Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

War is Over

War is OverWar Is Over by David Almond, David Litchfield
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536209864
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

So well written and illustrated, War is Over is bound to be a new classic.  The story takes place during WWI in an English town where the women work in a munitions factory while the men are off fighting the war.    John is a sensitive boy who questions the situation attempting to find an answer to his one question: when will the war end?  Almond had provided readers with a text full of historic information, personal struggle and the seeds of peace.  Readers may begin to question the validity of conflict, blind obedience to negative instruction and the beliefs of conscience objectors.

Litchfield’s illustrations are mostly done in gray scale, adding another layer of sadness to the text.  It is so difficult to think of children playing in a war environment, yet leaves that turn to birds that turn to bombs helps to illuminate the text.

John has an out of body experience where he meets with a young boy living in Germany.  The richness of this interaction adds to the deep compassion and desire for peace that this book provides to readers.   While this may not be the perfect book for all students it belongs in the media center of all intermediate and middle schools.   In addition it is a necessary purchase for all public libraries.

Sunny

SunnySunny by Celia Krampien
Published by Roaring Brook Press on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 125031660X
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Sunny sees the good in situations where others simply complain — the rain, being carried away by a strong gust of wind, being late to school, etc. This is a sweet book about making the best of otherwise unfavorable situations. I love the positive message in this book, but I love even more that it shows that it’s ok to cry when you need it. The illustrations are fairly monochromatic with yellow highlights — Sunny’s umbrella, for example. This is a great book to share with kids of all ages as the message is a really good one. Recommended for kids 2 and up and for consideration for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

Water Bears

Water BearsThe Water Bears by Kim Baker
on April 21, 2020
ISBN: 1984852205
Genres: Fantasy, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Newt Gomez lives on an island, and he survived a bear attack. He still has dreams about the attack, and he’s still physically healing as well. When he and a friend find a bear statue on the beach, and when the statue appears to grant wishes, things get interesting. Newt is ready to move on from island life, but the lessons he learns from his friends (and their interactions with the bear) may change his mind.

A little bit of magic, a lot of frienship, and a food truck with a giant rooster on it make this an all around entertaining read. The story felt a bit slow at times, but the plot, character development, and overall message are good. It also does a great job of exploring the challenges of overcoming trauma. A gentle coming of age story with a hint of magic, this book will appeal to a wide audience. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Summer Song

Summer SongSummer Song by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek
Published by Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 0062866133
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The last in Henkes’ season series is both striking in eye appeal and language.  Beginning with an invitational poem printed on the jacket this story engages young readers.  The writer and illustrator demonstrate that obviously summer is a time of color, music, wonder, and adventure.  Importance is placed on green growing plants but other colors of the season are not ignored.  Readers may find themselves whispering as a youngster lays quietly in the grass listening to small creatures. Yet on the following two-page spread children will fly around the room following imaginary fireflies.

Summer Song is a very pleasing story of our natural environment complete with many animals.  This reader is captivated by the adorable white cat.  Which creature will other readers fall in love with? The illustrations are wonderful, perfectly matching the text as they flow across the pages.  As a librarian I looked for concept books that explored the seasons.  I am glad to add this title to my favorite list of seasonal books where In the Middle of the Fall stands at the top.  Add to all public libraries and to K classrooms and primary media centers.  Also purchase for pre-schools and day care centers where seasonal changes are introduced.

five-stars

Prairie Lotus

Prairie LotusPrairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
Published by Clarion Books on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 132878150X
Pages: 272
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Accurate historical portrayal and honest emotional responses to prejudice makes this a total winner.  Once again Park offers readers a complex yet readable story that reveals a specific slice of history.  In this title the setting is the American West during a time known to readers via the Little House on the Prairie series.  Hanna however is half Chinese in an otherwise all white town where she is not welcome.  The dialog reveals a young girl with high goals and deep commitment to her personal future.  Readers will see that everyday there is a challenge yet Hanna is a strong character who becomes a beloved friend.

In a time of social justice demonstrations and a pandemic citizen of 2020 are aware of the hurt that blind hate creates.  This title is just in time to help intermediate students understand how bias effects children and reveals that bullies come in all sizes and ages.    Add this excellent new novel to all public libraries and to intermediate and middle school media centers.  Gift to Little House fans to expose them to better researched materials and writing style.

five-stars

How to Disappear Completely

How to Disappear CompletelyHow to Disappear Completely by Ali Standish
Published by HarperCollins on April 28, 2020
ISBN: 0062893289
Pages: 384
Genres: Fantasy, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Emma notices white spots on her skin soon after her beloved grandmother dies. On top of being the new kid at school, she is diagnosed with vitiligo — a loss of color in the skin. As she learns to live with her new condition and the bullying that results, she learns more about her grandmother and the fantastical stories she shared with Emma. Emma and her grandmother spent lots of time in the nearby spinney (a small forest) and wrote stories together in a journal hidden in a tree hollow. After her grandmother dies, someone keeps writing with Emma. With the help of her new friend Fina, Emma tries to identify the mysterious writer. Readers will enjoy the fairy tale that unfolds in the journal. This is a beautifully written gentle middle grade book about family, family secrets, and resilience.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

From the Desk of Zoe WashingtonFrom the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 006287585X
Pages: 304
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

On Zoe’s 12th birthday, she finds a letter from her biological father who she has never met because he was sent to prison before she was born. She begins corresponding with him although she knows that her mother and stepfather would not approve. Her grandmother discovers the letters and ends up helping Zoe but promises that they will have to tell her Mom soon. As Zoe learns about her father, she also learns that African-American men are not always treated fairly by our legal system. She begins to investigate his role in the crime. Could he be innocent? This is also a story about dreams — Zoe loves to bake and wants to be a professional baker — and a good school/friendship story. Zoe is navigating the new world of middle school and changing friendships while getting to know her father. While this book covers challenging and timely topics, Marks writes with a lightness that makes this a great book for young people to start learning about these issues.  Now I need to find a cupcake and I wish I could eat it with my new friend Zoe!

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Three Things I Know are True

Three Things I Know are TrueThree Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley
Published by HarperTeen on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 0062908022
Pages: 469
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a beautiful YA (for middle/high school age readers) novel-in-verse about loss and hope set in a former mill town on the Kennebec River in rural Maine. Soon to be 16-year-old Liv tells the story of caring for her brain-damaged brother Jonah after a shooting accident at his best friend’s house across the street. Liv’s mother is suing Clay’s father, a gun advocate who “always says What good is a gun if it isn’t loaded?” (pp. 266-267). Liv has trouble focusing in school and spends most of her time helping the home nurses care for Jonah and trying to connect with Jonah’s best friend and his mother.  Debut author Culley perfectly captures life in rural Maine and gives readers much fodder for discussion, from changing communities to gun ownership.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier

Astronauts: Women on the Final FrontierAstronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani, Maris Wicks
Published by First Second on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 1626728771
Pages: 176
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a fascinating graphic novel of the story of the first women astronauts, from cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova to Sally Ride to Mary Cleave. This is not only an interesting and informative look at the world of space flight and scientific experiments in space, it is also the history of women’s equality. The text is funny at times and the illustrations are beautiful.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Darwin’s Rival

Darwin’s RivalDarwin's Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution by Christiane Dorion, Harry Tennant
ISBN: 1536209325
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This large format book is simply gorgeous and packed with interesting information. Everyone attributes the discovery of evolution and natural selection to Charles Darwin, but another scientist/explorer named Alfred Russel Wallace arrived at the same conclusions at about the same time from his own observations. It’s like convergent evolution in the discovery of evolution!

This book chronicles Wallace’s travels and collections and shows how he arrived at the conclusion of evolution. The text is informative and well written. It isn’t overly bogged down with details so kids will remain interested throughout. It follows many of the hardships and pitfalls of his explorations, which are bound to interest readers. The illustrations really set this book apart, however. There are large illustrations on every page, and many use few and muted colors. The exceptions to this are the gorgeous and colorful illustrations of the different species of insects and birds Wallace encountered in his travels. There are dual page spreads of beetles, butterflies, and more. Give this book to science, nature, and animal lovers, and they will not be disappointed. Recommended for 3rd grade and up, and recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars