One in a Million

December 11, 2023

One in a Million by Claire Lordon
Published by Candlewick Press on 2023
ISBN: 1536213675
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Mental Health, Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel, Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The subtitle of One in a Million, a graphic memoir by Claire Lordon, is “High school is hard enough without a mysterious illness”, which introduces the reader to Claire’s challenging life. In Claire’s junior year, she begins experiencing excruciating headaches in addition to other symptoms that are difficult to deal with as a teenager such as unexplained weight gain, hair loss, and severe acne. Worse than all of these combined is an extreme lack of concentration and energy, making studying and having the ability to play sports or partake in activities with friends impossible. Claire’s lifeline is her diary and sketchbook. Now an adult, those outlets are the basis for this graphic memoir. One in a Million captures the frustration of feeling ill but not knowing why, the stress of a calendar filled with testing and medical appointments, and the relentless pain and exhaustion that sucks the joy from life. Lordon so clearly channels her teenage self, that the reader cannot help but feel deep empathy with her experience. She drew most of the frames using shapes of purple, with breaks in full black to express negative emotions. Unfortunately the sheer relentless anxiety and depression can overwhelm the reader at times. A trigger warning in the introduction is helpful. Anyone who has ever dealt with a chronic illness or who enjoys medical mysteries would appreciate this graphic memoir.

Reviewed by Melissa M. Orth, Richmond Middle/High School, Richmond, ME

Alice Atherton’s Grand Tour

December 11, 2023January 17, 2024

Alice Atherton's Grand Tour by Lesley M.M. Blume
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on 10/10/2023
ISBN: 0553536818
Pages: 208
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Alice Atherton’s father sends Alice to France to spend the summer with some dear friends and their children. He is hoping that being around this eccentric family will help Alice find joy after her mother’s death from scarlet fever. As part of the children’s summer lessons, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy arrange for Alice and their three children to make art with Pablo Picasso, dance with the Ballets Russes, and go on a treasure hunt with F. Scott Fitzgerald. Through these adventures, Alice grieves for her mother but also starts living with happiness again. When Alice’s father picks her up at the end of the summer, he is thrilled with the changes he sees in his daughter. Elementary school readers will enjoy this imaginative historical fiction novel; it would also make a good classroom read aloud. Backmatter includes short biographies about the famous historical figures the children meet in the story. Although not a must have, this sweet story of ingenuity and resilience would make a great addition to any library.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

Repeat after Me: Big Things to Say Every Day

December 10, 2023

Repeat After Me: Big Things to Say Every Day by Dule Hill, Jazmyn Simon, Shamar Knight-Justice
Published by Random House on 2023
ISBN: 0593426975
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This book of affirmations for parents to share with their children begins with “I am worthy” and ends with “I am ready”. Each affirmation is accompanied by a short reinforcing poem and a colorful, cheerful, full-page illustration. I think any parent would be happy to share these messages with their children. The age range is not indicated, but I would estimate 4-8 years. This book is recommended for public libraries and school libraries, as well as for gifting.

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

Words of Wonder from Z to A

December 10, 2023

Words of Wonder from Z to A by Keisha Morris, Zaila Avant-Garde
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers on 2023
ISBN: 0593568931
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Zaila Avant-garde became the first Black American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021 at the age of 14. The author’s love of words is very clear in her first book. This unique abecedary approaches the English alphabet in reverse order, starting with the author’s first name, Zaila, and ending with her last name, Avant-garde. Each word receives a thoughtful description, often including a self-affirmation and always including a quotation from a well-known person such as Neil Gaiman or Colin Powell. There are brightly colored illustrations of people of color throughout. The book is suggested for readers ages 4-8.

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

Songs of America: Young Readers Edition: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nation

December 10, 2023

Songs of America: Young Reader's Edition: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation by Jon Meacham, Tim McGraw
Published by Delacorte on 2023
ISBN: 0593178793
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Jon Meacham does an impressive job of connecting American music to major social issues in United States history, from the Revolutionary War to the 2008 election of America’s first Black President, Barack Obama. Country music superstar Tim McGraw’s added commentary throughout the book provides a more personal voice to the dryer historical analyses provided by Meacham. While the book is clearly well-researched and attractively presented with extensive color and black & white illustrations and photographs, I found the content much easier to appreciate once I began to recognize the actual songs the authors were discussing. I would recommend this book for collections with a special interest in American music history.

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

The Society for Soulless Girls

December 8, 2023

The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven
Published by Delacorte Press on July 7, 2022
ISBN: 059370391X
Genres: Horror
Format: Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Carville Academy of Arts – historic convent turned elite liberal arts college, and scene of four unfortunate deaths at the school’s North Tower. The school was forced to close, but ten years later is now reopening. Lottie Fitzwilliam is a new freshman attending on a field hockey scholarship. Friendly, athletic, and cheerfully outgoing, she also harbors a secret – one of the dead girls was from her hometown, and she is focused on solving the mystery of the deaths. Alice Wolfe, her new roomate, is a beautiful, standoffish goth girl. She too harbors a secret – she is constantly angry at the world, and has a hard time not succumbing to her pervasive violent thoughts. Once school begins, terrifying, strange occurrences start to plague the girls, who initially suffer in silence. However, after a rocky start to their relationship, they finally admit to each other the terror they’ve been experiencing when the incidents start to escalate. Lottie and Alice eventually set aside their differences and work together, along with their new friend Hafsah, to solve the mysteries of Carville Academy. Demonic possession, evil professors, soul splitting rituals and the tortured ghost of a long dead nun contribute to the horror as new deaths start to plague the school. The two enemies turned friends turned lovers soon find out that what or who is causing these deaths is much more complicated than they could have imagined.

What is interesting about this book is that while on the surface it’s a fun horror story written along the lines of the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, along the way it turns into a social commentary on women and anger, and the patriarchal vision of how women should act and what their place in society should be.

Recommended for grades 7 and up.

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters

December 6, 2023January 17, 2024

Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters by Wendelin Van Draanen
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on October 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593644301
Genres: Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Zelda and Misty’s father, a professor, has been kidnapped by people claiming to be FBI agents. Mr. Whiskers, the local stray dog , witnesses this and follows the car. What ensues is a light-hearted mystery as Mr. Whiskers teams up with the Shenanigan sisters to unravel the puzzle of who kidnapped the professor and why. This book is narrated by Mr. Whiskers and readers will no doubt enjoy his personality, as the author has given him a unique voice that makes him easy to distinguish from the human characters. Readers who like puns will be entertained by this novel as it is full of dog related word play and humor. The pace of this novel is quick as the trio frequently discover new clues that lead them in and out of danger. This novel is ideal for readers in 2nd-4th grade who like mysteries that aren’t scary or dark. Not a must-have, but still an enjoyable, light book to add to the collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

The Puppets of Spelhorst: a Norendy Tale

December 5, 2023

The Puppets of Spelhorst (The Norendy Tales) by Julie Morstad, Kate DiCamillo
Published by Candlewick Press on October 10, 2023
Pages: 149
Genres: Fairy Tale
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Told with DiCamillo’s trademark elegant simplicity and wit, this first in a series of original fairy tales will not disappoint her many fans.

Five friends, puppets all: a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl, are taken from a shop window and become part of a Story. They are at first together in their story, which takes them by a roundabout route to the home of two young girls, before each has an adventure of their own – sometimes gently harrowing – before they are happily reunited. DiCamillo creates wonder in simple pleasures such as a rising moon, and a song, and a puppet show that magically reflects life.

Chapters are short, and black and white pencil drawings by Julie Morstad beautifully illustrate the text. Text is straightforward enough for a reader of short chapter books, but never feels like it is being simplified. It would also make a lovely read-aloud for slightly older children who do not need an illustration on every page to remain engaged.

5 Stars

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

Her Radiant Curse

December 5, 2023

Her Radiant Curse (Legends of Lor'yan) by Elizabeth Lim
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on August 29, 2023
ISBN: 0593300998
Pages: 416
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This prequel to Lim’s bestselling Six Crimson Cranes duology tells the story of Channi, who is offered up by her father in sacrifice to the Demon Witch when she is two years old to save her mother, on her deathbed after birthing a second daughter.

But it is not Channi that the Demon wants; it is Vanna, newly born and somehow in possession of half of a dragon pearl, which gives her otherworldly, radiant beauty, and a magical ability to charm everyone in her orbit. The Demon, who possesses the other half of the broken pearl and desires the power of both together, curses Channi with the face of a serpent. The only way to break the curse, she tells Channi, is to sacrifice Vanna. She will return on Vanna’s 17^th birthday to collect her prize.

Chianni is determined to save her beloved sister, and that sets the course of her life. When the time comes, Chianni must use every part of her physical and mental power to rescue Vanna from the Demon, setting off a chain of intrigue, battles, alliances formed and destroyed, and a (very light) potential for romance. But behind everything she does lurks the demon’s cursed promise: one sister must fall for the other to rise.

Fans of the Six Crimson Cranes duology will love this well written, fast paced and original backstory, set in the same mythological Asian world of Lor’yan. Channi figures in that duology as the much reviled, but ultimately heroic stepmother, and other significant characters in this tale will be familiar as well. Readers will be glad to have this satisfying tale to round out the series. A must-have for any library with the duology already on the shelf; but also a worthwhile purchase for anyone to boost their fantasy collection. It is a fine stand-alone, or could be read before the previously published books; either way it will certainly gain Lim more fans.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

Nell of Gumbling

December 5, 2023

Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life by Emma Steinkellner
ISBN: 0593570669
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Normal Fairy-Tale Life” is a middle grade graphic novel by Emma Steinkellner. The main character, Nell, is a normal seventh grader in the magical city of Gumbling. All seventh graders get assigned an apprenticeship and instead of getting to intern with a famous artist, Nell ends up apprenticing under Mrs. Birdneck, the city archivist. Nell ends up needing to use her archival skills when two adults show up wanting to completely change Gumbling into essentially a theme park.

Written as if we are reading Nell’s journal (complete with her many illustrations), the book alternates between large amounts of text and more standard graphic novel comic style. The illustrations are colorful, bright, and silly. If you pay attention to the details, you’ll find a lot of little jokes that are easily missed. Recommended for ages 8 to 12, this book is a recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections everywhere.

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