The Boy Who Lost His Spark

The Boy Who Lost His SparkThe Boy Who Lost His Spark by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, Maggie O'Farrell
Published by Walker Books on 4/1/25
ISBN: 1536233935
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Jem is not happy that he and his family have moved from the city to a small village.  His younger sister, on the other hand, loves it, and believes that noukas, little fluffy creatures, live in the hill in their village.  These ancient creatures cause mischief throughout the village, but Jem is too unhappy to believe in them.  He instead believes his teacher who says the village hill used to be a volcano and contains nothing but rock, and is adamant that nothing lives there.  However, Jem starts to believe in them when he turns in his volcano assignment at school and his teacher discovers drawings of little creatures that Jem definitely did not draw. Slowly Jem notices things and starts to believe, even meeting one of the cute kitten-like creatures.  Around the nouka Jem feels settled, able to be calm and in control.  Sensing it is lonely, and believing that noukas love fire, Jem and his family build a fire in what used to be the crater of the volcano.  

Jem wants to repay the noukas for all the favors it has given the people of the village.  It is at this first fire that Jem feels like he belongs and doesn’t want to move anywhere else. This fire soon becomes a tradition in the village, a way for the community to come together and celebrate the little creature living in the hill, who creates mischief to bring happiness.

This book would be ideal for public libraries.  It is a perfect read aloud for children who are no longer as interested in picture books, but might not be ready for a longer chapter book.  This book has classic looking illustrations of various sizes on most pages, adding a little whimsy to the story.  Occasionally the illustrations are full spreads or a striking color to emphasize the content of the story.  Readers will also notice faded Gaelic text at the bottom of most pages, tying into the Gaelic poem and song found at the end of the story.  The heavy book and shiny pages also makes this a good book to give a child as a gift.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

The Unlikely Heroes Club

The Unlikely Heroes ClubThe Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster
Published by Candlewick Press on 4/1/25
ISBN: 1536239046
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Oli is spending his spring break at Hero Club, a weeklong program for autistic children to learn social and self care skills.  On the way to his first session, Oli sees a dog that needs rescuing, but he freezes in the moment and doesn’t help the dog.  The guilt stays with Oli and he tries to think of ways to help the dog.  He is relieved to find out that other kids in the Hero Club have also seen this dog.  None of the adults believe the kids, so they decide to come up with a plan to rescue the dog on their own, before the building it is living in is demolished.  It’s a risky plan, especially for Oli, but he does not want to disappoint his new friends.

This chapter book is a great mirror/window book about neurodiversity.  Readers will enjoy the suspense of the Heroes trying to rescue the dog, but the backdrop of the book are the sessions where the kids work hard to learn about things autistic people often struggle with such as identifying emotions, making and keeping friends, and quieting their minds and bodies.  All of the main characters are neurodiverse, so they don’t stand out negatively in any way.  In fact, each character is celebrated for the unique skills they contribute to the dog’s rescue.  Oli also has a supportive and loving family, and his relationship with his sister is sweet to witness.  This book is highly recommended for any school or public library that has 3rd-5th grade readers.  

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Wolf Girl: Into the Wild

Wolf Girl: Into the WildInto the Wild (Wolf Girl, #1) by Anh Do
Series: Wolf Girl #1
Published by Harper on 3/18/25
ISBN: 9780063346024
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Wolf Girl: Into the Wild starts with an unexplained crisis that drives Gwen and her family from their home. When an accident separates them, Gwen must learn to survive on her own in the wild.  She forms a pack with abandoned dogs and Puppy, who turns out to be a wolf.  With them, she learns to hunt, using materials found in cars left on the road.  They keep each other safe, working together to stay alive.  They even rescue an eagle who joins their unusual family.  After years on her own, Gwen decides to try to find her family.  The book ends on a cliffhanger, when the first humans Gwen sees since the accidents, kidnap her, separating her from the animals.

This fast paced dystopian novel would be ideal for readers who enjoy survival stories.  The content isn’t graphic, but some readers might find parts of it disturbing.  There are lots of black and white illustrations and bolded, enlarged words and phrases throughout the text.  The reading level would probably be most appropriate for third or fourth graders, but the content might be better suited for older kids.   Readers who enjoyed this book will want to read the others in the trilogy.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

two-stars

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower FairiesFairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Lenny Wen, Megan McDonald
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536201421
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Young Eliza rushes home from school to dive into an imaginary world of fairies, magic, and adventure. After crawling through a tiny door beneath her stairs, she discovers a group of fairies, each named after a different flower. After tumbling through a forbidden hedge, she is faced with a curse cast by a pair of witches and must hurry to find a solution.

The creator of the Judy Moody series brings us a new option to replace or renew early chapter series about fairies. Wen’s charming illustrations are the star in this book, with whimsical and botanical elements gracing the pages. The text itself is sometimes captivating: “Magic is not loud. It is soft, like the fur of a rabbit. Or a whisper.” At other times the wording is somewhat flowery and may be confusing for the targeted age group.

Recommended for libraries who are looking to replace older fairy titles in their first chapter section. Grades 1-2.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

three-stars

All the Best Dogs

All the Best DogsAll the Best Dogs by Emily Jenkins
Published by Delacorte Press on 11/05/24
ISBN: 0593650433
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

All the Best Dogs is a fun book about a group of kids from the same Brooklyn neighborhood…and their dogs.  There’s a lot for readers to keep track of, so fortunately the novel starts off with a labeled picture of the people and their dogs and a map of their neighborhood.  Readers learn right away that the book centers around a wild weekend in June that ends happily.  The story follows four kids, their families, and their dogs. Ezra and Kaleb have a strained friendship and aren’t speaking to each other and then Ezra’s dog goes missing. Jilly is living with her aunt and starting a new and easier life while her mother is in rehab.  And May-Alice is in the school play, but is very nervous and struggles to be understood by her classmates.

What ensues is a fun story, sometimes told from the perspective of the dogs, focusing on the common struggle for sixth graders to navigate their relationships with their peers, while also dealing with family life at home.  This book is perfect for elementary school readers.  The plot is fun and relatable and the chapters are relatively short.  There are black and white illustrations throughout the book that really show the emotions of the characters while breaking up the text.  Although some difficult topics are mentioned, it is done in an age appropriate way that won’t upset sensitive readers.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

On the Block

On the BlockOn the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh
ISBN: 0593648447
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“On the Block: Stories of Home” is a collection of short stories about kids living in an apartment building and their different cultures. Edited by Ellen Oh and featuring stories written by many popular middle grade authors, each chapter in this book is about a different kid living in the building and their various situations. All of the stories are interesting and the characters are very realistic. The only critique is that the stories didn’t really feel like they were all set in the same apartment building, but each chapter is great on its own. A must-buy for all middle grade fiction collections.

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

four-stars

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond

The Curse of the Dead Man’s DiamondThe Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell
on September 17, 2024
ISBN: 0593707605
Genres: Adventure, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond” is a middle grade paranormal fiction novel about Charlotte, a girl who is forced to move with her dad from New York to a small town in Florida. Their new house is creepy and supposedly haunted by ghosts. There is supposed to be a cursed diamond hidden in the house and Charlotte wants to find it and sell it to move back to New York.

The point of view of the book switches between Charlotte and the ghosts. Kids who have reluctantly had to move will empathize with Charlotte and her single-minded desire to go back “home.” A funny and not really frightening story, this is an additional purchase for libraries where paranormal fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

The Daggers of Ire

The Daggers of IreThe Daggers of Ire by J.C. Cervantes
Published by HarperCollins on May 3, 2024
ISBN: 0063312077
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Daggers of Ire” is a middle grade fantasy by J.C. Cervantes. Esme is a 12-year-old dealing with the aftermath of her mother’s death. Her father is grieving heavily and all Esme wants is to fix things. As a bruja (a witch) with chaos magic, Esme is not supposed to use her powers, but when all the witches in the town suddenly disappear, she must go on a quest to get them back.

The book does a lot of worldbuilding in the beginning and eventually becomes a fast-paced fantasy adventure. Esme and her friends are funny and readers will enjoy as they fight to save their town against evil. A recommended purchase for middle grade fantasy collections, especially where Cervantes’ books are popular.

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

four-stars

The Creepening of Dogwood House

The Creepening of Dogwood HouseThe Creepening of Dogwood House by Eden Royce
Published by Walden Pond Press on July 30, 2024
ISBN: 006325140X
Pages: 257
Genres: Horror, Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

An atmospheric Southern Gothic horror novel for middle grade readers. Roddie has lost his mother in a car accident and is bereft. He has been remanded to the state to wait for his mother’s next of kin to claim him. This happens to be his mother’s sister, Aunt Angie along with her husband Erik. The two become his guardians and who move him to his mother’s childhood home Dogwood House, which has been vacant and is in disrepair. Roddie never heard his mother mention this house or that  she fled from it when she was a young woman. But something is definitely not right in this creepy place. With a deft hand, Royce takes us along with Roddie as he is pulled into the dark horror of the creature who feeds off hair and takes over the memories of those it steals from. Strong adult characters who care for and listen to Roddie, along with a strong sense of place, make this hoo-doo-infused narrative a satisfyingly chilling read.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars
Love Requires Chocolate

Love Requires Chocolate

Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield
on August 20, 2024
ISBN: 0593571541
Genres: Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Love Requires Chocolate” is a YA romance novel by Ravynn K. Stringfield. Whitney is a Black American teen who is doing a semester abroad in Paris. She has a huge list of must-dos while she is there, as well as creating a play about her idol, Josephine Baker. Things aren’t shaping up the way she pictured: her roommates are standoffish and her French tutor, an older French teen, Thierry, is grumpy and only doing it to end his suspension from the soccer team. They strike a bargain where Thierry will help her with her list and she will give him a good review to have him reinstated. Lots of fun scenes where we learn about Paris. I enjoyed Stringfield’s attention to the Black history of Paris. Some parts of the plot seem a bit rushed, but the book is a happy and engaging romance. An additional purchase for YA romance collections.

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

three-stars