Format: Chapter Book Fiction

A Home for Goddesses and Dogs

A Home for Goddesses and DogsA Home for Goddesses and Dogs by Connor, Leslie
Published by Groundwood Books, HarperCollins, Katherine Tegen Books on February 25, 2020
ISBN: 006279678X
Pages: 385
Genres: Non-Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book, Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Lydia’s mom died of cancer recently. The 2 were very close and Lydia has so many memories, Especially of her mom being honest with Lydia about her disease and their creation of goddesses to celebrate things in their lives. Now she is living with her Aunt Brat and her wife Eileen, both have made her feel welcome but Lydia wants to make sure that she does everything right. The problem is the dog they adopt and want Lydia to love too, is a hand full and a dog that most people would find hard to love. There is humor in this story and tearful moments as well. The adopted dog (Guffer) is far from perfect, he is really awful and challenging, a dog that most people would not keep. But the way this new family works at that, their passions, humor and love, shine through to make things work. One of the best parts is the relationship between Lydia’s two aunts. It isn’t always perfect and there are arguments but the love they have for each other (and Eileen’s humor) keep the couple, and eventually Lydia and Guffer loved and grounded. Terrific book. Ages 9 and up. Cream.

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

Nessie Quest

Nessie QuestNessie Quest by Melissa Savage
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 0525645675
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It is necessary to reveal the spoiler first, this reader has been to Loch Ness and looked for Nessie.   All the same the character of Ada Ru is compelling and her interactions with other characters are enlightened.  Perhaps the fact that her mother is a therapist helps Ada Ru stay in touch with her feelings but it is her desire to learn and to become involved that move this book forward.  Other characters are equally exposed in terms of their weaknesses and loyalties but perhaps the most definitive individual is Hamish Bean better known as Captain Green Bean.  Not only is this an enchanted mystery for intermediate and middle school readers but there is pre-adolescent romance budding as well.  Lots of twist and turns risk blindsiding the reader making the end satisfactory to all readers.

It is recommended that middle school media specialist and public librarians find room on their shelves for this title.  There may be classroom teachers that would find this an appropriate read aloud as it reveals Scottish traditions, local language and geography.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars

Not So Pure and Simple

Not So Pure and SimpleNot So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
Published by HarperTeen on January 21, 2020
ISBN: 0062349198
Pages: 304
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Edgar Award-winner and founding member of We Need Diverse Books, Lamar Giles, steps away from mystery to write a YA romantic comedy; however, readers should not expect a typical love story. Giles takes the classic boy-gets-girl trope and tackles toxic masculinity and societal expectations to create an original love story that is fresh and honest. Del has a reputation as a ladies’ man, so when the girl he has a crush on volunteers to be part of the purity pledge group at Church, he shocks everyone by joining too. Del works under the false assumption, that if he is nice, girls will owe him something; so when that doesn’t work, Del is confused and angry. Luckily, Del has friends and family who will be brutally honest with him. As he begins to listen to their assessments of his behavior, he begins to be more honest with himself. At times it reads like a much-needed, how-to-manual for teen boys. Girls will shake their heads in recognition and laugh at the humor, but there will not be any revelations for them. Boys will be able to laugh along with Del and possibly even at themselves as Giles tackles serious coming-of-age themes. This book should be on the shelves of all libraries working with teens! Recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Bent Heavens

Bent HeavensBent Heavens by Daniel Kraus
Published by Henry Holt & Company on February 25, 2020
ISBN: 1250151678
Pages: 291
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

It has been a long time since a book made me wonder about aliens, but this sci-fi, horror story not only had me thinking, aliens infiltrated my dreams. Local high school English teacher and Drama advisor, Mr. Fleming, begins to act erratically, claiming to have been abducted by aliens, just before he disappears. After his disappearance, his daughter, Liv, is embarrassed and confused. She tries to rebrand herself as a popular athlete, but these changes are superficial and do not resolve Liv’s anger and sorrow. Her friendship with her childhood friend, Doug, is both her savior and her undoing. They still check the alien traps her father left in the backyard every Sunday. When an alien is caught in one of the traps, Liv must confront the fact that her father might not have been crazy. The story turns haunting when, in their fear and distress, Doug and Liv torture the alien. Both teens become increasingly angry when torture does not produce any answers. As Maya Angelou explained, “There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.” As the truth is revealed, readers will question who is the real “monster” of the story. The plot of the story stays fast-paced, upsetting until the very end. Recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

To the Moon and Back for you

To the Moon and Back for youTo the Moon and Back for You by E.G. Keller, Emilia Bechrakis Serhant
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593173880
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A mother’s joy is alive in the lovely text and the illustrations are amazing.   Certainly, any mother who has under gone medical assistance to become pregnant can identify.  While Kleenex may be needed to read the content, the pictures are bright and cheerful and will make the reader smile.  I only wish that lesbian mothers were included, perhaps in the Author’s Note where parents are described as mothers and fathers.

This is not a book that school media centers would purchase but it belongs in public libraries in the parenting collection.  A copy of To the Moon and Back for You would be an excellent gift for any mother who has undergone IVF procedures.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME.

three-stars

You Say it First

You Say it FirstYou Say It First by Katie Cotugno
Published by Balzer + Bray on June 16, 2020
ISBN: 0062674129
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

At first glance, Meg’s life seems charmed.  She lives in a big house, goes to a fancy school, has plans to go to college with her best friend, and a part time job that she’s passionate about.  What the casual observer doesn’t see is the drinking her divorced mom does, her messy house, her utter lack of interest in her college plans.  The next state over reveals Colby, a recent high school grad who loads boxes for a living and whose dad has passed away.  When they end up talking on the phone by chance through Meg’s job, everything begins to change for both of them.  Is Meg too uptight and virtued for Colby?  Is Colby too lazy and apathetic for Meg?  They work through their issues on nightly phone calls and eventually the relationship turns romantic.  Will they work it out in the end?  Cotugno has provided us with another great contemporary teen romance.  An especially great read for teens into politics making a difference.  Best for ages 14+

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

Robot to the Rescue

Robot to the RescueRobot to the Rescue (Makers Make It Work: Robots) by Kay Lawrence, Sergio de Georgi
on January 1st 1970
ISBN: 1635920116
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is an Easy Reader and part of a series by Kane Press focused on the maker movement called “Makers Make it Work”.  Greta and her mom have built a robot named Water-bot that waters their plants when activated through a cell phone.  When they are invited to their friend’s snowy cabin for an overnight, they can only go if they can figure out how to program Water-bot to feed their new kitty.  Using paper and pencil and trying different ideas, Greta and her friend Bruce work through different scenarios until they are successful.  When Greta goes on her trip, the suspense of wondering where the kitty is hiding will keep the reader engaged.  The bright illustrations clearly show the problem solving being done and the different technology used in the story.  The amount of text and smaller font makes this science- themed reader most appropriate for grades 1-3.   The last page provides encouragement to further explore the technology in the story and find more problems to solve.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

The Oregon Trail: The Race to Chimney Rock

The Oregon Trail: The Race to Chimney RockThe Race to Chimney Rock by Jesse Wiley
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1328550001
Pages: 160
Genres: Adventure
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Based on the popular historically-based 80s game, The Oregon Trail: The Race to Chimney Rock is the first book in a four book series of choose your own adventure style books.  This first edition starts with a family (of which the reader is an unnamed, genderless child) of 5 getting ready to head out at the beginning of the trail with 9 other families.  Very quickly, you must make a decision whether to start early in the spring or to wait until there will be more grass for your oxen, which is just how the game always started, as well.  Each decision carries you on a different path.  With 22 possible endings, some of them lead to your death, some to having to end the journey where you are, some having to go back to where you started, only one will bring you to the correct location to continue on your way to Oregon.

While this is a fun flashback for 40-somethings, kids will have no idea what this book is based on and will not find much of interest here.  Purchase only where choose your own adventure books are popular.  Recommended for ages 7-10.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

Time Dogs: Seaman and the Great Northern Adventure

Time Dogs: Seaman and the Great Northern AdventureTime Dogs: Seaman and the Great Northern Adventure by Helen Moss, Misa Saburi
Published by Henry Holt & Company on June 4th 2019
ISBN: 1250186358
Pages: 144
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A new series that is essentially the Magic Tree House series with dogs instead of kids. The old dogs time travel in an old van – and turn into puppies – to help real-life famous dogs. In this adventure, the dogs travel to 1805 on the Missouri River where they help Seaman, the legendary dog of explorers Lewis and Clark. I enjoyed this one less than the first in the series, Balto and the Race Against Time, but perhaps I was just finding the whole premise tiresome. Better books about these events are available. Author’s Notes at the end describe the historical event and the liberties the author takes in the story.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library, Liberty

three-stars

Hazel’s Theory of Evolution

Hazel’s Theory of EvolutionHazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Published by Harper, HarperCollins on October 8, 2019
ISBN: 0062791176
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Hazel is at a new school and making friends is tough. On top of that her moms are expecting a baby. Her mom has lost 2 babies before so she is so terrified of it happening again. So she decides it is just better to pretend that it isn’t happening so she won’t get her heartbroken again. The second half of the book is much more compelling than the first half. The start of the book kind of dragged. It did seem strange that her two mom’s that loved her and knew her so well hadn’t spoken to her sooner about her issues with the new pregnancy/baby or got help for her about what was happening.

three-stars