Format: Chapter Book Fiction

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

The Lucky Ones

The Lucky OnesPublished by Delacorte Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction

A tale of how surviving trauma can be painful and emotional. This book follows two teens dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting. I felt that the topics of violence and survivors’ guilt were dealt with in an age-appropriate manner. There is also a romantic plotline that I didn’t feel the book needed but in the end, it didn’t take away from the books’ serious topics. I would recommend this for ages 15-19. It’s a timely addition to any young adult book collection

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library

Instant Karma

Instant KarmaInstant Karma by Marissa Meyer
Published by Feiwel & Friends on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 1250618819
Genres: Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Prudence does not like her lab partner, Quint.  She finds him lazy and irresponsible.  Quint finds her unwillingness to truly see him frustrating.  One night, Pru hits her head and wakes up with the ability to enact instant karma on anyone.  With a tightening of her fist, that angry, rude customer is escorted out by the police.  While Pru has  no idea why the universe has granted her with this power, she happily accepts the ability to give karmic retribution whenever she thinks she’s witnessed a wrong.  However, it doesn’t always work out the way she thinks it should,  especially in relation to herself and Quint.  As Pru is forced to work with Quint over the summer, she starts to see the truth about him and why he’s often late to class.  As they get closer, a mystery abounds and Pru is forced to take the blame, incurring Quint’s wrath.  While the mystery is quickly resolved, it does provide a much-needed tie-up for the end of the book.  Not Meyer’s strongest work, but it should be loved by her fans as well as other fans of YA romance.  Recommended for grades 9+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

It Only Happens in the Movies

It Only Happens in the MoviesIt Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne
Published by Usborne Publishing on October 1, 2017
ISBN: 1474921329
Pages: 410
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

On the surface, this book is about love and zombies.  But once you look below the surface, you find themes of divorce, trauma, sex and women, mental health, and substance abuse.  Audrey hates romance and all of its tropes.  Setting out to write a project for her media studies class about it, her life seems to be going another direction.  She ends up falling for her co-worker, Harry,  against her better judgement.  As she helps Harry film his zombie movie, he starts to break down her walls and helps her to get over some of her past sex-related trauma.  However, she’s also dealing with her family’s trauma and Harry is not the perfect boyfriend.  In the end, she stands up for herself and gets to a place where she’s ready to move on in her life and not focus so much on the past.  Each chapter starts with a section of her report, and is a clever way to tie the story and her report together.  Recommended for ages 15+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

Frozen Beauty

Frozen BeautyFrozen Beauty by Lexa Hillyer
Published by HarperTeen on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 0062330403
Pages: 368
Genres: Mystery, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Frozen Beauty is a mystery that reveals itself slowly as the reader becomes acquainted with the three Malloy girls.  The story line is embedded in deep relationships and loving sisterhood yet secrets are held tight to the chest.  The book is beautifully written using prose and poetry to unravel the past and present.  Character development is strong yet readers may not be able to predict situations or actions. Each of the three sisters reveal their individuality and in good time their stories coincide enough to solve the mystery.  Hillyer deals effectively with love, loss, fear, eating issues and abuse while writing a story of betrayal and death.  It appears that the new YA focus is on teen crime, this is an excellent example of the genre.

Add this to all public libraries and to High School media center shelves.  Gift to teen girls who love mysteries and romance novels.  Readers will find it difficult to put this book aside, it is recommended as an all-night read.

 

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

five-stars

If These Wings Could Fly

If These Wings Could FlyIf These Wings Could Fly by Kyrie McCauley
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062885022
Pages: 400
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Being a HS senior with a huge goal is stressful enough for any young person but Leighton is also faced with domestic violence, two scared siblings, a budding romance and a somewhat magical home.  While her community is concerned about the huge influx of crows our heroine is busy juggling life at home and in school.   McCauley knows and treats the subject of domestic violence with tender care, it is obvious that the father has a problem, the three sisters are in no way viewed as weak or complacent.    The boyfriend is perfectly written into the story, his gentle and loving attention is an exact opposite to the violent father.   Teen readers are going to adore Liam, stand by Leighton, respect strong Campbell and Love sweet Juniper.

Each character has been well developed and yet readers will wonder why the mother does not stand her ground.  That is not easily answered and remains the question in many domestic violent situations.  Oh, and the crows, so many crows but there is one very special one named Joe who almost resembles an angel.   The author uses the crows to drive the inner story of Leighton’s love of writing while tying it into the overall plot.   This is a coming of age story that blends part magic, love, relationships, and to a large degree courage.   Add to HS and middle school media centers and to public libraries who collect YA.

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

 

four-stars