Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Muted

MutedMuted by Tami Charles
Published by Scholastic Press on February 2, 2021
ISBN: 1338673521
Pages: 400
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Muted by Tami Charles

 

Denver and her bandmates are positively sure that they will be the next big thing.  So, when they go to a concert of their absolutely favorite singer, Mercury Ellis, and he hears their voices and encourages them, that’s all it takes for two of them to be ready to follow Mercury anywhere.  But soon his interest turns to control as he dictates their every decision in this excellent novel in verse.  They are kept separated, must wear clothes he picks out, and are treated horribly in this book that seems like it was pulled from the news headlines.  The narrative switches back and forth from what is happening to Denver with the concerts and being locked in her room, to Denver returning home on a plane with her father.  The ending will positively shock readers.  I was totally not expecting it.  This book is recommended as a Cream of the Crop nominee .

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

five-stars

The Life I’m In

The Life I’m InThe Life I'm In by Sharon G. Flake
Published by Scholastic Press on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 1338573179
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The Life I’m In by Sharon Flake

 

For readers who loved Maleeka’s story of being bullied by Char in The Skin I’m In, this companion book is long overdue.  This realistic story is about what happens to Char when her older sister and guardian is fed up with Char’s actions and puts her on a bus to live with her grandparents out of state.

Char wants nothing to do with this, meets up with a girl with a baby and, when the mother leaves Char with the baby at a bus stop, Char’s world is changed drastically.   Characters come into Char’s life and, while some assist her on the way, others, like the man who pulls Char into being trafficked and forces her to call him “Daddy”, are horribly cruel.  But Char is a survivor, remains friends with Maleeka who has learned to stand up for herself, and in the end escapes and returns home to her sister with a new maturity.  This book answers the question of what happens next to Char and gets inside the head of a former bully to show her motivations.

four-stars

Millionaires for the Month

Millionaires for the MonthMillionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0593175255
Pages: 336
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

McAnulty knows how to spin an engaging story! This middle grade novel pairs up quiet, rule-following Felix with brash, daredevil Benji, two kids who are not friends and have nothing to talk about until they find the wallet of a billionaire. Benji borrows $20 from the wallet, which he reasons is like a penny to a billionaire, but that billionaire Laura Friendly counters that a penny can be powerful, especially when doubled every day. In fact, this would add up to $5,368,709.12 and so she challenges the boys to spend that amount. In one month. And they can’t give it away and they can only spend it on themselves and they can’t tell anyone about the challenge. McAnulty balances the action with situations that offer chances for Benji and Felix to think about money in a new way and to grow as people. The book is touches on philosophy, privilege, and friendship. Recommend for grades 4 -7.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

Mermaid Moon

Mermaid MoonMermaid Moon by Susann Cokal
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 1536209597
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

At 481 pages,”Mermaid Moon” by Susann Cokal is a bit of a tome. The main character is a mermaid, Sanna, whose mother was a human. The head witch of their mermaid group casts a spell on all the land people to forget that Sanna ever existed and the rest of the story follows Sanna learning magic so that she can find her mother.

The prose is very descriptive, beautiful, and graphic, and often feels like you are reading poetry. The plot occasionally lags and seems to get stuck for a while, so it might be a little much for readers who want a straightforward story. The author switches between first-person and third-person points of view throughout, which makes it choppy. Written for Young Adults, this book will appeal to those who enjoy lengthy fantasy, or love mermaids and are looking for something different.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

The Loop

The LoopThe Loop (The Loop Trilogy, #1) by Ben Oliver
Published by Chicken House on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 133858930X
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A government uses teens for their own needs and experiments, the teens come together to get out and survive. Inmate Luka Kane, 16, a Regular who was imprisoned for an undisclosed crime, is the protagonist who also narrates this first installment of a Sci/fi trilogy. The author does a wonderful job world-building this dystopian future with the use of detailed descriptions of the society’s culture. The book is action-packed and will hold the reader’s attention from start to finish. This is a great choice for a reluctant reader. The book ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting the next installment. Recommended for ages 14-18.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library

three-stars

Under Shifting Stars

Under Shifting StarsUnder Shifting Stars by Alexandra Latos
on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0358067758
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Fraternal twins Clare and Audrey begin to separate and grow into their own after the death of their older brother, Adam. Audrey is having trouble coming to terms with her neurodivergence and Clare is figuring out her gender and sexual orientation all while dealing with a crush on a nonbinary student.
The writing was well done and easily brings the reader back to the uncertainness of growing up. The harassment of queer and neurodivergent students is not sugar-coated but does sh0w that being bullied in high school is not the end of the road to finding happiness. This book did a great job of shining a light on characters that tend to be kept in the background. Recommended for ages 14-18.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidmpha Public Library

