Tree of Dreams

Tree of DreamsTree of Dreams by Laura Resau
Published by Scholastic Press on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0545800889
Pages: 336
Goodreads
four-stars

Coco and her once best friend Leo enter the same dessert contest. They both make a chocolate creation and they tie for the first prize- a trip to go to the Amazon. Coco wants nothing to do with Leo (her former best friend), she only wants to find the treasure she hears whispered to her by the Ceiba Tree deep in the Amazon rain forest. Bits of magic, lots of chocolate chemistry, eating lots of chocolate (really eating a lot of chocolate) and Amazon destruction run throughout the story. I did get a bit tired of the chocolate descriptions and found the treasure a bit hard to believe. But the Amazon deforestation and it’s impact on the people and animals that live there was interesting and something that isn’t often written about in stories for children.

Reviewed by Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Maine

four-stars

Only Ashes Remain

Only Ashes RemainOnly Ashes Remain (Market of Monsters #2) by Rebecca Schaeffer
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1328863557
Pages: 432
Goodreads
four-stars

Only Ashes Remain

 

This book is a gritty horror story with extremely gruesome details.  Nita has killed many; most for the reason of keeping herself alive.  Her best friend/boyfriend, Kovit, feeds on people’s suffering, the more horrific the better.  He must have this in order to live, a fact that Nita has a hard time accepting.  Nita is searching for Fabricio throughout the book and attempts to kill him many times.  Fabricio had revealed Nita’s whereabouts to people and creatures on the Dark Web who kidnapped her, and Nita is filled with animosity towards him.  This book is the second in a trilogy and I found it somewhat hard to keep abreast of what was happening, even though explanations were given.  I’m not sure that this book stands on its own.  For horror fans and those who want to read about vampires, unicorns, (not the pleasant creatures one might be expecting), kelpies, and zannies, I would suggest reading the first book, Not Even Bones, and then continuing on with this one for an inordinate dose of horror.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Silver Meadows Summer

Silver Meadows SummerSilver Meadows Summer by Emma Otheguy
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on April 30th 2019
ISBN: 1524773239
Pages: 240
Goodreads
three-stars

Eleven year old Carolina has moved with her mother, father, and younger brother to upstate New York from Puerto Rico. They moved in with her aunt, uncle, and older cousin, Gabriela. Carolina and Gabriela are in summer camp together on a farm. Carolina is an artist. She doesn’t feel close to Gabriela at first. Gabriela seems too concerned about being popular. Carolina develops a friendship with another girl at camp whose father is an artist. This story about family relationships, friendships, and cultural heritage has well developed characters. The characters in the story grow and learn from each other with the choices they face. The author weaves in poetry from Robert Frost and two Spanish poets to enrich the story. At the end of the book there is information about these poets. Grades 3-5, reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

three-stars

Good Dog, McTavish

Good Dog, McTavishGood Dog, McTavish by Meg Rosoff, Grace Easton
Published by Candlewick Press on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1536200581
Pages: 112
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a story of a rescue dog that rescues the family that adopts him. Ma Peachey has decided that since she gets no help from the rest of family with the household chores she is giving up as a mother. She decides to pursue her interest in yoga. McTavish and eight year old Betty work together to get the Peachey family back on track. The charming black and white illustrations add to the humorous text. This short chapter book will delight readers with descriptions of the family members and how McTavish’s clever plans develop.  Grades 2-5  Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

Spy Runner

Spy RunnerSpy Runner by Eugene Yelchin
Published by Henry Holt & Company on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 1250120810
Pages: 352
Goodreads
four-stars

Jake is twelve years old and lives with his mother near an Air Force base. It is early in the 1950s during the Cold War. His father was declared Missing in Action during World War II. Jake’s mother decides to rent out a room since they could use more income. The renter is Russian and works in photography which greatly concerns Jake. He thinks the renter is a spy and feels he has to find out more about this situation. Jake’s best friend’s dad who is a major in the Air Force becomes involved. This novel is action packed and will keep readers guessing right up to the very end. The numerous black and white grainy and out of focus photographs add to the mystery.  Grades 3-6        Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

I Wish You The Best

I Wish You The BestI Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
Published by Push on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 133830612X
Pages: 336
Goodreads
three-stars

This is another source for older teens who feel that they are nonbinary (male or female). The pronoun for nonbinary is plural them, they, their.

Ben comes out to their parents as nonbinary. It’s winter vacation and they’re thrown out of their house with only socks on.

Ben goes to a store that still has a payphone to call his older sister. Hannah has not spoken to them or their parents in 10 years. But she comes and brings Ben to her and her husbands’ home. Her husband is a high school teacher and is able to get Ben into his school.

Ben is  struggling with an anxiety disorder, Hannah gets Ben a theraipst. Ben tries to finish their senior year without being noticed. Ben meets a special boy Nathan. They (Ben) is an artist, but their world crashes when their parents show upat the art show…

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick GNGMS Gray

three-stars

The Ice Garden

The Ice GardenThe Ice Garden by Guy Jones
Published by Chicken House on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338285335
Pages: 272
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a story of magical realism for grades 3-5.  Twelve year old Jess has extreme photosensitivity to the sun which has kept her a fixture at the hospital, needing to be completely covered when venturing outside and isolated from school or friends.  She uses story writing as a way to escape her controlled existence.  Jess has two encounters happen that allows her to expand her closed in feelings and perspective that her disease creates.   The first encounter occurs during a regular visit to the hospital when Jess wanders into the room of Davey who is unconscious.  She seems to have an immediate connection to his situation and shares stories with him, in hopes that he can hear them, whenever she visits.   The second encounter provides the magic to the story when one hot summer night she reaches her breaking point and steals outside in the night.  While at the playground, she stumbles into an ice garden where she becomes a frequent visitor and makes a friend with an ice boy.  As their friendship grows, her disease and the connections with Davey also changes, although it remains a mystery how the ice garden existed.  Was it real?  Just a story?  A hallucination?   There were some jarring shifts in Jess’s location during the demise of the ice garden making the scene confusing.  The theme and Jess’s character will hold the interest of readers and Jones’ writing is lyrical and imaginative.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

The Bolds in Trouble

The Bolds in TroubleThe Bolds in Trouble by Julian Clary, David Roberts
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1541500458
Pages: 304
Goodreads
four-stars

This addition to The Bolds series is silly and fun while being somewhat edgy.  The theme of this title centers on a fox who is stealing food from neighborhood homes.  In their humorous and caring nature the Bolds invite the fox into their home and learn that he is both a bully and rude guest.   Although a fun read this series edition does not present a good role model for family or interpersonal relationships.

Readers will love Mr. Bold’s constant jokes which are bound to bring about some adult snickers as they read aloud at bedtime.   When read with an adult, the behavior issues can be discussed with second and third grade readers.  Clary’s illustrations provide half the fun as he dresses the characters and allows them to stand upright like humans.  Young fans of the series are sure to go  looking for this title on their library and local bookstore shelves.  Add to libraries who are collecting the series.

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

four-stars

The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me

The Birds, the Bees, and You and MeThe Birds, The Bees, and You and Me by Olivia Hinebaugh
Published by Swoon Reads on January 22nd 2019
ISBN: 125019265X
Pages: 304
Goodreads
two-stars

As the title suggests, this is a sex positive, activist laden story that covers all areas of safe sex practices including issues for the LGBTQIA teen.   Lacey Burke, seventeen-year- old violist, budding composer, and volunteer doula finds that the constraints of her abstinence-only sex education class at her high school demands her response.   Armed with a brochure she has created and the support of her mom who is a nurse, she provides complete sex education to girls who meet her in the bathroom with their questions.  As unexpected feelings among Lacey and her two best friends, Theo and Evita, start creating uncertainty, the school takes clear suspension action to her distribution of condoms and sex education brochures which jeopardizes the group’s college plans and friendships.   Unfortunately, the amount of safe sex discussions becomes information overload and hijacks the storyline.   The dialog between friends seemed unrealistically “sexually” educated at times and Lacey delivering her teen friends baby was over the top, with more information than necessary for an entertaining story.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

The Secret of Zoone

The Secret of ZooneThe Secret of Zoone by Lee Edward Fodi
Published by HarperCollins on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 0062845268
Pages: 352
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a Fantasy for 3-6 grader readers who are fans of different creatures, different worlds and magic.  Ozzie, who feels neglected by his parents and lashes out at his guardian Aunt Temperance, finds himself in the fantastical and magically dangerous world of Zoone.  Zoone is the multiverse or connecting point, visualize a train station,  that allows magical creatures or citizens of different worlds to travel through doors to other worlds.   Ozzie finds himself befriended by a loveable blue Skyger named Tug and given the responsibility of being a porter at the busy transfer station on the eve of the important Wizard Council.   The fate of Ozzie’s Earth, known as Eridea in Zoone, hangs in the balance as the greedy and dangerous Crogus has been let out of isolation and with the help of a secret assistant plans to destroy Zoone.  Ozzie after many missteps and catastrophes finds his purpose in Zoone and is able to equate that awareness to his earth existence.  Most of the world building happens through an action driven plot.  The doors play a major role in the landscape, reminiscent of the many doors of Monsters, Inc.  The ending, although satisfying, sets itself up for a potential sequel.  Libraries will want to check their copies ordered.  The review copy and the copy owned by the reviewer’s library had various pages in the 200’s misplaced incorrectly.  A new copy was received in Aug 2019 and the mistakes were corrected.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars