Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Anna and the Apocalypse

Anna and the ApocalypseAnna and the Apocalypse by Katharine Turner, Barry Waldo
Published by Imprint on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 1250318807
Pages: 272
Goodreads
three-stars

In television shows, movies, and books the adolescent high school experience is often a metaphor for all the horrors and pain of life. In the cult favorite, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” high school was the literal entrance to hell. This book provides a similar take on that experience. Anna has just turned eighteen and wants nothing more than to leave town after graduation, but she and her father have different ideas about where she will go. She tries to survive the monotony and frustration of her last year of high school when one day people in her town start to become zombies. With the background of the Christmas season, Anna and her friends and classmates attempt to save the town. There is blood, violence, bad puns, and plenty of dark humor. Readers will be laughing out loud, but there are also enough scares for everyone to keep the lights on when reading late at night. In Anna and the Apocalypse, Katherine Turner with Barry Waldo create an entertaining scenario of the end of the world based on the screenplay of the zombie Christmas musical movie of the same name. Recommended for grades 10 and up. 

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

three-stars

Shame Is an Ocean I Swim Across

ISBN: 9781250195890
Pages: 176
three-stars

Mary Lambert is the songwriter behind Grammy-nominated single “Same Love.” In this collection of poetry, she focuses on sexual abuse, mental illness, and body image. Readers will appreciate Lambert’s honesty; her anger and vulnerability are alive in the verse. Like Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey, readers will find these words to be a mirror, giving voice to their inner-thoughts and experiences. Lambert does not hold back; the heavier subject matter makes this book is for mature readers. Recommended for grades 10 and up. 

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

three-stars

The Opposite of Innocent

The Opposite of InnocentThe Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones
Published by HarperTeen on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 0062370316
Pages: 272
Goodreads
two-stars

Lily is a fourteen-year-old who’s been “in love” with her parents’ friend, Luke, since she was a little girl.  He’s coming back from overseas to stay with them for a while after two years away, and she hopes that maybe he’ll be able to see her as a woman now and not a girl.  Luke (age 29) does seem to return her interest, and seemingly innocent flirting leads to kissing, which leads to way more than Lily bargained for.  Sones’s novel in verse walks us through Luke’s seduction of Lily from inappropriate teasing to emotional abuse to rape.  This all takes place right under her parents’ noses.  There’s another adult in her life who makes remarks that seem to indicate that she knows what’s going on, but she never reaches out to Lily to help or step in to stop it.

While the book does an excellent job of showcasing how an older man could manipulate a young girl, it does miss the mark in a major way.  Sones gets exactly right many of the trademarks of pedophiles and emotional abusers, as well as naïve and obsessed teens.  But where she chooses to end the book is when Lily finally realizes that she needs to get help.  It’s great that Lily finally has that moment of clarity that she needs to go to someone else for assistance, but the reader is left not seeing how she does it, or the journey that she has to take to get out of the relationship.

The book is being touted as important and timely to the “me too” conversation, but for it to have any meaning in that regard, it needs to show how Lily got strong and fought back, and we aren’t shown any of that.  We do get a brief author’s note at the end stating that what Luke does to Lily is wrong and that when Lily asks for help, it starts a chain of events that will lead to Luke getting arrested and receiving punishment he deserves, which frankly, seems incredibly naïve on the author’s part.  That’s the goal, of course, but not always the outcome.  She does also include abuse organizations should readers recognize themselves in Lily’s situation and need to reach out for help.

Overall, though the book means well, I don’t think it accomplishes its goal, and I worry that it could do more harm than good.  I do not recommend this book for purchase.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

two-stars

The Infamous Ratsos: Project Fluffy

The Infamous Ratsos: Project FluffyThe Infamous Ratsos: Project Fluffy (The Infamous Ratsos, #3) by Kara LaReau, Matt Myers
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on October 1st 2018
ISBN: 1536200050
Pages: 96
Goodreads
four-stars

    Brothers! Sometimes friends, sometimes they ignore each other. In this episode, Louie spends a week during Poetry Month helping popular Chuck gain the attention of Fluffy. After several failed attempts, Louie’s dad gives him successful advice, and younger brother Ralphie is able to express his disappointment at being ignored all week.

    I had not read #1 & 2 in this series, so I found it confusing to have 8 characters introduced in the first two pages. Readers of the series will probably be OK with this. I am confused about Tiny – who is apparently a boy but throughout the book swoons over Chuck. The short chapters, quick action and double spacing with large font will attract struggling or new chapter book readers, or make a fun easy read for any reader.

   Black, white with grayscale sketches every other page or two help the reader see the humor and action.

    Readers may relate to the brother being ignored, feelings about writing poetry, or having a single dad.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School Library, Old Town

four-stars

I want to be a Veterinarian

I want to be a VeterinarianI Want to Be a Veterinarian by Laura Driscoll
Series: My Community
Published by HarperCollins on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0062432478
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This level one reader on Veterinarians, is part of a new series that introduces young readers helpers in the community.  A young boy and his Dad take their dog Gus to the animal doctor for his checkup.  As the female Vet examines his pet, the young boy says he would like to be a vet but he is allergic to cats.  She explains that there are different kids of Vets. He meets a large-animal vet at a horse stable, an aquatic vet at the aquarium,  a dairy-cow vet at a farm and learns about wildlife veterinarians at a national park.  Also learning about teaching vets and lab vets, the boy realizes he has many choices. Also included on the last page is a summary of all the different vets.  Simple sentences with lots of colorful illustrations, this early reader will be an interesting choice for young readers.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, Maine

 

three-stars

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

A Very Large Expanse of SeaA Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Published by HarperTeen on October 16th 2018
ISBN: 0062866567
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

This realistic fiction YA novel captures the harsh reality of living as an “other” in America in an engaging, sobering, powerful way. I had to unclench my hands several times while reading this. Shirin is American, born in this country but she is Muslim, of Iranian descent, and the setting is 2002, just a year after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, so the hijab she chooses to wear brings judgement and hostility from all directions.  The voice is fantastic, and the relationships between the teen-aged protagonist and her parents and her brother are pitch-perfect. The blossoming romance and the obstacles in its way due to racist and xenophobic backlash are believable and heart-wrenching. My only quibble with the book is that the ending felt a little rushed and too pat, but the novel is such an excellent window into the life of a young woman who is attempting to define herself in spite of the vitriol and violence flung at her, that it doesn’t detract from the book. For readers grades 10 to adult.

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

five-stars

Front Desk

Front DeskFront Desk by Kelly Yang
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on May 29th 2018
ISBN: 1338157795
Pages: 298
Goodreads
five-stars

A realistic fiction book for upper elementary/middle school readers that hooks you from the first line and takes you on a funny, sometimes uncomfortable and heart-wrenching, ride with 10-year-old Mia Tang. Mia is a fantastic character: brave, reliable, resilient, and quick on her feet. She has immigrated from China with her parents and was promised a better life than they had at home. But her parents are treated unkindly over and over and Mia is sure that they were sold a bad bill of goods. But does she give up? No, she looks for opportunities and for connections. Together, she and her parents run a Motel in Southern California owned by a Chinese man who believes that people are expendable and money is king, the opposite of the Tangs’ philosophy. Mia connects with the long-term tenants of the motel and she attempts to improve the experience of guests and to forge positive relationships with her classmates and teacher. The novel touches on immigration, racism, friendship, honesty, and family dynamics, and while Yang uses gimmicks like letters written to show how Mia’s English is improving and how she is effecting change in her community, and a big contest on which Mia pins all of her hopes, the story never ventures into didactic dross. Mia innately understands that we are stronger when we lift others up than when we knock them down and walk over them and Yang expertly weaves this message into many interactions between Mia and the other characters in the book. This would make a wonderful read-aloud and can go on any list of novels used to model empathy or offering windows into other lives and voices.

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

five-stars

A Blade So Black

A Blade So BlackA Blade So Black (A Blade So Black, #1) by L.L. McKinney
Published by Imprint on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1250153905
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-stars

An urban fantasy reworking of Alice in Wonderland, featuring a tough, smart, young black woman as Alice, who becomes entangled in a Wonderland-esque alternate universe when immediately following the death of her father she is attacked by a wolf-like creature and saved by a strange but cute white punk guy with a British accent whose name is Addison Hatta. Though unsure why, Alice clearly seems to have some kind of connection to wonderland and Hatta begins training her to be a Dreamwalker and to fight and defeat Nightmares like the one that attacked her, all while she juggles a caring but demanding best friend, Court; more laid back pal Chess (who seems like maybe he is interested in more than friendship with Alice), and a fiercely protective mom. Pun and reference laden dialogue plays to the fun campy angle of this novel while eerie imagery, a touch of romance  and well-paced  action balance out the silliness. As the borders of Alice’s real world and Wonderland begin to blur and her friends are threatened, readers are left with a cliffhanger that will make them eager for the follow up. This will appeal to older middle school and high school students who are fans of authors like Holly Black and Cynthia Leitich Smith. 

Reviewed by Brooke Faulkner, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford

four-stars

Max & the Millions

Max & the MillionsMax and the Millions by Ross Montgomery
Published by Wendy Lamb Books on March 13th 2018
ISBN: 152471884X
Pages: 272
Goodreads

Max is a lonely orphan shunted off to boarding school by his great aunt. He’s also deaf which isolates him even more. His only friend is Mr. Darrow, the school janitor. Max and Mr. Darrow share a love of model-making. Mr. Pitt, the evil headmaster would like nothing more than to get rid of Mr. Darrow and when Mr. Darrow disappears, it is up to Max to find him. When Max returns from summer break, he discovers a miniature world come to life in Mr. Darrow’s room. Max and his roommate Sasha must save the tiny people and entertain Sasha’s baby sister and her summer campmates while keeping Mr. Pitt away from Mr. Darrow’s bedroom. A fun — and funny — fantasy.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

My Father’s Words

My Father’s WordsMy Father’s Words by Patricia MacLachlan
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0062687697
Pages: 112
Goodreads
five-stars

Beautiful story of the power of finding something to care for to help overcome grief. Fiona tells the story of the summer after her father dies suddenly in a car accident. He had swerved to avoid hitting a child and was hit by a truck. Fiona, her brother Finn, and her neighbor Luke begin walking and reading to dogs at the local dog shelter. Finn takes on helping a depressed dog whose owner has died. This is a gentle book about grief and unearthing buried memories of your loved one. Oh, and the power of dogs. From Newbery Medal winner Patricia MacLachlan.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars