Category: Book Reviews

A Bit of Earth

A Bit of EarthA Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 0063098660
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

In this contemporary retelling of The Secret Garden, Maria finds herself moving from house to house after the death of her parents. She finally lands on Long Island, far away from Bangladesh where she was born. Prickly all her life, Maria is cautious and distant, not wanting to become too attached before being inevitably sent away again. Things start to change for Maria when she feels drawn to a neglected garden and works to restore it with the help of some neighborhood children. Maria doesn’t realize that she is breaking her own rules by letting herself get close to others, becoming friends with her neighbors and a role model for the people she is living with. This middle grade novel is mostly prose, but readers will enjoy the many chapters that start with a segment of novel in verse. Maria, despite being guarded, is fiercely independent and is a character readers will cheer for. She hangs onto her Muslim roots and Bangladeshi/Pakistani culture which are present throughout the book, and shows readers the importance of having a safe space to plant roots to grow and bloom.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars

Twenty Questions

Twenty QuestionsTwenty Questions by Mac Barnett, Christian Robinson
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536215139
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a book all about imagination. The text of Twenty Questions is simple, twenty open-ended questions, as advertised. Fun for ages 3 and up to imagine different scenarios based on the simple illustrations shown. Christian Robinson uses cut paper, stamps, and sharpie to create a jumping off point for kids’ creativity. This book can be used for a chat with children, or as writing prompts for elementary student. Some of the questions are really fun, but the ones with people feel a little bit like profiling.

Overall, this is a creative and fun read for one-on-one reading or groups.

Reviewed by Katie Drago, Rockland Public Library

five-stars

A Smart, Smart School

A Smart, Smart SchoolA Smart, Smart School by Anait Semirdzhyan, Sharon Creech
Published by Harper ISBN: 0063059614
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A companion picture book to Creech’s bestselling A Fine, Fine School. In this story, beloved Principal Keene is struck down with a burst appendix and taken to the hospital. The following week Mr. Tatters comes in to take his place. Suddenly, instead of art and singing and reading, students are testing, testing, testing! By Friday teachers can think of no more questions to ask, and student’s brains are “empty, empty, empty!”

Teachers and students go to the hospital on Saturday with a banner, cards and a song for Principal Keene, and he happily recovers enough to return to school on Monday, when things return to jolly normality.

This is a lovely book about the importance of creativity and joy at school, and of educators who instill a love of learning. Semirdzhyan’s digital illustrations are bold, colorful and perfectly in line with the spirit and words of the text. Written by a beloved Maine author, this will be a popular book in classrooms and libraries.

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Friday I’m in Love

Friday I’m in LoveFriday I'm in Love by Camryn Garrett
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on January 10, 2023
ISBN: 0593435109
Pages: 269
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Instead of a Sweet Sixteen party like her best friend Naomi had, Mahalia wants to throw a coming out party – a chance to tell the whole world at once that she’s queer, proud, and, oh, by the way, is really into the Siobhan, the new girl at school. The problem is, she has to save enough money from her part time job in addition to helping her single mom with bills. Also, well – her mom doesn’t exactly know she’s gay.

Mahalia is a realistic teenager with family responsibilities, financial insecurity, best friend complications, and a desire to be seen and liked for who she is. She deals with discrimination at school, where she is one of the few Black kids, and in her mom’s homophobic church community. In fact, the coming-out conversation with her mother, when she finally has it, is a hard one. Her mother isn’t terrible, exactly – but she’s very clearly distressed and unhappy, leaving Mahalia upset and feeling very alone.

But – this is a rom-com, and eventually, the girl gets the girl, mom is accepting, and things end in a fun and satisfactory way. Teens will enjoy Mahalia’s relatable shortcomings and self-doubts, while rooting for her to succeed. A good addition to shelves, particularly if you are trying to build up inclusivity in your collection. Also, the cover is beautiful and very eye-catching!

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Stranger Danger

Stranger DangerStranger Danger (Underlined) by Maren Stoffels
Published by Underlined on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593647440
Genres: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

In order to prepare for high school exams with zero distractions, Nova and her boyfriend, Vin, rent a farmhouse in another state for a week. Lotus, Nova’s best friend, is invited and is nervous about Nova’s “no phones, no internet” rule.  She goes anyway, as she has trouble saying no to Nova, and is immediately aware that they are not alone.

What starts out as a taut, tense thriller quickly dissolves into a slurry of morally reprehensible people (teens and adults), who only feel guilt about their actions when they realize they’ve been caught. It becomes a blizzard of finger pointing and crying with no acceptable resolution. Stranger Danger feels as though it comes from a different time,  from sexual acts almost always being described as ”kissing” no matter what they are (even having an affair with an adult teacher), to mixed messages about eating disorders.  Not recommended.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

two-stars

Imposter Syndrome and other Confessions of Alejandra Kim

Imposter Syndrome and other Confessions of Alejandra KimImposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Patricia Park
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on 02/21/2023
ISBN: 0593563379
Pages: 295
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Alejandra Kim isn’t sure who she is or where she fits in. She is the daughter of Korean Argentinian immigrants, with a Latina first name and a Korean last name and face. She’s a poor kid from Queens with a New York attitude whose father has just died, and a highly intelligent scholarship student at a super exclusive prep school in Manhattan. Things are tense at home with her mom, and all she wants to do is keep her head down and graduate, and move on to attend an elite, quintessential New England liberal arts college far away in Maine. But after a microaggression from a teacher at school, and an eye opening elective class she takes, Ale must decide once and for all who she really is and what she wants to stand for. Ale is a thoroughly entertaining character and this book is a fun read despite the serious topics addressed such as self esteem, code switching, passing, privilege, and inclusivity. The book also delves into the psychological ramifications that immigrants often face after leaving their home countries and cultures. A must have for every YA shelf.

Recommended for grades 8-12.
Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

five-stars

The Book That No One Wanted To Read

The Book That No One Wanted To ReadThe Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade, Tor Freeman
Published by Walker Books US on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 153622216X
Pages: 128
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

A heavily illustrated “conversation” between the book being read and You, the reader (narration is in second person). Format changes continually throughout the book – from prose to graphics to dialogue between Reader and Book. Wordplay, puns and stream-of-consciousness passages, many of which are silly (and a few of which are informative, such as explaining what a footnote is by creating a humorous example of one) keep the reader on their intellectual toes.

A middle grade reader, particularly a reluctant one who enjoys the use of illustrations to tell parts of the story and is sophisticated enough to find the humor in the wordplay, will likely enjoy the quirky humor and playful formatting.

Four stars, primarily for the creativity and offbeat format, and the illustrations. Not a must-have, but certainly might find itself popular simply for being different.

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

four-stars

Leeva at Last

Leeva at LastLeeva At Last by Sara Pennypacker, Matthew Cordell
Published by Balzer + Bray on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780063114425
Genres: Humor, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Pennypacker brings her signature Clementine wit to the story of Leeva, a winsome child of two terrible, selfish parents. Readers will immediately be put in mind of Roald Dahl’s Matilda and Lois Lowry’s Willoughbys, but while this book reflects the dreadful parents and enterprising, intelligent children in both stories, Leeva’s tale is all her own. Her parents, in the roles of Town Mayor and Town Treasurer, respectively, have overtaxed the residents and embezzled the revenue. Everyone in town hates them and when Leeva, long kept indoors as a sort of servant, ventures outside, she is afraid they will hate her by extension. However, she makes many friends and eventually figures out a plan to return all the money, send her parents packing off into the sunset, and have a happy ending.

The humor, quirky characters, short chapters, engaging writing and well-known author combine to make this an easy book to put in patron hands. Charming black and white illustrations by Matthew Cordell appear throughout the book and add a playfulness reminiscent of Norton Juster.

Reviewed by:  Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Thunderboom

ThunderboomThunderBoom by Jack Briglio, Claudia Davila
on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 1525304968
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

Eleven year old Logan has a lot on his plate. He is scared of dogs, clowns and masks, and being lonely. On top of that, he is nonverbal and uses sign language to communicate with his family. When he loses his parents and sister at a parade, Logan must conjure up his alter-ego Thunderboom to help him navigate a perfect storm of fear and anxiety.

Based on the author’s son, who has Angelman syndrome, Logan gives us a glimpse into the world and family dynamics of people who are nonverbal. We see the strategies used by the family, the loving stress they can experience, and the support involved (especially in his very chill big sister who has unwavering faith in Logan and refuses to stress about him; she’s great).  The illustrations are bright and charming and move seamlessly from Logan’s world to Thunderboom’s world.

This is a terrific book with a much-needed protagonist and would be valuable in elementary or middle school libraries.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

In Nightfall

In NightfallIn Nightfall by Suzanne Young
on March 28, 2023
ISBN: 0593487583
Genres: Horror, Supernatural
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Theo and her brother Marco are spending the summer in their father’s quaint hometown in Oregon, a big change from their home in Arizona. They are staying with his mother while he comes to terms with his recent divorce, and the kids are unfamiliar with this strange, strict, woman. Can they abide by their grandmother’s most important rule and not stay out after dark?

No, they can’t. They break the rule their first night there and thus begins a nearly scene by scene retelling of 1987’s classic vampire movie, The Lost Boys, albeit with reversed genders. The book follows the movie so closely that it comes off as uninspired and slow. Where the characters in The Lost Boys had charisma, the characters in this book are strictly defined by what they wear and what they look like. Perhaps it would be more enjoyable to someone who hasn’t seen the movie?

The book has a fun, 80s mass-market paperback cover going for it. Not a must-buy, but if you have vampire fans, or Twilight fans, or 80s movies fans, you might recommend this.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

 

two-stars