Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Teen Killers Club

Teen Killers ClubTeen Killers Club by Lily Sparks
Published by Crooked Lane Books on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 1643852299
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Signal has been in juvenile prison for murdering her best friend.  The first thing we learn about Signal is that she’s on a bus heading to some camp in order to get out of prison.  Turns out it’s a camp for teen killers to be trained to carry out government killings without getting caught.  There’s a ragtag group of teens all considered “Class A,” the most violent members of society.  As Signal struggles with figuring out what really happened the night her best friend was murdered and what’s going on at the camp, she makes the first friends she’s had in years.  But can they be trusted?  This is an exciting mystery that takes you on a fast and fun thrill ride.  Recommended for ages 15+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

City Spies

City SpiesCity Spies (City Spies, #1) by James Ponti
on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 1534414916
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

An entertaining start to this new middle grade series. Sara Martinez has been in the foster care system and used her hacking skills to call out her latest bad foster parents, but she gets in trouble. While in court, a man swoops in and defends Sara and asks that she be remanded to his care. He happens to lead a group of extraordinary kids who work as a spy unit for MI6 out of a Scottish base. There are usual blips as Sara attempts to find her spot on the team. There is also a master criminal, a extreme science fair-type competition, and plenty of thrills. The book has a good pace and plenty of action, but one hacker supposedly hacks another hacker and causes that team to mess up; wouldn’t the one hacker have been able to catch the code embedded by the other hacker? And at one point, the team infiltrates a highly secure building that seems to have no security cameras inside and some pretty lax security guards. All of that is in the name of plot movement but it did take me out of the story in a way that made it hard to give this a higher rating. Readers of Stuart Gibbs books and Ponti’s Framed series, which I loved, will enjoy this first book in which should be an entertaining and engaging series.

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

three-stars

How to Pack for the End of the World

How to Pack for the End of the WorldHow to Pack for the End of the World by Michelle Falkoff
Published by HarperTeen on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062680269
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Ever since her synagogue got set on fire, Amina has been having nightmares and obsessing over potential and past disaster in the world. She spends hours researching topics like the Holocaust and surviving a disaster. Fed up, her parents send her to a private school in Vermont known for its rich and preppy students. As a scholarship student, Amina worries she won’t make any friends.  Surprisingly, she meets some seemingly like-minded students right away and they begin a club based on teaching each other survival skills and playing games.  The book misses a little bit on character development and the movement of the storyline.  We get small pieces of characters’ backstories, but never enough to understand why they do what they do.  A small mystery presents itself, though the answer seems fairly obvious. The end is a bit anticlimactic, but it ends on a positive note.  This may be of interest to anyone who’s into protests and social justice topics.  Recommended for ages 14+. 

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

Kitty and the Treetop Chase

Kitty and the Treetop ChaseKitty and the Treetop Chase by Jenny Lovlie, Paula Harrison
Published by Greenwillow Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062935771
Pages: 128
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Kitty and her feline friends are back for another superhero adventure, and this time, she’s got a new superhero friend, Ozzy. Ozzy is new in town, and when Kitty’s mom suggests a sleepover, Kitty is initially wary of how this will interfere with her nocturnal superhero adventures. Ozzy turns out to be another superhero in training who converses with owls, so the two are a perfect pair. This time, they’re working to find the dog who has wreaked havoc on the local bakery and to put things back before morning. Will they be able to figure it out, and how will their super powers work together to solve the mystery? This is the fourth installment in the Kitty series, and it’s every bit as sweet as the previous books. This is a great early chapter book series for kids who love mystery but who aren’t ready or interested in scary things. Kitty and Ozzy work together for good, and they’re bolstered by their animal companions. The illustrations are line drawings done entirely in black, white, and orange, as with previous books. They help to break up the text making the book more accessible for younger readers, and they add a level of fun and emotion to the story. Recommended for readers 2nd grade and up, though this makes a good read aloud for younger kids too.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Dot. For Pet’s Sake

Dot. For Pet’s SakeDot: For Pet's Sake by Candlewick Press, The Jim Henson Company
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536216569
Pages: 80
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Dot is back for another adventure, this time in an early chapter book. Dot has a pet sitting business, and she initially has a couple pets to look after. When more and more pets get added to the bunch, it seems she has bitten off more than she can chew. This is a great early chapter book, and I hope it becomes a series. Kids will recognize Dot and her family, and the familiarity of the characters will encourage them to pick it up. The story is easy to follow and fun. The illustrations are characteristic of other Dot books — high color, cartoonish, and engaging for young readers. Recommended for readers 4 and up. This is a great read aloud for younger readers as well.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Ballad of Tubs Marshfield

