Format: Fiction

There’s No Way I’d Die First

There’s No Way I’d Die FirstThere's No Way I'd Die First by Lisa Springer
Published by Delacorte Press on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 0593643178
Genres: Horror
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

When Noelle is ready to debut her horror movie podcast, she shrewdly invites her school’s biggest influencers to her exclusive Halloween bash. The house is all decked out for the occasion, as are her guests, but when the hired clown shows up things get truly terrifying. As the teens start getting murdered, Noelle has to figure out who this clown is, and why he is after them. Luckily, she has an extensive repertoire of horror movie knowledge, and she is determined to be the Final Girl.

Final Girls are having a moment (as they should), and this book will be a hit with horror lovers, specifically lovers of slashers. It’s a tense, gory, cautionary tale about oversharing online. It’s so quickly paced it’s easy to ignore less interesting subplots and plausibility issues. Suggest to fans of the Terrifier and Scream movies, or Clown in a Corn Field, or any horror fans who can tolerate a high level of violence.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Back to the Bright Before

Back to the Bright BeforeBack to the Bright Before by Jen Bricking, Katherin Nolte
ISBN: 9780593565100
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ever since her Daddy fell off of a ladder (which she blames herself for), Pet’s world has come crashing down. After two failed surgeries, Daddy’s arm is still unusable so he spends all day and night in bed, while Momma is tired and angry from taking as many waitressing shifts as she can in order to keep their heads above water. Pet’s brother Simon has almost completely stopped speaking, only using the word “cheese” to communicate. Bound and determined to save her family, Pet sets off with Simon, a “borrowed” pony and a chicken to find a long-lost ancient coin whose value will surely provide the money they so desperately need. Along the way, they are helped by three mysterious people while being pursued by a dangerous man who is also seeking the treasure. 

This is a story for upper middle-grade readers who like stories about tough topics and a touch of fantasy. The pain and sadness of the family are palpable and Momma’s anger toward Pet could be offputting to some. There is an undercurrent of spirituality, partly due to the presence of the nuns whose abbey is near Pet’s house, but also through the seemingly divine intervention of the beings who come to Pet and Simon’s rescue. This short adventure comes with a smattering of black-and-white illustrations and a happily-ever-after ending.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

three-stars

The Many Fortunes of Maya

The Many Fortunes of MayaThe Many Fortunes of Maya by Nicole D. Collier
ISBN: 0358434645
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

12-year-old Maya Jenkins is determined to get recruited to the Chargers soccer team–the elite team her dad was a part of during his youth.  She also is secretly still practicing her flute because while she loves it, she doesn’t believe she can focus fully on soccer if she gives her music the attention she’d like to. Add in her parent’s separation, her now strained relationship with her best friend and swimming lessons, and this summer is not turning out the way Maya was hoping.  Using her wheel of fortunes as a compass, Maya tries to navigate the muddy waters of being true to herself under the weight of others’ dreams.

Maya’s struggle to remain loyal to her parents while trying to decide where her true interests lie will be relatable to many middle-grade readers. Surely grappling with parents on the brink of divorce will be familiar territory as well. Her emotional turmoil is honest and each problem is resolved realistically even if predictably. Each chapter is tagged with one of Maya’s collected fortunes which adds an interesting plot device as the story moves along. 

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

 

four-stars

Spellbinders: The Not So Chosen One

Spellbinders: The Not So Chosen OneSpellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon
ISBN: 0593482719
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Ben is having a tough time after his parents’ divorce forces him to move away with his mother, making it difficult for him to stay in touch with his RPG friends.  To cope, he throws himself even harder into role-playing and constantly writes new ideas in his trusty notebook. Will his years of playing RPGs help him when he is suddenly whisked away to a magical realm where, as the Chosen One, he must save civilization?

Middle grade fantasy readers will enjoy this book. It’s very long, but the end pays off with some complex character development that had been missing throughout the first three quarters of the book. It might also be a good recommendation for readers who like books with a sense of humor. Not essential for a collection, but would make a good addition.

(One note: Spellbinders contains a lot of references to “disgorging”. Not a great choice for kids with emetophobia.)

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Starlings

StarlingsStarlings by Amanda Linsmeier
Published by Delacorte on June 27, 2023
ISBN: 0593572335
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
After Kit loses her father, she discovers that the grandmother she thought was dead is very much alive and wants to meet her. She and her mother visit Agatha Starling in the idyllic town of Rosemont where Kit instantly feels like a celebrity. As she pieces together the dark history behind the reason she and her family are so revered, she becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the upcoming rose festival everyone is so excited about. When her mother goes missing, Kit knows she must find her and escape the town or be cursed to live there forever.

This is an entertaining dark fantasy that shades into folk horror. Picture Harvest Home or The Wicker Man but much less traumatizing. Kit is very likable and the claustrophobia of being in Rosemont makes for a tense read. Fans of horror, fantasy, and folklore and will enjoy this one!

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library

four-stars

Those We Drown

Those We DrownThose We Drown by Amy Goldsmith
Published by Delacorte Press on June 27, 2023
ISBN: 059357009X
Pages: 416
Genres: Horror, Psychological thriller, Supernatural
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
When Liv is offered a scholarship to attend a program aboard a cruise ship, she accepts it to bolster her college application. She also hopes it will give her some time to hang out with her friend, Will, and repair some recent damages to their friendship. Things seem weird almost immediately to Liv; the casual and constant underage drinking of her cohort, the appearance of a trio of glamorous influencers who call themselves The Sirens, and Will’s disappearance after the first night. Liv is determined to find Will and uncover what is really happening on this cruise, but can she do it before others start disappearing?

Those We Drown is tense and hard to put down, thanks to a solid plot that relies on the extreme gaslighting of Liv. Nobody can be trusted and while Liv knows something is terribly wrong, she can’t say exactly what it is or who is involved. This is a great debut that will appeal to horror, Lovecraft, mythology, and thriller fans.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars

The Family Fortuna

The Family FortunaThe Family Fortuna by Lindsay Eagar
Published by Candlewick Press on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 0763692352
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars
The youngest of three siblings in a travelling carnival, Avita has always had a special bond with her father, Arturo. Arturo looked at her as an infant and saw not a monster, but a show-stopping circus act. While she is human, Avita was born with a large black beak, black feathers, jagged black teeth and black eyes. Arturo soon puts her to work biting the heads off of chickens to illicit screams from the audience.

But what if there’s more to life, and to Avita herself, than decapitating birds? Can Avita prove to Arturo that she is more than a horrific sideshow act?

This book had potential but it was very hard to get through. Forced language, particularly the swearing, and odd narrative choices weigh it down and detract from the story.  The intended audience is unclear, so it is not a must-buy.

(Note: Fans of carnivals and large, black birds will be drawn to the excellent cover art.)

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

two-stars

Liar’s Beach

Liar’s BeachLiar's Beach by Katie Cotugno
on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593433289
Genres: Mystery
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Linden is excited to stay at his boarding school friend’s house on Martha’s Vineyard for a few weeks before school starts up again. He joins Jasper and his family and a few family friends for long summer days of swimming, drinking, romance…and murder? Linden is first a little startled when he runs into his childhood best friend, Holiday Proctor, as she might accidentally share details from his youth that he would like to keep secret. But it turns out Holiday is an amazing super sleuth and Linden realizes he needs her help.

This book is full of lies, secrets, and rich kids behaving badly; it’s a quick read and perfect for summer. It’s heavily inspired by Agatha Christie and her own super sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Holiday Proctor steals the book, she’s fun and smart and inexplicably fond of Linden, who is a less than endearing main character. Mystery and thriller fans will enjoy trying to solve this one.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Camp Sylvania

Camp SylvaniaCamp Sylvania by Julie Murphy
Published by Balzer + Bray on June 6, 2023
ISBN: 006311402X
Genres: Horror, Humor, Supernatural
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Middle schooler Maggie can’t wait to go to summer camp with her best friend and is devastated when her parents let her know, last minute, that they’re sending her to a fat camp instead.  Camp Sylvania turns out not to be so bad, especially since Maggie immediately makes some new friends, but what’s up with the suggested blood donations, the creepy counselor who only comes out at night, and the all-red “revolutionary wellness diet” the campers are being fed?

This book is a delight. The vampires will satisfy horror fans (though it’s gentle enough to work for non-horror fans) and it’s funny and charming enough for adults and teens. The comparison of predatory wellness influencers to vampires is not only clever, but a great way to get kids thinking critically about social media messages. Julie Murphy deftly deals with the theme of weight, and the kids are inherently body-positive, even though their parents and the counselors have different ideas.  Weight can be a difficult topic to address but the size of the kids and Maggie’s weight-stressed relationship with her mother are carried out with nuance and respect. Other than the vampires and their familiars, who really are horrible, the characters are relatable and likable; even the ghost of a camper has a sense of humor. An excellent choice for summer reading!

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Stranger Danger

Stranger DangerStranger Danger (Underlined) by Maren Stoffels
Published by Underlined on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593647440
Genres: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars
In order to prepare for high school exams with zero distractions, Nova and her boyfriend, Vin, rent a farmhouse in another state for a week. Lotus, Nova’s best friend, is invited and is nervous about Nova’s “no phones, no internet” rule.  She goes anyway, as she has trouble saying no to Nova, and is immediately aware that they are not alone.

What starts out as a taut, tense thriller quickly dissolves into a slurry of morally reprehensible people (teens and adults), who only feel guilt about their actions when they realize they’ve been caught. It becomes a blizzard of finger pointing and crying with no acceptable resolution. Stranger Danger feels as though it comes from a different time,  from sexual acts almost always being described as ”kissing” no matter what they are (even having an affair with an adult teacher), to mixed messages about eating disorders.  Not recommended.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

two-stars