Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Violet and Jobie in the Wild

Violet and Jobie in the WildViolet and Jobie in the Wild by Lynne Rae Perkins
Published by HarperCollins US on November 30, 2022
ISBN: 0062499696
Pages: 240
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Violet and Jobie are two sibling mice who live in a house. They’ve figured out how to outsmart the snap traps, but they’re unprepared for a trap that leaves them alive but stuck in box. When that box is then delivered to the great outdoors in the middle of nowhere, they’re lost in a new environment. They don’t know what to eat, what wants to eat them (though it seems like that’s everything!), or where they should sleep. They meet a much more experienced mouse, and their adventures in the wild unfold.

This is a fun, lighthearted story perfect for young readers moving up from early chapter books. Potentially scary parts include owls, foxes, and the like, but nothing is overly dramatic. Violet and Jobie are curious, adventurous, and supportive of each other. They work together to problem solve and build up each other’s strengths. The story flows well, is easy to follow, and has enough adventure to keep readers engaged throughout. Recommended for readers 7 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Morning Sun in Wuhan

Morning Sun in WuhanMorning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Chang Compestine
Published by Clarion Books on November 8, 2022
ISBN: 0358572053
Pages: 208
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

It’s January 2020, and Mei lives in Wuhan with her father. Mei loves to cook, and she often cooks for her father, a doctor who works long hours at the local hospital. When her friend’s grandmother falls ill, Mei reaches out to her father only to find that he’s now stuck at an overflowing hospital and won’t be able to come home for several days. He knew what was coming, so he stocked their kitchen with essentials and favorites. When the eventual mandatory lockdown occurs, Mei finds herself helping others by volunteering to help distribute meals and cooking for those in her building without enough food for themselves.

This book provides some insight into what the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic was like for those at the very epicenter of it all. It is a well written and engaging story about community and the strength we can find from trusting and working together. I would not recommend this book for anyone who has pandemic anxiety or trauma. For those who are ready to read about the pandemic, this is a wonderful way to bring about empathy and understanding from an often underrepresented perspective in youth literature. Recommended for readers 9 and up and for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, E

five-stars

The Year the Maps Changed

The Year the Maps ChangedThe Year the Maps Changed by Danielle Binks
Published by Quill Tree Books on October 18, 2022
ISBN: 0063211602
Pages: 368
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It’s 1999, Fred is 11 yrs old, she’s never known her biological father, her mother died years ago, and now her stepfather, Luca, is expecting a baby with his new girlfriend. Fred’s trying to figure out how she fits into this new family picture. In addition to the turmoil within her, Fred finds herself grappling with community turmoil when her small Australian town accepts thousands of refugees from Kosovo. Many people, like Fred and her family, want to help the refugees, but there are some who feel they don’t belong and are only causing trouble for the locals.

This is a very well written book that will appeal to readers who enjoy realistic fiction without drama or fear. There are themes of conflict but they’re handled in an age appropriate manner. The plot of this book moves pretty slowly so readers who require page-turning action are likely to lose interest. Fans of Rebecca Stead, Gary Schmidt, and the like will enjoy the story and the details woven into the text. Recommended for readers 8 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

A Rover’s Story

A Rover’s StoryA Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga
Published by HarperCollins US on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 0063113929
Pages: 320
Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Resilience, a.k.a., Res, is a newly minted Mars rover, and he’s nervous and excited about traveling to the red planet. He loves learning from all the scientists around him, and he begins developing some human-like feelings about them and about the other rovers and drones around him. Accompanied by Fly, his drone, he blasts off to Mars and quickly learns that it’s a rather unforgiving place plagued by dust storms and riddled with hidden cliffs.

This fun, fictional account of a rover on Mars is written from a couple perspectives—from Resilience and from Sophie, the daughter of one of the scientists who programmed Resilience. Sophie’s accounts are heartfelt and bring the perspective of the humans on earth. They also provide a timeline since Res’s accounts don’t convey the decades that pass throughout the book. Res’s account of Mars is entertaining and will leave readers rooting for the rover to succeed. His emotions and insecurities combined with unfailing optimism result in an extemely likable character and a relatable narrator. Recommended for readers 8 and up who enjoy space, adventure, technology, and science.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Nikhil Out Loud

Nikhil Out LoudNikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy
Published by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 0063091925
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Nikhil Shah is pretty famous, but most people don’t recognize him because he’s a voice actor for a very popular animated series. When his mom moves him to a small town in Ohio to care for his grandfather (whom he barely knows), Nikhil is less than thrilled. Once people discover who he is, he is given the lead in the school musical. There’s one problem — Nikhil has terrible stage fright and isn’t a very good singer. To make matters worse, a group of parents are protesting having an openly gay kid playing the lead role AND he wakes up to find his voice is cracking and changing. How can he do the job he loves without the voice that got him that job?

Though Nikhil is famous, he faces many of the same insecurities and fears that tweens and teens encounter daily. He’s grappling with his sense of self, his belonging in a new community, and complicated family dynamics. This book is engaging, funny, heartfelt, and real. Nikhil and his family are East Indian. Nikhil is openly gay, and though his mother is supportive, not all adults in his family and community feel the same way. The issues of bullying, homophobia, and racism are addressed in age-appropriate ways and will resonate with young readers. Hand this book to fans of Rebecca Stead, Barbara Dee, and the like. Recommended for readers 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Rain Rising

Rain RisingRain Rising by Courtne Comrie
Published by HarperCollins on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 0063159732
Pages: 336
Genres: Mental Health, Realistic Fiction, Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is phenomenal. Rain loves her family—her mom and her brother are her constants, and they help keep her strong. She’s hiding a deep sadness inside her, though. When her brother is attacked during a college visit, all the feelings and emotions she’s been hiding for so long start to surface. Her favorite teacher, Miss Walia, invites Rain to an after-school circle group, and it’s here that she finds the courage to share her feelings and her struggles. She finds friendship. She finds safety. She finds trust. Through circle group and more formal therapy both Rain and her brother find healing.

This is a beautiful novel written in verse. It covers so many topics—difficult family relationships, racism, self esteem, self harm, and more. All of the difficult topics are handled in a very age-appropriate manner and with respect for the characters. The text is gorgeously written, colorful, poetic, and moving. This book is highly recommended for readers 5th grade and up and for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

My life begins

My life beginsMy Life Begins! by Patricia MacLachlan
Published by HarperCollins US on November 30, 2022
ISBN: 0063116014
Pages: 128
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Jacob is 9 when his triplet sisters arrive. He really wanted a litter of puppies, but instead he got “The Trips.” He begins chronicling their lives and the things that make them different from each other, and along the way, he decides he actually likes them a bit.

This is a gentle and sweet story about family, growing up, and helping out. This is a great book for new chapter book readers and would be a great bed time read aloud. There are some black and white illustrations throughout, but they don’t add a ton to the story. The text is widely spaced making this an accessible book for new readers. Recommended for readers 7 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

the 9:09 project

the 9:09 projectThe 9:09 Project by Mark H. Parsons
Published by Delacorte on October 18, 2022
ISBN: 0593309758
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Unlike many YA novels that deal with the loss of a family member, seventeen year old Jamison Deever’s family didn’t fall apart after his mother died of cancer. He and his sister and father have begun the journey towards healing in the two years since she’s been gone, each in their own way while supporting each other. But J still acutely feels his loss and so sets out on a project to honor his mother and their shared love of photography, while coping with his grief. Dubbed “the 9:09 project”, he takes random photos of strangers every night on the same street corner at 9:09 pm, the exact time she died. With the help of friends, he creates a website to upload the photos and shares his thoughts about what he sees portrayed in them. The website takes off and becomes wildly popular, with J eventually realizing how many people he is helping to recognize and express their own grief. Along the way, he truly starts to find his talent and his self confidence, makes some really good friends, and even falls in love. He also connects with his father and sister in a more meaningful way.

This is a beautifully written novel, with every chapter starting with a quote from famed photographer Dorothea Lange. There is a lot of technical photography jargon in the book, but it doesn’t slow down the pace of the story. Besides loss and grief, this is a great coming of age story for high schoolers, with J also finding his moral compass amid some dicey peer situations. A great addition to any YA section.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Lee Remick, York Middle School

five-stars

Blood Scion

Blood ScionBlood Scion (Blood Scion, #1) by Deborah Falaye
Published by HarperCollins US on June 1, 2022
Pages: 432
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars
Sloane, a fifteen year old who is searching for her mother’s body in the outskirts of her village, has just been drafted to become a child soldier for the enemy Lucis; she also happens to be a Scion. With ancestral magic coursing through her veins, she has no choice but to try to control the fire that burns within her – for if she fails she will be executed. Based on Yoruba-Nigerian folklore, this book is heavy on world building, violence, betrayal, vengeance and perseverance.

The plot initially sounds intriguing, but the world building is at times confusing, the pacing seems rushed, there was little background or character development for some of the major supporting characters and the ending left me even more confused. Most reviews list the grade range for this book as 8-12. Really though, this book reads more like an adult novel, and probably not a good use of funds as a purchase for a young adult section.

Reviewed by Lee Remick, York Middle School

two-stars

Where You’ve Got To Be

Where You’ve Got To BeWhere You've Got to Be by Caroline Gertler
Published by Greenwillow Books on September 13, 2022
ISBN: 0063027054
Pages: 288
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Where You’ve Got to Be is a lovely middle grade novel that introduces us to Nolie, a rising sixth grader who lives with her mom, dad and older sister Linden in a small, New York City apartment. The summer has ended on a bad note when the cousins’ week at her Grandma’s beach house is cut short due to her older sister Linden, a picture perfect ballet star, insisting on going back to the city early for a workshop. To make matters worse, when she tries to reconnect with her best friend Jessa, it seems another girl has seemingly taken her place, and they’ve moved on to another level of maturity that Nolie doesn’t feel comfortable with. When her sister Linden gets the starring role in the NYC Ballet’s Nutcracker, Nolie really starts to feel invisible. So she starts to take things that don’t belong to her, including a family heirloom from her Grandma’s house – telling herself it’s just temporary to make herself feel better. But it starts to spiral out of control and Nolie finds herself in an uncomfortable position of her own making.

This is a great middle grade book about navigating growing up, old and new friendships and sibling dynamics. Another great theme throughout the book is Nolie and Linden working to understand their Jewish faith, when Linden makes some hard choices while facing anti-Semitic comments at ballet.
Recommended Grades 5-7
Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Lee Remick, York Middle School

four-stars