Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Wonderful Wishes of B.

The Wonderful Wishes of B.The Wonderful Wishes of B. by Katherin Nolte
ISBN: 0593565142
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars
The Wonderful Wishes of B. Katherin Nolte

This novel is about a 10-year-old girl named Beatrice. Bea has experienced much grief and loneliness lately- her beloved grandmother Glad passed away, her father is absent from much of her life, and her best friend moved to another state. Her mother is also struggling to keep Glad’s barber shop in business. Beatrice believes that if she transforms into the Tin Man, she will no longer feel sad and forlorn. She makes a handful of wishes, but wishing in fountains proves unsuccessful. An unusual new boy in town, Caleb, claims that his grandmother is a witch with magic powers. Beatrice makes a deal with the witch, which predictably goes awry.
This book, targeted for ages 8-12 (grades 3-7), had some plot inconsistencies which left the reader with questions. For example, we are led to believe that Caleb’s grandmother (the witch) stole money from a store. If she indeed has magical powers, what is her motive for the robbery? The reader never finds out if she is caught for the crime.  Beatrice has 8 rescue cats, named after the planets. The cats accompany her to school, sit at the table for meals with Bea, and go into stores with her. The inclusion of the cats in the story was largely superfluous, especially if we are to believe that Bea and her mother can barely afford to feed themselves. Bea’s loneliness would have been more profound and relatable without the inclusion of these farcical feline companions.
While this book may be a good fit for children of divorced parents or children experiencing grief, Bea felt quite unrelatable as a result of the magical realism that was absurd at times and distracting from the narrative. Bea receives a written message from her deceased grandmother, one word at a time, in the pocket of doll.  Bea’s father does make a brief appearance before predictably leaving again, but not before Bea gives him an expensive family heirloom to help his fraudulent money-making scheme. Bea is naively trusting for a character we are made to believe is smart and discerning. The dialogue of the young characters also felt unrealistic.
Two stars.
Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay
two-stars

The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice

The Wishkeeper’s ApprenticeThe Wishkeeper's Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo, Rachel Sanson
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231207
Pages: 227
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Ten-year-old Felix Jones’s biggest problem at the moment is loneliness. His best (and only) friend has just moved away, and his big sister, who is seven years older, finds him annoying. Then he spots the strange little man fishing pennies out of the wishing fountain in the square. The man explains that he is the town Wishkeeper, and that he is collecting wishes. More importantly, he is invisible! He cannot explain why Felix can see him, but he does offer Felix a job as his apprentice.

In fact, Rupus Beewinkle is a Wishkeeper with a problem, and in desperate need of the help an apprentice could provide. His wishes are hitting snags at an unprecedented rate, and he can hardly keep up with the fixes. Some are going up in flames (literally!) He is afraid there is only one explanation: a Wishsnatcher, thought to be extinct, has moved into town. Wishsnatchers feed on hope, and if it catches Rupus, it will reverse all of Rupus’s granted wishes. That will spell the end of all that is good in the town of Whittlestone.

Things heat up for Felix when he accidentally discovers that Rupus broke a law of magic a decade ago and granted a wish that never should have been allowed. Seven-year-old Rebecca Jones had wished for a little brother, which means that Felix himself…is a wish. Suddenly, defeating the Wishsnatcher is more than just helping Rupus – it becomes a fight for Felix’s very survival!

A gently suspenseful transitional chapter book that will appeal to younger readers who enjoy magical tales and are ready for a longer text and more complex plot, without being overwhelmed. Grayscale pencil/digital illustrations enliven the text and round out the storyline.

4 Stars. A great addition to library shelves. Easy to offer to eager readers transitioning to middle grade books.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

four-stars

Best Friend!

Best Friend!Ava Lin: Best Friend by Vicky Fang
Series: Ava Lin #1
Published by Candlewick Press on June 4, 2024
ISBN: 1536229695
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ava Lin is excited to start first grade.  She loves her new backpack and looks forward to making a best friend.  She loves collecting treasures, but gets in trouble when she leaves a crayon in her pocket and it goes through the wash.  Her mom also gets mad when she has to go to the doctor to get a pebble out of her ear.  There is not much action in the first installment of this early chapter book series, but it is still well suited for developing readers.  The font is large with a lot of space between the lines and there is not much text on each page.  There is a picture on each page, usually with funny captions, which readers will enjoy. The pictures also show diverse characters, which aren’t mentioned in the text, as some of Ava’s friends, as well as her doctor, are not white. Ava is a funny, sweet girl and young readers will enjoy reading more about her as this series grows.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Frankie D, Vegan Vampire

Frankie D, Vegan VampireFrankie D, Vegan Vampire (Frankie D, Vegan Vampire, 1) by S. B. Dutra, Tiffani Brown
Series: Frankie D #1
Published by Kids Can Press on 6/4/24
ISBN: 1525304607
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Frankie and his vampire family left their familiar life in Transylvania to experience life in America.  Their biggest challenge is changing their vampire habits and fitting in with the humans they meet.  This means eating different foods, changing their sleeping habits, and for Frankie, this means going to school with human children.  In many ways readers will relate to Frankie as he learns to navigate his new school by making friends and dealing with a student who is mean to him.  Readers will enjoy the many humorous close calls Frankie and his family have, especially when they host a dinner party and later when they go to Frankie’s school concert.  This is a fun book for readers who like vampires but aren’t ready for scary books.  This novel is ideal for 2-4 graders, especially those working to build their stamina with longer books.  The chapters are short and there are a lot of black and white cartoonish illustrations that break up the text.  This is the first book in the series and readers will want to keep reading as it ends with a little cliffhanger.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Dread Detention

Dread DetentionDread Detention (Creatures & Teachers) by Jennifer Killick
Series: Creatures and Teachers #1
on February 13, 2024
ISBN: 0593652258
Genres: Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The first in the “Creatures and Teachers” series, originally published in England as Dread Wood, this middle-grade novel is sure to please horror fans!

Students Angelo, Hallie, Gustav, and Naira, head to school for a Saturday detention after their involvement in the so-called Dread Wood Riot in the cafeteria. They expect a boring day, getting “back on track” with their teacher, Mr. Canton. But when Mr. Canton gets pulled underground by a mysterious something, and with the school’s groundskeeper and his wife exhibiting bizarre behavior, the kids know they are in worse trouble than they ever could have imagined. Their day becomes a waking nightmare as they battle treacherous eight-legged foes, try to outwit the unhinged couple, and unravel the real reason they all ended up in this mess in the first place. 

Fast-paced and action-packed right from the start, this is a fun and creepy read perfect for fans of Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces series and Greg van Eekhout’s Ghost Job. The dialogue is delightfully witty (with a healthy dose of “hell” usage) and there is a surprising amount of character development for a book that wraps up in less than 200 pages. The sequel is due out in the fall of 2024 and with any luck we will be privileged to have access to the rest of the series!

Highly recommended for horror collections serving 4th-6th grade students. 

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

four-stars

The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum

The Misfits: A Royal ConundrumA Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Dan Santat, Lisa Yee
Series: The Misfits #1
Published by Random House ISBN: 1984830295
Pages: 276
Genres: Adventure, Humor, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Olive Cobin-Zang has never felt like she’s belonged. But even worse than feeling invisible at school or being left alone by her constantly traveling parents, is the news that they are sending her to a boarding school called RASCH – a.k.a. the “Reforming Arts School,” set on an island off the California coast.

Despite initial misgivings, Olive quickly finds her place and wants above all to stay at RASCH. Odd students, quirky teachers and the strangest tests she’s ever taken (a conundrum! A Gymkhanasplore!) make this school different. And that’s before discovering that RASCH is actually a cover for an elite group of student-aged crimefighters – and they’re recruiting!

Olive joins a diverse group of like-minded misfits, all with special talents, to do what has eluded law enforcement for decades: take down the jewelry thief known as the Bling King and, by doing so, save their school. These five students don’t always get along, but they (eventually) learn to always have each other’s backs.

This fast-paced and hilarious series opener will be enthusiastically welcomed by fans of the Mysterious Benedict Society or Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls. Black and white illustrations by Dan Santat throughout the book lend to the visual appeal.

5 stars

Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Tree. Table. Book.

