Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Final Cut

The Final CutThe Final Cut by Denis Markell
Published by Delacorte Press on April 26, 2022
ISBN: 0593180666
Pages: 304
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Alex returns to school after a summer of skateboard camp with a new nickname (Xan) that just won’t stick and to make 7th grade even worse, he doesn’t get to take the video game design class he has been dreaming of all summer. Instead he ends up in film class. Film is so big at their school, they have 2 film teachers and several successful alumni who are successful filmmakers. Alex must work with classmates to create a film for the annual film contest while overcoming computer hackers, protests over a building permit (Alex’s Dad is on the building commission), and some kind of animosity between the two film teachers. Students will enjoy this clever, humorous mystery set in an elite NY middle school.

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

three-stars

Surely Surely Marisol Rainey

Surely Surely Marisol RaineySurely Surely Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly
Published by Greenwillow Books on August 9, 2022
ISBN: 0062970453
Pages: 160
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Illustrated chapter book with drawings by the author.

Marisol’s gym teacher announces they will be starting a kickball unit, and Marisol is worried. She isn’t good at sports, and Evie, another girl in her class, is mean to her about that, making things worse. Still, with support from her best friend Jada and help from her “extraordinarily” sporty older brother, she eventually finds her courage and manages to kick the ball in a game. Everyone cheers for her success, from her family to the coach to (surprise!) Evie.

Marisol is a likeable and realistic character, with fears and anxieties that ring true as she navigates the ups and downs of school, gym class, and friendships. Young readers looking for an engaging storyline and relatable characters will find a winner here. A bonus is that this is second in a series (works fine as a stand-alone) by award-winning Erin Entrada Kelly.

Readers who enjoy Sara Pennypacker’s Clementine or Lois Lowry’s Gooney Bird books will love to find these on the shelf!

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Ride With Me

Ride With MeRide With Me by Lucy Keating
Published by Clarion Books on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0358468310
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
Charlie Owens drives for a local rideshare app in her small Western Mass town. Early on, there is a (suspension-of-disbelief-requiring) meet cute/conflict between Charlie and Andre, a popular boy, that leads to his car being in the shop and her driving him around town. A spark between them naturally develops as they spend time together.

Positives: the awkward teen romance angle felt spot on. Keating’s writing was smooth and easy to read, with realistic dialogue.

Ho-hum: Secondary characters were uniformly nice people, some with quirky personalities, and none were remotely abrasive or challenging (everyone gets along, all the time). One friend was described briefly as Black, and a handful others had last names which indicated a diversity that the story otherwise lacked. Sense of setting was superficially adequate, if greatly romanticized; it reads like a story written by a person who lives in a city about how they imagine rural teenagers live (and did not nail the experience).

There were none of the hot button topics that often come up in YA, other than several scenes with underage social drinking. Overall, this novel offers a pleasant and undemanding reading experience for teens looking for a low-key chaste romance set in rural New England, but is not by any means a must-have for libraries.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

three-stars

Race for the Escape

Race for the EscapeRace for the Escape by Christopher Edge
Published by Delacorte Press on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 0593486013
Pages: 176
Genres: Adventure, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
“Race for the Escape” by Christopher Edge is an adventure featuring several tweens who take part in “The Escape,” a supposedly impossible escape room. Ami, Adjoa, Oscar, Ibrahim, and Min discover that this is no ordinary escape room and that they will need to use all of their skills to “Find the Answer, Save the World” and get out alive.

An exciting middle grade book filled with adventure and mystery, readers will enjoy trying to solve the riddles along with the main characters and guessing what will happen next. A solid purchase for your library collection where adventure/puzzle books, like the Mr. Lemoncello series, are popular.

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

three-stars

The Little Bad Book

The Little Bad BookThe Little Bad Book #1 by Magnus Myst, Thomas Hussung
Published by Delacorte Press on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0593427610
Pages: 128
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars
“The Little Bad Book” by Magnus Myst is a choose-your-own-adventure type novel where readers attempt to help the book (yes, the book is a character in the book) become truly bad. Readers are asked to lie, curse, and solve riddles in order to help the book truly be bad. The book says that it is bad to do these things, but kids might not understand, due to the fact that the book is asking them to do these bad things.

Illustrations are both fun and creepy, and add to the general bad-ness that the book is going for. The book itself has funny moments and the puzzles are fun to solve, but I’m not sure who the target audience is. Stories are dark, with kids dying (one actually dies laughing) and one former reader who became a ghost. Recommended for ages 9 – 12, this book is a supplemental purchase for middle grade collections.

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

two-stars

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness From the Border

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness From the BorderThe Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Stephen Briseño, Magdalena Mora
Published by Random House Studio on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0593307054
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Written with deep compassion and knowledge of the immigrant situation at the Mexican border, “The Notebook Keeper” is a valuable book. After a mother tells her daughter that they must leave their village and seek refuge in the USA, their long walk begins. Readers see what Noemi packs for her trip and then follow in their footsteps as mother and child approach the border. Before the tall wall and the solders posted there is a large group of people from many countries. This story highlights the long wait, fear of the unknown, and the lack of compassion given to those waiting to be called to apply for asylum. Illustrations are varied as they depict the mood of those waiting and the cultural use of bright color. Two-page spreads add volume to the crowd of people and reflect the tension felt by those waiting. Everyday life at the border is depicted in a series of circles which provide dimension to the story line. The shining light is the woman who holds the all-important notebook which records all those waiting their turn. It is the kindness of Belinda that gives this story meaning as well as offers hope. “The Notebook Keeper” is based on real people who waited and volunteered at the Mexican border until Covid-19 closed it. Factual background material and a selected source list are included for readers.

This is a story that needs to be shared, read, and discussed beyond the K-grade 3 audience. Primary and intermediate media center librarians should purchase a copy and all public librarians are encouraged to do the same. Schools at all levels and churches who support social justice will want to include this book on their reading list. Recommend as a book discussion title.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired Youth Services Librarian

five-stars

Little Houses

Little HousesLittle Houses by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek
Published by Greenwillow Books on May 24, 2022
ISBN: 0062965727
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Natural curiosity is the theme that evolves throughout this picture book. Youngsters who have walked along a seashore beach are sure to identify with the illustrations and text. Those children who are not familiar with a seaside environment are in for a delightful experience as they stroll along with generic grandparents. Henkes catches the sounds of the sea as he develops the story to embrace what critters live within shells and wonder what lives below the surf. The second part of this book shares a sense of wonder as the young girl expresses her desire to know more. She and the audience are charmed by everything they have seen and want to learn more. The illustrations which were painted by Dronzek offer a birds-eye view of a perfect stretch of sandy beach. Color is used to emphasis the text and the animals are mostly in good proportion to the characters. Each shell is correctly drawn and most of the other marine species are accurately shown. One double page spread however shows a marine mammal (whale) that is incorrectly referred to as a big fish. Best of all is the emphasis placed on only removing from the beach shells that have no critters living in them.

This is a good book for primary grade nature study and great for families who love outdoor activities. May all children have the opportunity to view little marine houses and be able to take a couple empty shells home, if allowed by beach rules. Primary and nursery schools located in states that have ocean coastline should add this title to their picture book shelves. Public libraries ought to seriously consider including this book in their collections for families who have access to seaside beaches.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired Youth Services Librarian

four-stars

Manatee Summer

Manatee SummerManatee Summer by Evan Griffith
Published by Quill Tree Books on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0063094916
Pages: 288
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
An endearing adventure and scientific research novel which might best be noted as a middle grade coming-of-age story. Griffith has created two intriguing characters who are experiencing a unique summer, what should be their best summer ever. Pain, fear, loss of confidence, and family problems are all visible as Peter and Tommy interact in a somewhat dishonest relationship. Other characters are developed enough to hold their place in the story but it is a Florida manatee named Zoe who holds the story line in place. Unsettled parents, a failing grandfather, naturalists, and a grouchy neighbor contribute to the action which never stops from cover to cover.

The struggle these characters face is typical in society. Readers will encounter divorce, dementia in a grandparent, climate change, and an upcoming long-distance move. Each issue is enough to turn the life of a middle grader upside-down.

Griffith’s first novel is bound to be a favorite for juvenile readers. Those interested in marine animals and the scientific research method are sure to become engrossed by this story. Zoe may appear on the cover but this book is about relationships and struggles for humans and animals as well as their interaction. Future naturalist will be delighted with the field study notebook (Discovery Journal) and the marine scientists introduced within the story line. Add to intermediate school and middle school collections and include in public library juvenile collections.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired Youth Services Librarian

five-stars

The Hurricanes of Weakerville

The Hurricanes of WeakervilleThe Hurricanes of Weakerville by Chris Rylander
Published by Walden Pond Press on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 006232750X
Pages: 432
Genres: Humor, Sports
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
In his newest book for middle grade readers, Chris Rylander introduces us to Alex Weakerman, a lovable misfit who is obsessed with the struggling independent league baseball team of his hometown, the Weakerville Hurricanes. Alex can’t play baseball, but he grew up going to games with his grandfather, who owns the team, and he knows the sport better than anyone else. When his grandfather dies, he makes Alex the manager of the Hurricanes. Despite being in middle school, Alex takes on this challenge, knowing that if his team doesn’t make the playoffs (which is a longshot), the new owner will dissolve it at the end of the season. Most of the team left when Alex was announced as manager, so Alex is left with a team of some professional players but also locals, like farmers and high school students. This would be hard for anyone, but especially for Alex who has Flumpo, the complete inability to speak coherently to anyone except his best friend. The Hurricanes of Weakerville is primarily a humorous book about baseball. Alex talks about strategy, statistics, and baseball magic, which fans can appreciate. There is well written in-game action that makes this a fast-paced book. Alex also undergoes character development as he learns what it means to be a friend and teammate and learns to have more confidence in himself. This is a fun, lighthearted read.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Mystery of the Lost Lynx

Mystery of the Lost LynxMystery of the Lost Lynx (Cooper and Packrat, #5) by Tamra Wight, Carl DiRocco
Published by Islandport Press on May 17, 2022
ISBN: 1952143365
Pages: 240
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
In this fifth installment of Cooper & Packrat (or as I like to think of them as modern day Hardy Boys), the unique wintertime setting is at the Wilder family campground in Maine. Aspiring game warden Cooper Wilder and his friend Packrat, the boy of many pockets, are setting up for the winter festival when they learn of a poacher in the area. These eco-mysteries are fun to read and the environmental intrigue is perfect for outdoorsy middle-grade readers. They are also good read alouds, especially for predicting what will happen, but I would start with the first book. Tamara Wight is from Maine.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars