Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Secret of Honeycake

The Secret of HoneycakeThe Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco
on January 21, 2025
ISBN: 0593121775
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Hurricane has suffered a lot of loss in her short life – her father was killed in the War, her mother died of tuberculosis, and now her sister is headed to the same tuberculosis “resting hospital” where their mother died. What will Hurricane do without her sister to take care of her and to speak for her? Hurricane often finds herself unable to speak up, especially to her demanding teacher who always blames Hurricane. Even worse, Hurricane’s sister has made arrangements for Hurricane to move to the city, far from her beloved oceanfront home, to live with their estranged Aunt. Worst of all, Hurricane’s Aunt insists Hurricane leave her beloved dog behind. Aunt Claire lives with her chauffeur who has his own war stories and is a master baker. Hurricane makes friends with a local boy who peddles fish and he advises Hurricane on her project to tame a wild kitten. Set during the Great Depression, readers will enjoy how Hurricane’s relationship with her Aunt evolves. Aunt Claire changes too – she jumps into parenting classes when Hurricane arrives but then starts to realize she can do much more than society – and her late husband’s family – dictates. This is a gentle story that will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers who enjoy books where the protagonist grows and learns to adapt. In her gentle way, Hurricane is able to forge relationships with her newfound family and to gently persuade her Aunt to respect Hurricane’s wishes. This historical fiction novel is for readers who want to immerse themselves in a story with strong characters.

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

three-stars

I Am Rebel

I Am RebelI Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
Published by Candlewick Press on 5/27/25
ISBN: 1536246794
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Rebel is a devoted dog who goes on a journey to find his owner, Tom, a farm boy who lied about his age in order to join the rebel army.  The Reds are making their way through the countryside, gathering soldiers who want to overthrow the king, who has been cruel to them.  Tom strongly believes in their cause and joins them, but tells Rebel to stay.  Rebel originally stays, because he is a good dog, but then decides to go after his owner to bring him home.  On his quest, Rebel encounters many dangers, some life-threatening, but he also makes some animal friends.  His best animal friend is Jaxon, a wild dog who helps Rebel survive in the wilderness.  

This novel for upper elementary students is told from Rebel’s perspective and will appeal to any pet lover who will no doubt relate to the strong relationship between Rebel and Tom. Using Rebel as a narrator also softens this war story, making it age appropriate for older elementary students while not shying away from some of the dangers of war. The battle scene at the end is a little intense, but that doesn’t last for long, as Rebel inadvertently becomes a war hero and he and Tom are reunited. This is an adventure about animals, war, friendship, and loyalty, appealing to many interests.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to Dance

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to DanceBallet Besties: Yara's Chance to Dance by Paula Franco, Yasmine Naghdi
Series: Ballet Besties
Published by Candlewick Press on 9/9/25
ISBN: 1536243795
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Yara just moved with her parents to a new city and the thing she is most excited about is taking ballet classes in a real studio.  She meets a diverse group of friends at Shimmer and Shine and is completely devoted to ballet.  When she finds out the owner of the building, Dame Audrey, plans to shut down the studio, she hatches a plan to save it.  Upon learning that Dame Audrey used to be a dancer, Zara’s friends and their teacher, Miss Diamond, agree their best shot is to perform Sleeping Beauty, which Dame Audrey was supposed to star in before getting injured. The show is progressing well, but Yara is so obsessed with ballet that she falls behind in school and is forced by her parents to pause on ballet until her schoolwork is caught up.  Once Yara figures out how to balance her priorities, she returns to class and she and her friends put on a successful show!  

This sweet book for 2-4th graders is the first in the series, written by a principal dancer of the Royal Ballet,  and will be especially popular with kids who enjoy dancing or stories about friendship and perseverance.  There are black and white drawings throughout the book that help capture the emotion of the story.  Readers can find definitions of the French ballet terms in the glossary but unfortunately there isn’t a pronunciation key.  Back matter also includes diagrams of the characters demonstrating the five foot and arm positions as well as a summary of Sleeping Beauty.  

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Resist

ResistResist: A Story of D-Day by Alan Gratz
Published by Scholastic Press on March 5, 2025
ISBN: 1546179380
Pages: 59
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
This novella is a side story of one of Gratz’s characters from his novel Allies. The story stands alone and tells of Samira, a young French girl who is part of the French resistance movement against the Nazis occupying her country. When Samira’s mother is captured on the evening of what is supposed to be the start of what becomes knows as D-Day, Samira is determined to travel to Bayeaux to save her. Along the way, the reader meets other characters who have a part to play in the ending of WWII. This short story packs suspense along with the snippets of the experiences of soldiers, resistance fighters, and citizens in the French countryside. Hand to fans of Alan Gratz’s books but also to readers who enjoy historical fiction, but want a shorter read and who appreciate a satisfying ending.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

four-stars

Incredibly Penelope

Incredibly PenelopeIncredibly Penelope by Lauren Myracle
Published by Walker Books US on August 12, 2025
ISBN: 1536206067
Pages: 336
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Penelope is living the big life- travelling the world with her mom and her mom’s best friend, Queenie, who happens to be a famous reality tv star and Penelope’s godmother.  But Penelope feels like something is missing- she wants to go to school because she’s never been before.  She convinces her mom and Queenie to let her attend a boarding school for girls in Georgia.  While there, most of the girls are impressed with Penelope (since she’s practically related to a famous star!) and Penelope enjoys making friends, especially with Tate, one of her roommates.  Tate helps Penelope deal with Dilly, another roommate who despises Penelope immediately.  When tragedy strikes and Queenie and Penelope’s mom are lost at sea and presumed dead, Penelope is forced by the cruel headmaster to live in the dingy basement and do chores, since she can no longer pay for her tuition.  Penelope tries to make the best of her terrible situation, cleaning her clothes in a nearby marsh and befriending a rat, though she does grieve for her mom and Queenie.  

Elementary readers will enjoy the spunky and generous Penelope and will be excited by the way things turn out for her at the end, with her family being restored in unexpected ways.  The headmaster, Mrs. Grimsley, is an excellent villain who becomes more cruel as the novel unfolds and Dilly, who is Penelope’s rival, shows great transformation by the end of the book.  Readers who like well developed characters will enjoy this novel.  This is a fun riches to rags story with a satisfying ending.

three-stars

Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories

Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other StoriesBear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories by Jarvis
ISBN: 1536239429
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Children's Beginning Readers, Short Stories
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories

Author/Illustrator: Jarvis

This book of 4 short stories is book 6 in the Bear and Bird series by Jarvis. Bear and Bird are best friends. They sometimes misunderstand one another, but they ultimately want to make each other smile.  Their humorous endearing mix-ups are reminiscent of another unlikely pair of friends, Mo Willem’s Piggie and Gerald. This book is for ages 5-9 and is a great bridge book between picture books and chapter books. The illustrations are charming in their simplicity and whimsy.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Library, Jay

five-stars

The Accidental Stowaway

The Accidental StowawayThe Accidental Stowaway by Jo Rioux, Judith Eagle
Published by Walker Books on 7/2025
ISBN: 1536233625
Genres: Adventure, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Patch follows a boy onto a ship because he has her roller skate and she wants it back.  She doesn’t count on the ship setting sail before she can complete her mission.  Ever eager for adventure, Patch befriends others on the ship, trying not to get caught by the captain who doesn’t abide stowaways on his ship.  While hiding in plain sight, Patch gets the feeling that some of her fellow passengers aren’t being truthful about who they say they are.  She realizes that Lilian, one of her friends on the ship, is in danger of being kidnapped, and does all she can to stop it.  This puts Patch in grave danger, especially when she realizes who the potential kidnappers really are.  

Elementary readers will enjoy this fun mystery/adventure.  Patch gets in and out of lots of trouble, relying on her resourcefulness and quick thinking.  There is plenty of action, especially at the end, to keep readers hooked.  Patch is a unique, fun character readers will enjoy and pull for.  The setting is also captivating and there is a map of the ship at the beginning of the book to provide context for readers and offers something to refer to as readers join Patch in learning about the steamship she is on.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and LuliThe Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser
Published by Addila on September 16, 2025
ISBN: 006328443X
Pages: 420
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Historical fiction of two seldom-written about intersections of time: the trade routes in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) and the New York’s Depression-era Chinatown. The book uses two young people living in each of these eras to incorporate the themes of history, art, and poetry. The story of Han Yu, who lives in Chang’An during the Tang Dynasty, provides a glimpse into life and travel during the time of the Silk Road trading routes, and Luli, who lives in Chinatown in the 1930s, provides history into living with the financial insecurity and fear of losing your home and livelihood. Both timelines involve suspense as you wonder if the main characters will survive and triumph over nefarious forces.The alternating stories keep the reader on the edge of their seat to figure out how and where they will intersect, and they do in a wonderful manner. 

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars

Tove Under the Tree

Tove Under the TreeTove Under the Tree by Julie Benbassat, Larissa Theule
Published by Candlewick Press on 10/14/25
ISBN: 1536232815
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
When Tove gets home from school, she is devastated to discover that the ficus tree growing in her yard has been cut down by the city because the tree is mostly dead.  When Tove finds a little branch that missed the wood chipper, she takes it inside and decides to grow a tree.  She plants the tree on her head and it magically grows very quickly.  Many people in her neighborhood, who also love the tree, are sad to see the tree come down and help Tove in her quest.  She needs all the help she can get because the tree on top of her head makes it difficult to move.

This is a gentle story about neighbors supporting neighbors while caring for nature. The neighbors who help her have different cultural backgrounds and gender identities, and are a variety of ages. The bright, colorful illustrations found on most pages help to make the magic real for readers.  The chapters are short, making this an ideal book for children who are starting to listen to longer books.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Witchycakes #2: Changin Magic

Witchycakes #2: Changin MagicWitchycakes #2: Changing Magic by Ariane Moreira, Kara LaReau
Published by Random House on 8/19/25
ISBN: 9788217025862
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The Witchycakes series continues with book two, Changing Magic.  Fall has arrived and change is in the air.  Blue (they/their) encounters many people in Shellville who are struggling with different changes.  Blue is able to use their kindness, creativity and a little bit of gentle magic to help struggling siblings at work, an only child whose family composition might be changing, and two adult sisters who are afraid to go outside.  One of the main themes in this book is planning ahead before starting a task, and the end of this book outlines tips to help become organized before starting to bake. There is also a subtle challenge to gender roles and stereotypes.

This chapter book is the second in a series of early chapter books.  There are colorful illustrations and borders throughout the book and fun sound effect words in color.  The font is big and every page has either a picture or a sound effect word/phrase to break up the text.  This book is ideal for readers who are beginning to read or listen to chapter books.  This series is highly recommended for school and public libraries.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars