Format: Chapter Book Fiction

15 Secrets to Survival

15 Secrets to Survival15 Secrets to Survival by Natalie D. Richards
on November 7, 2023
ISBN: 0593644123
Genres: Adventure, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Four 12-year-olds and an 18-month-old have an unexpected adventure in the Montana woods as a consequence of breaking a school rule. The sixth graders are going to stay with former kids’ camp owner Uncle Hornsby  for lessons in teamwork while their parents are going to Aruba for a vacation. Things take a dangerous turn when Uncle Hornsby disappears. They must now work together to find him and stay alive themselves. Their unwillingness to cooperate develops into  a realization of individual strengths, weaknesses, and friendship. Fans of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman will enjoy. Useful for teaching the value of one another’s strengths. Great cover!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

A Horse Named Sky

A Horse Named SkyA Horse Named Sky (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel) by Kirbi Fagan, Rosanne Parry
ISBN: 0062995952
Pages: 260
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A stand-alone companion to the national bestsellers A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild. In mid-19th-century Nevada, a colt named Sky grows up to lead his band of wild horses. Chronicling a wild horse in the first person, imagining its point of view, and detailing his capture, Sky grows from a newborn to a leader. I found the first person narrative by a horse difficult to understand at times. Those who love horses and horse stories will enjoy this book.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Hidden Truths

Hidden TruthsHidden Truths by Elly Swartz
Published by Delacorte Press on 10/31/23
ISBN: 0593483669
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Dani and Eric are best friends, but everything changes when a horrible accident happens while they are camping together on Cape Cod. Dani is severely injured and her long road to recovery means she can not play on the school baseball team.  Eric blames himself for the accident and soon everyone else does, too.  Through all of the turmoil, Dani and Eric start to go their separate ways, making new friends, though each does feel sadness over the loss of their friendship.  As Dani works hard to regain her strength and independence, Eric focuses on making sure an accident like this never happens to anyone else.  This middle grade novel will appeal to kids who enjoy books that address perseverance and friendship issues.  Readers will relate to the main characters as they navigate challenging situations while trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. This story is ultimately uplifting and recommended for any middle school library.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinnThe Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
on July 11, 2023
ISBN: 0063268795
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn” is a middle grade realistic fiction novel by Sally J. Pla. Maudie McGinn is a neurodivergent middle schooler who is hiding the fact that her stepfather, Ron, abuses her. She can’t wait to go spend the summer with her father. When wildfires threaten her father’s cabin, they spend the summer in his hometown, where Maudie makes friends and learns how to surf. She finds that she’s stronger than she thought and that there isn’t anything wrong with her.

Maudie is very well written and readers will feel the hopelessness and pain that she feels. Her strength in the end promises a better life for her, away from her mother and stepfather. Scenes of abuse in the book are hard to read, but her scenes with her kind and understanding father and friends are uplifting. The novel switches between prose and poems from Maudie. A recommended purchase for every library’s middle grade collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Invisible Son

Invisible SonInvisible Son by Kim Johnson
on June 27, 2023
ISBN: 0593482115
Genres: Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Set in the year 2020, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, 17-year-old Andre Jackson returns to his grandparent’s house, after a two-month stint in juvenile detention for a crime he didn’t commit, with an ankle monitor and a question hanging over his head–where is his best friend Eric Whitaker? The Whitakers are a white family that lives next door, who adopted Eric and his sister Sierra (who also happens to be Andre’s longtime crush) as well as a Hispanic boy named Luis. While the Whitakers have been instrumental in helping Andre and his family through his incarceration, Andre can’t shake the feeling that there is more to their story that Eric simply “ran away.” This slow-burn thriller tackles gentrification, racism, privilege, the juvenile criminal justice system, and transracial adoption–dropping hard truths into readers’ laps and giving them plenty to chew on. Fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, and Angie Thomas won’t want to miss this. Highly recommended for grades 9-12.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop. 

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

five-stars

Just Lizzie

Just LizzieJust Lizzie by Karen Wilfrid
on November 14, 2023
ISBN: 0063290294
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak or Alex Gino’s Melissa, Karen Wilfrid’s Just Lizzie reads like a modern classic and should be considered a touchstone novel for an often misunderstood group – asexual youth. Straddling middle grade and YA, Just Lizzie is the story of a 14 year old girl whose life is rapidly changing after a recent traumatic event. Family, friends, and teachers who she could once talk to are now distant and Lizzie’s resulting loneliness is the emotional core of the novel. Lizzie’s quiet, thoughtful narration and the slow, low stakes plot might not appeal to all middle grade readers, but Lizzie’s internal journey discovering her sexuality could be life changing for readers who need it the most. 

When Lizzie learns that some plants and animals can reproduce by themselves asexually, she digs deeper online and discovers that people can also identify as asexual. “Hasn’t my life always been about what I’m not? Not pretty, not athletic, not interested, not ready – but now here’s this word that tells me that what I am not is actually what I am. Something – I am something” pg 125. Understanding her asexuality brings her joy and peace, but Lizzie is let down by trusted adults who voice many of society’s concerns about asexuality (it’s not real, she’s too young to know, she’s just afraid to let people in, etc.) Despite this, Lizzie finds allies and learns that though she has no desire to partner-up, even solitary beings need companionship and community to grow. 

Karen Wilfrid’s Just Lizzie is beautiful, brave, and a necessary edition to middle grade or YA collections. Nominated for Cream of the Crop. 

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

Plan A

Plan APlan A by Deb Caletti
Published by Labyrinth Road on October 3, 2023
ISBN: 0593485548
Pages: 368
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Plan A” by Deb Caletti is a young adult novel about Ivy, a teen who becomes pregnant through sexual assault and the road trip that she and her boyfriend take out of Texas in order for her to be able to get an abortion. The characters call it their “abortion road trip love story” and it is that, but also showcases the realities for women living in red states with extremely restrictive abortion laws. Ivy and Lorenzo are well-developed characters and readers will empathize with them as they go on their journey. Despite the difficult subject matter, there is a lot of humor that keeps the novel from being too heavy for readers. Recommended for young adult fiction collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Hollowthorn

HollowthornHollowthorn (Ravenfall, #2) by Kalyn Josephson
Published by Penguin Random House on October 17, 2023
ISBN: 0593483626
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy, Folklore, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Josephson’s Hollowthorn picks up where the first book of the middle grade series, Ravenfall, ended. Friends Anna Ballinkay and Colin Pierce are continuing to work on developing and controlling their magical powers after narrowly defeating the King of the Dead on Samhain. Hollowthorn follows Anna, her father Henry, Henry’s friend Salem, and Colin as they go on a journey through the Otherworld to stop the Jewish Lord of the Demons, Ashmedai, from absorbing the Tree of Life’s magical energy. Whereas Ravenfall featured Celtic mythology, Hollowthorn features the lesser known mythoi of Jewish mythology. Although Hollowthorn’s pace is quicker than Ravenfall’s, Josephson still manages to create an intriguing expansion of the series’ magical world using detailed descriptions of the characters’ experiences and creatures in the Otherworld.

With a twist that will have readers questioning the definitions of good and evil, Hollowthorn is a solid second book in the Ravenfall series. Middle grade readers who enjoy books featuring Greek and Norse mythology may also be intrigued by the varied myths and adventure found in the Ravenfall series.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

four-stars

All the Small Wonderful Things

All the Small Wonderful ThingsAll the Small Wonderful Things by Kate Foster
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536225800
Genres: Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
In the middle grade novel All the Small Wonderful Things, Alex, an eleven year old living with autism, is sure that the way to become friends with the most popular kid at his school, and avoid future bullying, is to prove his worth by winning an award. Alex decides the best way to achieve his goal is to enter his dog Kevin in Australia’s best dog show, P.A.W.S. The novel follows Alex’s joys and struggles as he trains Kevin and hopes to make a true friend before the next school year.

Like most kids who are transitioning from elementary to middle school, Alex faces the familiar stresses of fitting in at school, developing friendships, and wanting to truly be understood. By experiencing the story first person through Alex, readers will be able to gain insight into how people with autism may interpret stimuli and make interpersonal connections. Neurotypical readers can feel empathy for Alex that may encourage social emotional connections with children whose neurodivergent experiences differ from their own. While everyone’s experience with neurodivergence will vary, readers with autism may be able to identify with Alex and the positive disability representation provided in the story.

All the Small Wonderful Things will appeal to elementary and middle grade readers who are interested in feel good stories with happy endings, friendship stories, and animal lovers.

Reviewed by Sarah Hartje, Lewiston Public Library, Lewiston

five-stars

The Girl From Earth’s End

The Girl From Earth’s EndThe Girl from Earth's End by Tara Dairman
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536224804
Pages: 384
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Twelve years ago, the Orange Boat brought an unexpected delivery to Earth’s End, a forgotten corner of the Gardenia Isles archipelago. Neither of Henna’s papas expected to receive a baby in the mail. Henna loves everything about her life gardening with Papa Niall and Joaquim until Papa Niall’s resurgence of a terminal illness. Determined to save him, Henna embarks on a secret mission at St. Basil’s Conservatory, an elite horticulture boarding school where she hopes to find and steal  a heavily guarded nightwalker seed, a plant rumored to produce a miracle healing elixir.

Dairman builds a fantastical setting. P, Henna’s genderfluid friend, provides a comic element. Their roommate, Lora, who uses a wheelchair for mobility, enables the story to provide an awareness of barriers for physically challenged people. Care is taken to affirm all the multi-dimensional characters without being moralistic, concluding with a pragmatic, bittersweet ending. I would be remiss if I did not comment about the beauty of the book jacket and the floral pattern that edges the corners of each page. Recommended for grades 4-6, especially for anyone who enjoys gardening. Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars