Amelia, if Only

August 18, 2025

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli
Published by Harper on June 10, 2025
ISBN: 0063045923
Pages: 295
Genres: Humor, LGBTQ+, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Amelia might have a parasocial crush on Walter Holland, the somewhat famous bisexual teenage star of his own YouTube channel, whose coming out video made her feel seen properly for the first time. But really, her friends don’t have to make such a big deal of it, right? After all, it’s not like he took her up on her singing Instagram post inviting him to prom (cringe!)

But then Walter announces he’s going to be doing a live meet-and-greet at nearby(ish) Blackwell College, and Amelia rallies her three best friends – twins Mark and Natalie, and Zora – to take a pre-graduation long weekend road trip. Because surely, if she could just meet him for real, it would be obvious how perfect they’d be together.

Except…Walter might not actually be the person causing the butterflies in Amelia’s stomach. It is possible he has been a fun distraction for her real feelings for Natalie. And now that Nat’s on-again-off-again girlfriend is out of the picture, Amelia might just be facing those feelings head on.

Albertalli’s fans will not be disappointed in her latest rom-com starring a group of queer teens. Four of the five primary characters identify as bisexual, one as lesbian, and a minor character is nonbinary; Amelia and the twins are Jewish, Zora is Black. Amelia describes herself as “medium fat” but in a way that indicates overall feelings of body positivity. Social media plays a large role in the teens’ lives, and there is ample discussion about both the positives and negatives of that; time is spent looking at the big picture of online fandom, and how impactful it can be for both influencers and followers.

Those who enjoyed Imogen, Obviously will recognize the setting of Blackwell College and a few familiar characters who make a cameo. Amelia is an endearing protagonist coming to terms with her feelings for her best friend, and secondary characters are well rounded. An easy book to recommend for teens looking for a charming and fun read relevant to the times.

5 stars, cream nominee

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

Area 51 Files: Way Off Base

August 15, 2025

Area 51 Files: Way Off Base Way Off Base (The Area 51 Files) by Julie Buxbaum, Lavanya Naidu
Series: Area 51 Files #4
Published by Delacorte Press on 7/8/25
ISBN: 059389944X
Genres: Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Sky and her group of human and alien friends are back in this next installment in the humorous mystery series, Area 51 Files. In this novel, Sky and her friends are determined to help her Uncle Anish figure out who the whistleblower who wants to expose Area 51, which would lead to the end of Area 51 and break up the peaceful community where aliens and humans co-exist. On top of that, a 700 pound UFO goes missing, right before some dignitaries were supposed to see it. Time is running out for Sky and her friends to investigate without getting into trouble or found out by the visiting politicians who don’t know that aliens are living among the humans.

Readers who enjoyed the previous books in the series will no doubt enjoy this one as well, but this is still a fun book for those who haven’t read others in the series. The funny drawings and potty humor continue in this book and allow this mystery to not be too intense or suspenseful. This is an entertaining read, great for upper elementary students.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

Seven Little Ducklings

August 13, 2025

Seven Little Ducklings: (An Adorable Counting Book for Kids Ages 2-5) by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Published by Candlewick Press on January 7, 2025
ISBN: 1536235741
Genres: Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Seven Little Ducklings is a sweet and comical counting book featuring mama duck and her seven eggs. She awakes one more to find her ducklings have hatched while she was asleep and she leaps to action to gather her wayward offspring. As she finds some and rescues others from calamities she adds other young animals to her brood. When they get back to the nest that night she finds she has thirteen and not her original seven. A mother’s love knows no bounds and she settles them all under her wings for a good night’s sleep.

Gorgeous watercolor illustrations set the scene on each page with clarity and focus.

Ages 3-7

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

The Girl Who Tested The Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist

August 13, 2025

The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist (Curious Minds) by Junyi Wu, Patricia Daniele
Published by MIT Kids Press on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 1536230057
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Ellen Swallow was born in 1842 with a love for all things in the natural world. Her family valued education and made sure she received not only a high school diploma but went on to college. Ellen then became the first woman ever admitted to MIT where she studied chemistry. She withstood the trials this brought to her and became a revered member of the student body and was offered the opportunity to study Boston’s water looking for environmental contaminants that were making people sick. From her results a water treatment plant was developed, the first of its kind which led to the water treatment facilities we all encounter in our daily lives.

The book’s content is highlighted with gorgeous illustrations and wrapped up with extensive back matter.

Ages 4-9

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

Ice is Nice: All About the North and South Poles

August 13, 2025August 13, 2025

Ice is Nice: All About the North and South Poles Ice is Nice! All About the North and South Poles (The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library) by Aristides Ruiz, Bonnie Worth, Joe Mathieu
Published by Random House on August 10, 2010
ISBN: 0375828850
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Facts about the earth’s poles are presented to the reader in classic Seussian rhyming styling that creates the flow through the information. Readers are provided facts about the makeup of the poles, life on the poles, arctic animals, and the earth’s axis and its impact on the poles. The main characters are the familiar Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two.

This book is chock full of information that is a great general introduction to polar basics in a relatable format. This is an updated version of a 2010 publication.

Ages 4-9

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

Unnaturally Blue

August 12, 2025August 12, 2025

Unnaturally Blue by Byron Eggenschwiler, Dorson Plourde
ISBN: 1525311336
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Supernatural
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
In a busy community pool, a girl who used to “swim in perfect patterns,” struggles to find joy in this deeply symbolic book about finding yourself. With stunning, magical illustrations, and overly poetic text, the unnamed main character feels as if there is no room for her tears in the community pool. She dives down the the depths where she is able to pull the plug and swim down the drain. She finds peace in the quiet of the swampland she discovers, and transforms into an amphibious girl/sea-creature. When she swims up, she notices that all the children from the pool have transformed into other creatures as well, and there is joy in the chaos of being wild together. She is happy in the ability to be herself in the end, and she is pictured getting out of the pool and talking with friends.

