Format: Chapter Book Fiction

On Edge

On EdgeOn Edge by Raelyn Drake
Published by Darby Creek (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1541540387
Pages: 104
Goodreads
five-stars

Trevor and Micah decided to blow off school and go hiking and rock climbing for the day — just as long as they are home by their normal time — everything should be okay.  Almost to the top of the climb, the rope breaks and Micah falls and severely injures himself. To make things worse, once Trevor gets Micah comfortable and they figure out to get out safely — Trevor gets bit by a rattlesnake. Now it is a race to save Trevor’s Life.

A fast paced story of friendship and survival that will keep the reader going to find out how it ends. Recommended for grades 7 and up and will be a great addition to shelves.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

The Island

The IslandThe Island by D. A. Graham
Published by Darby Creek (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 154154028X
Pages: 112
Goodreads
five-stars

Ethan desperately wants to win the Teen Wilderness Masters reality show challenge — the Grand Prize is $50,000.  He wants to help pay off bills that his parents accrued while his dad was sick. He shouldn’t have any problems — was raised by research biologists, taught how to live off the land, find edible plants, make clean drinking water and to love nature. But, when he and nine other teen contestants are dropped off on an uninhabited island with no technology or other resources available to them — maybe he has bitten off more than he can chew.

A great survival/competition story that all will enjoy — especially those that are fans of reality tv shows like Survivor. Recommended for grades 7 and. up. Well written and easy to follow.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Castle of Lies

Castle of LiesCastle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart
Published by Carolrhoda Lab (R) on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 151242997X
Pages: 352
Goodreads

Thelia, as Princess Corene’s closest companion and cousin, has her sights set on taking the throne. Bayled, a foreigner and raised in the castle, is the heir to the throne and is in love with Corene, but Corene is set to marry another to secure two lands from fighting. Unfortunately, all plans are thrown aside when the kingdom is invaded by elves. From there the plot drags and is inconsistent with its plot and character development. There are sexually diverse characters and a considerable amount of mature content.

Recommended for grades 10 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

Shatter City

Shatter CityShatter City (Impostors, #2) by Scott Westerfeld
Published by Scholastic Press on September 17th 2019
ISBN: 1338150413
Pages: 416
Goodreads
five-stars

In the sequel to Westerfeld”s “Imposters”, Frey and Rafi have traded places with the intent of Frey killing their father. Frey, Rafi’s twin sister and body double, is set to marry Col with the intention of bringing peace to their two nations. Things don’t go as plan and Frey along with Col’s help escape to Paz, an app happy city where the citizens use apps to control their emotions. Frey tries to warn the city of Paz (actually an IA) to their upcoming doom, but was too late and the battle continues to eliminate the twin’s evil warlord father.

Action packed, fast paced and lovers of Scott Westerfeld will continue to eat this story up. It helps to have read “Impostors” for the back ground story of Rafi and Frey. Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Jane Doe and the Cradle of all Worlds

Jane Doe and the Cradle of all WorldsJane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1541539214
Pages: 368
Goodreads
five-stars

Jane and her father are hated by almost everyone in the village they live in. That’s because when they arrived, the Manor a portal to the Otherworlds closed behind them and left the village stranded without anyway to access all the wonderful things the Otherworlds had to offer. But then the Manor opens briefly and Jane’s dad goes through it leaving her behind. Now it is going to be up to Jane to find away to get into the Manor and to find her dad. Lots of action and adventure in this fantasy as well as bizarre creatures. Definitely a few twists that readers might not see coming. It does take quite a bit of time to get through to the last adventure and then the reader is left hanging at the ending.

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Maine

five-stars

Now Entering Addamsville

Now Entering AddamsvilleNow Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 0062935275
Pages: 368
Goodreads
four-stars

Now Entering Addamsville

 

Zora can see ghosts, has a mother who has been missing for five years, a dad who was just released from prison, and is thought to be a firestarter.  She lives in Addamsville who’s claim to fame as a town is  the thought that it is haunted.  Zora knows she must save the inhabitants from being burned by the real firestarter.  She has lost two of her fingers in the past so she knows that the risks are real.  Along with her other challenges, Zora is searching for her mother and feels, in her heart, that her mom is still alive.

Bravery, friendship, and stick-to-itiveness are themes.  At first Zora feels that she is all alone in her quests but by the end she has friends, relatives that love her, and has rid the town of one of the worst firestarters.  It is helpful to have a two-page map of Addamsville at the start of the book to aid in keeping track of the characters’ whereabouts.  There are also drawings of the main characters.  This book is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

She’s the Liar!

She’s the Liar!She's the Liar by Alison Cherry
Published by Scholastic Press on May 28th 2019
ISBN: 1338306146
Pages: 208
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This novel about siblings and misunderstandings is a good addition to any middle school realistic fiction collection.  6th grader Abby has recently transferred to her sister’s boarding school in Vermont. Making this big change to a new school is exactly what withdrawn and scared Abby needs to become someone new.  She is now Abbi, an outgoing and friendly girl and is loving her new life until she has to go head to head with her popular and powerful 8th grade sister Sydney. Syd also acts very differently than she did in elementary school and Abbi is shocked to see how much sway (and fear) she holds over the student body.  The novel is divided into two sections, first offering a glimpse at Abbi’s perspective and then delving into Syd’s thoughts and motivations. Both girls are not what they portray to the school and it is only because they are sisters that they can let their guard down with each other. While the title (She’s the Liar!) implies that there is one big issue they both are fighting about, the story goes a bit deeper into identity and self-actualization.  A nice read for young middle schoolers, this story explores how hard it can be to show your real self.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

three-stars

A Tale Magnolious

A Tale MagnoliousA Tale Magnolious by Suzanne Nelson
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 18th 2019
ISBN: 1984831747
Pages: 368
Goodreads
three-stars

Nitty Luce and Magnolious the elephant are meant to be together. Both are orphans; both are running away from a lonely past. After Nitty, on a whim, steals a pouch of gleaming seeds, she runs headfirst into Mags, who is about to be hanged for killing her trainer. The elephant senses Nitty’s compassionate nature and shields her from one of the many dust storms that have plagued the town for more than a decade. The runaways soon meet up with Windle Homes, a cantankerous farmer whose past has left him as lonely as Nitty’s and Mags’ past have left them. With the help of those magic seeds and some hard work, the three revive Windle’s farm, despite the dust storms, which have all but destroyed the little town. With the help of a cast of misfit characters, Nitty reveals the secret of those mysterious dust storms before the town is completely destroyed.

A charming adventure filled with misfit characters, who each find friendship and belonging in each other. There is humor and wacky adventure with a little bit magic rolled in. Dastardly deeds, fun wordplay and the story’s oddball caricatures make the romp clever and amusing. A good read for grades 4 to 6.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

three-stars

The Athena Protocol

The Athena ProtocolThe Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif
Published by HarperTeen on October 8th 2019
ISBN: 0062849603
Pages: 304
Goodreads
four-stars

The Athena Protocol

 

Jess is a member of an all-female group who provide protection to women who are being assaulted in any part of the world.  But, Jess has gone too far by killing Ahmed, one of the worst offenders and, thus, bringing scrutiny onto the group.  In order to keep the group hidden, Jess is told to leave.  But she knows that she has the high-level skills needed to save the women who are being kidnapped and held so that their physical organs can be harvested and used by wealthy Russians who can afford the price.

It took me a while to connect with Jess as a character.  With all the bravery and abilities that Jess had I didn’t accept that the others would have summarily told her to leave.  She ended up as the one who saved the group members as well as the kidnapped women.  One of the cool technological devices were contact lenses that could zoom in on things far away with the blink of an eye.

This book is recommended for grades 9-12.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Symptoms of a Heart Break

Symptoms of a Heart BreakSymptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra
Published by Imprint on July 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1250199107
Pages: 336
Goodreads
four-stars

This romantic, comedy for readers in grades 9-12 will bring on the laughs, the tears and a desire for Indian food to be eaten with a dose of Bollywood movies.  Sixteen year old Saira Sehgal, “Saira with an i”, is publically known as the girl genius.  She is now starting her first rotation in the pediatric oncology unit as Dr. Sehgal and an intern where her mother happens to be on staff.  Falling for Lincoln (Link) the handsome Rock Star Camp show wannabe contestant who happens to be on the ward as a leukemia patient, is not only off limits professionally (so  inevitable), but  it is even worse for Saira because she lets him believe that she is a cancer patient.  Let the medical drama, first romance, Dougie Howser- esque fun begin.  Charaipotra provides a supportive and large busy Indian family that hold to some cultural traditions as the backdrop for this easy romance, providing names of Indian food and endearments without translation (and it works!).  Saira’s potential betrothed, who is secretly gay with Saira’s blessing, provides her with the ability to assist Link with finding a bone marrow donor even when she is restricted from seeing him.   Issues of medical ethics, privacy, and family loss are mixed in with a teen romantic drama and the parental pressures that some teens face.  Perfect for romance lovers and strong female characters.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

 

four-stars