Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and SwordPeasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien
Published by Henry Holt & Company on April 3rd 2018
ISBN: 1250165695
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

Peasprout Chen is the best wu lie student there is, or at least she hopes to prove that. But when she gets to the academy to prove she is, things go wrong from the start and she gets blamed for all of the trouble, even if it’s not her fault. Wu lie is a combo of martial arts and skating, quite interesting idea actually. Lots of action and mystery and fighting. This one should keep MG students turning the page and appeal to non-traditional sports fans.

 

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

RA the Mighty Cat Detective

RA the Mighty Cat DetectiveRa the Mighty: Cat Detective by Amy Butler Greenfield, Sarah Horne
Published by Holiday House on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 0823440273
Pages: 224
Goodreads
five-stars

Ra is the Pharoah’s cat and does nothing but sleep and eat. But when young Tedimut, a servant, gets accused of stealing jewelry from the Pharaoh, Ra decides to help solve the mystery of who did it with the help of a dung beetle friend Khepri. Ra is basically a lazy cat that does end up helping solve the mystery but only because his sidekick, Khepri, figures out what to do. Humor (definitely some dung rolling in this story), illustrations, big font and fast paced action make this a perfect fit for young readers. In addition, some really cool  bits of Egyptian daily life and history are sprinkled thoughout the story.  Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

Skyward

SkywardSkyward by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Delacorte Press on November 6th 2018
ISBN: 0399555773
Pages: 528
Goodreads
five-stars

Spensa, the main character, lives on a planet that is being constantly attacked by aliens. The planet’s only defense against the aliens is to send up their own pilots to shoot them down. Spenca wants to become one of those pilots, just like her dad was. Unfortunately he died a coward and many people feel she will follow in his foot steps if she becomes a pilot. But Spenca has other ideas and she is going to prove all of them wrong, including the admiral that does anything she can to stop Spenca from achieving her dream. This is a FANTASTIC sci-fi story. Spenca is such a great character; strong in mind and body, definitely has a few flaws and carries a ton of baggage. Great battle scenes and strategies. The humorous parts in the book dealing with the AI (artificial intelligence) known as M-Bot, are just terrific.  Sci-fi is becoming very popular with teen readers and this one nails it in every way. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

Just Under The Clouds

Just Under The CloudsJust Under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 5th 2018
ISBN: 1524720089
Pages: 240
Goodreads
three-stars

Cora, her mom and her sister Adare are homeless and move in with a family friend. But the friend, a childhood friend of Cora’s mom, insists on doing more for the girls then their mother wants them to. Poor Cora just wants to stay in one place that feels like home. The relationship between Adare, who has a learning disability, and Cora was touching and realistic. It did seem strange though that Adare was still in a regular school setting even at age 10 and that no one had done anything more to help her. Even though the idea of the story was interesting, it just never seemed to find a good flow.

 

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

three-stars

The Key to Every Thing

The Key to Every ThingThe Key to Every Thing by Pat Schmatz
Published by Candlewick Press on May 8th 2018
ISBN: 0763695661
Pages: 208
Goodreads
four-stars

Eleven-year-old Tash lives with her Uncle Kevin and struggles to manage her anxiety and emotions after experiencing neglect while she lived with her dad, who had an alcohol use disorder. Angry with Kevin for sending her to summer camp while he is away on a trip, Tash lashes out at him and at her beloved elderly neighbor and friend, Cap’n Jackie, who has also had a hand in raising her. The first section of this heart-rending middle grade realistic fiction novel is told in letters to and from Tash, Kevin and Cap’n Jackie and the second half begins when she returns home and finds that the Cap’n, who has agoraphobia, is missing. What unfolds is a poignant portrayal of change and grief, made real by the details of these imperfect but carefully realized characters’ lives, which have often strained at the cultural boundaries imposed on them in terms of gender expression and sexuality. Firmly rooted in Tash’s experience of her relationships, this is a powerful and bittersweet tale of loss, growth and the power of choosing one’s own family, which will appeal to 4th through 6th graders who like contemporary fiction.

Reviewed by Brooke Faulkner, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford

four-stars

The Christmasaurus

The ChristmasaurusThe Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher, Shane Devries
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 1524773301
Pages: 384
Goodreads
five-stars

William wants a dinosaur for Christmas so he writes a letter to Santa asking for one. But when his wish comes true he realizes that dinosaurs might be trickier than he thought to raise. Lots of humor in this story along with great black and white drawings that capture the characters and situation really well. The bad guys in here aren’t nice and readers will want them to get caught or change their ways. An interesting twist on Santa and the elves was fun and added quite a bit of silliness to the story. This would make a great read-a-loud.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

Strays Like Us

Strays Like UsStrays Like Us by Cecilia Galante
Published by Scholastic Press on June 26th 2018
ISBN: 1338043005
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

Fred, the main character, has to go to foster care because her mother is in trouble. While at her new foster home, she meets the next door neighbor’s dog Toby that is neglected and connects with him. The two become friends and she decides she will find a way to save him, even if his owner forbids it. A lovely story with just the right amount of heartbreak but with a feel good ending. Fred’s mom’s drug addiction is done well and will be the right fit for the 4-6 grade crowd. The relationship between Toby and Fred is wonderful and one that animal lovers will understand and route for.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair

Fergus and Zeke at the Science FairFergus and Zeke at the Science Fair by Kate Messner, Heather Ross
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 0763678473
Pages: 48
Goodreads
three-stars

Fergus and Zeke are two classroom mice. They are very interested in what the students are doing and when the teacher announces a science fair, they want to join in! Unfortunately, they can’t quite figure out how to do that. After a few failures, Lucy, a student, brings over a cardboard maze. She wants to teach Fergus and Zeke how to run the maze for her science project! Fergus is happy to do it, but Zeke is upset because he wants to do his own experiment. Eventually they figure out a way that they can both be part of the experiment and run their own experiment!

Heather Ross’s  illustrations are colorful and funny and add to the humor of Kate Messner’s text. This is a good early chapter book aimed at grades 1 to 4. “Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair” is a solid addition to an early chapter book collection, but not a must-buy. You do not have to have read the other book in the series to understand this book.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

What the Woods Keep

What the Woods KeepWhat the Woods Keep by Katya de Becerra
Published by Imprint on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1250124255
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-stars

What the Woods Keep

 

Ever since Hayden was eight and her mother died she has been homeschooled and seen by a therapist.  She was believed to be responsible for a child being cut by a mirror and was expelled from school.  But now she is eighteen and has seen her mother’s last wishes for Hayden—to go back to their home in Promise, Colorado and destroy her mother’s darkest secrets.  Hayden and her best friend, Del, go to Promise and from their first moments there are fog, rain, suspicious strangers, and a feeling of connection to the Nibelungs of Germanic lore.   The Nibelungs want to be released to inhabit and take over the world.  They are not friendly sorts at all, but are cruel and evil.  In a horrible twist of fate Del’s pinky finger is cut off.  There is a slight bit of romance with Hayden and Shannon, who had been Hayden’s best childhood friend.  But Hayden solves her own problems and defeats the Nibelungs.

There is a strong friendship between Hayden and Del, but the finger amputation takes things too far.  The atmosphere of the story is set with the ever-present fog and sinister rain storms.  It may make readers want to find out more about the Nibelungs.

It is for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

The Supervillain and Me

The Supervillain and MeThe Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas
Published by Swoon Reads on July 10th 2018
ISBN: 1250154359
Pages: 378
Goodreads
three-stars

The Supervillain and Me

 

Abby and her brother, Connor, live with their dad in a city that is racked with crime.  Her mother had been murdered and the pain of this is still fresh.  Connor has special powers that cause him to be a Superhero called the Red Comet.  He knows when people are in trouble and zooms in to save the day.  But there is a Supervillain called the Iron Phantom who appears to be causing mayhem and the townspeople are uniting to get rid of him.  Abby is trying to live a normal life as the star of the school’s play, but when she begins to have feelings for a boy in the tech. crew and may or may not be attracted to her co-star, either of whom could be the Iron Phantom, things become more complicated.

The true identity of the Iron Phantom is a major plot point, but one that was easily guessed.  It was hard to keep my interest when it was easy to tell what was going to happen and the writing quality wasn’t engaging.

This would be for grades 8-12 students.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

 

three-stars