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

Louder Than Hunger

Louder Than HungerLouder Than Hunger by John Schu
Published by Candlewick Press on March 5, 2024
ISBN: 1536229091
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Eighth-grader Jake is tormented by The Voice in his head who tells him to eat less, exercise more, and that he is unworthy of love and undeserving of anything good. He enters an inpatient treatment program at Whispering Pines Hospital where he refuses to participate in therapy sessions and resists treatment, continuing to rely on The Voice. In addition to anorexia nervosa, Jake is also diagnosed with depression and OCD and he finds himself in a one-step-forward, two-steps-back recovery cycle set in the late 90’s. The story ends on a hopeful note as Jake truly begins healing and sends The Voice packing.

This is a powerful, heart-wrenching novel-in-verse. Reading about Jake’s struggle as he goes back and forth between progress and regression is tough, but realistic. His issues with bullying, relating to his parents, self-esteem, as well as his close relationship with his grandmother will all be points of recognition for many middle school readers. This is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. 

A letter from the author checking in with his readers and recounting his own experience with anorexia is included along with resources on eating disorders. 

Grades 6-8

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

five-stars

The Girls of Skylark Lane

The Girls of Skylark LaneThe Girls of Skylark Lane by Robin Benway
Published by Harper on 10/01/2024
ISBN: 9780063311596
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Twelve year old twins Jac and Aggie move with their dads to Skylark Lane in Los Angeles.  The girls quickly befriend other neighborhood girls their age, including a girl they later learn is transgender. They join their unofficial softball team, even though drama often prevents them from practicing.  Things are going well for Jac and Aggie, but they start to realize that they don’t have as much in common as they used to.  They both have loving relationships with their fathers who are able to offer each twin advice and comfort.  This strong family bond helps them when they are forced to suddenly evacuate due to fires.  When they return, the neighborhood girls and their families rally together to support their friends who lost their home.  

This coming of age novel is told in alternating points of view of each sister. This story will resonate with 4th-6th grade girls who are going through puberty and experiencing first crushes.  The friendships the twins make are strong, and though there are misunderstandings, there are also apologies and forgiveness. This sweet and satisfying story is one of resilience, family, and friendship and would be great for any public or school library.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum,  Orono Public Library

five-stars