Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Cricket War

The Cricket WarThe Cricket War by Sandra McTavish, Tho Pham
Published by Kids Can Press on October 3, 2023
ISBN: 1525306553
Pages: 160
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Based on the author’s life, this is the story of the Vietnamese “Boat People” escaping Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. It’s a short and compelling story. After Pho’s best friend and older brother were smuggled out by their families, it was Pho’s turn. His mother took him to his aunt’s house – an all-day bus trip – where he was taken by small boat to a larger boat. As if enduring seasickness, crowded conditions, and little food and water wasn’t enough, Pho’s boat was attacked by pirates on a daily – and sometimes more than daily – basis. He decided to hide on a pirate ship after one raid and helped the pirate fish until they passed him off to a fishing boat. Finally, after weeks at sea, he was rescued by a German rescue ship, the Cap Anamur, and eventually taken to a refugee camp in the Philippines. After writing to his family, he heard from his brother who had made it to Canada; eventually Pho was invited to move to Canada as well. I can’t help but wonder if this powerful story would reach a wider audience as a verse or graphic novel. I also was hoping for a longer historical note and photographs.

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

 

three-stars

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue MoonOnce in a Blue Moon by Sharon G. Flake
ISBN: 0593480988
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

James Henry can’t bring himself to leave his house ever since that night at the lighthouse with Ma. He lives in the south during Jim Crow with his twin sister and his Gran. Gran and his sister Hattie Mae encourage him to face his fears during the upcoming night of the blue moon. When James finally works up the courage to leave the house with Hattie and her new friend Lottie, they encounter the Baker brothers who bully them, have a near-miss with white supremacists, and encounter a few kind strangers on their trip back to the lighthouse to make sense of the event that changed their family. A powerful story told in verse.

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

four-stars

House Party

House PartyHouse Party by Justin A. Reynolds
ISBN: 0593488156
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“House Party” is a young adult novel edited by justin a. reynolds. The setting is the biggest house party of the year and the chapters focus on different characters (“The Popular Girl,” “The Influencer,” “The New Girl,” etc.) and are written by various acclaimed YA authors. Each character is dealing with their own problems, which occasionally intersect with those of other characters. There is plenty of drama, romance, and humor and unlike most high school house parties, this one ends with most stories tied up neatly. It is occasionally a little confusing to jump from one character’s point of view to another in each chapter, but the characters feel genuine and the drama will keep readers wondering what will happen by the end. Characters learn to be true to themselves and what is truly important in life. Written for teens, this book is a recommended addition for all teen/YA collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Picture Perfect Boyfriend

Picture Perfect BoyfriendPicture Perfect Boyfriend by Becky Dean
Published by Delacorte on May 23, 2023
ISBN: 0593569911
Pages: 384
Genres: Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

In “Picture Perfect Boyfriend” by Becky Dean, teenager Kenzie Reed is on vacation in Maui with her family. She’s been pressured by her parents to be perfect and to get them off of her back she’s lied and made up a fake boyfriend. When her made-up boyfriend surprises her at the Maui airport, Kenzie doesn’t know what is going on! She goes along with it rather than tell her parents that she’s been lying and starts to fall for him. Scenes set in Maui are now a bit painful, especially one  at the historic banyan tree now that the fires have happened. A young adult romance with humor and a mystery (who is this guy?!?) and themes about being true to yourself despite pressure and discovering who you are, this book is an additional purchase for any YA collection where contemporary romances are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

The Luis Ortega Survival Club

The Luis Ortega Survival ClubThe Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
on May 23, 2023
ISBN: 0063060302
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Sonora Reyes, author of “The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School,” has written another excellent queer young adult novel that should be added to your library teen/YA collection. “The Luis Ortega Survival Club” features a queer and autistic female protagonist, Ariana Ruiz. After a non-consensual sexual encounter (rape) with popular student Luis Ortega, Ariana struggles to deal with her feelings. When an anonymous person reaches out to her to say that they have experienced the same thing and ask to meet, Ariana discovers that there is a group of them and she is not alone.

The author kindly includes the sensitive topics that the book covers at the beginning of the book. This novel deals with these difficult topics well, though this is a tough book to get through. As an autistic and queer author, Reyes creates believable and well-developed characters. A recommended purchase for young adult collections everywhere, especially where “The Lesbiana’s Guide” is popular. While readers may find the subject matter difficult, these topics need to be discussed, and more queer and neurodivergent representation is definitely needed.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Where the Water Takes Us

Where the Water Takes UsWhere the Water Takes Us by Alan Barillaro
Published by Candlewick Press on July 4, 2023
Pages: 208
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Where the Water Takes Us” is Alan Barillaro’s debut middle grade novel about a girl named Ava who goes to stay with her grandparents while her mom is having a difficult pregnancy. Spending time in nature in a cabin on a lake sounds idyllic, but Ava suffers from anxiety and dread while she is there. After she finds a dead bird, she feels cursed and is determined to take care of some abandoned eggs that she finds, telling herself that if she does, her mother’s pregnancy will go well. The book gives an accurate portrayal of anxiety as Ava faces other challenges and acknowledges that you can have anxiety even if you have supportive adults in your life. Barillaro clearly has a love for nature and the environment is well described.

There are beautiful watercolor pictures drawn on the edges of each page and you can watch nature scenes from the lake or landscape eventually becoming (spoiler alert) two birds that fly away. This book doesn’t break new ground, but is a good addition to middle grade collections as an accurate depiction of youth mental health. Recommended additional purchase where realistic fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Fake Dates and Mooncakes

Fake Dates and MooncakesFake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
on May 16, 2023
ISBN: 0593569954
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Fake Dates and Mooncakes” by Sher Lee is a young adult realistic fiction/romance novel featuring two Asian-American teens  whose lives come together due to a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake competition. Dylan is determined to win the competition for his mother and to improve business at his aunt’s Chinese restaurant, while Theo needs a date to a family wedding and is willing to donate a large amount to the restaurant to get Dylan to be his date (the title’s “Fake Dates”). Themes of embracing your values and being willing to be yourself are clearly shown in the narrative. The teen characters felt realistic and well developed by the author. The ending is easily guessed, but still a worthwhile read. A recommended purchase where LGBTQIA + YA romances are popular. Good for fans of Heartstopper.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

The Windeby Puzzle

The Windeby PuzzleThe Windeby Puzzle by Lois Lowry
Published by Clarion Books on February 14, 2023
ISBN: 0358672503
Pages: 224
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
A book that is difficult to classify in a genre as it is a unique combination of fiction and nonfiction. A 2,000-year-old body was found in a peat bog in 1952 on Windeby Estate in northern Germany. Lois Lowry imagines the life that might have been, first for a young girl and then for a boy during the Iron Age. Estrild, not content with the dictates of what her life as a woman, wants to be a warrior. Varick, an orphan boy with a twisted back, is treated poorly because of his differences. We know how the stories will end with them blindfolded and left to die in the bog.

The reader learns much about bogs, bog people, and the history of the Druids in this rarely depicted time period. Although short and easy-to-read, the subject may be difficult for children because of the harsh content. Lowry takes quite a few liberties in imagining the two stories, but there is not a lot of information available about this first century time period. Interesting book, unlike any other, but definitely consider the reader before recommending it.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Select

SelectSelect by Christie Matheson
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on May 9, 2023
ISBN: 0593567234
Pages: 224
Genres: Sports
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
Alex has loved playing soccer since she was five years old. Now 12, she has been chosen to play for an elite team called Select. Playing for Select gives Alex a great opportunity to play at Nationals and earn a scholarship for college, which would be the only way she could afford to go. Playing for Select also means leaving the Rec team she loves, playing for a domineering coach who disrespects his players, and requires more logistical planning to get to practices and games, as Alex relies on public transportation. Alex is also frustrated by watching her mother not stand up for herself when her boyfriend mistreats her. Seeing this helps Alex confront her coach despite the risk of potentially losing her soccer career. This middle grade book would be great for readers who love soccer but also for those who enjoy strong female characters. This book confronts the issue of emotional abuse in an age-appropriate way both in the plot and in the author’s note. This book is more than just another sports book and would be a great addition to any middle school library collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

The Labors of Hercules Beal

The Labors of Hercules BealThe Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
Published by Clarion Books on May 23, 2023
ISBN: 0358659639
Pages: 352
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Hercules Beal has been given a tough assignment at his new school: to duplicate the feats of the mythological Hercules in his small Cape Cod town and write reflections on each one. At first this task seems daunting, but with some ingenuity and help from a few friends and neighbors, he is able to chip away at the twelve labors. As he reflects on his completed challenges, Hercules experiences a year of tremendous growth and healing after the death of his parents in a car accident. Hercules becomes an important member of his school and a valued member of his community, so when he needs help he is surrounded by a network of friends and neighbors who lift him up.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars