Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Shelterlings

The ShelterlingsThe Shelterlings by Sarah Beth Durst
Published by Clarion Books on June 21, 2022
ISBN: 0358350395
Pages: 256
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In this middle grade fantasy novel, Sarah Beth Durst tells the story of a group of animals who live together after being rejected by wizards. Told they are a mistake and unwanted because their magical powers are defective (like turning to stone or turning one hat into another), the shelterlings live together in their own shelter of misfits. When a former shelterling returns with a spell to help correct everyone’s magic, they are eager to help collect all the necessary ingredients. They use their unusual magic to their advantage as they go on dangerous quests to collect the items, but their biggest challenge will be to try to stave off some unexpected foes who have betrayed them. This middle grade novel is filled with exciting adventures and unique characters and would make a great read aloud. It ultimately is a story of self-acceptance and friendship, told by Holly, a loveable squirrel who conjures only pastry, but more importantly helps others see the best in themselves.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Chester Keene Cracks the Code

Chester Keene Cracks the CodeChester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon
Published by Wendy Lamb Books on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 1524715999
Pages: 293
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Chester has never known his father but is convinced his father is a spy because his father sends him occasional gifts like binoculars, books on espionage, and spy kits. When Chester discovers an email address in one of the packages, he begins corresponding with his father. When a mysterious clue appears on his front door, Chester believes his father is in trouble and he must solve the puzzle to save his dad. At school a classmate named Skye appears at his lunch table with another mysterious clue and they realize that they must work together to solve the mystery. Spending their afternoons at the local bowling alley, Chester and Skye stumble upon a criminal conspiracy and mistakenly think this is the crime they must solve.

Chester is a loner so it is a challenge for him to work with Skye. He is anxious and compulsively cleans his apartment and regiments his schedule because he hopes this will please his father. His relationship with his mother becomes strained as she grows closer to her boyfriend. Chester is also being bullied. Middle school is certainly stressful for Chester!

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

five-stars

Rise of the School for Good and Evil

Rise of the School for Good and EvilRise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Published by HarperCollins on June 7, 2022
Pages: 356
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
This book is the prequel to the popular series School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. This is an exciting adventure for readers familiar with the series, but it is also enjoyable for those who are new to it. Rhian and Rafal are immortal brothers, one Good and one Evil. They are School Masters at a school of magic. Their goal is to maintain the balance of Good and Evil in the Woods, which they are able to do for a long time. But now that balance seems off, and each brother is forced to do things that test their loyalty to each other and to the school they are entrusted to run. This book, appropriate for 3-7th graders, has new and familiar characters, and is full of unexpected plot twists. It is an entertaining book for fans of fairy tales or fantasy because not only is it face-paced and full of intrigue, it also forces readers to question who is Good and who is Evil.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

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