While this book is undoubtedly fascinating, it’s also difficult to follow. The writing will take turns complimenting the illustrations, but then will overwhelm the reader with its bravado. It will certainly connect with some readers, but not all. Recommended for upper elementary kids, or even YA.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Let Them Stare

August 11, 2025

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy
Published by Harper Collins / STORYTIDE ISBN: 0063346249
Genres: Romance, Supernatural
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Sully, a gender non-conforming recent high school grad, is more than ready to leave their small town behind for a big-city internship where they/them pronouns aren’t a constant explanation (not to mention a constant source of social friction). Leaving their loving and supportive mom and two best friends will be hard, but saying goodbye to a town that doesn’t understand gender beyond the binary is a freedom worth the sacrifice.

Having sold their car to Brad, the town’s only other out gay kid (a boy who managed to fit in with the bro boys despite being gay, so has never been a particular friend), given up their cool thrift school job and said goodbye to friends and family at their farewell party, Sully wakes up the next morning to find their internship with a social media fashion influencer has been cancelled.

Sully is suddenly stuck in Hearst, Pennsylvania with no car, no cash, and no job. They head to the thrift store to find that their position has already been filled. But as they are leaving, they find a gorgeous vintage bag in the back room – something recently donated. Something not yet assessed. Something….fabulous. Suspecting that they’ve found a genuine treasure, Sully buys the bag, determined to get it valued, sold, and bankrolling their move to NYC.

And that’s when things…take a turn. Once home and in their bedroom, Sully opens the bag and out floats an absurdly handsome…ghost. Rufus is the ghost of a drag performer from the 1950’s who can’t remember how he died and who also seems to be the one, er, being who can really understand what Sully is going through right now. What follows is a madcap romp through the ridiculous (a suave “female impersonator” is living in Sully’s purse with opinions for every occasion), the sweet (so, Brad is kinda cute, and awfully sweet the way he’ll drive Sully around everywhere, even if he won’t sell the car back), and the sobering (turns out the small town of Hearst does have a significant queer history after all, and it’s not only impactful for Sully’s future, but very tied up in Rufus’ past, and death).

While the premise of this book places it a bit outside realistic fiction, the story itself is very, very grounded in the reality of what it means to be seen for who you are, and to live your best and happiest life. Also, less happily, what it can cost to be your truest self in a world that does not want to see it. Sully is an absolute star; supporting characters are well defined and three dimensional, readers will believe in and root for Rufus. Tears might be shed. A fabulous addition to library shelves on many levels – pure fun, but also for the queer history and representation; while we’ve seen an increase in books with gay, lesbian and bi characters in recent years, there’s not as many with nonbinary representation. Authors Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy have created something truly wonderful. Also a shout-out for the fabulous cover – you’ll have to read the book to find out about the dinosaur, however…

Five stars & cream nominee

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought For Freedom

August 4, 2025August 4, 2025

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom by Erin Entrada Kelly
Published by Greenwillow Books on 5/6/25
ISBN: 0063218909
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
At Last She Stood tells the story of Josefina “Joey” Guerrero, a diminutive and devout Filipina woman who exemplified bravery her entire life. She was diagnosed with Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease right before the start of World War II. Thinking she was going to die, she became a guerrilla fighter in Manila to help the Allies defeat the Japanese Army who had taken over the island. Her bravery and determination saved many lives, including those at internment camps. After the war, Joey was forced to go to a leper colony where she faced inhumane conditions. Never one to give up, Joey advocated for better conditions and worked to make the lives of the people at the colony better. Eventually Joey was able to get special permission to travel to Carville, a facility in Louisiana that treated Hansen’s disease, where she spent almost ten years.

This nonfiction book is part biography of a faithful, inspirational woman and part history book. There is a lot of background information presented that puts Joey’s life in context, so readers will learn about big concepts like World War II and leprosy as well as other relevant topics like propaganda and colonialism. Original maps and photographs are included throughout the book, making Joey’s story more real for readers. This book would be a great addition to any library serving 5th-8th graders. It not only tells the story of an amazing woman people should know about, but also presents readers with historical information they might not learn about in the classroom.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, a Legacy of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History

July 31, 2025

The Swans of Harlem (Adapted for Young Adults): Five Black Ballerinas, a Legacy of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History by Karen Valby
Published by Delacorte Press on 2025
ISBN: 0593643569
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Decades after their peak stardom, five pioneering Black ballerinas of the first-of-its-kind Dance Theater of Harlem come together to reclaim their voices and groundbreaking accomplishments, ensuring their history is never again forgotten.

This book does not shy away from tough topics that students may relate to such as body shaming, being a minority in predominantly white spaces, coping with high expectations and overcoming adversity. Yet, the author keeps the writing straight forward enough, reading more like narrative fiction, that this can be recommended to both tweens and teens. The only drawback was the extensive use of dance terms that may be confusing to students with no prior knowledge of the sport, though most uses are followed by an explanation. This would be a great pick for school librarians looking to expand their sports-related non-fiction section, as well as public libraries where teens take a special interest in lost history. Extra resources like a detailed index, letter from the ballerinas themselves and gallery make it an excellent resource for reports and classroom biography projects too. Though a bit more of a niche topic, this engaging read is highly recommended if you have the space for it!

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta