Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction

Murder Among Friends

Murder Among FriendsMurder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime by Candace Fleming
Published by Anne Schwartz Books on March 29, 2022
ISBN: 0593177428
Pages: 368
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In 1924, a murder trial captivated much more than just Chicago where it took place. 19-year-old Nathan and 18-year-old Richard were both part-time college students from wealthy families who kidnapped and murdered Richard’s 14-year-old cousin.  For no other reason than that Richard considered himself a master criminal and wanted to see what he could get away with, and Nathan wanted Richard to continue sleeping with him and seemingly had no morality.  Both boys, while having privileged upbringings, also suffered neglect and abuse by their families and those employed to care for them.  This will be discussed during the trial as their sanity is questioned. No agreement could be made by dozens of doctors who seemed to fit into two schools of theory: insanity is binary and the boys displayed understanding of what they did, or that sanity exists on a spectrum and the boys were somewhere on there as displayed by their lack of humanity.  Their guilt was never on trial, as upon being quickly suspected and brought in for questioning, they both admitted to the crime, differing only on which committed the murder and whose idea it was.  The trial was to decide whether the boys would be given the death penalty or life in prison.

As always, Fleming take a wealth of research and primary documents and turns them into a fully fleshed out and easily readable story. While the crime itself is difficult to read about, the machinations of the trial and the criminal system at the time are interesting. Back matter includes an afterword, notes, a bibliography, and an index. Recommended for ages 13+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King DayAin't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day by Kathlyn J. Kirkwood
Published by Versify on January 4, 2022
ISBN: 0358387264
Pages: 128
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Kirkwood had a front-row seat to the civil rights movement growing up in Memphis in the 1960s. She marched for the striking Sanitation Workers, mourned after the assassination of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., and traveled to Washington D.C. to join the Poor People’s Campaign. Even as she started her career and family, she worked tirelessly to have a national holiday declared in honor of Martin Luther King. Written in verse with historic photos, this middle grade memoir includes a section on how a law is enacted and bibliographical references. A lot of information is packed into a quick read! Really good – but perhaps not quite cream?

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Orca Rescue

Orca RescueOrca Rescue!: The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer by Donna Sandstrom, Sarah Burwash
Published by Kids Can Press on October 5, 2021
ISBN: 1525301179
Pages: 144
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
In 2002, a young Orca was found swimming alone in Puget Sound. This book tells the heartwarming story of the community-centered and community-supported efforts to reunite this young Orca with her family. Throughout the book, there are sections that educate readers about Orcas, their life history, their social dynamics, and more. It’s a great and easy read for 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

From here to there

From here to thereFrom Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves by Gilbert Ford, Vivian Kirkfield
on January 19, 2021
ISBN: 1328560910
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
This book will delight transportation fans of all ages. From balloons to computer operated vehicles, this book chronicles the inventions that change the way the world moves. The front pages include a more inclusive timeline of locomotion — from canoes to rollerskates. Each chapter focuses on a different means of locomotion and the person or people who were heavily involved in its development. The watercolor illustrations are colorful, bring life to the story, and help depict the challenges of new inventions. Recommended for readers 8 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Before they were artists

Before they were artistsBefore They Were Artists: Famous Illustrators as Kids by Elizabeth Haidle
Published by Etch/Clarion Books on April 20, 2021
ISBN: 1328801543
Pages: 64
Genres: Arts, Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
This is a collected biography of famous illustrators, and it chronicles their lives before they became famous artists. The artists depicted represent diverse cultural backgrounds and artistic styles. The book is laid out somewhat like a graphic novel, but includes a fair amount more text than typical graphic novels. Every artist profile begins with a two-page spread that includes beautiful watercolor illustrations and a timeline of the artist’s life at the bottom. Recommended for young readers and artists ages 8 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Snoozefest: The Surprising Science of Sleep

Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
three-stars
From the author of “This is Your Brain on Stereotypes” comes another middle school friendly dive into the workings of our brain, this time focused on all things sleep. Topics such as dreaming, sleep studies, and the effects of sleep on our health, memory, and happiness are briefly explored within about 55 pages. While the information isn’t extensive, students looking for some basic knowledge to start their research or who are just wanting some quick answers to their sleep questions will appreciate this easy to read and digest book. Colorful illustrations and side bars help to break up the text and add visual appeal.

“More to Explore” and “Selected Sources” included.

Recommended for grades 5-8.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

 

three-stars

Speak Up, Speak Out!

Speak Up, Speak Out!Speak Up, Speak Out!: The Extraordinary Life of Fighting Shirley Chisholm by Tonya Bolden
Published by National Geographic Kids on January 4, 2022
ISBN: 142637237X
Pages: 144
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Speak Up, Speak Out!

 

Shirley Chisholm was always encouraged to do her best and be a leader; and this was what she did.  She excelled in school and in her work and eventually became the first African American woman elected to Congress and to run for the Presidency.  There are extensive notes for each chapter and an Index.  The author, Tonya Bolden, has been honored with the Coretta Scott King Honor award and she shows her ability in her writing covering Shirley’s life.  This is aimed at 4th to 6th graders.

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Across the Rainbow Bridge

Across the Rainbow BridgeAcross the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans by Jeffrey Alan Love, Kevin Crossley-Holland
Published by Candlewick Studio on October 26, 2021
ISBN: 1536217719
Pages: 96
Genres: Folklore
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
This book is a great choice for fans of folklore, Norse Gods, and maybe even the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kevin Crossley-Holland and Jeffrey Love teamed up before to create Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki and this shorter book is a companion to it, focusing less on the Gods and more on the interactions between Gods and humans. They’re both very, very good. Get them for your library or your school or your kids. The writing is clear and accessible and the illustrations are as stark and beautiful as Scandinavian landscapes are. These are a perfect addition to any myth/folktales collection.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Dreams From My Father

Dreams From My FatherDreams from My Father (Adapted for Young Adults): A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
Published by Delacorte Press on October 5, 2021
ISBN: 0385738722
Pages: 320
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
Dreams From My Father

 

Barack Obama has adapted his biography, first published in 1995, for Young Adults.  In it he explores his roots, especially his meeting with his many relatives in Kenya.  These were at the core of his personality and were a major influence for his future endeavors.  There are a number of photographs included, which add to the appeal.  Adding this information, one can see how complex Barack Obama’s life was, and the feeling of responsibility he felt for others, and how this will affect his life as the President.  He was especially affected as a Black man with the injustices and racism he endured.  The major emphasis was on his visit to Kenya, but it also covered his time in New York, Indonesia, and his time as a social organizer in Chicago.  I kept waiting for the book to extend to his political career, but it still stopped just before his time at Harvard.  For those wanting to know what Barack Obama’s life was like as a child and want to get to know the people that influenced his formative years, this book works.

 

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

three-stars

In Search of Safety: Voices of Refugees

In Search of Safety: Voices of RefugeesIn Search of Safety: Voices of Refugees by Susan Kuklin
on March 27, 2020
ISBN: 0763679607
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Five refugees recount the struggles that led them to flee their homelands and resettle in Nebraska. Representing Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan, Iraq, and Burundi, these refugees give testimony on the brutalities of war, abduction into sex slavery, torture, and loss that can be difficult to read. Each person tells their own story with some supplemental commentary and photographs by the author. The readability of this book varies as it moves from one individual to another. Overall, it is an important book for high school students to gain empathy and understanding of what people in other parts of the world have endured in a time when immigration has been disparaged. The end of the book includes information about how a refugee attains that status and what the citizenship process is like for those who resettle in the United States. Pair with Call Me American: A Memoir by Abdi Nor Iftin.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars