Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe

Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn MonroeBeauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe by Carole Boston Weatherford
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536206296
Pages: 192
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

In this verse novel, the author leads us from Norma Jeane’s cradle with an unfit mother to a string of foster homes that she never fit into. As a teenager, age 16, she married a family friend, so that she wouldn’t have to go back to the orphanage after her guardian left her alone again.

Her story brings about unknowns such as her love of books, her business sense, and many deep, dark secrets that seem to unfold as the novel progresses. Well written and easy to follow as you get wrapped up in Marilyn Monroe’s life.

Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

Little Smokey

Little SmokeyLittle Smokey by Robert Neubecker
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 3, 2019
ISBN: 1984851047
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Beautifully told and illustrated children’s book about a small forest fire fighting airplane who earns its name. Great lesson about size and how all sizes are important. Wonderful resources at the end will inspire children to learn more.

Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Saturday

SaturdaySaturday by Oge Mora
on October 22, 2019
ISBN: 0316431273
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Mother’s only day off from work is Saturday and she and her daughter, Ava, have a wonderful day planned.  When all their plans go awry, Ava is annoyed but her mother has a meltdown because of the disappointments. Ava steps up and reassures her mom that the day was special because they spent it with each other. The book is illustrated with simple cut paper collage and the girl and her mother have brown skin and dark hair. This is an important book to share with children during this pandemic when many of their special plans are canceled.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars

The Secret Garden

Based on the classic story, “The Secret Garden,” by Frances Hodgson Burnett,  this adapted version by Calista Brill is overflowing with  lush, colorful illustrations,  by Adelina LIrius, depicting well the time and setting  of this story.  Written in  a direct and straightforward manor, the telling  conveys the plot well: in such a manner that young children (ages 4-8) are able to understand  the storyline as well as  the characters” motivations and feelings.

A young girl, Mary Lennox, moves into Misselthwaithe Manor in the North of England where she is unhappy, lonely. and “cranky!”  Upon discovery of a key, she unlocks a gate which leads to an ancient  and  abandoned garden.  Along  with DIckon’s assistance (the maid Martha’s brother )  Mary works hard to bring the garden back to life.  One day, Upon  hearing crying coming from one of Misselthwaite’s  bedrooms,  Mary goes exploring and  discovers a sad and  sequestered young boy, Colin, who is the Master of Misselthwaite’s son.   Seeing that he is pale and sickly Mary tells him: “What you need, is some fresh Spring air.” Mary brings him outside and  into the garden where he begins to recover his health and thrive.   Mary, herself,  changes as she has finds  purpose  and contentment resurrecting the long forgotten  garden along with her newfound friends.

Good to use when  introducing young children to the “classic” stories.

 

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME

 

You’d Be Home Now

You’d Be Home NowYou'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
Published by Delacorte Press on September 28, 2021
ISBN: 0525708049
Pages: 400
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Main character Emory, a high school junior has always felt invisible, and so acted out in private ways by stealing small things and engaging in sexual behavior. But everything gets flipped on its head when she’s a passenger in a car accident that kills a classmate. Her overdosed brother (Joey) was also in the car driven by his friend and dealer. Joey is sent to rehab out of state while Emory has to deal with her healing injuries and the loathing of the community for the death of her classmate. Emory withdraws even more into herself as her parents expect her to be Joey’s keeper upon his return and keep him from relapsing. This novel tackles so many important issues, from self-esteem to diversity issues in English class assignments, to how addiction affects whole families and whole communities. While the story is deeply troubling, it’s an honest look at what many teens and many families go through. And since Emory’s family has a lot of money, it’s a good reminder that money truly cannot buy happiness. The author doesn’t shy away from showcasing the truth about addiction, drug use, teen sex, suicide, etc. It’s a stark look at the truth of all too many families. Recommended for all high school collections. Best for ages 14+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

Fifty-Four Things Wrong With Gwendolyn Rogers

Fifty-Four Things Wrong With Gwendolyn RogersFifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter
Published by Quill Tree Books on October 19, 2021
ISBN: 0062996630
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Fifty-Four Things Wrong With Gwendolyn Rogers

 

Gwendolyn Rogers wants to be good; she really does.  But, because of the way her brain is wired, and the fact that she isn’t neurotypical, and the way no one can determine what she has and what “initials” go with her, she is in a tough situation.  She has a single mother who loves Gwen but struggles and is forever being called, either by the school or the after-school program concerning Gwendolyn.  In 3rd-4th grade she was evaluated as part of an IEP, but it was inconclusive.  Unfortunately, Gwen saw it and has taken the comments to heart; hence the Fifty-Four things.

Gwen has a brother by a different mother who has many of the same manifestations.  But, the love between them is real.  She also has a group of loyal friends, one of whom identifies as Non-Binary.

Caela Carter takes the readers into the mind and heart of a child that so many of us see in our schools every day.  How many times have we told them to behave, be good, or try harder when, because of their conditions, they aren’t able to?

This book is set in the world of 5th grade, on the edge of middle school.  I believe this should be a Cream of the Crop contender in the upper reaches of the children’s age group.  It is excellent.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

 

five-stars

A Kind of Spark

A Kind of SparkA Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on October 19, 2021
ISBN: 0593374258
Pages: 192
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A Kind of Spark

 

Addie is an eleven-year-old girl who is on the autism spectrum and has always felt that she should change in order to make other people more comfortable.   She has a horrible teacher who never tries to understand Addie and bullies her.  Her best friend has deserted her for another girl.  But Addie has a great relationship with the school librarian and one of her sisters and she loves studying sharks.  However, when a field trip ignites Addie’s concern for the women in her community who were killed because they were different and believed to be witches, Addie fights for a memorial for them.

There is so much information on autism and what people should know to better treat those who are on the spectrum.  This is an excellent book to educate upper elementary and middle school students and Addie is such a sympathetic character. I believe it should be considered for Cream of the Crop.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

five-stars

We Can Be Heroes

We Can Be HeroesWe Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 0062885057
Pages: 368
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

We Can Be Heroes is a beautifully written book that successfully tackles multiple tough topics. The town of Bell reels after Cassie Queen is shot and killed at school by Nico Bell, her ex boyfriend and heir to Bell Firearms. The story of the aftermath is told from four different points of view, alternating between Cassie’s best friends Beck and Vivian (who was wounded in the shooting), activist podcaster Merit Logan, who is covering the shooting on her show, and Cassie herself, narrating in verse. 

 

This book addresses so many timely topics – domestic violence, gun violence, grief, trauma, friendship, misogyny – all laid bare for the reader to absorb.  Mature themes, diverse characters on a quest for vengeance and justice, stunning realism – this book will appeal to all teens and should be a staple in every library in Maine.

 

Recommended for grades 10 and up.

Lee Remick, York Middle School

five-stars

Chunky

ChunkyChunky by Yehudi Mercado
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 22, 2021
ISBN: 0062972790
Pages: 208
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

A wonderful addition to the growing autobiographical graphic memoir list for upper elementary and middle grade readers, this one from a Mexican, Jewish, fat-positive perspective. Mercado, fictionalizes his struggle with weight due to a health issue. His protagonist, Hudi, visits a doctor who recommends that he exercise in an effort to get in shape, so his parents, particularly his athletic father, encourage him to try sports. Hudi is better at comedy than at catching a ball, or throwing a ball, or stopping a ball, or basically at anything sports related, but Hudi has a winning attitude and a willingness to try. After a few moments of sadness that he has to trade in his dreams of theater for a uniform, Hudi picks himself up and resolves to try. This is when his imaginary mascot, not imaginary friend, imaginary mascot, shows up. Chunky is there to cheer Hudi on in all of his athletic endeavors. He is also there to remind him that it’s okay to be funny and to want to pursue a dream of bright lights and easy laughs. Hudi has an indominable spirit and his lack of athletic prowess and injury-prone experiences never get him down. But when he finds a sport that he is actually good at but which compromises who he is, he alienates his biggest fan and finally understands that he has to find activities that make him happy and feed his heart even if they don’t help shrink his belly. Wonderful, bright illustrations and a funny bit about the changing posters in Hudi’s room depending on which sport he is attempting to play will engage readers and leave them chuckling. Give to fans of El Deafo, Short & Skinny, Smile, or New Kid. Cream of the Crop nominee.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

Atticus Caticus

Atticus CaticusAtticus Caticus by Kara Kramer, Sarah Maizes
Published by Candlewick Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 153620840X
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Get ready for a rousing storytime with this energetic, purr-fect
picture book featuring Atticus the amazing cat-ticus!

The rhyming and rollicking text brings you into the day in the life of this spirited, loveable cat. The question and answer format will be a big hit with the littles. The illustrations are bold and bright. The scribbly depiction of Atticus is both realistic in its depiction of cat behavior and yet whimsical in spirit! A perfect balance of text with uncluttered layouts that show “just” the right amount of illustrations leaving plenty of soothing, calm space that offsets the actions of the endearing cat!

A definite cream nomination, I hope to see Atticus back in a follow up picture book.
An enjoyable read for all ages. And, an amazing must-read for cat lovers and children ages 3 and up!

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

five-stars