Ballad of Tubs MarshfieldThe Ballad of Tubs Marshfield by Cara Hoffman
Published by HarperCollins on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062865471
Pages: 208
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Tubs is a frog and a musician, and he and his friends live in a swamp in Louisiana. They love it there. It’s their home. Recently, however, something terrible is happening. Animals all over the swamp are getting sick, and even Tubs’s music can’t make them feel better. Can Tubs and his friends figure out what is making them all sick in time to save the swamp community? This is a wonderfully written book — the tie between the plot and music weaves throughout the story and colors the language beautifully. This is a story of community, friendship, and trust. The swamp community works together to identify and combat the pollution that’s making them all sick. It tackles bigger issues of loss and environmentalism with grace and without being preachy. This is a great read for those who enjoy animal centered books and books without a lot of unnecessary drama. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Secret Life of Sam

Secret Life of SamThe Secret Life of Sam by Kim Ventrella
Published by HarperCollins on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0062941186
Pages: 272
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Sam’s dad recently died in a car accident, and he has been shuttled to Oklahoma to live with his long-lost aunt. Quite by accident, he encounters a mangy looking cat who leads him to a hole in a tree that turns out to be a passageway to the past. When he enters the portal, which is only open for short times, he can see his dad and his mother (who is also deceased). The visits to his past in the bayou become more and more strange, and things he once knew to be true seem cloudy. Sam is desperate for a way to stay with his father in the past, so he hatches a plan to stay within the portal after it closes. That, however, proves to be more difficult than planned. This book tackles grief, addiction, family feuds, and more, and it does so with grace and, at times, humor. The characters in this book are well developed and you want to learn more about them and their family history. This is a great book for kids who like realistic fiction with a little dose of magic. Really, the time travel aspect is the only departure from reality. Recommended for readers 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME’

three-stars

Serena Says

Serena SaysSerena Says by Tanita S. Davis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062936972
Pages: 272
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Serena’s best friend JC just had a kidney transplant, and when JC returns from the hospital, Serena finds herself outside of JC’s inner circle. Feeling lonely, Serena focuses her attention on vlogging and working up the courage to actually post one of them online. She struggles to find the strength, wit, and courage she uses on her vlogs in real life. This is a funny and heartwarming tale of friendship and of finding your own voice. The plot moves well, and the story is a quick read. The entire book, however, is essentially middle school girl drama. There are certainly better books about finding your voice and confidence that skip the drama. Recommended as a second purchase and for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Rembrandt Conspiracy

Rembrandt ConspiracyThe Rembrandt Conspiracy by Deron R. Hicks
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on December 1, 2020
ISBN: 0358256216
Pages: 272
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Art Hamilton has grown up around art his entire life, and he still spends most of his free time in the museum where his dad works. With a really big exhibit in the works, Art and his best friend Camille are excited to see so many famous portraits all together at once. Because Art spends all his time in museums, when something seems off, he notices. Convinced that someone is planning to steal a bunch of portraits from the exhibit, Art enlists Camille to help him foil the plot. Is someone actually trying to steal the paintings, or is Art making something out of nothing? Will the two sleuths be able to stop the thieves in time? This is the second installment in the Lost Art mystery series. The characters are likeable enough, and the plot definitely moves along well. There are twists and turns and Red Herrings, and who doesn’t love a good art heist? It is an entertaining read, but there isn’t anything overly amazing about it. It’s missing that wow factor. One bonus is the included material at the end about the real art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston. An additional purchase for larger collections or where middle grade mystery is really popular. Recommended for readers 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Whale of the Wild

Whale of the WildA Whale of the Wild by Lindsay Moore, Rosanne Parry
Published by Greenwillow Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062995928
Pages: 336
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Vega and her family of Orcas thrive on salmon, and Vega is learning how and where to find the salmon. After a big earthquake and tsunami, Vega and her brother Deneb find themselves separated from the rest of the pod. Vega has to use all her navigational skills to find and guide her younger brother back to their family. They encounter many treacherous things along the way, sharks, hunger, pollution, and more.

This is a engaging and adventurous story of family, confidence, friendship, and survival. It also touches on climate change issues and the effect they’re having on the ocean and the creatures within it. The back pages include additional information about the selective and regional hunting strategies employed by specific Orca pods. Hand this book to anyone who loves a good animal adventure. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars