Cage of Dreams

January 17, 2024

Cage of Dreams (City of Nightmares Duology, 2) by Rebecca Schaeffer
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0358645549
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Cage of Dreams” by Rebecca Schaeffer is the second and final book in the “City of Nightmares” YA fiction duology. The premise in “City of Nightmares” is that when people go to sleep and dream, they can turn into their worst fear, including monsters, giant insects, and other terrifying things. By the end of the first book the main character, Ness, has discovered that the Nightmare Phantom creating these nightmares in dreams is trapped in the dream realm, so she makes a deal and releases him. Now at the beginning of the second book, Ness is still terrified of the violence in this post-apocalyptic world and wants to make a deal with the Nightmare Phantom to make her more powerful and less vulnerable. Things go wrong and chaos ensues.

The book is both scary and humorous with lots of little quips from Ness and the other characters. Themes of friendship, acceptance, fear, and strength are strong in the series and Ness comes to terms with who they are and how they fit with their friends and in this terrifying world in general. Written for teens and young adults, this is a recommended purchase where the first book is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

Rez Ball

January 12, 2024

Rez Ball by Byron Graves
on September 12, 2023
ISBN: 0063160374
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Rez Ball” is a young adult novel by debut author Byron Graves (Ojibwe) about a teen from Red Lake Nation Reservation who wants to succeed at basketball. Tre’s brother was a basketball star, but died in an accident, so Tre feels driven to follow in his footsteps and beyond, to become a player in the NBA. Tre has to deal with grief, racism, and general teen high school issues. It’s clear that Graves knows what he writes about and the main character and his family and friends have a lot of depth. Exploring the themes of bereavement and figuring out who you are, this is a recommended purchase for all YA collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

Ryan and Avery

January 11, 2024

Ryan and Avery by David Levithan
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 12, 2023
ISBN: 0399553096
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

As the kid from The Princess Bride movie would put it, Ryan and Avery by David Levithan is a kissing book. The omniscient third person narrator starts the novel by showing us Ryan and Avery’s fourth date where they are very much already smitten with each other. The story floats between earlier and later dates allowing us to witness their improbable beginning and the mostly parental obstacles trying to keep them apart. Their love is simple and innocent, but Levithan never shies away from the harder parts of teenage life, so it may be helpful to let your patrons know that there are mentions and instances of homophobia, transphobia, and eating disorders.

The narrator spends more time soliloquizing about love than developing the characters or plot in the beginning chapters, so this should only be recommended to serious fans of the romance genre. Non-romance readers could get cavities from how earnestly sweet this love story is at times. This book could also be recommended to parents whose queer teens are starting to date as it demonstrates the difference between logical boundaries placed with love and irrational rules imposed with fear. That being said, Ryan and Avery reads like a contemporary fairy-tale romance and would be a lovely spoonful of sugar in YA collections that too often focus on the harder aspects of queer youth experiences.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

Crimson Twill: Witch in the Country

January 9, 2024

Crimson Twill: Witch in the Country by Kallie George, Birgitta Sif
Published by Candlewick Press on July 11, 2023
Pages: 80
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Book two in an emerging reader chapter book series about an earnest young witch who is learning her boundaries and navigating friendships. Crimson is awaiting the arrival of her city friends at her farm in Cackle County. She wants to show them all of the wonderful, terrible things about her home, but when her friends show up and start the tour, everything goes wrong. When the tour involves exploding rotten apples, a floating wizard, and, finally, a face-full of frog’s breath, Crimson and her friends are forced to abandon their adventures. As they are returning to the house, they encounter the legendary Giant of the Hill and Crimson realizes why her granny has unexpectedly shown up with a giant pot of stew. Unfortunately, there is no time to get to the stew and the Giant is hungry. Crimson’s quick thinking and spell finesse save the day and she realizes that an imperfect day can be pretty perfect with good friends and flexible thinking. Plenty of black & white illustrations and a fast-moving plot with touches of humor will keep readers who are ready for more text than an early reader engaged.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold

January 9, 2024January 17, 2024

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Published by Quill Tree Books on 10/3/23
ISBN: 9780062998354
Pages: 336
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Zane and his skateboarding friends, Kiko and Jack, and his dog Hop-Hop, are treasure hunting in the streets of Manhattan in this modern twist of the classic Treasure Island. Armed with a real treasure map and a hunger for adventure, Zane hopes to find enough treasure to save his family home. He and his group must figure out clues about New York City’s role in slavery as they ward off a rival skateboarding gang. They get some help along the way from a city pirate who happens to turn up just at the right moment. This fast-paced middle grade novel is packed with adventure and danger, which will no doubt keep readers engrossed. Readers don’t know who Zane can trust and his anguished thoughts are revealed in the text, which adds to the novel’s intrigue. This page-turner would be a great addition to any library.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

The Terribles: Clash of the Gnomes!

January 2, 2024

The Terribles #3: Clash of the Gnomes! by Travis Nichols
ISBN: 0593425790
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Clash of the Gnomes” is the third book in Travis Nichols’ “The Terribles” middle grade mixed prose/graphic novel series. On an island where monsters/aliens/cryptids can live in peace without humans trying to destroy them, Nichols follows the daily life of the children of the monsters. In this installment, each chapter follows a different story. The monster children are challenged to a game of creepoball by gnomes from a nearby island, the invisible boy and his friends form an “EXTREME” club, the band “Vlad and the Maggots” put on a show, and more!

The monsters show friendship, acceptance, and humor throughout the story. The book is a mixture of graphic novel style illustrations and prose, similar to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Readers will enjoy the silly antics and the funny ways that the monsters go about their lives. Aimed at ages 8 to 12, this series is a good addition to collections where middle grade graphic novel/prose hybrid books are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News

January 2, 2024January 17, 2024

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News by Alea Marley, Christine Platt
Series: Frankie and Friends #1
Published by Walker Books on October 10, 2023
ISBN: 1536222097
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Frankie’s mother is a famous journalist who has to travel for work to cover important events. While she is gone, Frankie, a budding journalist, decides to work on a broadcast of her own. With the help of her dolls and toys, Frankie goes undercover and then does a human interest story with her older sister to share what she learned. This early chapter book would be good for kids who are interested in learning about journalism. New terms are explained within the text and there is a glossary in narrative form at the end of the book with explicit definitions. The size of this book, larger font, and thicker glossy pages lends itself more as an early reader, but the vocabulary, content matter, and the amount of text makes the audience of this book a little older. The colorful, expressive illustrations break up the text and add visual interest for readers. The dialogue at times doesn’t seem realistic and the book seems very didactic, but the camaraderie between the sisters and the broadcast they make together brings the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

Champion of Fate

December 29, 2023

Champion of Fate (Heromaker, #1) by Kendare Blake
on September 19, 2023
ISBN: 0062977202
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Champion of Fate” is the first book in Kendare Blake’s Heromaker young adult fantasy series. It follows Reed, an orphan who is selected to try out for the Order of Aristene, a group of immortal and very powerful female warriors, similar to Amazons. She must guide a hero as part of her first trial, but if she fails, she must leave the group. There is obvious chemistry between Reed and the hero she must guide to glory, Hestion, but Aristene are forbidden from making bonds with regular humans. The idea of fate and whether it’s worth attempting to change it if it goes against your beliefs is a clear message in the book. Written for older teens and young adults, this is a recommended purchase for YA fantasy collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

The Stupendous Switcheroo: New Powers Every 24 Hours

December 29, 2023

The Stupendous Switcheroo: New Powers Every 24 Hours by Chad Sell, Mary Winn Heider
ISBN: 0593427300
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

The first book in “The Stupendous Switcheroo” series, “New Powers Every 24 Hours,” is a combination graphic and prose novel written by Mary Winn Heider and illustrated by Chad Sell. The book starts with our main character waking up with unexpected superpowers. Deciding to become a superhero, they call the headquarters of their favorite superhero, Vin Valor to see if he needs any super help. They do! The Stupendous Switcheroo learns that becoming a superhero isn’t easy, especially when your powers change every day.

Part adventure, part mystery, middle grade readers will enjoy the humor and excitement as well as the black, white, and teal illustrations throughout the book. Aimed at readers age 8 to 12, this book is a recommended purchase wherever mixed graphic/prose middle grade books (similar to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”) are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

The Lost Galumpus

December 22, 2023January 17, 2024

The Lost Galumpus by Joseph Helgerson, Udayana Lugo
Published by Clarion Books on January 10, 2023
ISBN: 0358415225
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

During the biggest blizzard in memory, a possum named Gilly is given the daunting task of returning a creature none of the animals in Theodore Wirth Park have ever seen before to his unknown home. While making plans to help the lost creature they’ve named a galumpus, the group encounter a teaching robot from the future. The robot informs the animals their galumpus is a wooly mammoth from the past who was mistakenly pulled through a time portal, and that time is limited before the portal they were transported through closes permanently. To further complicate matters, the mammoth is being hunted by three cavemen from his home as part of a prehistoric coming-of-age ceremony. The story follows the group’s challenges as they attempt to guide the time-traveling visitors back to the portal.

The simple black ink drawings throughout the book add an engaging visual element that contrasts with an otherwise overly complicated story. Although Gilly is a charming narrator, the slow pacing, disjointed storytelling, and repetitive arguing between the characters may turn away readers interested in other fantasy titles of similar length. Overall, this is an average tale for readers between the ages 8-12 who enjoy prolonged fantasies featuring animal narrators with mild conflict.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston