Category: Book Reviews

Nana in the Country

Nana in the CountryNana in the Country by Lauren Castillo
ISBN: 0544102177
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A young child is eager to show their visiting city grandmother around the country, but it seems that Grandma already knows everything about it. Later that night a crack of thunder startles a sheep, who then gets loose. Grandma doesn’t know what to do, but the child remembers a special trick. The two spend the following day exploring and enjoying the beauty and wildness of the country.

A lovely blend of beautiful illustrations and sweet storytelling, this charming book is recommended for libraries looking to add more picture books about families to their collection.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Tales from Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flex

Tales from Cabin 23: The Boo Hag FlexThe Boo Hag Flex (Tales From Cabin 23 #1) by Justina Ireland
Series: Tales from Cabin 23 #1
Published by Balzer + Bray on May 14, 2024
ISBN: 006328782X
Pages: 199
Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Despite a cartoonish, younger-looking cover, the first book in this new series is quite spooky and offers a complexity of plot and level of gore that might turn off younger elementary readers. Elaina is unhappy to be at summer camp; so unhappy that she skips the first night of dinner, opting instead to sulk in her cabin, #16 of 20. When a strange fog rolls into her cabin, she investigates and is enticed outside only to find that her cabin has disappeared and in its place is Cabin 23. A woman in Cabin 23 offers to tell Elaina a story in exchange for what Elaina hopes is safe passage out of this strange alternative world in which she finds herself. The story “The Boo Hag Flex” is macabre and suspenseful. The story takes up most of the book; in fact, a reader might forget that it is not the plot of the book, but only a story trade for the protagonist, briefly introduced in chapter one. The story wraps up neatly, but then the Epilogue reminds the reader that they have only been caught up in the story – Elaina is still in trouble. The ending is open-ended and a bit jarring though fans of horror will enjoy it. This is the first in a series and with under 200 pages per book, it will appeal to upper elementary and early middle school readers. Hopefully, future titles will have more accurate, appealing covers.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School.

four-stars

The Mighty Pollinators

The Mighty PollinatorsThe Mighty Pollinators (Step Gently, Look Closely) by Helen Frost, Rick Lieder
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536229105
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Mighty Pollinators by Helen Frost, and macrophotography by Rick Lieder, is an exploration of all our well-known, but also lesser-known, pollinators that help our plants on Earth grow. This is the seventh book Frost and Lieder have collaborated on, and fans of science-based poetry will enjoy their new collection of poems and up-close shots of insects collecting pollen.

The rhymes are delightful and informative, celebrating butterflies, moths, wasps, and even houseflies. The poems are short enough to be a bedtime story, or a storytime book. The back pages have further information on what pollen is–in all its colors!–and why it’s important.

The colorful, detailed images is where this book really shines since it gives the reader’s eyes access to witnessing the insects covered in pollen dust up close. For those who are looking to add more to their nature poetry collection, or are doing a unit on pollinators or poetry this informational picture book is a great addition. Recommended for ages 3-7

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Tryouts

TryoutsTryouts (The Brinkley Yearbooks #2) by Sarah Sax
Published by Random House Graphic on May 7, 2024
ISBN: 0593306929
Pages: 277
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Sports
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A solid realistic fiction graphic novel from the author of Picture Day. Using yearbook-like interludes to offer additional back story, this title follows Al, a female pitcher who would like to tryout for the boys baseball team. She is encouraged to by her friends, who are also trying out new things like joining a new club and bringing back a forgotten middle school mascot. The illustrations are clear, bright, and lively. The story offers interesting points of discussion: about Title IX sports, about school traditions, and about being a good teammate. A book for this age group, grades 3 through 7, would always benefit from chapter breaks. Sax does use interludes that mimic a yearbook page and these offer additional voices and background, but they are spread out throughout the book and they are not entirely obvious breaks in the plot. There are many diverse characters. Fans of realistic graphic novels like Click by Kayla Miller, Fifth Quarter by Mike Dawson, and anything Raina Telgemeier will appreciate this title.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

four-stars

Jupiter Rising

Jupiter RisingJupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt
Published by Clarion Books on 8/27/24
ISBN: 0358659647
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In this sequel to Orbiting Jupiter, Jack is faced with the very real prospect that he will need to say goodbye to his foster sister, Jupiter, when out of the blue her maternal grandparents fight to adopt her.  Jupiter is the daughter of Joseph, Jack’s late foster brother, who is buried on the family farm where Jack is growing up with his adoptive parents.  Jack and his parents promised Joseph they would always know where Jupiter is and are devastated by the thought she will grow up without them.  Meanwhile, the track coach pairs Jack with his former enemy, Jay, who helps him train to eventually make varsity.  As they run through their rural Maine town, a friendship develops between the two.  Unbeknownst to them, this friendship will be life changing for them and for Jupiter.  This book would be great for a YA or high school collection, especially if libraries already have Orbiting Jupiter.  This story is one of family, perseverance, and receiving acts of kindness when life is difficult.  The content, not the reading level, makes this book appropriate for young adult collections.  The language is simple and somewhat sparse and the length of the novel is short, making it ideal for readers who want a short but mature book.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Taxi Ghost

Taxi GhostTaxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse
ISBN: 0593565983
Genres: Supernatural
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Taxi Ghost” is a middle grade graphic novel by Sophie Escabasse. Adele is a girl who has just started to see ghosts! She learns that members of her family have had this trait in the past, including her grandmother, who has sworn off helping ghosts and now actively tries to repel them. Adele isn’t sure what she wants to do about it, so she starts talking to some of the ghosts that she sees and finds out that they are worried about gentrification in the city and she may be able to help.

Themes in the book include coming of age, family, making decisions that are right for you, and the issues of gentrification. Illustrations are fun and bright and add to the humorous nature of the book. A recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially where Escabasse’s “Witches of Brooklyn” series is popular.

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

four-stars

The Wrong Way Home

The Wrong Way HomeThe Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy
on April 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593650735
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

When Fern’s mother wakes her in the night and whisks her away from the only home she remembers, Fern becomes angry.  For the past six years, she has lived on The Ranch – a “sustainable futurist community.”  Fern enjoys the hard work and the mission of the leader of The Ranch, Dr. Ben, has instilled in its inhabitants.  They are working toward surviving war and global warming. What young Fern does not realize is that The Ranch is a cult.  Fern wishes to return and starts a plan on how to do so.  Yet, life outside does have its perks.  She comes to enjoy having a say in her life, making her own decisions, and making friends.  

While a book about a twelve year old who is a member of a cult makes red flags fly, the novel is exceptionally well written and handles this often trauma inducing topic in a way that is perfect for middle grade readers.

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

five-stars

See You On Venus

See You On VenusSee You on Venus by Victoria Vinuesa
ISBN: 0593705130
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

This YA romance novel is told through two first person narrators.  Mia has been dealt a bad hand with a life threatening heart condition.  Before she will agree to any life saving surgeries, Mia has made it her mission to seek out and meet her birth mother, who lives in Spain.  Kyle has lived a blessed life up until the car accident that killed his best friend.  Guilt plagues Kyle’s life and his mission is to escape life.  The two are fatefully placed together onto a single path.  A secret trip to Spain is where both hope to find the solace they desperately want.  

Fans of YA romance will get swept away by the story and the characters.  Both characters are easy to like and root for.  The plot takes many emotional twists (as teenagers’ lives often do) into guilt, desperation, joy, love, and everything in between.  Readers who do not enjoy predictable endings will probably feel let down.  Spoiler alert, it’s a “happily ever after” ending.  Readers ages 13 to 18 are the target audience. The book deals with ideas of suicide. 

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

three-stars

Cursed Cruise

Cursed CruiseCursed Cruise (Horror Hotel, #2) by Faith McClaren, Victoria Fulton
Published by Underlined on March 19, 2024
ISBN: 0593649389
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

The Ghost Gang is back in this sequel to Horror Hotel. This time, the amateur paranormal hunting content creators are on a cruise ship, and Chrissy, their medium, can tell something is dreadfully wrong before the ship has even left the dock.

Despite a lot happening aboard the Queen Anne (like a haunting, a possession, a mummy’s curse, a bunch of sad ghosts, ghosts that probably shouldn’t be there like the Captain of the Titanic and a despicable rival film crew), the book is very slow paced. It is told in five character points of view, one of which is the ship, but all the voices (other than the ship) sound the same, so it doesn’t provide much insight into each character. There is plenty of gore, and the cover is a nice nod to 2002’s Ghost Ship, but overall the book starts out scattered and never quite pulls it together. Fans of Horror Hotel might be interested in a sequel but not a necessary addition to a collection.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

two-stars

Ariel Crashes a Train

Ariel Crashes a TrainAriel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Cole
on March 12, 2024
ISBN: 0593644662
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Fiction, Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

With her best friend Leah taking off for the summer and her sister Mandy away at college, Ariel is left alone spending another summer working at Wildwood carnival feeling trapped in her own body and with her religious and emotionally detached parents.  Ariel is also trying to keep “the crocodile” at bay–the voice that compells her to push the old lady into traffic at the bus stop and to send the children’s train ride straight off its tracks. While she tries to hide her intrusive thoughts and odd behavior from her new friends and colleagues, Ariel reaches a tipping point and learns that the crocodile is really OCD and that it doesn’t have to control her life.

This novel in verse is a raw and gripping portrayl of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Being privy to Ariel’s inner turmoil is jarring at times but it is also honest which will speak to teen readers. In addition to mental illness, discussions of gender, religion, and race are interwoven into the story. It is ultimately about the journey to self-love, self-acceptance, and allowing yourself to find happiness. 

Grades 9-12

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

five-stars