Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and WhyWhat It's Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing--What Birds Are Doing and Why by David Allen Sibley
Published by Delacorte Press on 10/3/23
ISBN: 0593430182
Pages: 171
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

The young reader’s edition of Sibley’s 2020 adult book What It’s Like to Be a Bird, this book is shorter and includes more facts about what birds do than how to identify birds. The book includes the most common or familiar in the continental US and Canada and can be read from cover to cover or browsed casually in any order. The book starts with an Introduction that includes generic bird information then jumps into the pages describing each bird. Sibley warns that the book is not complete; that it covers the topics that he has found most intriguing while researching birds over the years. Sibley’s illustrations are stunning and the detail for each bird is enaging and insightful. The one flaw in the book is that is does not include an index or a table of contents listing the included birds, but this seems intentional as Sibley does not intend for this to be a research book, but one to be flipped through and savored. Young bird enthusiasts, or those just foraying into the birding world will appreciate this beautiful book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

 

five-stars

Colonization and the Wampanoag story (Race to the Truth)

Colonization and the Wampanoag story (Race to the Truth)Colonization and the Wampanoag Story (Race to the Truth) by Linda Coombs
ISBN: 0593480449
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Aquinnah Wampanoag member Linda Coombs portrays the life of the Wampanoag both before and after European contact with unflinching and necessary honesty. The chapters titled “When Life Was Our Own” are told through the life of Little Bird, a young Wampanoag girl, and her experiences of her tribe’s culture, customs, practices, and beliefs through the four seasons. In-between, Coombs explains the process and impact of colonization on the Indigienous nations in that region over time. These sections end with a “Let’s Think About This” page, imploring readers to consider the causes and implications of the actions taken and encouraging them to think critically about what was just read. The truth may be hard to swallow for some readers, but this is a solid addition to middle school nonfiction collections

Black and white photos, a Bibliography, and resources for further learning are included. 

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

four-stars

The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz

The Boy Who Followed His Father into AuschwitzThe Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield
on 01/17/2023
ISBN: 0063236176
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Adapted for younger readers from Dronfield’s adult version by the same name, The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz is a narrative account of the Jewish Kleinmann family, living in Austria during World War II. Fourteen-year-old Fritz and his Papa, Gustav, are taken to Buchenwald concentration camp where they endure innumerable brutalities. When Gustav is set to be transferred to Auschwitz, Fritz decides he cannot leave his dear father, and ensures they make the transfer together. Several chapters are dedicated to Fritz’s brother Kurt and his acceptance into America as a refugee. 

This is an excellent addition to middle school nonfiction collections serving as a necessary contribution to the record of Holocaust stories. The resilience, hope, courage, and love exemplified in the actions of the Kleinmann family in the face of such horrors is thought-provoking and powerful.

Dronfield provides readers with some background information about how this book came to be and his interactions with Kurt. An author’s note to parents and teachers, a timeline of events, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and works cited are included. 

Grades 6-8

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

five-stars

Biology’s Beginnings

Biology’s BeginningsDiscovering Life’s Story: Biology’s Beginnings by Joy Hakim
Series: Discovering Life's Story
Published by Penguin Random House on September 12, 2023
ISBN: 1536222933
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Volume one of author Joy Hakim’s Discovering Life’s Story series, designed to explore human discovery as it applies to our own existence, as it was understood though the ages. For readers familiar with the format of her previous series’, they will find it similar and comfortable; chock full of colorful, relevant illustrations, sidebars that range from detailed and informative to irreverent (but still informative!) Hakim’s narrative style is conversational and always engaging. Chapters, and the sub-sections with them, are short enough to hold the interest of the reader, but long enough to give a satisfying amount of information. Source notes, bibliography, and a list of resources for further reading are all included.

Written for older middle grade readers and teens, this is an excellent and highly recommended addition to a library collection.

5 stars/cream

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

The 21: The true story of the youth who sued the U.S. government over climate change

The 21: The true story of the youth who sued the U.S. government over climate changeThe Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Change by Elizabeth Rusch
Published by Greenwillow Books on August 8, 2023
ISBN: 9780063220850
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
This narrative nonfiction explores the ground breaking case, Juliana v. United States, where 21 young people sued the national government over its actions contributing to climate change. The book introduces readers to the 21 plaintiffs from around the United States who have each been negatively impacted by climate change and walks readers through the legal process of this case. The way this book is structured is exceptional. It is broken into 4 large sections, but each section contains many small chapters. The small chapters allow readers to easily digest the rich amount of content covered. Some of the chapters focus the mindset of the youth and their lawyer at different points throughout the trial. The narrative text reads like fiction, so readers will be familiar with the style as they learn a lot of new information. Other chapters focus on the legal aspects of the case. The author does a great job of explaining the legal process, so while the focus of this book is the environment and the impacts of climate change, readers will also learn some important civics concepts as well.

This young adult nonfiction book would be great for older students who are passionate about helping the environment and are interested in learning about young activists. High school teachers might use this as part of a science or social studies curriculum, but outside of these niche audiences, this book, despite being well written and compelling, probably has limited broad appeal.

four-stars

Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism

Stand Up and Speak Out Against RacismStand Up and Speak Out Against Racism by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Aleesha Nandhra
Published by Walker Books US on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 1536231339
Pages: 128
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Organized into sections “How Did Racism Start?”, “Racism Today”, and “How To Stand Up and Speak Out”, this short, colorful book offers definitions, a brief history, examples, and action items surrounding racism. The content is engaging and the design will appeal to young readers who like bite-size information. Many of the chapter titles are thought-provoking questions that then offer some information but also invite the reader to ponder the topic. The illustrations show diverse children and adults, adding word bubbles and design elements that draw the eye to an important message or fact. Abdel-Magied has an illustrated avatar who is used to talk directly to the audience, which works as her tone is casual and honest, not didactic or condescending.

The book is current, well-written, and engaging, but there is always the question about who will check out a book like this? The appeal feels aimed at adults as much as at kids: classroom teachers might use is to craft lessons, or parents looking for a way to explain the history or modern application of racism would find it most useful. It is possible that students working on a project about racism or through a civil rights club could find some use, but it’s doubtful that it would be picked up as a free-read.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle Over Teaching Evolution

The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle Over Teaching EvolutionThe Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle over Teaching Evolution by Anita Sanchez
ISBN: 0358457696
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
In 1925, Tennessee made the teaching of evolution illegal when they passed the Butler Act.  Anita Sanchez’s thoroughly researched book follows the events of what became a highly sensationalized, nationally polarizing, full-jury trial that challenged that law.  What should have been handled as a misdemeanor turned into a circus-like national event, exacerbated not only by newspaper coverage, but also by the onset of radio broadcasts.  Ultimately, John Scopes was found guilty and fined $100.00.  The appeals carried on for two years, finally ending in a quiet dismissal on a technical point.  The teaching of evolution was suppressed until Russia successfully orbited the Sputnik satellite in 1957 and the United States suddenly developed a renewed interest in science.  Even so, the Butler Act was not repealed until 1967.

Through the inclusion of black & white photographs, a glossary, a timeline, notes, resources, and an index, the author does an excellent job of documenting and explaining the high emotions involved in the controversies surrounding the teaching of evolution.  At the same time, as she states in her end note, she tries to “tell both sides as fairly and honestly as [she] could.”  Sanchez also does an admirable job of bringing the issue up-to-date, acknowledging the fact that “[t]hose passions continue today as the culture wars rage harder than ever.”

The book is intended for ages 8-12, but I found it an informative and surprising read as an adult.  So many of the arguments raised over a century ago are resurfacing as variants applied to other issues today.  This book is a worthy inclusion for any Middle School and older nonfiction collection.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine – Gorham Campus Library

four-stars

Stunt Performers

Stunt PerformersStunt Performers by Clara Cella
Series: Dangerous Jobs (UpDog Books ™)
Published by Lerner Publications on January 1, 2023
ISBN: 1728475570
Pages: 24
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
one-star
The Updog Books is attempting to offer books in high-interest areas, but this title misses the mark. The age range is listed as grade 4-6 but there are very few words in the book opting instead to use large photographs. None of the photos are labeled with captions even when referred to in the text. For example, “A 1903 movie had the first stunt performer. In the 1920s, many comedians were stunt performers.” There are two photographs accompanying this text and neither is captioned so the reader is left to guess which movie and which comedian, the ones in the photos? And this page also has a box with a definition of the word comedian, which feels unrelated to stunt performers. The other defined terms: “modern,” “entertainment,” and “martial arts,” are simplistic and don’t do much to further the reader’s understanding of stunt performing. Every photograph features a male stunt performer or actor, then the “Meet a Stunt Performer” page has one woman, who is former gymnast and the photo is of her performing gymnastics, not stunts. This is the one and only place where the text mentions that the business is mostly white and male, so this Black, female stunt performer is a nod to diversity. It feels performative instead of representational. This title could have been great for those reluctant readers, but it is thin in both information and representation. Only very large libraries with big budgets might purchase this series to fill a need for books about non-traditional jobs.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

one-star

The Real History of Juneteenth

The Real History of JuneteenthThe Real History of Juneteenth by Elliott Smith
Series: Left Out of History (Read Woke ™ Books)
Published by Lerner Publications on January 1, 2023
ISBN: 172847583X
Pages: 32
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
In partnership with Cicely Lewis, the Read Woke Librarian, Lerner is publishing a “Left Out of History” series. This book, aimed at grade 4-6, offers the history of Juneteenth. Using plenty of archival and contemporary photographs, author Smith provides the background for the holiday, the rise in popularity of celebrating the day, and then brief profiles of the change-makers who advocated for a state-wide holiday (Texas) and finally a national holiday (signed into law by President Biden in 2021). There are also questions for reflection throughout the book that make this a fantastic resource for a classroom teacher. This is a succinct and useful book though the “Read Woke Books” logo on the cover could be a trigger for challenges in the current fraught political climate.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Bake, Make and Learn to Cook Vegetarian: Healthy Green Recipes for Young Cooks

Bake, Make and Learn to Cook Vegetarian: Healthy Green Recipes for Young CooksBake, Make, and Learn to Cook Vegetarian: Healthy and Green Recipes for Young Cooks by David Atherton, Alice Bowsher
Published by Candlewick Press on November 8, 2022
ISBN: 1536228435
Pages: 80
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
A great cookbook for young cooks that focuses on vegetarian recipes that are healthy and green. David Atherton, a winner of The Great British Baking Show, has put together a wide range of easy-to-make vegetarian recipes. Readers get to choose from four fun food sections — yummy meals, savory snacks, sweet treats, and showstoppers. The book starts with a section on eating green, pantry essentials, and a quick equipment list. Then, it is on to the food sections. Each recipe includes a brief overall description, ingredient listing, and a numbered set of instructions (method). The colorful illustrations are playful yet very helpful. Serving suggestions also appear with some of the recipes. Not only are the recipes included delicious, they are good for the planet. An outstanding cookbook that should fly off the shelves. For children 8 and up (with some adult supervision).

Reviewed by Terri Bauld,  Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library

four-stars