Format: Chapter Book Fiction

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

Dreaming Darkly

Dreaming DarklyDreaming Darkly by Caitlin Kittredge
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 0062665626
Pages: 368
Genres: Horror, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ivy’s mother’s death means that she will be living on an island in Maine with an uncle she never knew existed.  She and her mother had always gotten by stealing, grifting, and lying.  Now, though, Ivy must use all the skills and courage she has to navigate an island community which is separated between her Bloodgood family and the Ramseys who have a son, Doyle, with whom Ivy has begun a friendship.  Between Ivy being drugged, a hidden treasure map, Ivy’s joining the track team, and being attacked by both her and Doyle’s families, she must be always alert and on guard.

This book is a combination horror/mystery book with years’ old skeletons being unearthed, silver bars being discovered, Ivy learning that her uncle is really her father, and a friendship not yet turning into romance because Ivy knows that she isn’t ready for anything more yet and knowing the value of friendship.  It is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

What We Buried

What We BuriedWhat We Buried by Kate A. Boorman
Published by Henry Holt & Company on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 125019167X
Pages: 304
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Liv has lived the life of beauty pageants and reality television for as long as she can remember. Her life has been about performing and looking beautiful. Her brother, Jory, born with partial facial paralysis, has spent most of his life staying out of the spotlight. They have grown apart over the years, but yet as siblings their lives have always been intertwined. When Liv sues for emancipation from their parents, Jory thinks that is just another publicity stunt, but then their parents mysteriously disappear: one moment they are there and then they are not. This is the first clue that reality may be unstable. In an attempt to find their parents, Liv and Jory set out on a road trip that twists and turns their world upside down. As they drive in circles that seem to make no sense, Liv and Rory are forced to confront their memories and search for the truth. Told in alternating chapters by Liv and Jory, this book will keep readers guessing until the end. Recommended for fans of Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall and Broken Things. This book will be of high interest to readers looking for intense, psychological thrillers. Recommended for Grades 8 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

 

three-stars

Captain Rosalie

Captain RosalieCaptain Rosalie by Timothée de Fombelle, Isabelle Arsenault, Sam Gordon
Published by Candlewick Press on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 1536205206
Pages: 60
Goodreads
four-stars

The illustrations are the first thing that will draw readers into this quaint novel set in France during WWI. Rosalie is at home with her mother and her father is a soldier fighting in the war. Five-year-old Rosalie creates her own secret mission; she is a Captain protecting her village from the enemy. She spends her days at the local schoolhouse being looked after by the school teacher so that her mother can work in the factory. In the evenings she sits with her mother and listens as her mother reads letters from her father. When Rosalie begins to read on her own, she finds out there are more letters that her mother has hidden from her. The illustrations are done with pen and neutral backgrounds, while the splash of color on the characters makes them alive on the page. Translated from French by Sam Gordon, this quiet tale of loss is powerful. Recommended for grades 5-7. 

 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

 

four-stars

The Race to Kangaroo Cliff

The Race to Kangaroo CliffThe Race to Kangaroo Cliff by Alexander McCall Smith, Iain Mcintosh
Published by Delacorte Press on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 039955405X
Pages: 240
Goodreads
four-stars

The Race to Kangaroo Cliff is a book in the School Ship Tobermorny series but it can be read independently. Some themes of the story are using individuality to solve problems and standing up to peer pressure. This tells the adventures that the students of School Ship Tobermorny have on their way to Australia and during a sailing race. They go on adventures through the outback and make friends while there. Students encounter a lot of difficulties along the way and a lot of learning opportunities about safety, ocean life, global warming, sailing and boats are provided throughout the book. One of the weaknesses of the story is that it shifts between the school of characters so you don’t get to know the students in the story.

Graphic novel style illustrations with panels are provided every few pages to complement the text and explain scenarios. The illustrations also help to introduce the characters.

This book would be appropriate for upper elementary through middle school students. The captivating adventures and explained vocabulary make for the story appropriate for a wide array of audiences. The Race to Kangaroo Cliff and the School Ship Tobermorny series would be great to get students interested in science and geography as it provides a fun environment to introduce these topics. There is some non-fiction information in the back of the book including a glossary that could be used to prompt discussion.

Reviewed by Kathleen Powers, Winslow Public Library, Winslow, ME

four-stars

Honor Bound

Honor BoundHonor Bound by Rachel Caine, Ann Aguirre
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on February 19th 2019
ISBN: 0062571028
Pages: 467
Goodreads
three-stars

Savvy criminal turned skilled Leviathan pilot Zara Cole finds new friends and clashes with bitter enemies in the second book of this action-packed series from New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre that’s perfect for fans of The 100 and The Fifth Wave.

Zara Cole was a thief back on Earth, but she’s been recently upgraded to intergalactic fugitive. On the run after a bloody battle in a covert war that she never expected to be fighting, Zara, her co-pilot Beatriz, and their Leviathan ship Nadim barely escaped the carnage with their lives.

Now Zara and her crew of Honors need a safe haven, far from the creatures who want to annihilate them. But they’ll have to settle for the Sliver: a wild, dangerous warren of alien criminals. The secrets of the Sliver may have the power to turn the tide of the war they left behind—but in the wrong direction.

Soon Zara will have to make a choice: run from the ultimate evil—or stand and fight.

Science Fiction can be amazing especially when the characters take various forms.   Many fascinating aliens make appearance within this second book of the Honors series but there is not a tie that binds the first to this second title.   Readers will find the action exciting as they view the hostile behavior and wonder what preceded the urgent need to fight.  Silver is a captivating setting for a science fiction,  there appears to be a trap behind every door.   What is confusing for anyone who did not read the first novel in this new series is the ship/pilot relationship that almost approaches a sexual level.  Although relationships do become clear the first chapter could have provided more hints to newly introduced readers.

This book cannot stand alone.   Libraries who have Honor Among Thieves will want to purchase this sequel for their YA collection.   Science Fiction readers should be directed to the first title.   Followers will anxiously await for the third title in the series.

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

three-stars