Wanted: Your House

September 9, 2026

Wanted: Your House by Monique Polak
Published by Kids Can Press on May 5, 2026
ISBN: 1525313762
Genres: Family, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Cyril’s mother has always dreamed of owning a house of their own. She drags Cyril to open houses to look and dream almost every weekend. She just can’t make the finances work and comes to the decision she needs to stop taking up their weekends with the fruitless dreaming.

Cyril, while bored of going to the open houses, knows how much having a home of their own means to his mother. This is where he gets creative and comes up with a plan of his own, it’s a bit of a stretch but what does he have to lose? He posts flyers asking if any elderly homeowners would consider live-in help and in return the home would be left to his mom in the person’s will.

One older gentleman, Mr. Hartt seems open to the idea. Can he welcome two people into his home and can all of them learn to live together through the hiccups that follow. This book mixes humor, self-exploration and growth in a touching and genuine manner, enjoyable and heartfelt.

Ages 8-12
Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

Blues Boy: The B.B. King Story

September 7, 2026

Blues Boy: The B. B. King Story by Alice Faye Duncan, Carl Joe Williams
ISBN: 006333402X
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Cultural / African American, Inspiration, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Born in the Mississippi Delta, Riley B. King lived a childhood of sorrow and struggle. At a young age, and in short succession, his parents divorced and then his mother passed away. Before her death, his mama said “When you do good and treat folks right, good things will come to you.” Riley went on to live with his grandmother, plowing fields and chopping cotton in the segregated south. He went to school in a one-room school house, but the other children teased him for his patched-up overalls and bad stutter. Seeing his frown one day, his Aunt Mima introduced Riley to blues music on her record player, changing his life forever. Riley bought his first guitar at age 12, and taught himself how to play using a book he purchased from the Sears catalogue – finding that when he opened his mouth to sing, his stutter disappeared. He went on to work farming jobs during the day and playing the blues on street corners at night. Eventually, he made his way to Memphis and became the Blues Boy. The oil, acrylic, and collage illustrations are stunning – and feel like a warm quilt weaving together the journey of B.B King’s life. The book is complete with educational back matter, including a timeline, places to visit, recommended songs and albums, and suggested picture book pairings. This aspirational biography would be a lovely addition to any non-fiction picture book collection. Recommended for ages 5 to 8 (Kindergarten to 3^rd Grade). Nominated for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

Thornbird

September 2, 2026

Thornbird by E. Kennedy, Elle Kennedy
Published by Delacorte Press on June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9798217026500
Genres: Psychological thriller
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

After the death of her grandmother, Ryan Shipley must move in with her aunt in Starling, Tennessee on the 10th anniversary of the Gabriel Thorn murders. The problem is that Ryan Shipley is actually Gabrielle Thorn, Gabriel’s daughter. Gabriel pled guilty to the murder of 7 women, including Ryan’s mother, and is set to be executed by lethal injection. Ryan must conceal her true identity in order to protect her aunt and cousins from further harassment – the town has a grim fascination with the murders, which includes teens throwing house parties to celebrate the execution, and a particularly zealous podcaster/forum poster by the name of Zed. Ryan attempts to live a normal life, but secrets have a way of getting out. Especially after the families of the victims offer a $1m reward to whoever can locate the remains of the victims.

The novel is clearly interested in critiquing true crime fervor. Positioning Ryan as the main character gives the reader a rare moment to consider the family of the perpetrator, who are often victims themselves. Though the premise at times strains credulity (surely sending her back to her hometown where she has to conceal her identity is not safe for Ryan?), the number of times Ryan has to hear classmates and neighbors callously discuss the crimes should be an eye opener for readers, and allow them to reflect on real life discussions. Ryan’s own PTSD, including recurring nightmares, is thoughtfully explored without feeling voyeuristic. Descriptions are at times gruesome. Multiple 3rd act twists muddy the resolution, but the core of Ryan’s story and healing will stick with a reader.

The novel also has one more secret: the identity of its author. E. Kennedy is the YA thriller pen name for adult romance author Elle Kennedy of Off Campus fame. This background becomes clear in a romance subplot between Ryan, Everett, the handsome star quarterback, and Chase, the motorcycle-riding bad boy with a heart of gold. The romance at times feels too tropey for the greater story about grief, but it does provide some levity between extremely tense scenes. Kennedy’s time in romance lends itself well to pacing emotional tension, romantic or not. There is one sex scene in the later half of the book that gestures toward specific actions without being overly explicit.

Recommend to thriller readers who enjoy Karen M. McManus and Holly Jackson ready for dark commentary on the genre and more psychological themes.

Three stars.

Reviewed by Kristin Arsenault, Mountain Valley High School, Rumford.

Who Are You?

August 24, 2026

Who Are You? by Claire Keane
Published by Random House Studio Genres: Adventure, Emotions & Feelings, Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A young, pale-skinned child, accompanied by a basset hound, walks, climbs, and explores the great outdoors, climbing hills and crossing streams, all the while considering the repetitive phrase “Who are you?” As the day darkens, she realizes “I am the trail I cannot see. I am lost.” But she keeps on keeping on and is eventually welcomed home by her loving family, to which she proudly shows off her skinned knee. The mostly brown and orange drawings are interesting, but this book fell flat for me. I get the author’s goal is asking the reader to consider what has made them and who they are, but it just didn’t have that spark. A worthwhile contemplative read, however. Appropriate gift for a recent graduate.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

While We’re Here

August 24, 2026

While We’re Here by Anne Wynter, Micha Archer
Published by Clarion Books ISBN: 0063238292
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family Life, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

An African American mom and daughter are rushing to get somewhere in the first half of the book . . The suspense builds with the repeated refrain, “Hurry, hurry.” The reader wonders where they are going, only to be empathetically disappointed when they arrive to discover the party was yesterday. However, now that they have nowhere to be they can take a more leisurely trip back home and stop to enjoy things along the way. This book covers the gambit of emotions using mostly simple two-lined text. Archer’s brilliant collage art sets the characters against vibrant greens and blues in the city setting. This book will be a wonderful read aloud at story time. It’s message is relatable for everyone.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

It Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military Famlies

August 24, 2026

It Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military Families by David Soman, Lisa Wheeler
Published by Harper on March 17, 2026
ISBN: 0063283476
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family Life, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Detailing the ways that families miss and support their service members, Wheeler introduces five military households: an Air Force mom’s family who runs the farm without her, a son in the Navy, a sister in the Coast Guard, a daughter in the Army, and a Marine wounded in a war. Wholesome watercolor and gouache vignettes of the children and other family members demonstrates the integral role they play. The author offers useful suggestions of ways families can help serve—providing pet care, sending care packages, or simply looking up to “share the moon.” While the sentiments are earnest, the rhyme scheme seems forced and mechanical at times. Still it’s a wonderful book to talk about the sacrifices that all members of a soldier’s make when their career choice is to serve their country. A good choice for libraries near a base where many soldiers are deployed.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Thank You For Being a Friend

August 24, 2026

Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold, Sanne Dufft
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593903099
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Inspiration, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Celebrate friendship of all ages with this sing-along picture book written in 1978 by Andrew Gold and made popular in the theme song for The Golden Girls. The words are familiar (at least to those over 40) and the variety in Dufft’s gouache and colored-pencil art captures racially and generationally diverse friendship in many different forms. The illustration of the four “golden girls” is a delight as are the colorful friendship bracelets on the end pages. Unlikely to be a story time hit with preschoolers as it is a bit repetitious, but it is good retro fun for adult readers. It would be a fun lap book to talk about the pictures with young children and pull up the song on Spotify to listen to and sing together.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

We Are Joy

August 24, 2026

We Are Joy by Chrystal D. Giles, Kitt Thomas
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593647734
Genres: Cultural / African American, Emotions & Feelings, Inspiration
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Lyrical prose and vibrant art make this picture book that celebrates the Black community – a joy. It describes all the ways that can make one feel joyful, however, not just for the Black community. Anyone can relate to the joy of being wrapped in “Nana’s hand-stitched blanket.” Probably best to share with upper elementary grades to understand the nuances, such as, “We are JOY-FULL, surrounded by laughter and light,” even though the children in the illustrations are younger. All are African Americans. I could see this as a jumping board for an art project – “What brings you joy?” and an inspirational addition of books for Black History Month.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Sing the 50 United States

August 24, 2026

Sing the 50 United States! by Dr. Seuss, Tom Brannon
Published by Random House on June 2, 2026
Genres: Informational, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Newly discovered and never-before-seen picture book by Dr. Seuss . From Alabama to Wyoming, learn the names of all 50 states with the infamous Cat in the Hat. I don’t think it is singable but it is fun. The states are introduced by what names are similar or rhyme and not by region. This makes it a bit more challenging to learn them. The rhyming structure is typical Dr. Suess style. The book is colorful and the geography is fairly accurate. Kids, especially those who love maps, will enjoy it. A resource for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. At the end of the book is a Publisher’s Note about how this project came to be, including images of the original text and sketches by Ted Geisel.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Our Aimless Nights

August 19, 2026

Our Aimless Nights, Volume 1 by Jan Mitsuko Cash, Koumori
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Our Aimless Nights” is a young adult romance manga by Koumori. Chika is a chatty and popular girl and Waya is a quiet and reserved boy who don’t interact much at their high school, but after Chika runs into him at his night job at a store they start to develop feelings for each other. There are the typical misunderstandings and silly situations that pop up in romance stories, but this wholesome manga will keep readers rooting for the cute couple. A recommended purchase for YA manga collections.

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