Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Spaces Between Us

The Spaces Between UsThe Spaces Between Us by Stacia Tolman
Published by Henry Holt & Company on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 1250174929
Pages: 304
Goodreads
four-stars

The Spaces Between Us

 

Serena and Melody Grimshaw have been best friends forever.  This book examines that friendship and, when Melody is murdered in the end, the feeling Serena has that her life is now without meaning.  This book follows the lives of two girls who are starting their senior year in high school and wanting desperately to leave their failing factory town in New York state.  Readers learn about the girls’ family members and the prejudice that has always stung Melody because her family are considered trash.  Along the way there is the Homecoming dance, a stint as a cheerleader, and a trip across country that Serena takes to attempt to save Melody from a horrible boyfriend who has hired her out as a stripper.  Just when it seems that the boyfriend may be finally out of her life she first returns to him and later he follows her from California to Nevada where he strangles her.  As a background to all this drama Serena is studying upward mobility and is interviewing many people along the way in order to fulfill an independent study requirement for a Western Civilization class she had failed.  This is an excellent realistic fiction book that reads very quickly and is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Comics Will Break Your Heart

Comics Will Break Your HeartComics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks
Published by Roaring Brook Press on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 1626723648
Pages: 340
Goodreads
three-stars

Best known for her graphic novels, this YA novel is Hicks’s first foray into prose and though it is a bit uneven, it is an engaging read. The story is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet retelling  set in rural Canada and steeped in comic-book lore and lingo, which will appeal to readers who geek out at the thought of the newest superhero movie. The warring parties were the two grandfathers of the Kendrick and the Warrick families, co-creators of the Tomorrow Men comics. After a long legal battle, the Warricks now control the franchise, which has brought them fame and fortune and is about to launch a new movie. The Kendricks live in sleepy Sandford and scrape by.  High school junior Mir Kendrick wants out of Sandford and wishes that her grandfather had not lost his legal battle and that her mother had not taken a paltry monetary settlement after the death of her father to walk away from the Tomorrow Men. Handsome bad boy Weldon Warrick has been sent from Los Angeles to Sandford to live with his aunt and uncle while his father pours all of his attention and energy into the upcoming movie. The teens meet in a comic book shop, of course, and Mir saves Weldon from a beating at the hands of some local bullies.  The two feel an attraction and, in awkward teen fashion, wend their way toward one another. The romance is palpable, but only ever manifests in hand-holding and a flirtatious swimming scene thereby making this book suitable for an older middle school audience that enjoys some romance in their realistic fiction. The parents in the book are supportive and sage and unlike the Montagues and Capulets do not forbid the romance, only Weldon’s aunt warns him to stay away from the Kendricks for fear that they will hold him accountable for his grandfather’s actions. This worry is never keenly felt by the reader. In fact, the ending bends all rules of realism to give the reader a sweet, heartwarming ending. Not a must-buy but with some possible name recognition of a favorite graphic novel author, a catchy cover, and a known literary tie-in, this book is sure to circulate.

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

three-stars

How to Make Friends With the Dark

How to Make Friends With the DarkHow to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
Published by Delacorte Press on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1101934751
Pages: 421
Goodreads
four-stars

Darkness can mean a multitude of things and this title seems to incorporate everything attached to the lack of light.  What appears to be a controlling yet loving bond between mother and daughter is suddenly lost when Tiger’s mother passes away. Complicated by the lack of relatives and a recent fight Tiger is left in a horrible reality and psychological situation.

This book pulls on the heart strings and requires that a box of tissues be on hand. Tiger is a teenager who is living marginally in economic terms yet she knows love.   What society does to her is probably more real than readers will want to believe.   We all need to be aware that mental illness exist all around us and that we need to hold out a hand. Thanks to Glasgow for a revealing look at the child welfare system and the effect it has on our children. Add to high school and public library shelves.  Offer to social workers and physicians who work with depressed teens.

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

four-stars

Pretend She’s Here

Pretend She’s HerePretend She's Here by Luanne Rice
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 133829850X
Pages: 337
Goodreads
five-stars

Mega-bestselling author Luanne Rice returns with a ripped-from-the-headlines story of a girl who is kidnapped by her friend's family.Emily Lonergan's best friend died last year.
And Emily hasn't stopped grieving. Lizzie Porter was lively, loud, and fun -- Emily's better half. Emily can't accept that she's gone.
When Lizzie's parents and her sister come back to town to visit, Emily's heartened to see them. The Porters understand her pain. They miss Lizzie desperately, too.
Desperately enough to do something crazy.
Something unthinkable.
Suddenly, Emily's life is hurtling toward a very dark place -- and she's not sure she'll ever be able to return to what she once knew was real.
From New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a breathless, unputdownable story of suspense, secrets -- and the strength that love gives us to survive even the most shocking of circumstances.

Pretend She’s Here is a modern thriller which is based on a true story. Rice brings the story to an immediate climax with the kidnapping of Emily by her best friend’s parents. This is a story of loss, love, grief and intimidation. With the exception of Mr. Porter, most of the characters are compelling and on the edge of believable. Although it is hard to image such horror, situations like this do exist and evil actions like those of Mrs. Porter have been seen in our society.

This book will be well received by teens who are interested in relationships and BFF friendships. It also would make an excellent mother daughter or woman’s book group title.   The depth of feelings exhibited makes the read compelling. Compassion and fear dominate the feelings that go beyond expectations.   Add this to middle and high school media centers and to the YA collections in public libraries.

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

five-stars

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana AliThe Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
Published by Scholastic Press on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1338227017
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

Rukhsana is afraid of the consequences of being a lesbian in an extremely conservative Muslim family. All she wants is to graduate and go to Caltech with her girlfriend, Ariana. The day that her mother catches her kissing Ariana leads to her being taken to Bangladesh and being forced into a marriage that she has no interest in. To be gay in her culture is a sin and in Bangladesh, many have been beaten or even killed.

Khan brings attention to the cultural diversity that many Americanized children of immigrant families deal with, such as arranged marriages and family obligations that their peers don’t understand. Culturally, LGBTQIA and religiously diverse and emotionally intense. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Undaunted

UndauntedUndaunted (Fetch, #2) by Kat Falls
Published by Scholastic Press on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0545371023
Pages: 352
Goodreads

Lane and her father, again, enter the Feral Zone to find Rafe. According to the authorities, Rafe’s mutated blood type is the last needed to create an antigen. Lane and Everson are intent on finding him alive, but there are outside forces that would much rather not have that be the case. The last time Lane saw Rafe, he was infected and she promised to kill him when and if he turned feral. But things take a strange turn and Lane, Everson, Rafe, and an entire mutated community turn the tides.

Great for fans of dystopian and sci-fi genres. Undaunted does a great job picking up where Inhuman ended. Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

Game of Stars

Game of StarsGame of Stars (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #2) by Sayantani DasGupta
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 133818573X
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-stars

The adventures of Kiranmala continue when she has become the demon-slaying princess in her alternate dimension in the Kingdom Beyond. Her nemesis in this competition is her father, the Serpent King Sesha, who has kidnapped Prince Neel and with his brother Prince Lal, they must vanquish her father to save the Kingdom Beyond.

Fast paced, action packed with culturally diverse folk tales from the Indian culture. There are some sketches throughout the book that correlate to the chapters. Well written and a great continuation from the first book of the series.

Recommended for grades 4-7.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford

four-stars

Neil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space Cowboys

Neil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space CowboysNeil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space Cowboys (Time Twisters, #3) by Steve Sheinkin
Published by Roaring Brook Press on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 1250148979
Pages: 176
Goodreads
four-stars

Steve Sheinkin, nonfiction author extraordinaire, has a new humorous yet informative fiction series Time Twisters.  Neil Armstrong and Nat Love, Space Cowboys is the third novel following siblings Doc and Abby who have discovered a time portal in the school library connecting them to Abe Lincoln.  Frustrated that kids dreaded learning about history, Abe decided to mix things up, historically speaking, and suddenly text books across America are showing so many changes that history teachers are scratching their heads!  This time Texan cowboy Nat Love from 1869 meets astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969. The cowboy is naturally baffled by the modern technology of a space shuttle landing on the grange and Doc and Abe quickly transport themselves to try to help.  It almost works out except Nat gets on the shuttle and Buzz gets left behind. The kids, Abe and Buzz race back to NASA while Buzz and Nat land on the moon. As the Columbia comes back to earth, Buzz and Nat sneakily switch places and with the help of the kids, Nat gets back to his own time.  Textbooks return to normal…until the next time Abe gets restless! An “Un-twisting History” chapter at the end of the book explains what was real in the story. This is a quirky and funny read with short chapters, black and white cartooning throughout and a highly interesting take on reading a biography.  This series would make for great read-alouds.  

Grades 3 and up.  

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

four-stars

The Year They Fell

The Year They FellThe Year They Fell by David Kreizman
Published by Imprint on July 30th 2019
ISBN: 1250179874
Pages: 384
Goodreads
two-stars

The first thing we learn about the five main characters in this book is that that most of their parents have died in a plane crash while they’re partying. What we spend the rest of the book uncovering about them is that they’ve known each other since pre-school and were a tightknit circle of friends who fell apart once they hit high school. They all have their own secrets and burdens, but the death of their parents brings them back together. This trite use of that particular storyline is surprisingly not the most dramatic thing to happen to this group of friends in this book.  What follows the death is narcotics addiction, adultery, ADD, PTSD, a concussion, severe anxiety, sexual assault, and oh yeah, there’s a teen pregnancy thrown in at the end.  The sheer amount of drama that these teens are meant to deal with is ridiculous, and there’s so much that several storylines are left unaddressed.  It’s unsurprising to learn that the author is a former writer for several soap operas.  He sure does like the drama.  While teens may find some relatable things to pick from here, it’s just too much.  Not recommended as a purchase.  Best for ages 15 and up.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library, Augusta

two-stars

The Light Jar

The Light JarThe Light Jar by Lisa Thompson
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338216309
Pages: 240
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Light Jar” by Lisa Thompson is a middle-grade novel about a boy named Nate and his mother who are running away from domestic violence. They head to a small abandoned home that they visited long ago. The house hasn’t been used for years and is very run down. There is even a chicken living inside! Nate’s mother goes out for a quick grocery trip and doesn’t return. Nate is worried and unsure what to do. He isn’t alone for long, though: his old imaginary friend appears and he meets Kitty, a girl who lives in a large house nearby. He doesn’t trust Kitty at first, so he hides the fact that his mother is gone. Kitty asks for his help with an old scavenger hunt clue and part of the story involves Nate and Kitty figuring out what the clues mean.

This book does a very good job describing an abusive household. Gary starts out as a nice guy, but slowly starts to get worse as the relationship goes on. Once he starts living with them, he cuts them off from everyone. Nate and his mom cannot even use lights when Gary isn’t home. Nate has deep fears of the dark and has a jar of lights that he uses as a nightlight, but Gary says that the light bothers him and takes it away and smashes it. Aimed at grades 4 to 6, the plot is a bit bizarre and leaves questions, but the domestic violence situation is described very well.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars