Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Julius Zebra: Grapple With the Greeks

Julius Zebra: Grapple With the GreeksJulius Zebra: Grapple with the Greeks! by Gary Northfield
Published by Candlewick Press on June 8, 2021
ISBN: 1536215147
Pages: 320
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Julius Zebra:  Grapple With the Greeks

 

What a fun way to learn about the ancient Greeks!  In this fourth book in the series of ancient civilizations, Julius Zebra and his friends are in for a series of adventures as they search for King Midas and a golden apple and Julius’s missing brother.  Each page has excellent drawings which totally fit with the text.  In the end there is a section explaining the planets, how to dress up as an ancient Greek, the art of Greece, and a Glossary including words from Hades to the Trojan horse to Zeus.  There is humor throughout and it is a very fast read.  The characters act goofy, which will draw in readers.  It will be popular with middle grade readers.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Sisters of the Snake

Sisters of the SnakeSisters of the Snake by Sarena Nanua, Sasha Nanua
Published by HarperTeen on June 15, 2021
ISBN: 0062985590
Pages: 512
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Sisters of the Snake” by Sarena and Sasha Nanua (twin sisters) is a loose fantasy retelling of “The Prince and the Pauper” with two identical twins, Ria and Rani, separated at birth. Rani grows up in the palace as the princess while Ria lived in an orphanage and now survives life on the streets. The rulers of this land are snake speakers and have the magical ability to speak to snakes and share thoughts with a snake familiar. There were other magics in the past, but those have seemingly disappeared. Ria and Rani unexpectedly meet, switch places, and both discover secrets about themselves and their society.

A young adult fantasy adventure based in Indian culture, readers will enjoy this book for its themes of finding oneself and defying fate. The chapters switch between the two sisters’ viewpoints and is done very well; you can definitely tell that each sister is a distinct and separate person. The story seems a little slow at first and I wish that the magical history of the land was explained more, but this book is clearly set up for a sequel so hopefully this will be addressed in the future. For ages 12-17, this book is recommended for Young Adult collections where fantasy is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

A Donkey Called Mistletoe

A Donkey Called MistletoeA Donkey Called Mistletoe (Jasmine Green #10) by Ellie Snowdon, Helen Peters
Published by Walker Books US on September 14, 2021
ISBN: 1536222453
Pages: 160
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A Donkey Called Mistletoe

 

When the donkey, Mistletoe’s, owner must go into an assisted living facility our young heroine, Jasmine, volunteers to add Mistletoe to her menagerie.  This is another in the Jasmine Green Rescues series and Jasmine continues to take excellent care of her animals as readers learn the proper way to care for a donkey.  But actually letting a donkey into a health facility seems a bit strange.  Another thing that annoys me is using the expression “me and —” when the rest of the text is in proper English.  There are excellent illustrations which add to the text.  Animal-loving children will enjoy this series.  There is also a quiz at the end to see how much knowledge has been retained.  This is a fine series, but it’s not Cream worthy.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

three-stars

Influence

InfluenceInfluence by Lilia Buckingham, Sara Shepard
Published by Delacorte Press on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 0593121538
Pages: 368
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Influence” is a collaborated venture by Sara Shepard, who has written the “The Pretty Little Liars” and the “The Perfectionists” series and Lilia Buckingham,  a 17 year old writer, actress, dancer and student.  It is the story of four teenage female influencers, Jasmine Walters-Diaz, Fiona Jacobs, Delilah Rollins and the not to be crossed- Scarlet Leigh.

The life of a social media influencer is a competitive life. Where showing perfection to your fan base is a must. Who you are seen with and where, who you date and how many sponsors you have and how many likes you get on a single post is your life.  The reigning queen is Scarlet Leigh, a force not to be reckoned with. She is perfection.  Fiona is a girl with a secret from the past that haunts her and suffers from OCD.  Jasmine grew up as a child star and can’t break free from that image.  Delilah, is new to the game of being an influencer, having just moved to LA from Minnesota.

The story addresses sexuality issues, peer pressure, having OCD and so much more. It begins as a story about being an influencer but takes a turn into becoming a mystery of whodunit?  A captivating story that addresses the world of being in the public’s eye at all time whether by choice or not.

This would be a good addition for any YA collection and for teens that enjoy realistic fiction. There are so many twists to this story that it easily holds the reader’s attention.

Reviewed by, Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

 

four-stars

Lucy Clark Will Not Apologize

Lucy Clark Will Not ApologizeLucy Clark Will Not Apologize by Margo Rabb
Published by Quill Tree Books on May 11, 2021
ISBN: 0062322400
Pages: 368
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A coming-of-age story that quickly becomes a mystery when Lucy moves from a boarding school to NYC.  Following a bullying situation and an over-the-top response incident, Lucy has been suspended from school and is sent to the city to help an elderly woman. Edith is positive that someone is following her with the intention of ending her life.   Not to be forgotten are Lucy’s wandering parents who have never been there for Lucy and her deceased grandmother.  Despite sparse contact with her parents Lucy is determined to make them proud thus creating a rather unbelievable teenage character.

This is a story that slowly builds to the strange conclusion.  Lucy’s job starts with simple teas and lovely gardens   Many characters circle in and out of the text allowing for a degree of confusion. Teens who enjoy YA books with lots of minor plot changes will enjoy this constant parade of characters.  Those who prefer a riveting mystery may be disappointed.  The chapter heading art work is a nice touch as it ties into the garden theme of the story.  Libraries who collect YA mystery should consider this title.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars

Jasmine Green Rescues: A Goat Called Willow

Jasmine Green Rescues: A Goat Called WillowA Goat Called Willow (Jasmine Green #6) by Ellie Snowdon, Helen Peters
Published by Walker Books US on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 9781536210293
Pages: 160
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Book 6 in series “Jasmine Green Rescues.” Jasmine and her best friend, Tom, adopt an orphaned baby goat for sale at the local fair. Willow, the goat, will not stay in his cage and he wonders all over the village so her parents tell her that she must return the baby goat. Jasmine has other ideas. Similar to the other “Jasmine Green Rescues” in that Jasmine is a plucky character and funny animal antics abound. There is a lesson learned about lying in this book though. Any child who loves animals will enjoy this series of beginning chapter books.

 

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Jasmine Green Rescues: A Lamb Called Lucky

Jasmine Green Rescues: A Lamb Called LuckyA Lamb Called Lucky (Jasmine Green #5) by Ellie Snowdon, Helen Peters
Published by Walker Books US on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 9781536210286
Pages: 144
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Book 5 in series “Jasmine Green Rescues.” When a little lamb loses his mother, Jasmine steps in to bottle-feed and care for him. When Lucky the lamb is big enough to go out into the field with the other sheep, sheep rustlers strike. Jasmine and her father rescue Lucky. The daughter of a veterinarian and a farmer, Jasmine knows what she needs to do and isn’t afraid to do it. The pacing is fast and the stories engaging. Plus, there are charming pencil illustrations of cute animals. Any child who loves animals will enjoy this series of beginning chapter books.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Sydney & Taylor Take a Flying Leap

Sydney & Taylor Take a Flying LeapSydney and Taylor Take a Flying Leap by Deborah Hocking, Jacqueline Davies
Published by Clarion Books on August 3, 2021
ISBN: 0358106354
Pages: 80
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Book two in this fantastic series for emerging readers. Sydney and Taylor are an unlikely pair, a skunk and a hedgehog, living in a cozy burrow beneath Miss Nancy’s shed. They are best friends and, as such, they support one another, but when Taylor the hedgehog gets the idea to fly, Sydney is not supportive. Sydney is worried that Taylor will get hurt, or eaten by a hawk. This causes hurt feelings and a rift in their friendship, but Taylor persists in his attempt to fly and Sydney nervously watches. When Taylor gets stuck, he turns to Sydney, who not only helps, but finds an alternate, feasible solution. The book deals with growth mind-set and persistence, and also with thinking things through and being careful. The friends are able to work through their difference of opinion and find a way to support a wild idea. The full-page, color illustrations are warm and delightful. This series is ideal for readers of Owl Diaries, Mercy Watson, and Mouse & Mole.

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

four-stars

The Box in the Woods

The Box in the WoodsThe Box in the Woods (Truly Devious, #4) by Maureen Johnson
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 15, 2021
ISBN: 0063032600
Pages: 383
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Stevie Bell is back! Solving a “crime-of-the-century” gave Stevie some good press and a reputation as a detective extraordinaire, so it is no surprise when the owner of a summer camp with a decades-long unsolved murder mystery enlists her help in solving the cold case. Stevie takes the case and, together with her two best friends, heads to Sunny Pines. Johnson does a nice job keeping the action moving, providing heart-pounding twists that are basically believable, and in crafting a stand-alone murder mystery novel that pays homage to summer-camp horror tropes and provides a Hercule Poirot-esque solution reveal. Fans of the Truly Devious series will benefit from the depth of knowledge about Stevie, Nate, Janelle, and David, which will enrich the storytelling. Readers new to the series can certainly enjoy this stand-alone mystery, but they may not feel as connected to the secondary characters as only Stevie really gets a voice in this book. Johnson continues to shine a light on anxiety and the compulsion and drive that Stevie has once her mind is hooked into an unsolved case. A delightful read. Hopefully, this is not the last we’ve seen of Stevie Bell & co.

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

five-stars

The Secret Starling

The Secret StarlingThe Secret Starling by Jo Rioux, Judith Eagle
Published by Walker Books US on June 8, 2021
ISBN: 1536213659
Pages: 256
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Clara believes that she is an orphan in the guardianship of her uncle.  She is terribly lonesome until she meets Peter whose grandmother is ill in the hospital and who has been sent to stay with Clara and her uncle.

But things change dramatically when Clara’s uncle disappears and leaves her with a pile of money and no explanation.  There are many adventures which culminate with Clara and Peter discovering that they are twins, their father, whom they believed was dead, is a famous ballet dancer who never knew they existed, and they won’t be lonesome again.

This book has an old-fashioned orphan/adventure vibe that upper elementary aged students will enjoy, but it isn’t Cream worthy.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

three-stars