Format: Chapter Book Fiction

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

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
four-stars

Ra is the Pharaoh’s cat and does pretty much nothing  other than sleep and eat. But when young Tedimut, a servant girl, gets accused of stealing jewelry from the Pharaoh’s Wife, Ra decides to help solve the mystery of who did it with the help of a dung beetle friend Khepri. This is a great choice for a read-a-loud or young readers looking for a mystery. Ra and Khepri are are the perfect duo to get the job of solving the mystery done. Humor, illustrations, big font and a fast paced but solvable mystery make this a good choice for young readers. It would also work nicely as a read aloud. An added bonus are the cool bits of Egyptian daily life and history. Grades 2 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport

four-stars

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 and Co. (BYR) on April 3rd 2018
ISBN: 1250165695
Pages: 336
Goodreads
four-stars

Peasprout Chen is the best wu lie (martial art figure skating) student there is, or at least she hopes to prove that. But when she gets to the Pearl Famous Academy of Skate and Sword to prove she is, things go wrong from the start. All sorts of trouble starts happening and Peasprout gets blamed, even though it’s not her fault. But if she can’t find who is to blame, she will be forced to leave the academy and her dreams behind. Wu lie is this incredible combo of martial arts and skating. The fighting that is done on skates is incredible and even sounds beautiful at times. Peasprout is a very believable character and her passion to be number one is something other athletes will relate to. This one should keep students turning the pages and appeal to non-traditional sports fans as well as sport fans. Grades 5 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport

four-stars

The Parker Inheritance

The Parker InheritanceThe Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on March 27th 2018
ISBN: 0545946174
Pages: 331
Goodreads
three-stars

Candice and her mom are staying in her grandmother’s house. In the attic of the house Candice finds a letter filled with clues to help solve an old mystery, one that deals with finding quite a bit of money. Solving the mystery won’t be easy but Candice is sure she can solve it with the help of her friend Brandon. This mystery flips back and forth between Candice & Brandon solving the mystery and the events that lead up to the letter with the clues. The backstory is filled with racism that was prevalent at that time in this small southern town and in areas around it. Readers will be drawn into their story and eagerly seek out what happened in their lives. In the middle of the book however,  it felt like there were almost too many subplots going on which slowed the story down and the momentum of solving the mystery along with it. Grades 4 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport

three-stars

Skyward

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

This is an incredible Sci-Fi story. Teenager Spensa lives on a planet that is being constantly attacked by Krell (aliens). The planet’s only defense against them is to send up their own pilots to shoot them down. Spenca wants to become a pilot but her dad, a former pilot, left his squad and died a coward which is what the many people feel she will do if she becomes a pilot. She is determined to prove them wrong.Spenca is such a terrific, feisty character. She is  strong, flawed, creative, aggressive and carries a ton of baggage thanks to her dad; actions. Great battle scenes and strategies and revelations through out the book. Loved the humorous parts, especial from the AI named M-Bot. Definitely has sad parts and violence but well done and fits the situations. Sci-Fi is becoming very popular with my library with older readers and this one nails it. Fantastic read. Grades 6 and up.

Reviewed by Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport.

five-stars

Don’t Cosplay With My Heart

Don’t Cosplay With My HeartDon't Cosplay with My Heart by Cecil Castellucci
Published by Scholastic Press on January 2nd 2018
ISBN: 1338125494
Pages: 288
Goodreads
three-stars

Don’t Cosplay With My Heart

 

To cosplay is to dress up in the clothing of your favorite graphic novel or comic book hero or heroine, preferably homemade.  Edan is a total cosplayer for her favorite group, Team Tomorrow, and her favorite member, Gargantua.  When she dresses as Gargantua she is a giant with the power to accomplish anything.  In her real life her father is being accused of embezzlement, she is involved with a boy who may or may not be stealing from their Superheroes club called SEW, and another boy, Kirk, is taking up a lot of her interest.  This book is totally for the Nerd kids who are into cosplaying, love to go to Comic Cons, and are into costuming.  The ending comes too abruptly with the friends and staff members who had been so quick to believe that Edan had stolen the money, are now ready to be friends again.  The book will be a hit with the “Nerd” kids but will not have a universal appeal.  It is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

three-stars