Tree. Table. Book.Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry
ISBN: 006329950X
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
What a lovely story! Eleven-year-old Sophia Henry Winslow is good at telling stories but learns that you have to put in feelings to make a really good story. This story is about friendship. It’s about sadness. It’s about dementia. It’s about the heartbreaking memories of a young Jewish girl in Poland during WW II. It’s about fixing those people in this world who don’t understand and accept people who are different. All this packed in a less than a 200-page book told in a child’s voice and perspective. Lowry is masterful in the telling. She is able to put herself beautifully into the characters of both 11-year old Sophie and her 88-year old neighbor Sophie Gershowitz and their very special friendship. There were many quotes that spoke to me, but this one was my favorite:

“I had told Sophie Gershowitz that I always got the dates right, on history tests, always got As. That was true. But I had never really got it, never understood history, how things fit together, because I needed someone to tell me the stories not of politics and dictators, but of berries and bunnies and books. Of how things are lost, and what that means and how it hurts.”

Cream of the Crop nominee

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars

Not Quite a Ghost

Not Quite a GhostNot Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
Published by Walden Pond Press on January 16, 2024
ISBN: 0062275151
Pages: 277
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Middle School is off to a difficult start for Violet.  Her friend group is changing and her attic  bedroom with the ugly wallpaper in the house her family just moved into appears to be haunted.  Adding to this stress is the fact that Violet is sick and no one can figure out what’s wrong with her.  She gets weak easily and no matter how much she rests, she is always exhausted.  It lasts so long that some of her friends and even her doctors believe she is making it up.  The sicker she gets, the more her bedroom haunts her.  As Violet works to figure out what is wrong with her and how to expel the spirit from her room, she learns important lessons about who she is and what it means to be a friend.  In addition to friendship, this book explores living with invisible illness, blended families, and perseverance.  Violet and her friends are white, but her stepdad is Black.  There is also LGBTQ representation as her new friend Will has two dads and the sibling of another friend uses “they” pronouns.  This coming of age story would be a great addition for libraries with middle grade readers.  Violet is an authentic, likable character who navigates the inevitable ups and downs of middle school with some hiccups.  The novel isn’t action packed, but readers will care about Violet and will want to know what is wrong with her and the gentle ghost story adds a little suspense to the plot. 

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars

Sona and the Golden Beasts

Sona and the Golden BeastsSona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca
on March 5, 2024
ISBN: 0063295407
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The realm of Devia was overthrown by the Malechs centuries before.  Devia is the location of precious gems, of which the Malechian king greedily wants for himself.  The ruling Malechians oppress the Devians and outlaw many things the Devians honor, including music.  Malechian born Sona hears music everywhere, but has to hide this fact, until a golden eared wolf pup shows up.  When her Devian born Aya (nanny/nurse) falls ill, Sona sets off on a quest to retrieve a magical cure.  Subsequently, she hopes to save the young wolf pup from a Malechian hunter who is determined to kill all sacred beasts of Devia.  Accompanied by a Devian boy, Sona’s perilous journey leads her to uncover some surprising truths about her past.  Along the way she realizes that the fate of all the golden beasts of the realm might fall upon her.  

Sona, the novel’s protagonist, is very likable and it’s easy to root for her.  Her heart is in the right place and she fights for what she knows is right.  The pacing is fair and although the story is at times predictable (hero on a quest plot), LaRocca throws in some twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes.  This middle grade fantasy novel is good for readers interested in socio-political issues.  Warning: readers who are upset by the death of animals could find the story too emotionally triggering.  

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME.

four-stars

Deep is the Fen

Deep is the FenDeep Is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson
on April 16, 2024
ISBN: 0593562704
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“Deep is the Fen” is a young adult fantasy novel by Lili Wilkinson. Merry, the protagonist, is dealing with changes in her friend group. She has a scholarship to university, but doesn’t want to leave her widowed father or her friends. Her friend Teddy plans to join the Toadmen, who are a secretive brotherhood that she suspects of using evil magic. When she is asked by her school rival, Caraway, to go to a Toad Ball with him (spoiler alert: potential semi-enemies to lovers setup), she does so in exchange for his help in thwarting Teddy from joining the Toads.

Themes of friendship and investigating beneath the surface and not accepting the status quo are showcased by Merry as she fights for her family and friends against an ancient evil. Wilkinson has utilized folklore from East Anglia and Lincolnshire about the Fens, but also has created her own modern twist to them. The novel wraps up a bit quickly, but readers who enjoy Holly Black or other modern fantasy will enjoy this. Recommended purchase for YA collections where modern fantasy is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars