Source: MSL Book Review

Nell of Gumbling

Nell of GumblingNell 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.

four-stars

The 21: The true story of the youth who sued the U.S. government over climate change

The 21: The true story of the youth who sued the U.S. government over climate changeThe Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Change by Elizabeth Rusch
Published by Greenwillow Books on August 8, 2023
ISBN: 9780063220850
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
This narrative nonfiction explores the ground breaking case, Juliana v. United States, where 21 young people sued the national government over its actions contributing to climate change. The book introduces readers to the 21 plaintiffs from around the United States who have each been negatively impacted by climate change and walks readers through the legal process of this case. The way this book is structured is exceptional. It is broken into 4 large sections, but each section contains many small chapters. The small chapters allow readers to easily digest the rich amount of content covered. Some of the chapters focus the mindset of the youth and their lawyer at different points throughout the trial. The narrative text reads like fiction, so readers will be familiar with the style as they learn a lot of new information. Other chapters focus on the legal aspects of the case. The author does a great job of explaining the legal process, so while the focus of this book is the environment and the impacts of climate change, readers will also learn some important civics concepts as well.

This young adult nonfiction book would be great for older students who are passionate about helping the environment and are interested in learning about young activists. High school teachers might use this as part of a science or social studies curriculum, but outside of these niche audiences, this book, despite being well written and compelling, probably has limited broad appeal.

four-stars

Mercy Watson is Missing!

Mercy Watson is Missing!Mercy Watson Is Missing!: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Seven by Chris Van Dusen, Kate DiCamillo
Genres: Animals, Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Mercy Watson is Missing!” is the seventh book in Kate DiCamillo’s “Tales from Deckawoo Drive” series, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In this beginner chapter book, the titular character and fan favorite, Mercy Watson (a pig), has gone missing. The Watsons don’t know where she could be. They try the police, who are no help, so they seek the help of a private detective. Percival Smidgely, the ineffective private eye, luckily has help from his pigeon friend, Polly. With lots of fun words and amusing characters, readers will enjoy following along as (spoiler alert!) the family finds Mercy in the end. Black and white drawings are mixed in with full color illustrations by Van Dusen. Artwork adds to the silliness of the story.

Written for ages 6 through 9, this is a recommended purchase for all libraries where beginner chapter books are popular, and wherever the previous series titles have done well. 

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

four-stars

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone

How to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for EveryoneHow to Love: A Guide to Feelings & Relationships for Everyone by Alex Norris
ISBN: 1536217883
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“How to Love” by Alex Norris is a teen/young adult graphic novel all about feelings and relationships. Featuring brightly colored and simple line drawings, Norris brings humor to difficult situations, like dating someone and finding out they are not who you thought they were, or getting in arguments. Some topics may seem a little too simplified, but Norris still manages to convey a deep sincerity, even while making you laugh about it. Some of the topics covered include gender expression, having a crush, friendship, getting dumped, and having arguments in your relationship.

Aimed at ages 14 and up, “How to Love” is a recommended purchase for teen and young adult graphic novel collections.

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

four-stars

I’m Not Here to Make Friends

I’m Not Here to Make FriendsI'm Not Here to Make Friends by Andrew Yang
Published by Quill Tree Books on July 18, 2023
ISBN: 0063223279
Pages: 352
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Sabine Zhang, one of the only Asians in her midwestern high school, has been chosen as one of six cast members for a low-budget teen reality show with an all-Asian cast, aired on a local streaming service that nobody really watches. She is a fan of the show, which is a low-stakes month at a house in California where the cast gets to know each other and have fun.

But this year, things are different: a major streaming service has picked it up, and everything has changed, from how the cast is selected to the staged drama. Sabine is the only one there who loved – or even watched – the old version of the show, and she feels totally out of her depth. For the first time she is surrounded by Asians, and she’s never felt less like she belonged. Worse, the showrunners seem to have picked her to be one of the dramatic leads in their contrived storyline, pitting her against housemate Yoona Bae, a confident, beautiful girl from NYC.

Told in alternating POV between Sabine and Yoona, readers gain insight into the struggles that each is trying to keep hidden from the cameras and each other, and how the curated dramatics of the show are working to make their rift even worse. Despite this, Sabine begins to understand just how much the strings of her experience are being pulled, and how little of it is real; she and Yoona take steps to work out their differences and realize just how much they have both been manipulated.

This book will appeal to fans of reality TV above all; it is an interesting look into the behind the scenes work that goes into portraying a storyline out of unscripted content, and gives insight into how drama is created by the showrunners. The emphasis on friendship being the “happy ending,” instead of romance, was a plus. On the downside, the other four cast members and smaller supporting characters felt two-dimensional, since narration came from only Sabine and Yoona. The story would have overall been stronger had we been inside the heads of the other four housemates. The cast was all Asian American but lacked any other diversity (all cis hetero, with backgrounds that were indistinguishable in any meaningful way).

Entertaining, but not a must have.

Three Stars

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

three-stars

Oh, Olive!

Oh, Olive!Oh, Olive! by Lian Cho
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on 2023
ISBN: 9780063237490
Genres: Arts, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Olive Chen is an enthusiastic , energetic child artist who loves bright colors and abstract art.  Her parents are “serious artists”.  One only paints squares, while the other only paints triangles.  They, and their art, are only depicted in black & white.  Olive’s teacher and her classmates are also strictly black & white.  The adults cannot fathom Olive’s apparent inability to draw black & white geometric shapes, as all serious artists should.  However, Olive’s classmates love her paintings and want to know how she produces such lively, vibrant works.  She shows them by leading them on a wild adventure, painting the whole town as they go.   They end at Olive’s parents’ art museum.  Her parents are initially appalled, but once they see what Olive has achieved, they ask her to add some color to their museum.  Olive shocks them all by painting a perfect circle… in all the blazing colors of the sun.

I highly recommend this book for libraries, classrooms, and even as a gift.  It is perfect for any child seeking all the joys and exuberance that come from finding acceptance and praise for being one’s own true self.  Recommended for ages 4-8.

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

five-stars

A Book about You and All the World Too

A Book about You and All the World TooA Book About You and All the World Too by Jean Reidy, Joey Chou
Published by Harper on 2023
ISBN: 9780063041523
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Bright, full-page illustrations with rhyming text begin with two young friends going to story time at their local library.  There, wildly imaginative ideas lead the diverse group of kids to bigger ideas which then lead them to all-inclusive ideas requiring cooperation.  Ultimately, their efforts transition into ideas of activism and environmentalism.

“From the tallest of trees,
down to every last bug,
we could help our whole world,
like a great big group hug.”

This beautiful book, with its very positive messages, will make a lovely read-aloud for libraries and classrooms.  It is recommended for 4-8 year olds.  This book is a companion to two previous books by the same author, What Would You Do in a Book about You? and Me and You in a Book Made for Two.

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

five-stars

The Probability of Everything

The Probability of EverythingThe Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
Published by Clarion Books on June 27, 2023
ISBN: 006325655X
Pages: 326
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
What starts out as an apocalyptic science-fiction middle grade novel about an asteroid hitting the Earth in four-days time turns into a deep study of place, family, and the unimaginable toll that loss takes on a young person. Kemi Carter relates to the world through scientific facts, particularly probability. The book begins with a letter from Kemi about how the world has possibly ended due to an approaching asteroid. As the space rock hurtles toward the Earth, Kemi is alarmed by the lack of urgency and concern displayed by those in her new town. She decides to create a time capsule in the event of a total annihilation of the human race. She endeavors to capture the essence of each person in her beloved family and as the book progresses, the reader realizes how close Kemi is to her father and how special he is to her. She struggles to figure out what she can add to a time capsule that can fully represent all that he is and all that he means to her.

But the story of the asteroid and the time capsule are masking the true story of Kemi’s life and the twist that comes with the revelation that there is no asteroid will be a gut-punch to the reader. From that point onward, the book becomes a story of race relations and crushing loss and Kemi coming to terms with both of those. Give to those in grades 5-8 who enjoy a major plot twist and those who don’t mind a sad ending.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism

Stand Up and Speak Out Against RacismStand Up and Speak Out Against Racism by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Aleesha Nandhra
Published by Walker Books US on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 1536231339
Pages: 128
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Organized into sections “How Did Racism Start?”, “Racism Today”, and “How To Stand Up and Speak Out”, this short, colorful book offers definitions, a brief history, examples, and action items surrounding racism. The content is engaging and the design will appeal to young readers who like bite-size information. Many of the chapter titles are thought-provoking questions that then offer some information but also invite the reader to ponder the topic. The illustrations show diverse children and adults, adding word bubbles and design elements that draw the eye to an important message or fact. Abdel-Magied has an illustrated avatar who is used to talk directly to the audience, which works as her tone is casual and honest, not didactic or condescending.

The book is current, well-written, and engaging, but there is always the question about who will check out a book like this? The appeal feels aimed at adults as much as at kids: classroom teachers might use is to craft lessons, or parents looking for a way to explain the history or modern application of racism would find it most useful. It is possible that students working on a project about racism or through a civil rights club could find some use, but it’s doubtful that it would be picked up as a free-read.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Is This Winter?

Is This Winter?Is This . . . Winter? (Helen Yoon's Is This . . .?) by Helen Yoon
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536226270
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
This puppy has never experienced winter before and is overly enthusiastic. He ends up feeling that “winter is weird” as he experiences the Christmas season yard ornaments. Yoon portrays an amusing dog’s-eye view, exposing the humans as only their knees and boots. Apparently this is part of Is This…? series, but I am not familiar with it. The short sentences work well for younger children, but I am unsure they will understand the concept of lawn ornaments. The dog seems overly manic to me but the white space nicely depicts the winter season.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

three-stars