Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Go with the Flow

Go with the FlowGo with the Flow by Karen Schneemann, Lily Williams
Published by First Second on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 1250305721
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

When new student Sasha has the blood from her period soak through her white pants at school, three friends come to her rescue. As they enter the girls’ bathroom, they come to find that the menstrual product dispenser is empty (again). This event spurs the four high school friends become advocates for equality and access to female health products. The main characters are inclusive and diverse, representing different skin colors, sexual orientations, body types, and personalities, and allow just about any reader to see a glimpse of themselves in at least one of the characters. The monochromatic red illustrations are eye catching and engaging. Author’s note and informative pages about menstruation and activism are provided at the end of the book. Go with the Flow is an empowering book that aims to destigmatize menstruation. Highly recommended for all, regardless of one’s identified gender. Recommended for ages 10+.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

five-stars

Outside in

Outside inOutside In by Deborah Underwood; Cindy Derby
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on April 14, 2020
ISBN: 1328866823
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for cream consideration.  In an ode to nature and being outside, Underwood weaves descriptions of how the Outside influences us in everyday ways enhanced and nuanced with the beautiful watercolor wash illustrations by Derby.  Following a dark haired girl from the car into the house, The Outside beckons  her (and us) with flashes through the window, “tap-taps on the roof” and smells.  It feeds us, clothes us, provides a natural clock and steals inside with the help of spiders, bugs and snails.  The illustrations demand more than one reading to see the changes in space, details and the emotion within each scene.  Underwood uses the simple amount of text to entice readers to think about how the outside calls to us and the girl goes outside to nature in the end.  Satisfying, thought- provoking and art inspiring.  Suitable for readers in prek-3.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

 

five-stars

The List of Things That Will Not Change

The List of Things That Will Not ChangeThe List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
Published by Wendy Lamb Books on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 1101938099
Pages: 224
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

10 year old Bea splits her time between her mom and her dad who lives with his boyfriend.  She has acclimated well to the split and gets along well with her new family members.  However, she seems to have some anger issues that she’s seeing a therapist for.  Her therapist helps her to accept her faults and learn that good people can do bad things, and that doesn’t make them bad.  Between dealing with her eczema, her anxieties and the changes in her life, she sets a good example for how to make it through the tween years.  Stead’s characters are incredibly authentic, and even the secondary characters are pretty well developed.  Recommended for ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

Dragon Hoops

Dragon HoopsDragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Published by First Second on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 1626720797
Pages: 446
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

Dragon Hoops is the new graphic novel illustrated and written by Gene Luen Yang. Hoops is an interesting blend of memoir, sports history, and journalism. Yang reflects on his journey as a writer, he illustrates the beginnings of basketball and weaves the story of the Dragons’ basketball team and its players at the high school where he works in Oakland, CA. In less adept hands, these three threads could be confusing, but Yang is an expert and uses it to build suspense. Readers will be on the edge of their seats waiting to follow the Dragons’ battle for the state basketball title. The extra Notes section at the back of the book is a great addition. Yang adds even more information about the Dragons’ players and team; it should not be overlooked by the reader. The Bibliography is also a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of basketball. Recommended for Grades 7 and up for fans of basketball or of Yang’s previous work. 

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Call Me American: The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali Immigrant

Call Me American: The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali ImmigrantCall Me American: The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali Immigrant by Abdi Nor Iftin, Max Alexander
Published by Delacorte Press on 2020
ISBN: 198489711X
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the adapted edition of Iftin’s adult memoir, Call Me American. Iftin’s story is one of perseverance and hope. It is the search for a better life, defined in whatever terms one can. Iftin thought that living in America was the best possible thing for him, so he worked and planned and, with a little luck thrown in, made it happen. And Iftin loves America and appreciates the opportunities and education and freedom found here, but America was not as magical as Iftin had built it up in his head (with some help from American action movies). His book is honest and his insights resonate. He is a gifted storyteller who draws the reader in and never lets go. There are a few intense moments in the book, but on the whole this one could be handed to a middle school reader on up. Highly recommend.

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

five-stars

Lucky Caller

Lucky CallerLucky Caller by Emma Mills
Published by Henry Holt & Company on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 1250179653
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

High school senior Nina is taking a radio broadcast class purported to be the most fun elective to finish off her high school career. While her dad is a deejay in another state, Nina knows nothing of the radio business. As it turns out, a childhood friend is also taking the class. The problem is that we discover early on that something has caused friction in Nina and Jamie’s relationship.  As luck would have it, they end up in the same group.  Through working together on the show, Nina comes to terms with her past poor behavior. The group has struggles but eventually gets themselves an unlikely public following–fans of a 90s metal band. They get themselves into a bind but it ties itself up nicely by the end, through very little effort on the part of the characters.

Nina’s family is also dealing with an absentee father and an incoming step-father. Interpersonal strife is abundant. By the end, Nina is in a much better place with most of them. While all the major characters are high school seniors, the tone of the book feels much younger.  Recommended for ages 13+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

Girl, Unframed

Girl, UnframedGirl, Unframed by Deb Caletti
Published by Simon Pulse on June 23, 2020
ISBN: 1534426973
Pages: 357
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

As if growing girls and teens do not face enough challenges Caletti has given readers a riveting story that goes unmatched.  Sidney returns to her mother’s house for the summer and finds that everything about herself, her environment and her mother has changed.  Mom is a Hollywood star who has a new somewhat shady boyfriend.  The character has left childhood behind and is struggling to find her way as a young woman; her internal desires and ultimate choices are not surprising.   This novel contains social and family problems that plague our world and may help some readers who suffer such situations.  The storyline is part mystery, part thriller and definitely a coming of age tale.  Family loyalty, abusive behavior, and sexual awareness are reoccurring issues that may not be totally resolved.

Relationships with Sidney’s best friend and a love interest add to this compelling story.  High School libraries and public library YA rooms need to have this book added to their shelves.  Fans of the author will be delighted with this novel.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

A Pinch of Magic

A Pinch of MagicA Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison
Series: Pinch of Magic #1
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on February 7, 2019 U.K. /U.S. August 2020
ISBN: 0358193319
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is such a wonderful story. It is so well written from the beginning to the end. There are three sisters who live with their grandmother on the Isle of Crowstone. A family curse looms over them. They are not able to leave their island home. If they leave, they will die. Each sister is her own person with her own strengths and weaknesses. Betty is adventurous, Fliss, the oldest, is beautiful and flirtatious, and Charlie is full of energy and surprises. The grandmother is caring and intriguing. She makes frequent visits to the prison and has tried to protect her granddaughters. Betty is determined to get to the bottom of things. The three sisters make a great team on their quest to break their family curse. I highly recommend this fairy tale like story of full adventure, magic, and mystery. This is the first of three in The Pinch of Magic series originally published in the U.K.

Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

five-stars

Gamayun Tales I

Gamayun Tales IGamayun Tales I by Alexander Utkin, Lada Morozova
Published by Nobrow on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 191062067X
Pages: 184
Genres: Folklore
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is fabulous. I tell everyone who asks about graphic novels to borrow this; I can’t stop gushing about this series. This collection holds three previously released graphic novels: The King of Birds; The Water Spirit and Tyna of the Lake. I can’t even begin to describe how beautifully it’s illustrated, and I would rate it five stars on the illustrations alone, but it also weaves three traditional Russian folktales together seamlessly. I would add a star if I could for the domovoy character, Fyodor. It’s accessible enough for fourth graders but sophisticated enough for high school so anyone looking to teach Slavic mythology should have this.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

You Were Never Here

You Were Never HereYou Were Never Here by Kathleen Peacock
Published by HarperTeen on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 0063002515
Pages: 400
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Cat has been sent back to her tiny Canadian hometown for the summer by her dad following an as yet unknown to us event in NYC.  She hasn’t been there since she left after sharing a kiss with her best friend, Riley, and seeing his deepest fear.  Turns out  Cat can see people’s fears and desires when she touches anyone’s skin.  She discovers that Riley has been missing for 3 months, and his brother assumes he’s dead.  His brother knows  Cat’s secret and asks her to help him solve the mystery.  Peacock sets us up for a well-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns and a surprising ending.  Not just a mystery, Cat takes us along with her as she learns self-acceptance and forgiveness.  Recommended for grades 7+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars