

In this picture book, Yoon brings back the parent-child relationship from her book Off-Limits. In this story, the father and daughter go out for a walk. The father is very distracted as his daughter becomes gripped with the exciting task of collecting pinecones. Her great enthusiasm is portrayed mostly through the comedic artwork and few words. The text is bold and easy to read as well as cleverly placed on the page to create whimsey. The father’s response is to encourage his daughter’s imagination and not lose his temper. This book is a perfect read aloud to young children, yet entertaining for readers of all ages.

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

Yippee! Rabbit

May 21, 2025

Yippee! Rabbit (Jo Ham's Rabbit) by Jo Ham
Published by Candlewick Studio on 01/25
ISBN: 1536241334
Genres: Animals, board book
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

A board book adapted from Ham’s picture book of the same title. High contrast black and turquoise designs on a white background. Simple text, one or two words per page, follow the antics of an adventurous rabbit. Delightful, simple and engaging. Toddlers will love this, and their readers will be likewise charmed.

Highly recommend.

5 stars, cream

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

True Life in Uncanny Valley

May 21, 2025

True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb Caletti
Published by Labyrinth Road on March 18, 2025
ISBN: 059370861X
Pages: 401
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Sixteen-year-old Eleanor and her older sister Ros were raised by a single mom. Their father, billionaire tech genius Hugo Harrison, lives in the same city but a world apart, and they have no contact with him. Despite this, or maybe because of it, Eleanor finds herself drawn to his glittery, famous, wealthy world. Accidentally (sort of) she bumps into Aurora, the young, gorgeous social media influencer stepmother she’s never met – and finds herself being offered the position of live-in nanny for her two-year-old half-brother. Eleanor provides a false last name and finds herself catapulted into a summer of secrets: not telling her mother or sister who she’s really working for, and not telling her father’s family who she really is.

As the weeks progress, one thing becomes clear: nothing in this family is as it seems from outside. The idyllic life portrayed on social media and followed by millions isn’t real. As Eleanor digs deeper into the secret of what Hugo Harrison is developing – his next huge, world changing tech reveal – she is horrified to discover both what it is, and how her young half-brother has been being used in the development of it. The titular “Uncanny Valley” is a reference to the instinctual revulsion that humans feel when faced with lifelike AI beings that are undefinably “off” – and ultimately it’s that confrontation that that will define Eleanor’s summer, by challenging the very idea of how humans connect to one another, and what the role of family – most especially parents – really is.

This is a great novel on many levels; Eleanor is a realistic and sympathetic character trying to find her place in a confusing world as a teenager, navigating family drama, a budding romance, and a (one sided) experience of trying to connect with father’s family. It is also a searing look at tech, social media, and AI – both the good, and the bad. Caletti looks hard at tech: both the way new advances are touted publicly, but also the impact on a personal level, and she does this in a highly readable, hard-to-put-down way. Secondary characters are thought out and three dimensional, adding substance and grounded reality to the story.

Highly recommend! Widespread appeal given multiple themes of tech, family dynamics, teenage coming-of-age themes and light romance.

5 stars/cream

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

The Boy Who Lost His Spark

May 19, 2025

The Boy Who Lost His Spark by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, Maggie O'Farrell
Published by Walker Books on 4/1/25
ISBN: 1536233935
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Jem is not happy that he and his family have moved from the city to a small village. His younger sister, on the other hand, loves it, and believes that noukas, little fluffy creatures, live in the hill in their village. These ancient creatures cause mischief throughout the village, but Jem is too unhappy to believe in them. He instead believes his teacher who says the village hill used to be a volcano and contains nothing but rock, and is adamant that nothing lives there. However, Jem starts to believe in them when he turns in his volcano assignment at school and his teacher discovers drawings of little creatures that Jem definitely did not draw. Slowly Jem notices things and starts to believe, even meeting one of the cute kitten-like creatures. Around the nouka Jem feels settled, able to be calm and in control. Sensing it is lonely, and believing that noukas love fire, Jem and his family build a fire in what used to be the crater of the volcano.

Jem wants to repay the noukas for all the favors it has given the people of the village. It is at this first fire that Jem feels like he belongs and doesn’t want to move anywhere else. This fire soon becomes a tradition in the village, a way for the community to come together and celebrate the little creature living in the hill, who creates mischief to bring happiness.

This book would be ideal for public libraries. It is a perfect read aloud for children who are no longer as interested in picture books, but might not be ready for a longer chapter book. This book has classic looking illustrations of various sizes on most pages, adding a little whimsy to the story. Occasionally the illustrations are full spreads or a striking color to emphasize the content of the story. Readers will also notice faded Gaelic text at the bottom of most pages, tying into the Gaelic poem and song found at the end of the story. The heavy book and shiny pages also makes this a good book to give a child as a gift.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

You’re a POET: Ways to Start Writing Poems

May 16, 2025

You're a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems by Sam Usher, Sean Taylor
Published by Candlewick Press on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 153623933X
Pages: 72
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses, Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
You’re a POET: Ways to Start Writing Poems

By: Sean Taylor and Sam Usher

This picture book is comprised of five stories about the adventures of Piglet and his best friend, Squirrel. Each story demonstrates how to create a different kind of poem: a puddle poem, a comparing poem, a making-a-person-out-of-something poem, an if-I-was poem, and an I-would-give-you poem. Following each story are tips and suggestions to inspire young children to write their own poetry. This book for ages 3-7 would be best utilized as an educational resource.

3 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay