Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

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

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

The Boy Lost in the Maze

The Boy Lost in the MazeThe Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho, Kate Milner
Published by Candlewick Press on March 26, 2024
ISBN: 1536236411
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

Set in London, 17-year-old Theo wants nothing more than to find his estranged father and develop a relationship with him. After finding inspiration in the story of Theseus and his journey to find his father, Theo decides to re-write the stories of Theseus into poems for his school assignment. The chapters alternate between the six labors of Theseus and the parallel experiences of Theo as he struggles to locate his dad. Interspersed are pieces of the Minotaur’s tale, with all three characters’ stories converging at the end where they reconcile with their pain and recognize where their journeys have brought them. 

This is a beautifully written novel-in-verse accompanied by black-and-white illustrations. Theo’s pain is palpable and the storytelling element of intertwining Theseus’ trials with his own is brilliantly done. Part of this involves giving readers a choose-your-own-adventure opportunity during some of the Theseus chapters where you can decide how he responds to the challenges he faces. It is a heartbreaking read as Theo navigates his personal labyrinth but ends on a note of hope and peace for him, his family, and his mythical friends. 

Grades 9-12

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

 

five-stars

The Secret Library

The Secret LibraryThe Secret Library by Kekla Magoon
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153623088X
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

In the wake of her grandfather’s death, 11-year-old Dally lives alone with her distant, business-focused mother on their huge estate. She misses the adventures she had with her grandfather, and, despite the many luxuries that come with her family’s wealth, is lonely. Then she discovers that he left her with something, after all: the Secret Library. Though the letter he left requested that she wait until she was 21, she impatiently solves the riddle of how to find it. The library houses every secret ever told in bound volumes, and patrons who “read” them travel through space and time to be a part of the moment a given secret is made. In this way, Dally begins – without her mother knowing – to trace back the many secrets of her own family, through the past two hundred and fifty years, that have helped shape who she is. She has no idea that in the process of discovering her past, she is also opening herself to an unexpected future.

Dally is Black, as was her deceased father; her mother and grandfather present white. There is LGBTQ+ representation as well as a realistic portrayal of race issues in the historical context of the times she travelled to.

This book was replete with magic, adventure, family secrets, and the unpredictable results of choosing to take opportunities. It felt wholly original, and had twists and turns that keep the reader fully engaged. Dally is a relatable, genuine heroine who readers will root for and be stricken to leave on the last page.

Short, engaging chapters make the book hard to put down. Highly recommend for middle grade readers looking for their next magical fix or rollicking adventure story.

5 stars/cream

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Buffalo Fluffalo

Buffalo FluffaloBuffalo Fluffalo (A Buffalo Fluffalo Story) by Bess Kalb, Erub Kraan
Published by Random House on January 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593564537
Genres: Animals, Humor, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Buffalo Fluffalo has had Enuffalo! This is a fantastic story about learning to be vulnerable, written by Bess Kalb with illustrations by Erin Kraan. We start our story learning about our rough and tough buffalo character – anytime a friend comes by to offer him friendship, he repeats a rhyming mantra that scares them away. Kalb’s rhymes are comedic and enticing for kids to hear and read. At the crux of our story, a rain shower comes by to drench Buffalo Fluffalo’s “puffalo,”, and the animals see that he’s actually a small little guy. The friends, who saw through his big tough act, circle him with comfort and assure him, “you’re great how you are, no matter your size!”

A great message for all children, but especially for boys who are often bombarded with masculine ideals. Highly recommend for storytimes, since the rhyming and repetition is so engaging! Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Looking For Smoke

Looking For SmokeLooking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
on June 4, 2024
ISBN: 0063318679
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
five-stars

If you’re a fan of teens solving crime like One of Us Is Lying, Promise Boys, or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this debut is for you. While it has many similarities with these popular titles, what makes Looking For Smoke stand out is how it’s rooted in Indigenous culture and traditions. For example, the novel opens with the main characters at a Powwow where they are recipients of a giveaway. Unlike what many of us think of when we hear giveaway, this one is a Native American tradition where family members honor a dead relative by giving things away to others in need. Shortly after the giveaway the teens realize that they haven’t seen Samantha, one of the recipients. A few of them go looking and find her murdered. As the other recipients of the giveaway, they all become suspects. Told in alternating points of view this story will have you guessing who you can trust, what’s real, and who’s really behind the string of disappearances of Native women in the town. These disappearances also exemplify and bring up the important issue of MMIW (missing and murdered Indigenous women) which is thoughtfully highlighted in this story. Content warnings include domestic violence, parental neglect and abandonment, abuse, addiction, drugs and alcohol, violence, and murder. This book has five stars from me!

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

five-stars

The First State of Being

The First State of BeingThe First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
on March 5, 2024
ISBN: 0063337312
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

An engrossing middle grade science fiction novel that masterfully weaves in realistic issues like first crushes, bullies, the anxiety of making new friends, food insecurity, and grief over the death of a mentor. Michael is a good, quiet kid, but he is dealing with a lot of anxiety over his living situation and the fear that his mother will lose her job. He transfers that anxiety to the looming crisis of Y2K, the fear that the world’s infrastructure will collapse with the change to the year 2000 due to computer glitches. Michael also has to dodge a local bully, navigate a crush on that bully’s sister, who is also his babysitter, and tangle with the idea of making friends with some kindly neighborhood boys.

The science fiction element is introduced with Ridge, a boy who shows up in Michael’s apartment complex looking very out of place. As Michael gets to know Ridge, he learns that he is from the future and wasn’t supposed to use the burgeoning technology of his own time to travel back to 1999. Pages from future texts cleverly fill in plot gaps between Michael’s world and Ridge’s and add to the suspense as his family races to fix the technology that will allow Ridge to return home to his own time.

The Y2K angle felt a bit forced though Kelly does well setting her books during times of emotional resonance and, since many people lived in fear that the world’s infrastructure would be drastically affected, it works to add tension here. Starting the book in the fall prior to the new year heightens and explains some of Michael’s behaviors and informs his questionable choices as Ridge fights to get home.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars

The Fastest Drummer: Clap your hands for Viola Smith

The Fastest Drummer: Clap your hands for Viola SmithThe Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith! by Dean Robbins, Susanna Chapman
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536224863
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

In the 1930s most people didn’t believe that women could play instruments as well as men. Viola Smith proved them all wrong, playing the drums in bands all over the world. Starting as a teen, Smith did not stop playing professionally until well after her 100th birthday. Although many people alive today may not be familiar with Viola Smith, this book covers her start in her family band composed of herself and her sisters through her break onto the national stage during World War II and beyond. Viola Smith designed drum kit staging in such a way that it allowed her to be one of the fastest drummers of the Jazz and Big Swing Band eras. This warm toned and fondly written biography of an American musical icon comes to life with vivid illustrations filled with sound and movement. The author and illustrators’ love of the subject matter is clear. The illustrations use a mid century color scheme and aesthetic that is extremely visually pleasing and brings the time period to life.  The inclusion of a glossary and other resources for students to learn more about female musicians and Jazz music make this book a fantastic resource for school libraries or for classroom teachers looking to grow a picture book biography section.

Reviewed by Rebecca Duquette – Pittston Randolph Consolidated School

five-stars

Ferris

FerrisFerris by Kate DiCamillo
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231053
Pages: 226
Genres: Humor, Magical Realism, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

The summer before fifth grade, Ferris Phineas Wilkey has a lot on her plate. Her beloved grandmother, Clarisse, is seeing ghosts. Her uncle Ted has moved into the basement to paint the history of the world (he got as far as a single foot). Her father is afraid there are raccoons in the attic, and her six-year-old younger sister gets (sort of) arrested for a brazen bank robbery attempt as part of her plan to get on a Wanted poster. And that’s just the beginning.

Ferris is full of DiCamillo’s trademarks: complex words used in charming ways, repeated phrases contributing to character quirks, big themes (here include death, grief), and a plain old unusual way of looking at the world. The ending is bittersweet; tears may be shed, but overall the reader knows things will be okay for the assortment of characters we have met.

Chapters are short; DiCamillo uses language with brevity and great effectiveness, neither talking down to her audience – in fact, expecting them to really lean in to the world she creates – nor making it inaccessible by not keeping things clear. A straightforward story that also manages to be profound. Readers will enjoy Ferris’ unfortunate hair “incidents” at Aunt Shirley’s hair salon and Pinky’s attempts to emulate Houdini, as well as the more mysterious elements (such as when Charisse interprets the ghost’s long held desire to see the dining room chandelier lit).

Highly recommend. Five stars.

-Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them

One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed ThemOne Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them by Loree Griffin Burns, Jamie Green
Published by MIT Kids Press on May 14, 2024
ISBN: 1536228680
Pages: 56
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

The first book in a new nonfiction series called Discovery Chronicles. This title follows the pine processionary caterpillar and focuses on two scientists who studied it. Jean-Henri Fabre researched and wrote about this fascinating creature in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and then, a half century later, Terrence Fitzgerald picked up on Fabre’s work and refined it. The two scientists wondered why processionary caterpillars followed a leader, if they will follow a particular leader, if they use silk to make a trail, among other questions. Fitzgerald used Fabre’s earlier work to make a hypothesis and then conducted experiments to prove it. The thesis of the book is that science is a “long line of learning” and that scientists are curious people who have a wonder and then use the scientific method to test a theory (or two) and record their work for others to read and build upon. Burns does an excellent job laying out this method and provides the reader with plenty of information about the caterpillars who are the star of this title; illustrator Jamie Green adds enough visual detail to help the reader understand what it looked like to study this captivating species. Hand this to budding scientists in grades 2-5.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars