Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf by Sam Weldich. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic, 2021. $18. 9781338359008
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf by Sam Weldich - ADVISABLE
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone - HIGH
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Everywhere Blue by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz - ADVISABLE
Monday, January 25, 2021
Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri - ESSENTIAL
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Alone by Megan E. Freeman - ESSENTIAL
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner - ADVISABLE
Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner 275 pages. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. $18.
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu - OPTIONAL
My Calamity Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows - HIGH
Friday, January 22, 2021
If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur - AVERAGE
Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm - ADVISABLE
Thursday, January 21, 2021
D (A Tale of Two Worlds) by Michel Faber - ADVISABLE
The Ash House by Angharad Walker - OPTIONAL
Color Me In by Natasha Diaz - AVERAGE
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth - ADVISABLE
Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimara - AVERAGE
The Pig War by Emma Bland Smith and Alison Jay - ADVISABLE
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling - ESSENTIAL
Blood and Germs by Gail Jarrow - ESSENTIAL
Marjory Saves the Everglades by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rebecca Gibbon - ADVISABLE
Marjory Saves the Everglades: the story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas by Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Simon, 2020. $19. 9781534431546
Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard - ADVISABLE
Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard, 272 pages. Harper Collins, 2020. $17
Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Bullying).
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
11yo Cyrus is expected to follow in the steps of his Dad, who is a brave fireman, and was the star of his middle school and high school football teams. There's still pictures of him in the trophy cases. But Cyrus doesn't want to play football or become a fireman. He doesn't know what he wants yet; except for "Parker" the stray dog Cyrus found at the fire station that is now at the Humane Society waiting for a family. Cyrus skips out on football practice to walk Parker. He can't do his first assignment in 6th grade "write about the best book you've ever read" because he has trouble reading, and his old friends are now bullying the new kid. 6th grade is turning out to be really hard. Cyrus isn't brave like his dad, but maybe he's got what it takes to stand up for himself and others.
Cyrus is a great kid, full of questions about himself because he's adopted after being abandoned at the fire station. His dilemma about keeping his friends who've changed or moving on to new friends is realistic for middle school. His relationship with his grandmother is sweet - she has suffered a stroke and can only say "Na-na" but Stoddard brings her meaning across well. I loved all the references to children's books! The teacher reads a picture book to the class every day and his choices are spot on - I hope readers in my library ask for them (Red, a Crayon's Story and Each Kindness). Brave Like That is perfect for readers just starting middle school.
Lisa Librarian
Monday, January 18, 2021
Rescuing the Declaration of Independence by Anna Crowley Redding and Edwin Fotheringham - ESSENTIAL
Second Star to the Fright (Disney Chills) by Vera Strange - HIGH
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Nyxia Uprising by Scott Reintgen - ADVISABLE
BenBee and the Teacher Griefer by K.A. Holt - OPTIONAL
Part of Your Nightmare by Vera Strange - HIGH
Part of Your Nightmare (Disney Chills) by Vera Strange, 218 pages. Disney Press, 2020. $7. 9781368048255
Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu - HIGH
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Beetle and the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne - HIGH
Fiends on the Other Side by Vera Strange - HIGH
Fiends on the Other Side (Disney Chills) by Vera Strange, 198 pages. Disney Press, 2020. $7. 9781368048361
The Obsession by Jesse Q. Sutanto - HIGH
The Obsession by Jesse Q. Sutanto, 304 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2021. $11.
Language: R (245 swears, 54 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Logan, a high school senior, has struggled ever since Sophie died, and everyone noticed -- his best friend, his classmates, even the school counselor. But then he meets Delilah, and the world is brighter. Delilah is like Sophie but better -- stronger -- than Sophie could ever be, and Logan won’t let Delilah end up like her.
Wow. Words cannot express how I feel -- partly because I, myself, am uncertain how all these emotions are tangled together. Sutanto brilliantly gives readers pictures of Logan and Delilah that morph through each chapter, adding layers as we follow the progression of their story. Delight, distress, and disgust warred within me as I tried to figure out who I wanted to win the struggle and how. The ending was one I would never imagine, but now, having read it, I also would never change it. The mature content rating is for innuendo, drugs and alcohol, and mentions of sex and rape. The violence rating is for physical abuse, homicide, and suicide.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Mary by Brea Grant - ADVISABLE
Mary: The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter by Brea Grant, 128 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Six Foot Press, 2020. $19.
Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (flipping the bird); Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Coming from a line of famous authors, Mary is sick of hearing about how great she should be at writing. Mary wants to find her own way without worrying so much about the future. When monsters start coming to her for help, Mary realizes she needs to know about the past and her family’s legacy to even get through the present unscathed.
Grant is imaginative and fun as she subtly, and not-so-subtly, makes references to Mary Shelley through this fictional descendant’s life. I love Mary’s spunk and ability to be herself despite pressure from her family and others. Mary chooses how to deal with her circumstances and how she wants to live her life, showing determination and confidence I wish were more present in my life. And the cherry on top is the beautiful illustration work that brings it all to life.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Friday, January 15, 2021
Micah: The Good Girl (Flyy Girls) by Ashley Woodfolk - OPTIONAL
Lux: The New Girl (Flyy Girls) by Ashley Woodfolk - OPTIONAL
Forever Phoebe by Chalon Linton - OPTIONAL
Forever Phoebe by Chalon Linton, 224 pages. Covenant Communications, 2021. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
With fiery red hair and three protective older brothers, eighteen-year-old Phoebe has few fears and fewer reservations. If only she could get her brother’s friend to notice her instead of scold her as an honorary, fourth brother. When a new gentleman claims his estate in the area, will the added competition encourage the suit Phoebe’s been waiting for?
Romance-wise, this book is refreshing because there isn’t a dumb misunderstanding that leads the main characters to hate each other before falling in love. Mystery-wise, the story leaves a lot to be desired since the focus is on the romance and the mystery only acts as the backdrop. Overall, the story is well-written; I was simply disappointed by the anti-climactic involvement of the kidnapping drama, though the resolution was better than anticipated.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Of Sword and Shadow by A. L. Sowards - ADVISABLE
Of Sword and Shadow by A. L. Sowards, 251 pages. Covenant Communications, 2021. $17.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
She doesn’t know what name her parents gave her or even how old she really is. What she does know is that those things don’t matter because she’s a slave; all she has to do is please her master, Thomas, by assisting him in the shady jobs he’s hired for. But then she encounters a man unlike any she has known because he is kind -- even to her -- and makes her feel that she has worth beyond her skills. Can it be true?
Sowards took a real historical event and wove her imagined characters through the known pieces to create an engaging story of subterfuge, sacrifice, and self-discovery. I loved following the main character as she did what she knew -- and was successful at -- while struggling internally, when she was free to decide for herself, if what she was good at was what she wanted. While not on the same scale, we all need to self-evaluate and make that choice for ourselves: do I stay as I am or can I work for something greater? Whether readers want an exciting book of action or some food for thought, this book will deliver. The mature content rating is for innuendo, nudity, and groping.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Thursday, January 14, 2021
The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis - NO
The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis, 384 pages. Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins), 2021. $18.
Language: R (166 swears, 47 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
In Amontillado, last names matter; they tell everyone else if you're rich enough to be important. Tress used to fall into that exclusive group before her parents disappeared and she started living with her Grandfather and his white trash zoo. No one knows what happened the night of the disappearance because no one else was there -- except Felicity, Tress’s former best friend who insists she can’t remember anything. But, tonight, Tress will find out the truth. Even if it kills her.
A lot happened, but I’m not sure what it was. Both the timeline and point of view skip around constantly, and the stream of conscious style the book is written in becomes a hindrance when the characters become discombobulated. I have no reason, as the reader, to like or want to know more about what happens with these girls, and the story is full of drama with zero resolve -- and not in the way that makes you yearn for the sequel. In the end, we’re all left in the dark. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, drug use, nudity, innuendo, and mention of masturbation and sex. The violence rating is for gore and assault.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Freiheit!: The White Rose by Andrea Grosso Ciponte - OPTIONAL
Freiheit!: The White Rose by Andrea Grosso Ciponte, 96 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Plough Publishing House, 2021. $24.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Even Germans need to be careful as Hitler reigns. Sophie feels little freedom in being coerced to live the way Hitler demands, though she knows she has to be careful because her family is being watched. But, when Sophie discovers her brother in a group opposing Hitler, she knows the right thing to do is help them.
These brave activists are more than characters in a book: they are real people, people who opposed Hitler and found ways to stand up for what is right. I liked this book because, while our struggles today can seem different, the world still struggles with oppression and Sophie and the rest of the White Rose group show readers that good can win in the end, even when the enemy seems unconquerable. However, the telling of their story felt confusing and choppy. For me, this book is best read in conjunction with supplemental information.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang - ESSENTIAL
Monday, January 11, 2021
Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker - ADVISABLE
Saturday, January 9, 2021
One Time by Sharon Creech - ADVISABLE
11yo Gina has a hard time focusing at school. She's distracted by a lot - what's going on outside the window, the stories she hears from her grandmother in Italy, the fact that she has a hard time making friends. Antonio, the boy who just moved in next door is in her class - and he's popular, happy and nice, everyone wants to be his friend. Gina's homeroom teacher, Ms. Lightstone is innovative. With creative lessons, an inspiration board and a love for writing, she inspires the students to become writers themselves - and to learn about themselves and their classmates in the process.
While not plot driven, I enjoyed this internal study of Gina enjoying the process of becoming a writer. I really loved Ms. Lightstone's ideas (and wish I were still teaching ELA). The students shared their favorite book openers - source list included at the end, and also introduced each other to new words they could use to describe things they didn't even know there was a word for. A great read for the budding writers in your middle school.
Thursday, January 7, 2021
How to be a Girl in the World by Caela Carter - ADVISABLE
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
The Haunted Lake by P.J. Lynch - ESSENTIAL
On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne and Becca Stadtlander - ADVISABLE
On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Chronicle Books, 2020. $19. 9781452142975
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Class Act (New Kid #2) by Jerry Craft - ADVISABLE
Class Act (New Kid #2) by Jerry Craft 250 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Quill Tree Books (Harper Collins), 2020. $23
The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horwitz - ADVISABLE
Monday, January 4, 2021
Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski - OPTIONAL
Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski, 416 pages. Thomas Nelson, 2021. $17.
Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
After being sent from New York to her aunt’s home in England, WWI starts and Lily is kept from crossing the ocean to return home. Lily accompanies her cousin to Scotland to help care for wounded soldiers at Kinclavoch Castle. Her optimism and reckless ways are not encouraged by those in charge, but perhaps Lily can make a positive impact in the dreary circumstances and create an atmosphere of hope for the soldiers, herself, and maybe even the gruff laird who owns the castle.
Lily’s story plays out like a melodrama; everything that can go wrong does go wrong up until the final chapter when everything miraculously comes together for the main characters. This is not to say that it wasn’t an entertaining story nor that the character arcs for the main characters are shallow. I was amused by (and even laughed out loud at) the characters’ antics and cheesy lines as well as relieved when all the conflicts were finally resolved.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
The Famoux by Kassandra Tate - OPTIONAL
The Famoux by Kassandra Tate, 400 pages. Wattpad Books, 2021. $11.
Language: PG (6 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Two years of being blamed for everything at home on top of the bullying she has suffered for years at school motivates sixteen-year-old Emilee to join the Famoux, leaving her hometown far behind. With a name change and more, Emeray is introduced to a new way of life with the promise that it will be happier now. But her life is less her own than it has ever been as Emeray discovers the secrets hidden in this exclusive group.
Despite the rough start, I eventually started to anticipate picking up Emeray’s story instead of dreading it. Tate starts the book with more telling than showing, which makes the necessary background information uninteresting to get through before the real story takes over. Twists and turns pull Emeray -- and readers -- in every direction, until finally ending with half the pieces put together. I did start to enjoy reading the book after several chapters, but I don’t love it enough to pick up the sequel. The violence rating is for blood, assault, battery, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Sunday, January 3, 2021
What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter - OPTIONAL
What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter, 409 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2020. $19.
Language: R (96 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Halle can’t put the right words together IRL, but online she thrives under her pseudonym Kels, the blogger for One True Pastry. But in her most recent move, her real life and online worlds collide. Panicking, Halle tries to keep herself compartmentalized, an obviously foolproof strategy.
When Halle made the decision to keep her online and real lives from overlapping, I knew she was in trouble and I had to put the book down for a couple weeks because I wasn’t ready. I could see the blow up waiting to happen, and my dread continued to build with every opportunity to fix the mess that Halle let pass. And, after all that stress and disappointment, the ending was just eh. I appreciate the lessons in trust and true friendship that Kanter teaches through Halle’s mistakes, but reading the story was more painful than I wanted it to be. The mature content rating is for innuendo and partial nudity.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks - ADVISABLE
The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks, 368 pages. Amulet Books, 2021. $14.
Language: PG13 (14 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Caleb and Evie have been friends forever -- and Caleb has been in love with her for most of that time. Meanwhile, Evie has only been in love with math. Until now.
From the first page, I fell in love with Caleb and Evie and their story. I love their cute nerdiness, their endless supply of adorableness, and their witty lines; but the thing that captivated me the most is how tangible their personalities are. Caleb and Evie feel like my friends because I feel like I know them well enough to recognize them if we could somehow pass each other on the street. Their story is humorous and heartbreaking and enjoyable from start to end. I’m already planning when I can reread it. Note: I listened to the audiobook, and it is read by two voice actors as they read alternating chapters from Caleb and Evie’s points of view. They did an amazing job, and I know they are at least half the reason I love this book. The mature content rating is for innuendo.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen