Format: Chapter Book Fiction

The Hand on The Wall

Published by Katherine Tegen Books Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
four-stars

This is the third and last installment of the Truly Devious mystery series. This can be read as a stand a lone but I really wouldn’t recommend it. This is a who dunnit mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie. The story switches between a present day boarding school and a kidnapping that happened in the 1930’s on the same grounds. I found the 1930’s parts of the books to be the most entertaining. This book is appropriate for grades 8-12 and I would recommend adding the whole series to your collection.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Love and Other Curses

Love and Other CursesLove & Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford
Published by HarperTeen on April 9, 2019
ISBN: 0062791222
Pages: 352
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

So much potential wasted with this one. I had such high hopes for this book. A story that contains trans and gay character’s plus magic sounded like a great idea. And I’m sure it can be in the right hands. This book however fell flat. The writing wasn’t great and there were some problems with the main love story that had me thinking that this is an unhealthy situation. The book also left a lot of loose ends which I never appreciate. This book would be for grades 9-12 but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Pearl the Magical Unicorn

Pearl the Magical UnicornPearl the Magical Unicorn by Adele K. Thomas, Sally Odgers
Published by Feiwel & Friends on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 1250235502
Pages: 128
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Pearl is a magical unicorn, but she can’t seem to get her magic to work the way she wants. After several mishaps with humorous outcomes, she decides to be “just plain Peal” instead of Magical Pearl. On adventures with her friends, Tweet and Olive, she’s encouraged to believe in herself and use her magic for good.

This is the first in an early chapter book series about Pearl. The overall message is good, but the story just falls flat. There are more interesting ways to convey the same message. The illustrations are whimsical and black-and-white with pink highlights. There are also pink highlights throughout the text, though I can’t quite figure out why certain words were highlighted — it feels, and very well may be, random. Best for K-2nd grade readers. An additional purchase for libraries looking to expand their early chapter book section.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

two-stars

Clue by Clue (Carmen Sandiego series)

Clue by Clue (Carmen Sandiego series)Clue by Clue by Catherine Hapka
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on May 7, 2019
ISBN: 1328553086
Pages: 144
Genres: Adventure, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This sequel based on the Netflix series is a fun, breezy adventure. Carmen and her sidekicks at ACME must solve the code that will lead them to a pirate’s treasure before her nemesis Tigress of VILE (Villians’ Internaional League of Evil) solves it. They race around the world sharing geographic facts along the way. Includes a decoder wheel embedded in the cover, this book is not recommended for library purchase as the binding is flimsy. Will be popular with fans of the show.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

three-stars

Bigger, Badder, Nerdier (Geeked Out Book 2)

Bigger, Badder, Nerdier (Geeked Out Book 2)Bigger, Badder, Nerdier by Obert Skye
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on April 30, 2019
ISBN: 1627799419
Pages: 240
Genres: Humor, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Billed as dystopia meets Wimpy Kids, Tip and his friends have discovered they possess mild superpowers (super burping, super hearing, super clapping, and turning things on/off with their mind) and they use these powers to save their middle school from the evil school secretary, Darth Susan. Formerly the AV club, Tip and his friends now go by LAME, or the League of Average and Mediocre Entities. The drawings are fun and there are some clever jokes along the way, e.g., the apocalypse was caused by the “fanatics” who hated the third installment of the popular Sand Thrower movies so much that they left the theaters and began destroying the Earth. The font is very basic and not graphical as readers might expect. This might be a change of pace for fanatical Wimpy Kid readers who want to try a new genre but with so many excellent graphical books and dystopian titles to select from, not highly recommended.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

three-stars

Tiny-Tricera Troubles

Tiny-Tricera TroublesMicrosaurs: Tiny-Tricera Troubles by Dustin Hansen
Published by Feiwel & Friends on July 16, 2019
ISBN: 1250090385
Pages: 224
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The sixth entry in the Microsaurs (or tiny dinosaurs) elementary-aged chapter book series. An adventure/fantasy series with lots of fun illustrations. In Tiny-Tricera Troubles, the microsaurs accidentally become full-sized and invade the town tomato festival. Kids Danny and Lin must save the day. 

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

Sisterland

SisterlandSisterland by Owen F. Witesman, Salla Simukka
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on December 3, 2019
ISBN: 1524718785
Pages: 208
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A fantasy book that references The Secret Garden, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and The Snow Queen. Alice’s world is experiencing a severe winter with an extraordinary amount of snow. One day she falls through the snow to another world — Sisterland — where it is summer all the time. There she meets Marissa who becomes her best friend. Alice and Marissa eventually realize they need to return to their own world and set off on a quest to determine how to get home. Although the characters could be more fully developed and the plot has a random feeling, this is a sweet story about friendship for upper elementary/middle school collections. Translated from the Finnish.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

three-stars

Tom Gates Extra Special Treats (not)

Tom Gates Extra Special Treats (not)Tom Gates: Extra Special Treats (Not) by L Pichon
Published by Candlewick Press on April 22, 2019
ISBN: 1536207756
Pages: 240
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Another entry into the Tom Gates series has Tom dealing with his cranky older sister Delia (Tom didn’t mean to startle her into dropping — and breaking — her phone), trying to focus in class so he can earn a Star Pupil badge, and enjoying the unexpected snowstorm which cancels school. Along the way he has to figure out how to undo the bad first impression he has made on his new neighbor, find the snacks his mom has hidden, plan a gift for the Fossils’ anniversary (his grandparents’ 50th), and deal with his annoying Aunt, Uncle, and cousins who move in when their pipes freeze. A fun series with a UK setting for those who love Dork Diaries and Wimpy Kid books. Tom Gates is a doodler and the book is graphical consisting of hand-written text and lots and lots of doodles.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

Deathless Divide

Deathless DivideDeathless Divide (Dread Nation, #2) by Justina Ireland
Published by Balzer + Bray on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 0062570633
Pages: 560
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

This is the sequel to Dread Nation and I loved both books! Its so hard to find a refreshing new concept in YA novels lately but this series has it in spades. This book catches up with the main characters of the first book, Jane and Kate, with the addition of new faces, that, thankfully only add to the story instead of being a distraction. This is supposed to be the last book of the series but the author has left it open enough for there to be many more books set in this world. I also want to mention that 99% of all the characters are people of color and it’s such a nice change! I would recommend this for 9-12 grades.

Reviewed by, Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

Suggested Reading

Suggested ReadingSuggested Reading by David Connis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on September 17, 2019
ISBN: 0062685252
Pages: 385
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A book about books and so much more. This book explores our relationships to stories and each other. The writing was great and it was fun to read the quotes from other books that started off each chapter. I would definitely recommend this to grades 9-12. I think it would make a great addition to any Young Adult collection.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

four-stars