Format: Chapter Book Fiction

A Drop of Hope

A Drop of HopeA Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338233203
Pages: 320
Goodreads
four-stars

The title and the content of this book are just what is needed right now – Hope.   Calabrese offers a suspenseful and fantastically interesting book that is full of good people in a community with a lot of hurt in need of good deeds. This title offer hope, while expressing the wishes and dreams of students and adults.

A wishing well appears to be folklore but becomes the center of the storyline.  The author has weaved several stories into the plot that help to define the primary characters and other residents of Cliffs Donnelly.  Readers become acquainted with three unlikely friends, an astounding teacher, a mysterious deceased grandfather and a very special neighbor.  Each character seems plausible and human, they become instant positive influences on the reader.

The layout is fresh, chapters have several sections with subheadings.  Grade 4-6 readers will find the layout easy to follow and enjoy the peek at content that the headings provide.  This book should find its way to  intermediate school media centers and to public library shelves.

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

four-stars

Right as Rain

Right as RainRight as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard
Published by HarperCollins on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 006265294X
Pages: 304
Goodreads
five-stars

Twelve year-old Rain and her parents move from rural Vermont to an apartment in Washington Heights in New York City. As Rain adjusts to her new life in the city, she is harboring guilt associated with the death of her older brother along with a secret that she can’t share with her parents. Grief is also ripping apart her parents’ marriage. Rain’s father spends his days in bed isolated and depressed while her mother spends long days at work. Rain spends her free time exploring her new neighborhood where she is in the minority as one of the few white residents. When Rain is recruited by the track coach to run on the girls’ relay team, she begins to make friends and feel more at home. Stoddard weaves a lot of issues into the story including themes of grief, friendship, acceptance, family and community. The book eloquently captures the overwhelming feelings related to loss and how people deal with their grief in different ways. At one point the story teeters on the edge of becoming a “white savior” book where the white main character helps save the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood community center from demise, but the book ends up striking the right balance by the end. Give this book to readers who enjoyed Patina by Jason Reynolds and The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish. (Grades 4-6) Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

The Strangers

The StrangersThe Strangers (Greystone Secrets, #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 0062838377
Pages: 416
Goodreads
four-stars

Siblings Chess, Emma and Finn Greystone live in the suburbs with their mother. Chess is a bit more serious and reserved than his siblings. Emma spends her time solving math problems for fun while young Finn can be a goofball at times. When Emma notices twenty-three “weird things” in one day, she begins to worry that something might be wrong. That same evening,  the Greystones are startled when a news story details the kidnapping of three children in Arizona. The kidnapped children share the same names and ages as Chess, Emma and Finn. After hearing the news of the kidnapping, Mrs. Greystone mysteriously disappears leaving the children with another family in town. Out of concern for their mother’s safety, the Greystone children investigate the strange occurrences and are shocked by what they discover. The narrative switches from Chess, to Emma and Finn giving readers a sense of what each character is thinking and feeling. The blend of mystery, adventure and fantasy will appeal to many Haddix fans. A sense of excitement builds as the characters solve codes to help locate their mother. Margaret Peterson Haddix’s new middle grade series will keep readers guessing right up until the end. If you add The Strangers to your library collection, be prepared to buy the next book in the series when it hits shelves. (Grades 4-7)

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School, Falmouth

four-stars

You Owe Me A Murder

You Owe Me A MurderYou Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 1328519023
Pages: 368
Goodreads
four-stars

Kim is stuck on a group trip to London with her ex-boyfriend, Connor, and his new girlfriend. Their flight is delayed and with no friends in the group, Kim’s wait in the airport is interminable. Then along comes Nicki. At first, Nicki is the friend and confidant that Kim needs to get over Connor. Nicki is an independent and ambitious Londoner but she has her own issues with her alcoholic mother. When Nicki jokes that they could help each other out by committing murder, Kim laughs it off. Then the trip has barely begun and Connor is killed. Kim believes she saw Nicki there just before it happened. In fact, Kim begins to see Nicki everywhere and she begins to wonder if Nicki was really joking about committing murder. Not only that, but Kim’s admission that she sometimes lies to make herself more interesting adds even more to this twisty plot. Readers will not know if they can trust Kim’s version of the events. Cook’s fast-paced, suspenseful novel is the YA equivalent of a Patricia Highsmith and Gillian Flynn book. Readers should be advised to settle in with a snack when they start this book because they will be unable to put it down! Recommended for Grades 8 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School 

four-stars

Searching for Stinkodon

Searching for StinkodonJudy Moody and Friends: Searching for Stinkodon by Megan McDonald
Published by Candlewick Press on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 0763699977
Pages: 64
Goodreads
three-stars

The newest title in the Judy Moody & Friends series brings together two beloved things, prehistoric animals and Judy’s younger brother, Stink, who has his own series of books. Titles in this series are aimed at emerging readers. With short chapters, large, clear font, and plenty of colorful illustrations (here done by Erwin Madrid in the style of original illustrator Peter Reynolds). After hearing of other backyard fossil discoveries, Stink is determined to find a Smilodon tooth in his backyard. Judy, worried for her brother’s sanity and the safety of her house as Stink digs more and more holes, decides to help matters by planting a shark tooth in the yard for him to find. Instead, Stink finds a different bone and readers who are paying attention will know that it is the bear claw lost by Stink months before. But Stink has forgotten he lost this bear claw and imagines his face on the cover of “Science Kid” thanks to his “amazing” discovery. The book may leave serious, science sticklers unsatisfied since a Smilodon tooth and a bear claw are not in the same time period, but it is a humorous read and one in which a kid has an idea, executes it, and is rewarded for his effort. Add to collections with other JM&Friends books or to those where Stink is a known and loved character.

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

three-stars

Opposite of Always

A sort of Groundhog Day meets Romeo and Juliet love story in which two teens fall in star-crossed, ill-fated love.  After Kate dies, Jack’s world is shattered, until he wakes up one day and realizes he’s living his life all over again, starting before he met Kate and working forward.  Does he have the power to change the outcome?  How do his actions affect the outcome?  What ripples can subtle shifts in this timeline create?  This debut novel about love, life, and our choices will grip readers ages 14-16.

 

Review by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote SunriseThe Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Published by Henry Holt & Company (BYR) on January 8th 2019
Pages: 352
Goodreads
five-stars

In Dan Gemeinhart’s The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, readers dip their toes into the unforgettable world of Coyote and her father, Rodeo, who have been on the road for five years, traveling wherever they want in their home, Yager – a worn schoolbus converted into a mobile living space.  Gemeinhart’s knack for accessing the inner thinking of adolescents shines again in this heart-wrenching read.  As the story progresses, readers learn that Coyote and her father are on the run from their emotions after the tragic death of Coyote’s mother and sisters.  While driving from place to place feels freeing at first, Coyote soon realizes that she misses the stable feeling of “home.”  Along the way, Coyote and Rodeo begin to pick up other world-weary travelers and embark on a memorable, special quest.  This book will leave an imprint on readers’ hearts.  Ideal for readers ages 10-13, though I think many others would love it.

Review by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

five-stars

One-Third Nerd

One-Third NerdOne-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko, Églantine Ceulemans
Published by Wendy Lamb Books on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1524718882
Pages: 224
Goodreads
four-stars

Fifth grader Liam , a self proclaimed nerd knows 5th grade could be rough and wants to impress the new kid, Moses, in the worst way. Liam’s character has much to offer in this story. The thoughtfulness he has towards his sisters, Dakota a budding scientist and Izzy a second grader with Down’s syndrome, and his newly divorced parents makes this a most compelling story.  Faced with the possible  rehoming of their dog Cupcake because of a bladder problem Liam and the girls join forces to raise enough money to take her to the vet.

A great book for middle schoolers.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan- retired Youth Services Librarian

four-stars

Microsaurs – Beware the Tiny- Spino

Microsaurs – Beware the Tiny- SpinoMicrosaurs: Beware the Tiny-Spino by Dustin Hansen
Published by Feiwel & Friends on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 1250090350
Pages: 224
Goodreads
three-stars

In this, the 5th installment of this well illustrated Microsaurs series, Vicky Van Varbles, well known for being the most annoying person in school, threatens the safety of the microterium. Danny has a plan to get Vicky to keep that secret. Vicky just needs to pass a test to get into  Microsaur Protection Agency that over sees these very special dinosaurs and their eggs. A task not so easy to accomplish!

A great adventure for the third and fourth grader expanding their reading skills.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan – retired Youth Services Librarian

three-stars

The Lost Coast

The Lost CoastThe Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 1536200964
Pages: 352
Goodreads
five-stars

Danny has just moved to Tempest, California with her mother. She’s quickly adopted into the Grays, a group of friends who explain to her that, actually, they called her to Tempest with a spell. The Grays, as it turns out, are all witches, and they’re missing a member. Imogen was a light in their lives, and now she’s gone. Danny finds herself finally fitting in somewhere, with these four girls who all identify as queer, spanning across many different orientations, and it feels good to be so wanted and accepted. She begins to worry, though, what happens if she can’t find Imogen? And what happens if she does?

A dark, murky mystery chalk filled with magic and authentic queer experiences. Capetta constructs the story through shifting perspectives, jumping back and forth through time as she moves from narrator to narrator. Though slightly confusing at times, this style increases the mystery of the novel. Each character has a distinct voice and a unique perspective on both their queerness and their witchcraft. Recommended for high school readers in all libraries.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

five-stars