Source: MSL Book Review

The Totally True Story of Gracie Bryne

The Totally True Story of Gracie BryneThe Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka
on October 31, 2023
ISBN: 1536228788
Genres: Magical Realism
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka

Sixteen year old Gracie Byrne, like most teenagers, wishes her life were different.  Her parents are recently divorced and her grandfather has passed away. Gracie, her mom, and her brother have decided to move in with her grandmother, whose Alzheimers has gotten worse.  Having social anxiety does not help with starting a new school.  

Gracie stumbles upon a blank journal of her grandmother’s.  A gifted writer, Gracie starts weaving tales, using the cute popular boy from her new school as a muse.  Then the impossible happens.  The stories begin to come true.  Acting as a moral compass, her friend and cute neighbor, Tom, helps Gracie navigate the ins and outs of this magical “gift.”

The author skillfully blends family, friendship, romance, and magical realism into this novel for young adults.  Younger readers of the middle grade novels The Silver Pencil by Alice Dalgliesh or The Bronze Pen by Zilpha Keatley Snyder will age up and love this novel as well. 

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School, Rockport, ME.

five-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

Boop!

Boop!Boop! by Bea Birdsong, Linzie Hunter
ISBN: 0063214806
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Boop!” is written by Bea Birdsong and illustrated by Linzie Hunter. The book is all about “booping” (lightly touching) the “snoots” (noses) of dogs. There are so many dog snoots to boop in this book: big dogs, small dogs, all different colors. Children will have fun booping the snoots of the dogs on each brightly colored page. The book starts with a disclaimer that all of the dogs in the book want their snoots booped, but you should always ask the dog’s human before booping their snoot of a real dog. Hopefully kids understand that booping snoots in a book is fun, but not something to do much in real life. Written for ages 1 to 4, this book is an additional purchase for your picture book collection.

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

three-stars

Gift and Box

Gift and BoxGift & Box by Brizida Magro, Ellen Mayer
ISBN: 0593377613
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Gift and Box” is a picture book written by Ellen Mayer and illustrated by Brizida Magro. Grandma is sending her granddaughter a gift through the mail, so she puts Gift into Box to be able to ship them. Together they are a Package. The story follows their journey as Box protects Gift. Gift is occasionally worried and impatient, but Box is calm and confident. The illustrations are a colorful and bright collage style, with Box and Gift having big cartoony eyes and faces. Children who have gone on a long trip will understand how Gift feels. The ending of the book is cute and happy, and is NOT the end of Box and Gift’s friendship. Written for ages 3 to 5, this is a recommended purchase for picture book collections.

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

four-stars

A Way to the Stars

A Way to the StarsA Way to the Stars by David Almond, Gill Smith
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231258
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“A Way to the Stars” is a picture book written by David Almond and illustrated by Gill Smith. Joe, a kid, wants to find a way to the stars. His friends laugh, but his dad is encouraging and helps Joe. They try a ladder, wings, a trampoline, and more, but no luck. The solution they find is beautiful. Artwork in the book is bright, flowy, and gorgeous. It’s nice to see a parent brainstorming with their child and trying different solutions before finding one that works. Written for ages 4 to 7, this is a recommended purchase for picture book collections.

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

four-stars

Harmony and Echo

Harmony and EchoHarmony & Echo: The Mermaid Ballet by Brigette Barrager
ISBN: 1984830422
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Harmony and Echo: The Mermaid Ballet” is a picture book written and illustrated by Brigette Barrager. Harmony and Echo are mermaids and are also best friends. Their ballet recital is coming up and Echo is very nervous about it, while Harmony is calm. Harmony helps her friend practice and they come up with a hand squeeze to silently communicate between each other that it will be okay. The illustrations are colorful and bright. Aimed at children ages 4 through 7, this book is a worthwhile read for children who are having their own worries. Themes of friendship, anxiety, and kindness make this a suggested purchase for picture book collections, especially where mermaids are popular.

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

three-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

The Goblin Twins

The Goblin TwinsThe Goblin Twins by Frances Cha, Jaime Kim
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on 2023
ISBN: 9780593480212
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Although they are goblin twins, Doki and Kebi are not much alike. Doki is a gentle bookworm while Kebi is a mischievous trickster. They are relatively young for dokkaebi, only 601, but they have spent their entire lives in one house in Korea. When they learn that the house is to be demolished, Kebi persuades Doki to go to New York City with him, claiming that the people there want to be scared. (He is a little confused about Halloween.) After a bit of a search, Kebi finally finds the perfect house for the brothers. Touchingly, it has a huge library for Doki. A neighboring ghost helps them prepare for Halloween and when the big night arrives… the Trick-or-treaters scare the goblin twins right up into the chandelier!

A delightful Author’s Note at the end of the tale explains that dokkaebi are traditional mythical creatures of Korea that have been around for thousands of years. This story is Frances Cha’s way of bringing the dokkaebi into the modern world and introducing them to a new audience. Jaime Kim’s bright, cartoonish, digital illustrations keep the story amusing and welcoming for young readers.

This book, recommended for 3-7 year olds, would be a fun read-aloud for Halloween or any other time of the year.

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

four-stars

Come and Join Us! 18 holidays Celebrated All Year Long

Come and Join Us! 18 holidays Celebrated All Year LongCome and Join Us!: 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long by Chaaya Prabhat, Liz Kleinrock
Published by Harper on Oct. 17, 2023
ISBN: 9780063144477
Genres: Cultural / African American, Holiday, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The author explains in a note at the end of the book that she wants “to encourage people who celebrate what I call ‘dominant culture holidays’ to be inclusive and respectful of holidays beyond their own” and she accomplishes this goal admirably. The text for each holiday names a child of that culture then gives examples of ways they celebrate their respective holidays which occur throughout the year. Riotously colorful illustrations show examples of clothing, food, and activities for each holiday. Some of the celebrations include Holi (Hindu), Passover (Jewish), Juneteenth (African-American), and Obon (Japanese), as well as many others.

Throughout the book, the themes that join all these holidays are the gathering of communities and the joy of celebrating together, via parades, dances, feasts, and other events. The glossary at the end of the book defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers. This book provides a colorful, joyful glimpse into other cultures and would serve as an excellent starting point for further conversation. (Ages 4-8)

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

four-stars

Basketball Town

Basketball TownBasketball Town by Darnell Johnson, Scott Rothman
Published by Candlewick Press on 2023
ISBN: 9781536219777
Genres: Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Vibrant digital illustrations bring this basketball-lover’s dream to life, along with a considerable amount of basketball jargon. Fortunately for the uninitiated, like myself, there is an explanation of terms at the end of the story.

Maxwell loves basketball and his dreams take him to Basketball Town where he discovers some valuable lessons. His own skills aren’t that great, but he can practice at Skillsville to improve. Then, when it’s time to compete, he learns the value of teamwork to help win the competition. When he wakes, Maxwell goes to practice with his own team and it is revealed that his father, their coach, looks a lot like the mayor of Basketball Town.

I appreciated that this book is very inclusive. The players, in both dreams and real life, include diverse genders and races. I did find it very odd that there were screaming and cheerleading giraffes in his dream, but no other animals. To be fair, there is a stuffed giraffe on Maxwell’s bed, but it’s still a little weird to see giraffes standing on their hind legs, waving pom-poms around.

Recommended for young basketball enthusiasts, especially if they need a little confidence boost or a nudge towards teamwork. (Ages 4-8)

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

four-stars