Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Secret Soldiers

Secret SoldiersSecret Soldiers by Keely Hutton
on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 0374309035
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

This historical fiction novel takes place during WW1. Thomas lies about his age because he is desperate to find his older brother who is missing in the war. Thomas and other underage boys end up working in the tunnels beneath the battlefield on a dangerous secret mission on the Western Front. These young soldiers form a lasting bond in spite of their different social classes and reasons for enlisting. The character development of the four main characters is excellent. It is a gripping story that vividly describes the horrors of life and death in the tunnels and trenches. The author’s note reveals that more than a quarter of a million underage British boys served in this war. I highly recommend this novel for readers age 12 and up. Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

five-stars

Bernard Pepperlin

Bernard PepperlinBernard Pepperlin by Cara Hoffman
Published by HarperCollins on September 17th 2019
ISBN: 0062865447
Pages: 224
Goodreads
four-stars

Bernard, the dormouse from Alice in Wonderland, suddenly finds himself in New York City. He is befriended by a cat, a lizard, and others who are attempting to stop a gang of evil weasels called the Pork Pie Gang who are planning to stop time. It is an action filled story of friendship and teamwork that includes a variety of creatures from pets to tap dancing cockroaches. This well written fantasy will delight readers with its imaginative plot. The black and white illustrations add to the charm. I recommend this for readers ages 8-12. Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

The Potter’s Boy

The Potter’s BoyThe Potter's Boy by Tony Mitton
Published by David Fickling Books on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338285394
Pages: 256
Goodreads
four-stars

Ryo, the son of a potter, is determined to become a warrior after witnessing Akio singlehandedly defeat a group of bandits that attacks Ryo’s village. Akio is a monk warrior with the legendary Hidden Ones. When Ryo turns thirteen he leaves his family and village to train with a hermit. After his training with the hermit he is taken to the Hidden Ones for the next part of his preparation to become a warrior. His training with the Hidden Ones involves working in a small group. Each member of the group has their own strength. A sudden tragedy takes place that forces Ryo to change the direction of his life. This is a story of mindfulness and listening to your inner voice. It is well written and thought provoking. The plot moves quickly and will keep readers engaged. I highly recommend this for readers age 10 and up.  Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

 

four-stars

The Dog Who Lost His Bark

The Dog Who Lost His BarkThe Dog Who Lost His Bark by Eoin Colfer, P.J. Lynch
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 1536204420
Pages: 135
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a story about a puppy who has been mistreated and left on a trash heap. Patrick has always wanted a dog, but his father is allergic to them. Patrick is living at his grandfather’s home with his mother for the summer. His mother has told him that his musician father is working in Australia which is not the entire truth. Patrick is now able to adopt a dog from a local animal shelter. He is drawn to the lonely and scared puppy that was dumped. He names it Oz. Oz requires a lot of patience. The boy and the puppy help each other through each of their difficulties. This heartwarming story about trust, family issues, and friendship is realistic. At times it is sad, yet is also hopeful. The soft black and white illustrations go perfectly with the well written text. I highly recommend this for children ages 7-10. Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

My Box-shaped Heart

My Box-shaped HeartMy Box-Shaped Heart by Rachael Lucas
Published by Feiwel & Friends on August 20th 2019
ISBN: 125013000X
Pages: 224
Goodreads
three-stars

Holly and Ed have a chance meeting at the pool and are instantly drawn together.  What they don’t know is that they are both struggling with trauma in their lives.  Holly’s mom is a hoarder and recently injured herself, so Holly is playing the parent role while taking care of her.  Ed’s secretive about his past, but he and his mom are in hiding from his abusive father. They both go to the pool to escape, and in the end, find each other.  This story is just okay. It doesn’t showcase the reality of the hoarding issue at all. In the end, someone comes to clean up the house and her mother just miraculously allows it and is okay.  Teens wanting to read stories that feature trauma and recovery from trauma would be better served reading one of Laurie Halse Anderson’s books. For ages 13 and up.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

The Friendship War

The Friendship WarThe Friendship War by Andrew Clements
Published by Yearling Books on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 0399557628
Pages: 208
Goodreads
three-stars

Fads come and go, but what happens when all the hype challenges a long time friendship? Grace accidentally starts a fad of collecting and trading buttons that takes over her entire school, most of her life, and eventually reaches a breaking point with a long time friend, Ellie. Grace is a quirky, science-minded, borderline OCD with some hoarding tendencies kid who will resonate with many young readers, and students everywhere will connect with school fads and the difficulties of friendship dynamics. This is a fun, lighthearted read for 3-5 graders. Clements does not disappoint, per usual.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Briar and Rose and Jack

Briar and Rose and JackBriar and Rose and Jack by Katherine Coville
Published by Clarion Books on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 1328950050
Pages: 368
Goodreads
one-star

Briar and Rose are twins — Rose is beautiful, Briar is not, and their parents decide to raise them as friends so Rose, the second born, may be heir to the throne. Together, and with other friends, they form a group with plans to slay the local giant who demands unrealistic amounts of food, riches, and livestock from the entire village. This book is a retelling of several stories — Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, and likely more. It isn’t well done. The beginning is dreadfully slow, the entire book is too wordy, and the vocabulary is beyond the intended audience. The latter could potentially be viewed as a benefit for challenging young readers to expand their vocabulary. This book is a second purchase where this genre is especially popular with middle grade readers.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

one-star

American Royals

American RoyalsAmerican Royals (American Royals, #1) by Katharine McGee
Published by Random House LCC US on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 0593123913
Pages: 438
Goodreads
three-stars

In McGee’s reimagining of American History where George Washington becomes America’s first king rather than its first president, Washington descendant, Beatrice Washington, is in line to become America’s first female monarch. Set in an America remarkably similar to our own present-day, Beatrice has always handled the weight of this responsibility well until her parents suggest it is time for her to marry. Along with her twin siblings Samantha (who feels very familiar to Britain’s Princess Margaret) and Jeffrey, Beatrice begins to challenge the strict protocols and expectations that come with being a “royal.” What comes next is forbidden love, betrayal, and ball gowns. This is a great read-alike for readers finished with Kiera Cass’s The Selection or Crazy Rich Asians and, of course, there is an obvious connection for viewers of the Netflix series, “The Crown.”  There is a planned sequel to this book which readers will be anxious to get their hands on. For grades 9 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

three-stars

The Survival List

The Survival ListThe Survival List by Courtney Sheinmel
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on September 17th 2019
ISBN: 0062655000
Pages: 320
Goodreads
five-stars

The Survival List

 

Sloane is still alive, but her sister Talley is dead by suicide.  The guilt Sloane feels is almost unbearable, since on Talley’s last day of life she had begged Sloane to stay home from school with her, but Sloane had left because she had a test and orchestra practice and her best friend’s boyfriend had just broken up with her.  Talley had been depressed at home for weeks, not leaving her bed or showering.  But neither Sloane nor her father had realized how bad things had become.  After Talley’s death Sloane finds a note in Talley’s jeans pocket with a seemingly unrelated list of words.  Sloane knew how Talley had loved puzzles so she begins to follow the clues, traveling to California from Minnesota, reconnecting with an aunt she hadn’t seen in years, meeting Adam who joined in her search on a trip to the Big Sur area, and finally finding out the truth of her mother’s death, also by suicide.

This book gives a realistic picture of depression and the guilt of those relatives and friends who are left behind after a suicide.  The descriptions of California were awesome, and the closeness of Sloane and her best friend Juno was great to see. This book was hard to put down as Sloane discovers how the pieces of the puzzle fit together in Talley’s last gift to her.  This book is recommended for grades 9-12 and for the Cream of the Crop list.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

five-stars

The Confusion of Laurel Graham

The Confusion of Laurel GrahamThe Confusion of Laurel Graham by Adrienne Kisner
on June 4th 2019
ISBN: 1250146038
Pages: 288
Goodreads
three-stars

The Confusion of Laurel Graham

 

Since Laurel Graham is an engrossed birder, and since a confusion is a group of warblers, and since Laurel is confused about many aspects of her life, the title is apropos. 

Laurel is extremely close to her grandmother and not close to her mother.  When Laurel’s grandmother is severely injured by being hit by a car, Laurel blames herself because she had seen her gran in an unsafe location beside the road, tried to get her to leave, but had not been able to change her grandmother’s mind.

Laurel is a knowledgeable birder and works at a nature conservancy.  She is obsessed with entering a contest for nature photography and with finding a strange bird that may be her grandmother’s spirit. 

Besides all this her mom has become engaged to a man she has just met and Laurel is beginning a relationship with a girl she had always regarded as an enemy and saboteur of her previous contest photograph. 

Along with all the angst in Laurel’s life the corrupt city government is pushing for new schools to be built on the Conservancy land which is wetlands and not at all suitable.  It is time for a protest!

This book uses much gratuitous language which is not necessary for the story.  It doesn’t fit.  Finding a book about bird lovers, a gay relationship, a very believable mother who has had too many boyfriends, in Laurel’s opinion, and all the corruption in local politics is unique. 

It is recommended for grades 8-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

 

 

three-stars