Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Portal

The PortalThe Portal (Tangled in Time, #1) by Kathryn Lasky
Published by HarperCollins on March 19, 2019
ISBN: 0062693271
Pages: 384
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A tale of time travel and starting over in new places. Great for middle grade readers. This book focuses on Rose, a girl who discovers she has the gift of time travel after moving in with her grandmother following the sudden death of her mother. The author does well with making historical facts and events accessible to the target audience and there was a real effort to have an inclusive cast of characters. However, there were times that I personally was bothered by the watering down of the historical content. Overall this was a fun read and something I would recommend to children that have an interest in history.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

three-stars

A Swirl of Ocean

A Swirl of OceanA Swirl of Ocean by Melissa Sarno
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on August 6, 2019
ISBN: 1524720135
Pages: 224
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

A middle grade book about finding one’s place in the world with an added unnecessary splash of magic. Written from a 12-years old point of view. This book tries to dive into the complicated emotions of an adopted child but ends up falling flat. The Characters are only written with surface level detail and the addition of our protagonist having dreams of the past that don’t appear to help her grow emotionally serve to distract from the center plot. While this book may appeal to some readers I think any collection can do just fine without it.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

What the Birds See

What the Birds SeeWhat the Birds See by Sonya Hartnett
Published by Candlewick Press on December 10, 2019
ISBN: 1536208817
Pages: 208
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

9 year old Adrian feels unwanted and alone. Taken from his mother, unwanted by his father, his recently widowed grandmother feels obligated to take him in. Living with his grandmother and an Uncle that hasn’t left the house since his accident, Adrian is pretty much left to his own. 

One day, he noticed that the house across the street has been rented and he sees a man and three children move in. Adrian befriends them in an odd way leading to a climax of the story that will leave the reader puzzling.

Recommended for grade 9 and up. Well written psychological fiction with its setting in Australia.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

A Dream So Dark

A Dream So DarkA Dream So Dark (A Blade So Black, #2) by L.L. McKinney
Published by Imprint on September 24, 2019
ISBN: 1250153921
Pages: 416
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In the continuation of a Blade so Dark, Alice hasn’t fully recovered yet from her last battle in Wonderland, when she must journey back and defeat the Black Knight once and for all. But to do this, Alice must face her fears and the ones she loves.

 An action packed novel explores the intensity and strength of women and the excellent retelling of a beloved favorite. Must read the first to get the backstory of the characters and how they integrate with exciting new ones. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

four-stars

Fear of Missing Out

Fear of Missing OutFear of Missing Out by Kate McGovern
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on March 19, 2019
ISBN: 0374305471
Pages: 313
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Sixteen-year-old Astrid is on round two of her brain tumor and the outcome doesn’t look promising. There is a new clinical trial that she could try, but again, there aren’t any promises that it will succeed. But, Astrid is willing to look at alternatives, despite the questions her mother, her boyfriend and best friend have. Cryogenics sounds promising and she wants to make a field trip to Arizona and check out a facility that offers maybe a promise.

Well written, character driven and extremely emotional story of what questions are brought out about dying and the quality of life that is the primary focus. Recommended for grades 9 and  up.

Fans of The Fault in Our Stars and Everything, Everything will love this book. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

five-stars

The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust

The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of DustThe Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust, #2) by Philip Pullman
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on October 3, 2019
ISBN: 0553510665
Pages: 633
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The second book of The Book of Dust series jumps to twenty years after the first was written. Lyra is now a young woman in her twenties. Pan, her daemon, witnesses a murder, while he was away from her and now their are involved in a plot that could destroy the world as they know it. The quest for the origins of the mysterious rose oil and why those searching for it are disappearing lead Lyra, Pan, and Malcolm on adventures throughout  the Middle East.

Need to read the first in the series to have the background history of the main characters and some of the new characters that are introduced. Interesting plots and political twists  that will leave many teens behind. Recommended for advanced readers and adults. Stay tuned though for a third book.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

four-stars

The Rookie Trap

The Rookie TrapThe Rookie Trap by Chris Kreie
Published by Darby Creek (Tm) on August 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541556844
Pages: 120
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Molly has moved again and is thrilled to make the varsity soccer team in her new hometown. Midfielding is her dream and plans on being the best. Coach asked her before practice to go to the equipment shed and grab something for her and it was the scare of Molly’s life. Guess what — her new teammates forgot to warn the new girl of the team’s curse.

Well written, an easy read for those reluctant readers. Has a good combination of sports with a little bit of the paranormal thrown in. 

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

five-stars

Star-Crossed

Star-CrossedStar-Crossed by Loren Bailey
Published by Darby Creek (Tm) on August 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541556909
Pages: 112
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Androids have just become legalized as humans. Now schools and neighborhoods are being integrated. In their Junior year, everyone is required to take the Android/Human Relations class. Alyssa, human, and Reid, Android, are paired up to do an assignment on getting to know each other and their cultures. Definitely isn’t starting very well, with neither of them talking to each other, but soon things change, that makes Alyssa and Reid do a lot of thinking.

Grades 6 and up. Great easy read that will interest even those determined not to read. 

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

five-stars

Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf

Stripes of the Sidestep WolfStripes of the Sidestep Wolf by Sonya Hartnett
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) ISBN: 1536208825
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Satchel’s world is dying and he refuses to admit it or even leave it. When his only friend, Leroy, moves out of town, that leaves Moke, Satchel’s dog, and Chelsea, Leroy’s sister who is an emotional wreck, as his only remaining friends.

Believing that Satchel has seen a Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger that has been extinct for hundreds of years, Chelsea tries to convince him that this could be their way out of their dying worlds. Together they both discover what is right for themselves and the directions they must go.

Well written with the setting in Australia. Represents the dying rural towns that can be found all around and the decisions that the people of these worlds have to make in order to survive. Recommended for grades 10 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

five-stars

Unpregnant

UnpregnantUnpregnant by Jenni Hendriks, Ted Caplan
Published by HarperTeen on September 10, 2019
ISBN: 0062876244
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

What do you do when the pregnancy test comes back positive, the school weirdo is the one that knows your secret and to top it off, Kevin, the wonderful boyfriend, already suspected that you were pregnant, because he put holes in the condom for what reason — he didn’t want her to go to Brown in the fall!!

All of thing leads into a hilarious road to trip from Missouri to New Mexico, where Veronica can get an abortion and be back before her parents are any wiser and Bailey, she justs wants to Roswell. This novel wonderfully brings up topics that are difficult with a sense of humor and the respect of individual rights. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford high School, Biddeford.

 

Cream of the Crop

 

five-stars