three-stars

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins
Published by Scholastic Press on May 19, 2020
ISBN: 1338635174
Pages: 517
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy provides fans with how the pageantry of the games evolved and an insider look at President Snow’s past. The storyline focuses on eighteen year old Coriolanus Snow and his struggle to balance his loyalty to the Capital and his new found relationship with a District 12 tribute named Lucy Gray.    This will be the 10th reaping, and at this point, the games are a no frills, gladiator type violence event in a stadium setting with the tributes being treated like animals in a cattle car without food and water.  Capital born Coriolanus has been chosen to be among the first group of student mentors to the tributes in a way to bolster viewership.  He is goal driven while trying to uphold the “honor” that his family name once represented.  Coriolanus helps institute sponsoring a tribute, uncovers behind the scene power struggles and navigates the games rules to have Lucy Gray win.  All that comes at a personal cost for Coriolanus as it sends him away from his destitute family to become a peacekeeper in District 12.  Fans will find this prequel more introspective about control and war then the trilogy and more graphic in the violence.  Those interested in the evolution of mockingjays will be intrigued.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Among the Beasts & Briars

Among the Beasts & BriarsAmong the Beasts & Briars by Ashley Poston
Published by Balzer + Bray on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 0062847368
Pages: 352
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Folklore
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The Royal gardener’s daughter sets off on a quest to save her kingdom.
Cerys, the gardener’s daughter, had been living a very boring yet peaceful life. She knew that she would take over the royal garden once her father retires and she was fine with that fate. There’s one problem though, Cery has a magical gift that makes her stand out in all the wrong ways. When the coronation of Princess Anwen, one of Cery’s only friends, is disrupted by the woodcurse Cery and her fox friend rush into the Wildwood to try and break the curse. Haunting, dark, and descriptive writing creates an oppressive atmosphere that is the perfect setting for all the twisted creatures Cery and her fox must come into contact with. The romance in this book takes a back seat to the relationships between friends. One drawback is that all characters are white. Recommended for ages 13-18

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha public library

four-stars

Escape This Book! Race to the Moon

Escape This Book! Race to the MoonEscape This Book! Race to the Moon by Bill Doyle, Sarah Sax
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 0593119258
Pages: 192
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the third book in the Escape this book series most suitable for readers in grades 4-6.  In the style of a choose your own adventure story, this maker gem is a hands-on,  doodler paradise.  Readers are instructed to add themselves to the story, literally, by drawing their face in the empty space helmet.  The challenge requires the reader to take on a position of responsibility.  The three different positions are Mission Commander, Moon Buggy Driver or Flight Director.   Following the instructions is essential to making it through the various adventures as readers are instructed to “draw here” and “tear and fold back the corner page” and go to a specific page.  Many facts about NASA, space travel and historical events are intertwined with drawing activities, brainteasers and quick to end challenges.   Buzz Aldrin, Alan Shephard and Katherine Johnson all make appearances, as well as other individuals, some real, some fictional and a gopher named Amicus.  The book design has been meticulously constructed to allow information to appear after a page is torn and folded upwards in the book.  Sarah Sax is the illustrator, who resides in Portland, Maine, and it’s obvious that she wants to foster creativity in readers.  Although this will be a difficult book to add to the library collection, young makers will have a blast working through the missions.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

Ghost Squad

Ghost SquadGhost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
Published by Scholastic on April 7, 2020
Pages: 288
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Lucely’s family runs a ghost tour business in their town, but ghosts are also just a part of her everyday life. She has a jar of firefly spirits that are directly linked to a tree near her family’s house. She’s not afraid of the ghosts, she seeks their counsel, and the loves them. When Lucely and her friend Syd accidentally cast a spell that unleashes evil spirits, Lucely’s firefly spirits (as well as her town) are in danger. Lucely and Syd team up with her grandmother, Babette, to fight off the evil spirits and reverse the curse.

This is a fun lower middle grade novel that deals with many issues of family, self esteem, friendship, and more. It is well written, fast paced, and at times, funny. Hand this to fans of light fantasy and those who enjoy a quick read. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars