Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Never Coming Home

Never Coming HomeNever Coming Home by Kate Williams
Published by Delacorte Press on June 21, 2022
ISBN: 0593304861
Pages: 320
Genres: Suspense, Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Ten young adult influencers head to Unknown Island as the first group of people hand-selected to experience the trip of a lifetime. The 10 are expecting all inclusive luxury and an opportunity to mingle with other elites, maybe even a chance to build their brand but what they find instead is no Wi-Fi, shabby accommodations, and murder. The influencers all share a dark secret and someone on the island is out for retribution. The athlete, the beauty blogger, the DJ, the environmentalist? No one is safe. No one is going home.

Lies and secrets and murder are all the rage right now as the YA thriller genre continues to grow. While there is nothing groundbreaking happening here, Never Coming Home will still be a fun read for teens looking for something similar to a Karen McManus book or other related fare. The character development is shallow and the tech mentions will date the book quickly but that is forgivable with books such as this. Light gore, the dark side of social media, and the curiosity of who is behind Unknown Island will no doubt draw readers in. Add to teen collections where this genre is popular. Recommended for 8th grade and up.

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School

three-stars

Castles in Their Bones

Castles in Their BonesCastles in Their Bones (Castles in Their Bones, #1) by Laura Sebastian
Published by Delacorte Press on February 1, 2022
ISBN: 0593118162
Pages: 514
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Triplet sisters Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia have turned 16, and as such, it is time for them to leave their homeland of Bessemia and marry the princes of three other countries they’ve been betrothed to since childhood. Their mother, Empress Margaraux , has trained the girls to drive each monarchy into war so that she may rule over the entire continent herself. Armed with a variety of skills and a bit of stardust, the three sisters test themselves and each other in hopes of accomplishing their tasks and staying in their mother’s good graces, all the while hurtling towards a destiny they are completely unaware of.

Castles in Their Bones, the first in a planned trilogy, is a bit formulaic but nevertheless did manage to surprise me in a few areas, especially towards the end. While the book is difficult to get into initially because it is written in present-tense, the story itself picks up rather quickly and the distraction of the writing style is quickly forgotten. The sisters take turns narrating the story, each with a distinct voice and circumstance, which makes 500 pages worth of content surprisingly easy to keep track of. Fans of palace intrigue, family secrets, and a touch of magic will want to add this to their reading list. Recommended for general purchase. Ages 14 and up.

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School

four-stars

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big AdventureHaven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Published by Candlewick Press on August 2, 2022
ISBN: 1536216577
Pages: 144
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Haven is a gripping story about a cat who tries to get help for her sick human, Ma Millie. They live alone, and there is no one else to help. Haven is scared to be in the forest but gets help along the way from a savvy fox. Their friendship is humorous and touching. This is a fast-paced adventure story that will hold readers’ captivated, wanting to find out how it ends. The descriptions of cozy cottages and the vast wilderness are terrifically portrayed, and the ever-present lurking bobcat will keep readers turning pages. The dangers presented might be too scary for a sensitive child and death is present for both animals and humans. Overall, recommend this bittersweet novel to readers who enjoyed Pax by Sara Pennypacker and the Warriors series.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

My Life Begins!

My Life Begins!My Life Begins! by Patricia MacLachlan
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on August 2, 2022
ISBN: 0063116014
Pages: 128
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the last book written by Patricia MacLachlan before her death in March, 2022. In typical MacLachlan style, this poignant story is likely to appeal more to adults than children. Jacob’s life changes when the triplets are born; he wanted a puppy. This conflict-free book is Jacob’s “research project” about how the triplets change and grow. It has short chapters, simple wording, and some illustrations. It might be difficult to believe that a 9-year-old boy would be so enthralled with caring for babies, but suggest this sweet book to a boy or girl who has a new sibling (or siblings!) and it could be a hit.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Ravenfall

RavenfallRavenfall (Ravenfall, #1) by Kalyn Josephson
Published by Delacorte Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 0593483588
Pages: 256
Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ravenfall is a middle grade fantasy that transports readers to Wick, a town close to the Otherworld, inhabited by humans and magical creatures. Anna’s psychic family runs the magical Ravenfall Inn and Anna is often stuck doing chores while her sisters use their powers to entertain tourists and earn money. Anna’s power is that she has visions of death, but she tries to avoid this sensation, causing her to feel useless and out of place. Things start to change when a mysterious boy, Colin, shows up at the inn. Soon Anna and Colin are working together to figure out who or what killed Colin’s parents. They need to work quickly to solve this mystery by Halloween night, when the Shield between this world and the Otherworld is at its weakest. This cozy read is perfect for fall. It’s spooky and a little dark, but does not get graphic or gory. Readers will no doubt be pulled in by Ravenfall’s unusual inhabitants and their dangerous quest to keep Colin safe, but they will also enjoy this story of friendship and belonging. Readers will be happy to know that a sequel will be released fall of 2023.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Krazyland

KrazylandKrazyland by Mar Romasco-Moore
Published by Delacorte Press on September 13, 2022
ISBN: 0593431154
Pages: 272
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

 

Middle schooler Nathan is forced to go to a birthday party at his uncle’s Chuck E. Cheese’s style business and gets transported to an inter-dimensional realm through the ball pit where he encounters distorted fragments of his own reality. He and an employee named Mercy realize that the realm is less than innocent and have to figure out how to seal it up permanently.

This middle-grade adventure will be a hit with older fans of Goosebumps or younger fans of Stranger Things, and can only be described as a skee-ball and junk food induced fever dream. (But in a good way.) This book is funny, a quick read, and completely unpredictable. Maybe not the best for an over analytical young mind, but those who are willing to roll with nonsense will enjoy it.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars

The Flamingo

The FlamingoThe Flamingo: A Graphic Novel Chapter Book by Guojing
Published by Random House Studio on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 0593127315
Pages: 144
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Early Reader, Graphic Novel, Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A small child of Chinese descent goes to visit her Lau Lau (grandmother) who lives by the beach. Over the course of the visit, Lau Lau tells the girl about a special flamingo feather Lau Lau has had since she was a girl. Over the course of the story, the two enjoy the beach, splashing in the ocean, picking up seashells, and even finding a recently hatched sea turtle egg. The child learns this flamingo was very special to her Lau Lau. When she returns home, the girl creates a special keepsake for Lau Lau – she illustrates a book with the story of the flamingo. This nearly wordless chapter book graphic novel is beautifully illustrated with whimsical watercolor and colored pencil drawings that evoke the sense of imagination children often possess. The connection between grandmother and grandchild in this story is touching and in many ways magical. This book would be best for 2nd-5th graders as an individual checkout. I recommend it for any library that serves children.

Reviewed by Savannah Sessions, MSAD #17 Librarian,  Oxford Hills

five-stars

A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to Magic

A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to MagicA Reluctant Witch's Guide to Magic by Shivaun Plozza
Published by Clarion Books on July 19, 2022
ISBN: 0358541271
Pages: 288
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Willa lives in a village caught between the warring Silverclaw and Irontongue witches where wayward spells create downpours of frogs or turn innocent people into clouds that then float away. When Willa accidentally casts wayward spells of her own, she is accused of being a witch. She is then whisked off to the castle where she will be trained (for a year!) in the art of witchcraft before she will be forced to choose between the warring covens. Of course, she denies being a witch although her parents did always encourage her to keep her fizzing nature under control. With the help of her friends, the dogsbody (a person who does menial work) and the princess who fancies herself the castle librarian, she investigates the mysterious spells that keep popping up and tries to figure out her place in the world of witchcraft and royalty. Written to appeal to kids who love a good potty joke – the witches fling boogers at each other and create “jumble” monsters comprised of body parts from different animals – kids will enjoy the story but I think young readers are perhaps a bit more sophisticated than the author perceives. 

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

three-stars

A Disaster in Three Acts

A Disaster in Three ActsA Disaster in Three Acts by Kelsey Rodkey
Published by HarperTeen on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 0062994492
Pages: 368
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Saine is a high school senior focused on creating a documentary worthy of admission to a competitive film program at Temple University. When her original plan falls through, former-best-friend-and-crush Holden allows her to use his entry into a live action video game contest as her subject material, though he is cagey regarding his reason for entering. Saine assumes he is doing it just to win the prize, a coveted VR headset prototype. Sure that this won’t be compelling enough for Temple, she reframes his story without telling him, into a drama about financial woes that don’t really exist—with fingers crossed that he will never ask to see it.

This novel is a thoughtful and enjoyable YA rom-com that tackles some big topics with a light but intentional hand. The main storyline focuses on Saine’s creation of the documentary, and her decision to create a compelling drama about the people involved, rather than to simply tell their story. When this comes to light she is accused – and understands – that her single-minded pursuit of this one dream has caused her to make a series of selfish decisions, which has negatively impacted each of her relationships in different ways. With overlapping subplots that deal with grief, family and friendship changes, self-belief, and mental health, the novel manages to check a lot of boxes. Supporting cast is diverse in sexuality and (more subtly) race and gender, and characters feel realistically flawed, including most of all Saine who finally comes to the realization that while she has risked all of her relationships in her pursuit of her dream, it is also within her to fix the damage she has done.

I’d suggest this for YA collections 14+. There is one scene with a sexual encounter that is pressured but ultimately presented as consensual, though Saine refers to her “self-loathing” the morning after. Fans of Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’ or Lyla Lee’s I’ll be the One will enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

The Darkening

The DarkeningThe Darkening (The Darkening, #1) by Sunya Mara
Published by Clarion Books on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 0358561981
Pages: 400
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
The Darkening is the epic adventure of Vesper Vale, who lives in a world controlled by magic, the Regia, and a horrific, swirling storm that permanently alters anyone who touches it.  Vesper and her father are on the lookout for the Regia, as he is wanted by them for his revolutionary past (Vesper’s mother was also a revolutionary but chose to enter the storm and hasn’t been seen since). After he is captured Vesper must show her craftiness and try to learn from her father’s handwritten book of ikonomancy in order to free him from prison. Her father’s ikonomancy is legendary but he shielded Vesper from it to keep her safe, so she has a lot to learn and time is sensitive, to say the least.

The cover of this book is beautiful and will get some attention, and the first chapter is exciting and draws you in, but unfortunately, after that this book just doesn’t hold up. While it is well-written, nearly half the book is dedicated to Vesper’s love/hate relationship with Daca, a complicated Regia prince, and it is not even remotely interesting. When the ikonomancy is described, things get exciting again, but the mentions are too few and far between. It’s disappointing because both the magic (amazing!) and the storm (terrifying!) would have made a great book; it just needed to stay focused on them instead of Vesper’s relationships.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars