Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom

The Tragical Tale of Birdie BloomThe Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom by Temre Beltz
Published by HarperCollins on March 26, 2019
ISBN: 0062835831
Pages: 368
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Birdie Bloom, an orphan, is destined to have her life end tragically as all the other orphans living in The Foulweather Home for the Tragicals. Agnes Prunella is a bored witch. Birdie has never had a friend and Agnes has never wanted one. The two end up exchanging letters and becoming unlikely friends. The letters are delightful. There are many twists and turns in the story, humor, adventure, and magic. The beginning of the book has a two page map. The story is narrated by the book itself and there are numerous footnotes that offer further explanations. The approach to the story is very creative and unique.   Recommended for readers grades 3-5.                              Kris Zuidema,  retired school librarian, Standish.

four-stars

Amelia Fang and the Rainbow Rangers

Amelia Fang and the Rainbow RangersAmelia Fang and the Rainbow Rangers by Laura Ellen Anderson
ISBN: 0593172493
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Amelia and her friends are back for the fourth installment in this fun and lighthearted vampire/fantasy series. This time, they’re going on their first camping trip with the Rainbow Rangers under the guidance of two unicorns, Ricky and Graham. While exploring and earning badges, Ameila and her friends unearth a curse and are shrunked to the size of tiny bugs! How can they get back to the camp site when everything is now so huge, and they’re so tiny?

As with previous Amelia books, this is a great vampire series for younger readers as it isn’t scary at all. There are black and white illustrations throughout, though they really just break up the text more than add to the story. They will, however, make the book more appealing and accessible to younger readers. Recommended for readers 2nd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief

Amelia Fang and the Memory ThiefAmelia Fang and the Memory Thief by Laura Ellen Anderson
ISBN: 0593172477
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Amelia and her friends are participating in a cooking contest, and the winners get to visit Pumpkin Paradise Park — the best theme park around! To win the contest, they must create a delicious cookie recipe, and the one who sells the most cookies wins. Something seems amiss when the creatures of Nocturnia are unable to remember anything, including their own names! What’s causing the memory loss? Can Amelia help? She doesn’t even know her own name!

This is a fun and quirky book for young readers. Fans of fantasy and vampires without the scare will like it as it’s whimsical and funny instead of scary and creepy. There are black and white illustrations throughout, though they really just break up the text more than add to the story. They will, however, make the book more appealing and accessible to younger readers. Recommended for readers 2nd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Escape from Hat

Escape from HatEscape from Hat by Adam Kline, Brian Taylor
Published by HarperCollins on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062839977
Pages: 176
Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Every person has good luck and bad luck, but few realize it’s because of a rabbit and a black cat that follow them everywhere intervening to outdo the other. When Cecil Bean’s rabbit, Leek, is taken by a magician with questionable skills, things change drastically. Leek is put into the magician’s hat, and he disappears. The only problem is that the magician has no idea how to make the rabbits reappear from the hat. The hat is actually magical, and within its depths, there are tons of missing rabbits as well as many many more sinister things. With the help of some other rabbits, Leek is determined to escape the hat and get back to Cecil, but their journey will be far from easy. And will they ever be able to actually escape?

This debut novel by acclaimed screen writer, Adam Kline, will delight fantasy fans and will be a hit with those who like a little bit of a darker tale. It’s very well written with complexities and nuances that you never expect until they’re right in front of you. Amidst the sinister and dark plot, there is abundant humor — dry, subtle, and quirky, but it’s there. There are some beautiful illustrations throughout, and they really help to bring the story to life. They are simultaneously cartoonish and dark, and fit the tone of the book perfectly. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 12: Space Shuttle Scam

A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 12: Space Shuttle ScamA to Z Mysteries Super Edition #12: Space Shuttle Scam by John Steven Gurney, Ron Roy
ISBN: 0525578900
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Dink, Josh, and Ruth are back for another mystery — this time, they’re visiting a space museum in Florida. They get to see lots of fun space stuff, but there’s someone lurking around Alice’s Space Museum and house. Why? Can the kids solve the mystery in time?

This is the 12th book in the A to Z Mysteries Super Edition series, and it follows the same rough format of the rest of the book. The writing and plot are appropriate for the intended audience, and fans of the series won’t be disappointed. The illustrations bring little to the story, but they add a fun twist to the book. Each illustration has a hidden letter, and when all the letters are found, there’s a message for the reader. Kids will love looking for these throughout. Recommended for readers 1st grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out

The Infamous Ratsos Camp OutThe Infamous Ratsos Camp Out by Kara LaReau, Matt Myers
ISBN: 1536200069
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

The Ratsos and the rest of the Big City Scouts head out on their first camping trip, and they’ve got Grandpa Ratso as their guide. There’s a clause in their motto that says they can’t ask for help, and this makes camping exceedingly difficult. Luckily, an unexpected guest sets them straight about what their motto really means.

The story in this book is good, but I was really disheartened to see blatant bullying in the text. Kids are outright called nerds in a derogatory way, and multiple times, things are referred to as being “for chumps.” I just can’t support this sort of language and behavior for the age group that this series targets. The books are written for 1st-3rd grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

two-stars

Beginners Welcome

Beginners WelcomeBeginners Welcome by Cindy Baldwin
Published by Quill Tree Books on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0062665898
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Annie Lee’s dad died 83 days ago, but his records keep playing, there’s shaving cream in the sink every morning, and his continued presence is making it impossible for Annie Lee and her mom to be anything but sad all the time. Annie Lee is starting a new school, and she makes new friends in unexpected places. This doesn’t go along with her plan to be invisible, however, and she’s afraid she’ll get hurt when they leave her like her old friends did. When Annie Lee’s new piano teacher and friend, Ray, goes missing, she risks everything to find him.

This is a heartwarming and touching novel of friendship, loss, family, and more. Annie Lee is compassionate, kind, and has many of the fears typical of middle school kids. Readers will connect with her desire to fit in and stay hidden at the same time. I love the connection to music and finding one’s own voice throughout this book. There’s a touch of magic, but not enough to turn off those who don’t like fantasy. Recommended for 4th-8th grade, this book will be great for fans of Rebecca Stead, Kate DiCamillo, and the like.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

TURBO Racers: Escape Velocity

TURBO Racers: Escape VelocityTURBO Racers: Escape Velocity by Austin Aslan
Published by HarperCollins on February 25, 2020
ISBN: 0062741071
Pages: 352
Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Mace Blazer is the world’s hottest TURBOnaut — he drives and flies faster and takes more risks than anyone else out there. When he suffers a near fatal accident, however, his confidence is shattered. Can he overcome his fears and race again? It seems his racing career is over until he discovers two of his best friends have gone missing, and there’s a seriously sinister plot behind the whole thing.

This is the second book in the TURBO Racers series, and fans of the first won’t be disappointed with this sequel. It is fast paced, includes a lot of action, and the ending leaves room for a third book. Recommended for 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

The New David Espinoza

The New David EspinozaThe New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves
Published by HarperTeen on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0062489887
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

David is tired of being picked on for being scrawny. When a video of him getting bullied goes viral, he decides to change his life. He joins a gym and begins lifting weights on a regular basis. As his obsession with getting bigger and bigger takes over, he enters the world of steroids and body building. The more he spirals down into steroid abuse, the more he begins to realize that his addiction may cost him everything.

This own voices novel is raw and, at times, very hard to read. David’s obsession with his body and getting bigger is all consuming. It really gives a clear picture of what happens with body dysmorphia, and the pull of drug abuse. The mental battle displayed in this book is real. The book does seem to wrap up a little too quickly for me, but overall, it’s a good and important read. Recommended for 9th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Girl, Unframed

Girl, UnframedGirl, Unframed by Deb Caletti
Published by Simon Pulse on June 23, 2020
ISBN: 1534426973
Pages: 357
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Sydney is leaving her comfortable existence with her friends and her grandmother to stay with her moviestar mother for the summer in  San Francisco.  Her mother, Lila, is more like the child when they’re together, and Sydney loves her but can’t handle the stress.  As usual, Lila’s got a new boyfriend, and he seems like trouble.  It’s clear from page one that something has gone very wrong, as evidence logs appear at the start of each chapter.  Sydney is weaving the tale of what happened for the reader.  You find out right at the end what exactly happened.  The themes of this book are very much the burgeoning sexuality of a sixteen-year-old as well as the problematic male gaze.  Sydney struggles with these as she navigates a nearby construction site and a new boy in her life, as well as her mother’s boyfriend.  It also features domestic abuse and illegal activities.  The end wraps up fairly quickly and it’s not necessarily a happy one for Sydney.  There’s also a mis-fire with an impending sense of doom from Sydney that is incredibly awkward and doesn’t connect to the storyline well.  Overall, it’s another fair entry from Caletti and will be loved by her fans.  Recommended for ages 15+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman

four-stars