Format: Chapter Book Fiction

Small Town Hearts

Small Town HeartsSmall Town Hearts by Lillie Vale
Published by Swoon Reads on March 19, 2019
ISBN: 1250192358
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Babe is a recent high school grad with no plans to move on from her small seaside town. Just as her high school friendships fall apart, she meets summer boy Levi.  Babe spends her summer navigating drama from all sides–friends, exes, and new loves. The fact that Babe is bisexual is casually discovered as she moves between love interests.  In fact, the word itself is only mentioned a couple of times and it’s toward the end of the book. To have a book where the character happens to be LGBTQ instead of that being the focus of the book is a breath of fresh air.  However, the book is all about relationship drama, and Babe isn’t necessarily the most likeable character. This is the first book from the young author, and I expect more to come from her in the future. Recommend to LGBTQ (particularly bisexual) teens interested in reading about a character like themselves moving through life. Best for grades 9-12.

Reviewed by Kara  Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

American Girl The March on Washington

American Girl The March on WashingtonThe March on Washington (American Girl: Real Stories From My Time) by Bonnie Bader, Kelley McMorris
Published by Scholastic Inc. on December 26, 2018
ISBN: 1338193015
Pages: 128
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

This is the story of Melody who explores the real facts of the March on Washington and what it meant to not only Black Americans, but all Americans. How it brought people from all over the country together to fight for equal rights for all Americans.

American Girl books are pretty popular girls in grades 2 to 4.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan retired Youth Services Librarian

Pet

PetPet by Akwaeke Emezi
Published by Make Me a World on September 10, 2019
ISBN: 0525647074
Pages: 208
Genres: Fantasy, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Imagine a world where parents do not have to worry because there are no monsters to harm their children. Hard to imagine, right? Well, in the city of Lucille, Akwaeke Emezi has built a world where the adults believe that they have cleansed their town of all monsters. Jam and the other children have been taught that there is nothing to fear. When Pet, a creature of vengeance, emerges from her mother’s painting, Jam is hesitant to trust him. Pet tells Jam that there is a monster in her best friend Redemption’s family and that she must help him find the monster. This powerfully imaginative story of friendship and identity will capture readers of all ages. Pet is published by Penguin Random House’s new imprint, Make Me a World, founded by Christopher Meyers, son of Walter Dean Meyers, which works to make all children’s stories visible and helps children struggle with the hard questions of life. This is author, Awaeke Emezi, a National Book Award “5 Under 35” honoree’s first Young Adult book. What a debut! Pet is a National Book Award Finalist and Stonewall Book Award Winner. Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

Sauerkraut

SauerkrautSauerkraut by Kelly Jones, Paul Davey
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 10, 2019
ISBN: 1524765953
Pages: 280
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Hans Dieter Schenk (HD) can tell you all the ways in which people identify him.  HD considers himself a maker-inventor extraordinaire while others see him as Black, a son of a white father, Asad’s older brother, and Eli’s best friend.  What he is about to find out in this hilarious, ghost story is that he will also be the willing assistant to his great-great-great German Grandmother’s ghost who is set on making prize-winning sauerkraut in the crock that she haunts.  HD juggles his friendship with Eli while indulging his persistent Grandmother’s requests and looking after two goats.  Along with the step by step sauerkraut process, readers will learn some scientific problem solving and ways to plan a large project as HD raises money to purchase parts to create his own computer to enter in the fair.   Most suitable for readers in grades 4-6.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Thirteen doorways Wolves behind them all

Thirteen doorways Wolves behind them allThirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
Published by Balzer + Bray on October 1, 2019
ISBN: 0062317644
Pages: 358
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This historical fiction novel with a paranormal twist is recommended for cream consideration. A Chicago orphanage is the setting in 1941 where a Sicilian-American teen named Francesca (Frankie) and her siblings are raised as their father abandons them by taking a new wife and moving to Colorado to better his financial situation.   Frankie fights to be independent of the painful and abandonment of her father through a brief, but poignant tryst with Sam who enlists and losses his life overseas.   This is historical fiction at its best with the added bonus of a ghost narrator.  The poverty of the times, the extreme pressures that females were placed under to survive and the race and cultural wrongs of the period are examined effortlessly through the vivid stories of  Frankie, the ghost and a variety of fleshed out secondary characters both human and spirit.  The book was a National Book Award 2019 Finalist.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

Rise of the Dragon Moon

Rise of the Dragon MoonRise of the Dragon Moon by Gabrielle K. Byrne
Published by Imprint on August 6, 2019
ISBN: 1250195551
Pages: 320
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This fantasy with a strong, persistent female protagonist will appeal to readers in grades 4-7.  Twelve year old, Princess Anatolia (Toli) carries that guilt of believing she is the reason her father was killed a year ago by the dragons during the annual ceremonial offering to keep the Queendom of Gall safe.  When her mother the Queen of their frozen, glacier civilization is taken by the dragons, Princess Toli is left in charge with her mentors to prepare the Queendom for the Annual ceremonial offering.   With her sister and faithful friend looking out for her, they go on a quest to find the reasons behind the Dragon mother’s actions.  Finding a dragon egg and hatching it becomes the bargaining chip that Toli uses to negotiate  information from the dragons and safe passage.  She ultimately makes a princess-like sacrifice that bridges the two groups.  This is a darker fantasy that pulsates with emotions, betrayals, warrior actions and extreme weather conditions.   Dragon fans will swoop this one up.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Wishtree

WishtreeWishtree by Katherine Applegate
Published by Feiwel & Friends on January 8, 2019
Pages: 224
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is published as a special edition for adults.
Wishtree is written from he point of view of Red, it is a 200 year old red oak and a neighborhood’s wishing tree. It is where kids and adults of the neighborhood deposit their wishes in the branches of the tree. 

Red cares about the people of the neighborhood, but is dismayed when a Muslin family moves to town and they receive a hostile reception. One boy even carves the word LEAVE into the trunk of the tree.

Through the perspective of Reds 200 years, the tree, with the help of birds and the animals intervenes and helps the children and adults gain compassion and kindness towards Samar and her family.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan retired Youth Services Librarian

four-stars

I Hope You Get This Message

I Hope You Get This MessageI Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi
Published by HarperTeen on October 22, 2019
ISBN: 0062741454
Pages: 420
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The Earth has received a message from outer space — that Earth is really an experimental colony and the superior beings that created Earth will destroy the planet due to it’s  failure. Life on earth will cease to exist in 9 days. Three teens are running out of time to face the mistakes in their lives — will they succeed before the end of the Earth. The readers of this well written and interesting twist in apocalyptic fiction,  will recognize the issues that are currently present in our society and will make one wonder if our path is not already in destructive mode.

Recommended for grades 8 and up. A great addition to those Sci-Fi-Fi shelves.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Eve of Man

Eve of ManEve of Man (Eve of Man, #1) by Giovanna Fletcher, Tom Fletcher
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on June 18, 2019
ISBN: 1984830112
Pages: 451
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Thrilling and thought provoking this dystopian novel is a little different than other popular novels of its type.   Being the first of a trilogy for middle and high school readers this book originated in Great Britain a year before being published in the USA. Readers of the much-loved Hunger Games and Divergent series will find it of interest and cherish it for its differences.

Eve is a sixteen-year-old girl, the only girl to have been born in 50 years. She has lived a pampered yet isolated life and knows that she has no life choices. This story highlights controlled procreation, climate change, social uprising and male dominance.  At times the story line lags but readers will fast forgive as they get caught up in the imagery and a single positive relationship.

A better than good read for fantasy readers from grade 8 to adult. Eve of Man needs to find its way onto the public library YA shelves and middle school students will be pleased to find it in their school collection.  Readers will be anxious to check out the next two books in the trilogy.

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

four-stars

When She Reigns

When She ReignsWhen She Reigns (Fallen Isles, #3) by Jodi Meadows
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on September 10, 2019
ISBN: 0062469460
Pages: 528
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Who doesn’t love dragons? This is the 3rd and final book in a Young Adult Epic fantasy series.This trilogy centers around Mira Minkoba, a Hopebearer. Through out the series we see Mira fight for a different future than what everyone has planned for her. During her struggles she deals with anxiety issues and betrayal. This book does a great job of tidying up the ending for MOST of the Characters. My favorite part of this book has to be the Dragons! I would recommend this book for ages 13-19. I now have the entire trilogy for our Young Adult collection.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

four-stars