Source: MSL Book Review

I Am Rebel

I Am RebelI Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
Published by Candlewick Press on 5/27/25
ISBN: 1536246794
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Rebel is a devoted dog who goes on a journey to find his owner, Tom, a farm boy who lied about his age in order to join the rebel army.  The Reds are making their way through the countryside, gathering soldiers who want to overthrow the king, who has been cruel to them.  Tom strongly believes in their cause and joins them, but tells Rebel to stay.  Rebel originally stays, because he is a good dog, but then decides to go after his owner to bring him home.  On his quest, Rebel encounters many dangers, some life-threatening, but he also makes some animal friends.  His best animal friend is Jaxon, a wild dog who helps Rebel survive in the wilderness.  

This novel for upper elementary students is told from Rebel’s perspective and will appeal to any pet lover who will no doubt relate to the strong relationship between Rebel and Tom. Using Rebel as a narrator also softens this war story, making it age appropriate for older elementary students while not shying away from some of the dangers of war. The battle scene at the end is a little intense, but that doesn’t last for long, as Rebel inadvertently becomes a war hero and he and Tom are reunited. This is an adventure about animals, war, friendship, and loyalty, appealing to many interests.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

A Home For Unusual Monsters

A Home For Unusual MonstersA Home for Unusual Monsters (The Kairos Files #2) by Shaun David Hutchinson
on February 11, 2025
ISBN: 0593646339
Pages: 276
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A sequel that can stand alone, A Home for Unusual Monsters is a first-person narrative by twelve-year-old Sam, an agent-in-training for a secret organization that monitors monsters and the supernatural. This story deals with seeking independence, when your needs conflict with another’s needs, and the struggle of not knowing who to trust or who is your friend.

Even though the story sounds formulaic—hero orphan kid saves the world while dealing with both the supernatural and common coming-of-age issues—the writing sets it apart. Hutchinson respects his audience. Unlike a lot of middle grade fiction, he doesn’t explain how to interpret the narrator’s feelings. He’s also good at establishing characters concisely, which is useful in a book that introduces at least ten people in addition to reestablishing those met in the first book. Sam, the main character, is intelligent, curious, and on a quest to make the world a better place, a perfect role model for tween readers who prefer mystery and action to romance and melodrama. It also alludes to a third book in the future, a boon to series-hungry readers.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Family Feast!

Family Feast!Family Feast! by Carole Boston Weatherford, Frank Morrison
ISBN: 059389829X
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family, Holiday, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Time for a Family Feast! This joyous picture book depicts the gathering of family in anticipation of a big dinner together. Big Ma and Pops are hosting in a city apartment setting. There are big hugs when family arrives, and pots clanging in the kitchen. There’s a culmination of different soul food dishes from relatives. A beautiful mantra repeats on each page, “Tastes like home when family meet; a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.” The illustrations are full of motion and smiles and the rhymes in the text are spot on. This book is an excellent choice to read around Thanksgiving, as a turkey is pictured being carved, however, it doesn’t specifically reference a holiday and could be read during any time of year. The text and illustrations really work in harmony to express the joy and experience of being together with extended family.

Cream of the Crop Nominee

Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Ready, Steady, Sloth!

Ready, Steady, Sloth!Ready, Steady, Sloth! by Justin Anderson, Manu Montoya
Published by Candlewick Press on May 27, 2025
ISBN: 1536239623
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ready, Steady, Sloth! is a narrative non-fiction picture book about a brown-throated sloth and her baby climbing down their tree for their weekly poop.  The story and dust jacket call it a “special mission.”

The pages have full color illustrations, and the colors are bright and flat. Each spread has the storyline in one font and side facts in another. The font of the side facts was a poor choice—it would be hard for early readers to decipher—but its content was excellent. The author compares sloth stats to other animals, including humans, and avoids those quantitative facts that make other non-fiction picture books dense. The final spread gleans over the six other species of sloth and has an unnecessary index for a book of 24 pages. This book is designed to introduce sloths to a young audience, less as a reference for an older kid’s school report.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

three-stars

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest GiftThe Greatest Gift (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) by Emma Dodd
ISBN: 1536241172
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

The pictures are darling, with grassland of metallic gold and an adorable zebra family cuddling throughout an adventurous day. However, everything about its text—its poor contrast (purple on indigo?), forced rhyme scheme, and vague notions (“…but the gift I can give you is greater than the rest, I give you the gift of love, the greatest and the best.”)—makes reading the book frustrating and forgettable. It’s perhaps best for a baby’s sleepy book, but there are better and more versatile choices for that purpose.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Boar and Hedgehog

Boar and HedgehogBoar and Hedgehog by David Elliott, Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 1536228710
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Model neighbor Hedgehog continuously helps Boar, a stereotypical crank, until Boar at last sees the error of his ways.

For a story with a pretty basic moral (be a helpful neighbor), there is extensive text with vocabulary both advanced (dyspepsia) and slang (whatevs). There is also a lack of trust in the reader, as every concept is spelled out (Cold and dark, the cave was a reflection of his own miserable heart.). The artwork by Eugene Yelchin is not terrible, but some pages look as if it was quickly uploaded digitally in low resolution. Target audience is unclear; its storyline is too simple for advanced readers, and its length is too long for beginners.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

Tuck Me In!

Tuck Me In!Tuck Me In!: A Science Bedtime Story by Nathan W. Pyle
on September 2, 2025
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Tuck Me In! is Nathan Pyle’s first book specifically for children. It’s a modern tall tale that introduces the concept of tides. Sleepy beaches want to be tucked in by the moon, but there isn’t enough ocean to blanket all the beaches at once. Moon creates a schedule called Tuck Ins Divided Evenly, or T.I.D.E., and everyone is happy.

This book is a great way to introduce toddlers to the idea of tides. It even touches on a tide’s relationship to the moon. It’s a fun read-aloud, too. There are clear character dialogue, solid color art, large text, and cute faces. However, like any tall tale, this book has more fiction than fact. Do not get this to fill a hole in your non-fiction collection.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

The Scammer

The ScammerThe Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson
Published by Quill Tree Books on October 7, 2025
ISBN: 0063271273
Genres: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Despite her parents’ belief that she is destined for Yale, Jordyn decides to attend Frazier University, an HBCU. She immediately hits it off with her suitemates, and hopes that this new sense of belonging will help her through the grief of losing her brother. When Devonte, the older brother of a roommate, and who is fresh out of prison, needs a place to stay, the group takes him in and quickly falls under his charismatic, worldly spell. Soon, the friends are questioning everything they thought they knew about race, gender roles, nutrition, and themselves. Only Jordyn starts to question Devonte’s need to control them, and worries she might be too late to break the brainwashing that is spreading through her dorm and out into the campus.

Fast-paced and interesting, The Scammer is a solid YA psychological thriller that helps draw some attention to the spread of misinformation and the manipulation that can result from it. Jackson adds a final twist that will be divisive, definitely a love-it-or-hate-it situation, but for those it works for, this will be a big hit.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to Dance

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to DanceBallet Besties: Yara's Chance to Dance by Paula Franco, Yasmine Naghdi
Series: Ballet Besties
Published by Candlewick Press on 9/9/25
ISBN: 1536243795
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Yara just moved with her parents to a new city and the thing she is most excited about is taking ballet classes in a real studio.  She meets a diverse group of friends at Shimmer and Shine and is completely devoted to ballet.  When she finds out the owner of the building, Dame Audrey, plans to shut down the studio, she hatches a plan to save it.  Upon learning that Dame Audrey used to be a dancer, Zara’s friends and their teacher, Miss Diamond, agree their best shot is to perform Sleeping Beauty, which Dame Audrey was supposed to star in before getting injured. The show is progressing well, but Yara is so obsessed with ballet that she falls behind in school and is forced by her parents to pause on ballet until her schoolwork is caught up.  Once Yara figures out how to balance her priorities, she returns to class and she and her friends put on a successful show!  

This sweet book for 2-4th graders is the first in the series, written by a principal dancer of the Royal Ballet,  and will be especially popular with kids who enjoy dancing or stories about friendship and perseverance.  There are black and white drawings throughout the book that help capture the emotion of the story.  Readers can find definitions of the French ballet terms in the glossary but unfortunately there isn’t a pronunciation key.  Back matter also includes diagrams of the characters demonstrating the five foot and arm positions as well as a summary of Sleeping Beauty.  

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Sometimes You Find a Dragon: Find Your Dragon. Find Your Creativity

Sometimes You Find a Dragon: Find Your Dragon. Find Your CreativitySometimes You Find a Dragon: Find Your Dragon. Find Your Creativity. by Viviane Schwarz
Published by Candlewick Press on September 16, 2025
ISBN: 1536245119
Genres: Arts
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Sometimes You Find A Dragon
By Viviane Schwarz

We are surrounded by dragons. We just need to pay attention and notice them. What do we do when we notice them? Pay attention. Let your creativity take hold. Dragons are around us, some people call them twigs. We should let the dragon determine how we care for it and express it; it could be through art, or music, song, or dance.
This book encourages children to let wonder surround them, find sources of creativity everywhere, and tap into their own personal reserves.

3-8 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars