Format: Chapter Book Fiction

A Bad Night for Bullies

A Bad Night for BulliesA Bad Night for Bullies (The Goolz Next Door, #1) by Gary Ghislain
Published by Boyds Mills Press on March 13th 2018
ISBN: 1629796778
Pages: 160
Goodreads
four-stars

The Goolz family moves next door to twelve-year-old Harold and his mom and life in quiet Bay Harbor, Maine will never be the same.  Harold, confined to a wheelchair after an accidental fall from a tree, has not yet found is foothold in Bay Harbor, struggling to make friends and easily becoming a target for Alex Hewitt and his vicious gang.  Harold has come home more than once with scrapes and cuts from encounters with the bullies. However, all that changes when Ilona Goolz becomes Harold’s friend. She is brave and fearless and also accustomed to dealing with creatures far worse than bullies.  Ilona’s father is world-famous author Frank Goolz who writes terrifying horror novels and it turns out that his inspiration for his vampire/ghost/monster gore actually comes from his family’s real and harrowing experiences. Now in Bay Harbor, a ghost is hunting the bullies and the same power (an ancient stone) that has brought the ghost back to the living world is threatening to take someone from the living back to hell.  This is an intensely taut and unsettling title for middle school readers. Some may find the demonic being just a little too violent but the new friendship that grows between Harold and Ilona is sweet and funny and helps to balance out this scary ghost story.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

four-stars

The Red Ribbon by Lucy Adlington

The Red Ribbon by Lucy AdlingtonThe Red Ribbon by Lucy Adlington
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1536201049
Pages: 288
Goodreads
five-stars

Lucy Adlington’s historical novel, The Red Ribbon, is set in Auschwitz’s prisoner run, haute couture dress shop. The main character, Ella, is a talented young seamstress and designer who fights her way to work in the Upper Tailor Studio. In the midst of starvation, death, and torture, Ella forges a friendship an imaginative young prisoner, Rose. Daughter of a dutchess, Rose lifts the spirits of those around her with colorful stories and her selfless heart. The desperation of the prisoners and the vanity of their Nazi guards lends to suspense in the storyline as we watch the characters become cutthroat in order to maintain their position in the shop. There are special benefits to be the designer for the Commandant’s wife.

Well written and not glossing over the horrors of the camp, Adlington has made characters that the reader can relate to.  The author’s ability to focus on the struggle of humanity will cause readers to think.  It also shows the power of love, friendship, and hope are more powerful than even the darkest prison.

I would recommend this book for young adult collections in all library settings.

This book belongs with the creme of the crop!

Reviewed  by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

five-stars

That Night

That NightThat Night by Amy Giles
Published by HarperTeen on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0062495771
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

That Night

 

That Night was the worst night of Jess and Lucas’s lives when a shooter at a movie theater killed both of their older brothers.  The shooting came out of nowhere and the ramifications continue to haunt both characters.  Jess needs to find a job to earn money to keep her household going as her mother slips further into a debilitating depression.  Lucas is working at a hardware store, partly to escape from his parents’ concern and his panic attacks, and he and Jess meet at her job interview.  Lucas isn’t sure he wants to work so closely with someone else who went through the same thing he did.  But they both soon realize that they are each what the other needs to climb out of the depths of sadness and continue on with their lives.

This book covers what happens after a terrible tragedy when the tv cameras leave and the survivors feel guilt and depression while wondering why they were left alive.  The love story that develops is sweet, optimistic, and a strong part of what will get Jess and Lucas through.  It was refreshing that the conflict wasn’t between the main characters and wasn’t over something silly or half-heard conversations.  From the very worst day will come a positive future.

I would like to recommend this book for Cream of the Crop for young adults in grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

five-stars

Damselfly

DamselflyDamselfly by Chandra Prasad
Published by Scholastic Press on March 27th 2018
ISBN: 0545907926
Pages: 240
Goodreads
three-stars

Samantha Mishra, a teenage Indian American, and the others of her exclusive boarding school’s  fencing team are flying across the Pacific for a meet when their plane crashes, leaving them on a deserted island.  Their battle to survive and perhaps to orchestrate a rescue is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, as some want to lead and others have to decide whom to follow. Some are killed, some are murdered, some commit suicide.  They are reduced to their basic and true personalities. Many topics are explored including mental illness, race, wealth and financial need, and survival of the fittest. Sam’s best friend, Mel, seems to have an incredible wealth of knowledge about a myriad of survival tactics, which this reviewer finds a bit difficult to believe. Ultimately, Sam has to decide with whom she will side as the group fractures and divides into two factions who disagree about what is the most important issue with which to deal. To top things off, they find they are not alone as someone is leaving threatening messages in the sand. The cliffhanger of an ending begs for a sequel and leaves the reader a bit unsatisfied. This would be a good modern-day offering for teenagers to read, a contemporary  LOTF, as it were. Perhaps a comparison of the two would be a good task.

 

Reviewed by Carla McAllister, New Gloucester Public Library, New Gloucester

three-stars

Sticky notes

Sticky notesSticky Notes by Dianne Touchell
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers on February 20th 2018
ISBN: 1524765481
Pages: 224
Goodreads
five-stars

Foster is a ten-year old boy who enjoys a wonderful relationship with his father. His father tells stories, plays games with him and is always interested in Foster's thoughts and all aspects of his young life. Foster thrives on routine. At first when Foster's father begins forgetting things, it is funny, but all humor disappears when he is finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. How the family travels the journey of dealing with this huge change in their lives is heart wrenching. Foster, especially, has to handle his classmates jeers and taunts as they are hearing that his father is 'mental' and he is teased mercilessly. This is a very well done book around this topic and would be especially valuable for youngsters who, perhaps, are dealing with grandparents or other loved ones dealing with dementia issues.

Carla McAllister, New Gloucester Public Library, New Gloucester

five-stars

Unbroken

UnbrokenUnbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens by Marieke Nijkamp, William Alexander, Fox Benwell, Keah Brown, Dhonielle Clayton, Corinne Duyvis, Heidi Heilig, Kody Keplinger, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Francisco X. Stork, Kayla Whaley, Kristine Wyllys
on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 0374306508
Pages: 320
Goodreads
four-stars

Unbroken is a collection of short stories by authors who have lived with disabilities. Not all the stories are winners, but there are enough gems in a book with a subject that does not get enough coverage or print space. Edited by Marieke Nijkamp (herself a contributing author of one story), the book is an #ownvoices book written about disabled characters by authors who have lived with a disability. Contributing authors are a mix of bestsellers and newcomers including Kody Keplinger, Kristine Wyllys, Francisco X. Stork, William Alexander, Corinne Duyvis, Marieke Nijkamp, Dhonielle Clayton, Heidi Heilig, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Kayla Whaley, Keah Brown, and Fox Benwell. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis―and their characters reflect this diversity. Viewpoints intersect race, gender, and sexuality and stories cross genres (realistic, scifi, fantasy, horror). The stories are one the short side and cover themes like friendship, family, and finding one’s place in a world not designed for them.  For collections where short story anthologies are checked out, this one would be a worthwhile title.

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

four-stars

Lulu the Broadway Mouse

Lulu the Broadway MouseLulu the Broadway Mouse by Jenna Gavigan
Published by Running Press Kids on October 9th 2018
ISBN: 0762464615
Pages: 256
Goodreads
four-stars

A story full of heart and Broadway insider knowledge, Lulu the Broadway Mouse will delight fans who root for the underdog.  Lulu is an aspiring Broadway actress and a devoted member of the cast of Shubert Theater.  She works hard but knows the likelihood of making her debut is about as probable as a mouse belting out “Tomorrow” in Annie because Lulu is in fact a mouse.  Those in the theater treat Lulu as a peer except the nasty child-star Amanda who never has a kind word for anyone, especially her understudies.  In a quirky act of fate, Amanda, who is never out ill, suffers food poisoning and Jayne, her sweet and lovely understudy, gets her big break…until stage fright sets in.  In a desperate attempt to help her friend, Lulu goes onstage with Jayne, hiding in her wig. With Lulu’s moral support, both Jayne and Lulu realize their dream to star on Broadway.  Full of spunk, Lulu is a main character readers will love. She is a true friend but comes to learn that opening your heart to unpleasant people will bring even great happiness. The dialogue is light and breezy as if Lulu is simply chatting away about her days living and working in Shubert Theater.  Readers will certainly hope for more adventures to come.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Schools. Westbrook

four-stars

Be Brave, Morgan! Daredevil Morgan

Be Brave, Morgan! Daredevil MorganDaredevil Morgan by Ted Staunton
Published by Formac Publishing Company Limited on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1459505069
Pages: 96
Goodreads
four-stars

Who pushes you more: your friends or your frenemies? This segment of the “Be Brave, Morgan!” chapter book series takes place at the Fall Fair. Morgan is irritated again and again with Aldeen. Events that seem to be disasters (she smashes his prize pumpkin, repeatedly bonks him in the bumper car, and grabs him on the scary Asteroid Belt ride) all turn out fine in the end, and maybe Aldeen isn’t the enemy after all.

The Lerner Books website says, “The dyslexia-friendly features of the book include easier-to-read typography, page layout, and reduced-contrast paper stock…”

There are pen and ink sketches on almost every double-page spread, and the limited text invites younger readers. Some sentences are short, some are quite long, yet the simple language keeps the story from being overwhelming. Be advised Aldeen thinks “Rides suck.” Then Morgan repeats it a few pages later.

This episode makes me want to read more about Morgan in the rest of the series. This could be used as a friendship story, saving face, or as an example of how to make lemonade out of lemons. If you do use it as a read aloud, be prepared to replace the swear word if it is a concern for you.

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

four-stars

Hurricane Child

Hurricane ChildHurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
Published by Scholastic on March 27th 2018
ISBN: 1338129309
Pages: 256
Goodreads
three-stars

Journey to the US Virgin Islands, to the tiniest of islands called Water Island and find Caroline Murray in a state of utter loneliness and confusion.  Caroline’s mother has recently disappeared and Caroline is bereft. While her father tries to keep the family going, he and Caroline are overwhelmed by loss and life is gloomy despite the tropical surroundings.  In school, Caroline is bullied mercilessly until a new girl arrives and befriends her. Caroline and Kalinda forge a deep bond and feelings of love and intimacy begin to grow. Kalinda gives Caroline the courage to hunt for her mother and the two girls embark on a fact-finding mission that ultimately brings them to the front door of Caroline’s mother’s new home and a life she is living without Caroline.  Caroline is shocked and furious that she was abandoned and this sets up a series of difficult conversations that are long overdue between her father and mother. In addition to this complicated family dynamic, Caroline is plagued by a dark spirit of a woman in black. She is convinced that the spirit is out to harm her and this lends the novel a touch of mystical realism. While this novel features a strong and courageous female, same-sex relationships and takes place in a lesser-known American territory, the actual plot is difficult to believe and not terribly enthralling.  This would make for an alternative purchase for middle school libraries.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

three-stars

Broken Things

Broken ThingsBroken Things by Lauren Oliver
Published by HarperCollins on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0062224131
Pages: 408
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending this novel for cream consideration.  Oliver has created a suspenseful, mystery novel that will be difficult to put down.  She deftly intertwines the story that the public believes with the pain and manipulation the suspects then victims have as they struggle to cope.  Oliver adds in just the right amount of red herrings.  Brynn and Mia were introduced to Summer five years ago when they were thirteen.  The three became obsessed with the book “The Way into Lovelorn” and role- played the setting, world and characters and created a Fanfic sequel because they didn’t like the way the book ended.  When Summer is found murder in a sacrificial way that matches the Fanfic’s details, the girls and another friend become suspects.  Social media and small town thinking pull the two teens into a notoriety that is difficult to break.  Told in the voices of Brynn and Mia, switching from past to present and instilled with quotes from  “Lovelorn” creates the suspenseful telling of this who- dun-it.  Recommended reading for mystery lovers in grades 10-12.

 

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library

five-stars