Format: Chapter Book Fiction

New Pup on the Block

New Pup on the BlockNew Pup on the Block (Wednesday and Woof, #2) by Gladys Jose, Sherri Winston
Published by HarperCollins on May 24, 2022
ISBN: 0062976079
Pages: 96
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the second book in the early chapter series, Wednesday and Woof, and the mysteries continue! The Woof Detective Agency that includes Wednesday Nadir and her dog, Woof are back at solving mysteries in their neighborhood. The story is fast paced with short chapters that include colorful illustrations on every page, including depictions of Wednesday’s Book of Detective Tips. Throughout the book, milestone markers appear informing young readers of their literacy progress and encouraging them to keep going. The back pages offer congratulations on reading the entire book with a breakdown of how many chapters, pages and words were read. This is an excellent book to add to the early chapter book section, and is ideal for readers who have moved up from early readers and are ready to read more independently.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library

four-stars

Ghostlight

GhostlightGhostlight by Kenneth Oppel
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 0593487931
Pages: 400
Genres: Adventure, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Kenneth Oppel’s “Ghostlight” is a middle-grade supernatural adventure. Gabe, a teenager  who doesn’t believe in ghosts, works as a tour guide for the Ghost Tour at the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse. By repeating the name of a ghost several times during the course of the tour, he awakens Rebecca Strand, a girl who died back in the 1830s while fighting evil ghosts at the lighthouse. Now Gabe and his friends must come together to fight back against a powerful and evil ghost.

The plot is unique and interesting and the theme of friendship comes through clearly. The story felt a little long and convoluted at times, but good characterization helps keep readers interested. Aimed at kids aged 11-15, “Ghostlight” is a suggested purchase where supernatural middle-grade novels or Oppel’s other books are popular.

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

four-stars

Smashie McPerter and the Shocking Rocket Robbery

Smashie McPerter and the Shocking Rocket RobberySmashie McPerter and the Shocking Rocket Robbery by Kate Hindley, N. Griffin
Published by Candlewick Press on February 8, 2022
ISBN: 0763694703
Pages: 272
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Smashie McPerter and her best friend Dontel are back and working together to solve mysteries! This time they have several mysteries to investigate on the day of their field trip. Someone stole Dontel’s technically correct drawing of a space rocket, right out of a backpack! Then, on the way to the planetarium, the class’s special space snacks kept disappearing and someone stole one of Smashie’s fancy hats! The two start their investigations, but then Smashie becomes a prime suspect, putting their friendship, and the investigations, in jeopardy.

This is the third book in the Smashie McPerter mystery series and readers who enjoyed the previous books will no doubt enjoy this one as well. The nice thing about this series is that each book works as a stand alone; readers do not have to read the previous books to understand and enjoy this one. The book is fast-paced and there are clues and red herrings throughout that keep readers thinking. Appropriate for upper elementary readers, this book will appeal to mystery fans and would be a great book to check-out.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library, Orono, ME

three-stars

River

RiverRiver (Warriors: A Starless Clan, #1) by Erin Hunter
Published by HarperCollins on April 5, 2022
ISBN: 0063050080
Pages: 272
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The book starts with 8 pages of cats, listed by clan, grouped by status within the clan (leader, warrior, etc.), and gives the cats’ names followed by a color description. The book focuses on three cats: Flamepaw, an apprentice warrior trying to live up to his family’s warrior legacy; Sunbeam, a warrior with drama in her life involving a friend; and Frostpaw, a medicine cat apprentice with many responsibilities being thrust on her. This is Book 1 of a new series, the seventh in the extensive canon within Hunter’s Warriors books. This first book is the perfect introduction for new readers, while long-time fans will discover what unfolds after the events of The Broken Code. Faithful readers will eat up the new storyline and the many open strands at the end of the book promise more adventure and intrigue to come.

Reviewed by Betsey Noble, Marcia Buker Elementary School

three-stars

The Black Slide

The Black SlideThe Black Slide Published by HarperCollins on August 16, 2022
ISBN: 0062990551
Pages: 272
Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

Fifth-grader Griffin knows there is something strange about the new piece of playground equipment that suddenly appears at his school. After his classmates start to disappear, he accidentally follows his friend Laila though it and finds a world populated by pain-loving creatures made of rock and stone who are torturing the kids in a quest for immortality.

Griffin is no stranger to pain, thanks to an abusive father, but does he have what it takes to stand up to an entire dimension based on torture and angst?

Fans of Hellraiser will recognize the Merciless (the pain creatures) as Cenobites. This is no accident; in his acknowledgement Ocker mentions his “Hellraiser for kids” idea. Is Hellraiser for kids a good idea? It really could have been. Between great world-building and the edgy risk of the entire concept, there is a lot to offer here. Unfortunately, the characters would have been much more relatable had they been a little older. Because they’re supposed to be 10-11 years old, the dialog is unconvincing and weakens the character development. This might not bother some readers who are looking for unique middle grade horror, so cautiously recommended for middle grade horror fans.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Little Bad Book 2

The Little Bad Book 2The Little Bad Book #2: Even More Dangerous! by Magnus Myst, Thomas Hussung
Published by Delacorte Press on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 0593427645
Pages: 160
Genres: Fantasy, Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

The possessed little book is back and this time readers need to solve its riddles and read through its stories in order to get it to spill a massive secret, while sparring with a young girl named Sweet Marie who disapproves of all of this.

For those who enjoyed the first book, this is more of the same; choose-your-own-adventure, math problems, stories, riddles, gross-out humor, etc. For those who did not enjoy the first, this will be a similar experience as well, but with body-shaming thrown in.

The audience for this book is unclear so it’s difficult to recommend for either school or public libraries.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

two-stars

I am the Ghost in Your House

I am the Ghost in Your HouseI Am the Ghost in Your House by Maria Romasco Moore
Published by Delacorte Press on April 19, 2022
ISBN: 0593177215
Pages: 432
Genres: Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

“I am the Ghost in Your House” by Maria Romasco-Moore is surprisingly NOT a horror novel and is NOT about a ghost. Pie is like any other teenager with the exception of being invisible to everyone except for her mother, who is also invisible. The novel follows Pie as she tries to make friends, despite her mother’s rules that they leave no trace of themselves and hide away from people as much as possible. Pie’s mother was visible once, but developed the invisibility to cope with abuse. The idea of feeling/being invisible will resonate with many readers. The premise is interesting, but doesn’t feel fully fleshed out and could use more worldbuilding.  A young adult novel, “I am the Ghost in Your House,” should be an additional purchase for your library’s collection, but not a must-buy.

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

two-stars

Cake Eater

Cake EaterCake Eater by Allyson Dahlin
Published by HarperTeen on August 9, 2022
ISBN: 0063096773
Pages: 448
Genres: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you took the history of Marie Antoinette and stuck her in the far off future? Wonder no more. “Cake Eater” by Allyson Dahlin is a young adult science fiction novel set in 3070 where Maria Antonia, social media superstar, is sent to the Franc Kingdom to wed royal Louis-Auguste. This is a unique take on historical fiction and seems mostly true to the history even within this futuristic and dystopian world. Characters are believable, but parts of the futuristic world seem unbelievable; will texting really still be a thing over a thousand years from now?

Written for teens, this ya novel will appeal to fans of history (especially those interested in the French Revolution) and science fiction readers, but is not a must-buy for your library collection. Purchase for collections where futuristic historical fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

Violet Made of Thorns

Violet Made of ThornsViolet Made of Thorns (Violet Made of Thorns, #1) by Gina Chen
Published by Delacorte Press on July 26, 2022
ISBN: 059342753X
Pages: 368
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Violet Made of Thorns” by Gina Chen is a young adult enemies to lovers fantasy novel. Violet is the new Seer of the kingdom of Auveny and must deal with the internal politics and schemes while figuring out what she truly wants. Prince Cyrus is the cursed “enemy” love interest, though the romantic tension seems forced and both characters are difficult to like.

The worldbuilding Chen has done is creative and the fairy tale influences will remind you that many of them are much darker than we remember. Written for older teens and new adults, this book is not a must-buy, but would fit in well if YA enemies to lovers fantasies are popular at your library.

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

three-stars

Dear Friends

Dear FriendsDear Friends by Lisa Greenwald
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on May 10, 2022
ISBN: 0063062674
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Dear Friends,” a middle grade novel by Lisa Greenwald, will take you back to middle school where friendship and drama go hand in hand. The main character, Leni, is understandably upset when she isn’t invited to her best friend Sylvie’s sleepover. She realizes that she has had other friendships that have faded away in the past and does an investigation to find out why this happened.

The book has plenty of middle school humor and drama, and Leni discovers some very interesting things about herself and about how to be a good friend.  A useful addition to your middle grade collection, but not a must-buy.

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

three-stars