Sunday, October 31, 2021

That's No Dino! Or Is It? What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur by Helaine Becker and Marie-Eve Tremblay - ESSENTIAL


That's No Dino! Or Is It? What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur
by Helaine Becker and Marie-Eve Tremblay
, PICTURE BOOK Kids Can Press, 2021. $18. 9781525300233 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS  - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

All dinosaurs had some specific things in common, like a backbone, and they weren't mammals or amphibians - they had to be reptiles to be a dinosaur. They also had to live during the Mesozoic era. Each page describes a prehistoric animal, and then compares it to the growing list of Dino requirements, if any don't apply, it's not a dino! What? Not everything was a dinosaur way back then! 

Full page drawings with labels describe these ancient beasts, and the great text not only tells about the animal, but we learn about what scientists think - I love that there are several "probablys" which leave the field open for further discoveries. I feel like I know so much more about dinosaurs now!  Showing this one to my local dinosaur museum for their gift shop, and putting a copy in my middle school.

Lisa Librarian

Saturday, October 30, 2021

The Dollhouse: A Ghost Story by Charis Cotter - OPTIONAL

The Dollhouse: A Ghost Story
by Charis Cotter
, 360 pages. Tundra Books. 2021. $18 

Language: PG (3 swears); Mature Content: PG (reference to adult affairs) Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Alice's summer goes awry when her family vacation is cancelled when her father's work schedule interferes with family time again. Her mother decides she's leaving him, and takes Alice with her to a creepy 19th century mansion where her mother will be serving as a nurse to an eccentric old woman. Forbidden from touching any of the antiques in the house, Alice becomes intrigued with a fancy dollhouse - an exact replica of the house they are in. Of course she plays with it, which seems to summon some ghosts, a pair of sisters a bit older than Alice, but who were, at one time, residents of the mansion. 

Intriguing plot, it reminded me of Doll Bones - and would be a good read alike. Alice meets an older girl named Lily who is about 16 and they become friends, playing with the dollhouse together. The creepy was good - Alice wakes up in the night and Fiona (a ghost) is in bed with her! I liked the way the girls could manipulate the ghost world by playing in the doll house. I was troubled by the fact that both Lily and Bubbles (one of the ghost girls) were developmentally delayed, 2 characters with similar neuro-diversity, but to what end? It didn't really progress the plot. Sometimes the storyline was unclear as to which world the girls were in, and parts dragged, particularly when adults were involved in the story. I think my patrons who like creepy ghost stories would read this, but I'd probably suggest others first.

Lisa Librarian

Friday, October 29, 2021

Why Longfellow Lied: The Truth About Paul Revere's Midnight Ride by Jeff Lantos - ADVISABLE

Why Longfellow Lied: The Truth About Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
by Jeff Lantos
, 133 pages. NON-FICTION Charlesbridge, 2021. $19.

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1860, the Boston Evening Transcript published Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". This was a little known tale of the Revolutionary War. The Founding Fathers weren't too keen on the idea that the world should know that the Patriots were prepared to fight back. For a long time, they stifled Revere's story, but eventually history won out. You see, Revere wrote a letter in 1798 which was published in a magazine in 1832 which also contained a French tale which had been translated by a young Longfellow. Longfellow, seeing the letter, decided that someday it might be a good topic to write about, which he did, in 1860. However, today historians have noted that many of his facts aren't quite right. Jeff Lantos takes the poem, stanza by stanza and recreates the story as it actually happened, quoting professors, historians, even Paul Revere himself. 

A fascinating look into the Battle of Lexington and Concord, includes maps, photographs and the best sidebars - those were my favorite - tidbits of more information helping put the whole thing in context. Well researched, it includes 18 pages of (small print) source notes and a 6 page bibliography! A great resource to accompany a class learning Longfellow's poem, or as a thorough study of this one event. Lantos also ties the poem to Longfellow's life just prior to the Civil War.

Lisa Librarian

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson - ADVISABLE

Playing the Cards You're Dealt
by Varian Johnson
320 pages. Scholastic Press, 2021. $17. 

Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Ant (Anthony) and his best friend Jamal are all about a card game called Spades. They practice whenever they can and are planning to enter the town Spades Tournament in a couple of weeks. But things at Jamal's house are rough right now, and when Jamal gets in a fight, the principal bans the card game, and Jamal loses his permission to play in the tournament. So, Ant, needing a partner, asks the new girl in class to play with him (yes, he's teased about it and everything) but as things in Ant's home life start to implode, he finds himself more worried about his dad than his game. 

I'm not familiar at all with the game of Spades, but Johnson keeps the reader right there without getting too technical about the ins and out of play. Picking up the book, I thought it would be about the card game, but it's about alcoholism and family and friendships, and getting through things together. More poignant than I expected - first Jamal (and how he reacted to family trouble) and then Ant (and how he reacted). This won't be hard to recommend at all - great characters, an exciting plot and a terrific message. 

Lisa Librarian

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Pony by R. J. Palacio - ADVISABLE

Pony
by R. J. Palacio
, 304 pages.  Knopf Books for Young Readers Little, Brown and Company, 2021 $18.

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G. Violence: PG13. (Gun violence, ghosts with death wounds) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Silas is left alone when his father is taken by armed horsemen in the night. But when the pony they brought for Silas comes back for him, Silas decides that he has to try to rescue his father. Silas can see ghosts - in fact, Mittenwool, who woke him in time to see the riders coming, is a ghost. So when Silas starts off on the Pony, Mittenwool comes along. It's a dangerous undertaking, not one for a 12-year-old on his own, not even one as courageous as Silas. 

Oh, I loved this book so much! A beautiful ghost story, written in 19th century dialogue - like reading Poe or True Grit. It caught me on the very first page and I could hardly put it down. However, I have such a hard time getting my patrons to read historical fiction (1860 Ohio). I hope the ghosts will help me sell it. 

Lisa Librarian

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever by Abbie Emmons - OPTIONAL


Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever
by Abbie Emmons
, 208 pages. PUBLISHER: Abbie Emmons, 2021. $16.

Language: R (69 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Tessa and Weston have overcome so much to be where they are now together, and that has included some crappy Christmases. This year, they are determined to have the best Christmas ever! But a surprise from Tessa’s mom threatens to destroy everything.

I have loved Tessa and Weston from the early pages of Emmons’s previous novel, which made me hesitate to read this sequel. A new book meant that they were going to have problems, and I didn’t want my heart to break with theirs. While the sequel is not as amazing as the original, this continuation of their story feels real and genuine to the characters I know -- believable teenage struggles and reactions, relatable self-consciousness, and classic holiday family drama.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen


Monday, October 25, 2021

How to Build a Story by Frances O’Roark Dowell - ADVISABLE


How to Build a Story … Or, the Big What If
by Frances O’Roark Dowell
, 114 pages. NONFICTION. Caitlyn Dlougy Book (Simon & Schuster), 2020. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Have you ever had a great idea for a story, started writing it, and then had to stop because you didn’t know what came next? Dowell breaks down how to build a story so that you don’t just start stories but finish them, too!

I appreciate that Dowell refers to the process as building rather than writing a story. I mean, it is all about writing and includes exercises to try after each chapter, but Dowell’s process builds on what young (or not-so-young) writers are doing and teaches them how to keep going. After following all the steps, writers have accomplished something substantial and are encouraged to start again.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Sunday, October 24, 2021

24 hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling - ADVISABLE

24 hours in Nowhere
by Dusti Bowling
260 pages. Sterling Children’s Books, 2018. $17 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, bullying). 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

13yo Gus is the smartest in his grade, but living in Nowhere Arizona, his opportunities are limited. Bo Taylor is a huge bully, and when Rossi tries to rescue Gus from Bo trying to make him eat cactus, Bo takes Rossi's dirt bike. Hoping to get it back, Gus goes to Bo's trailer home with all the money he has, but Bo wants gold - from a particular mine - the most deadly mine in Nowhere. He agrees, and Bo sends Matthew - one of his henchmen - along to make sure Gus doesn't try to trick him. When Gus's friend Jesse and Rossi hear what's happening, they come along, too, and the 4 friends begin a life or death adventure. 

Dusti Bowling is so good at edge of your seat adventure. So exciting, "24 hours in Nowhere" was hard to put down. She knows the desert so well, I can imagine myself there with the kids. It's about friendship and family and choices and courage. Gus is a wordsmith - I loved the thesaurus in his head as he choose the perfect words. This would make a fun class novel or read aloud.

Lisa Librarian

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Room to Dream (Front Desk #3) by Kelly Yang - ADVISABLE

Room to Dream (Front Desk #3
) by Kelly Yang,
320 pages. Scholastic Press, 2021. $17 

Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Business at The Calivista is going great, so Mia and her family are is taking a trip to China to visit her grandparents. She hasn't been back since they moved to the United States. It's only been a few years, but things in Beijing have changed a lot. When she returns things have changed a lot in Anaheim, too. Things are strained with her friends Jason and Lupe, there's new trouble at the hotel, and Mia may be sharing too much in the columns she's writing for an English speaking kids' newspaper in China. 

I love Mia's introspection and how driven she is to do the right thing. I also loved that she learns from her mistakes and tries to do better. Kelly Yang's author's note makes great connections for the reader, as this series is based on Yang's life. So excited to see another installment in Mia's story - I hope they keep coming. While this could stand on its own - Yang gives enough background in context, Front Desk and Three Keys should be read first, you'll want them all in your library.

Lisa Librarian

Friday, October 22, 2021

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter - HIGH

Better Than the Movies
by Lynn Painter
, 356 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2021. $19 

Language: R (100+ swears 5 'F'); Mature Content: PG (Dating situations); Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Liz Buxbaum has known her next door neighbor Wes Bennet since they were little kids, and he has always been a huge pain. He played tricks on her when they were young, and even now, in high school, it's a constant battle with him over who gets the good street parking spot in front of their houses. Until, Wes has something Liz wants - she's always dreamed of going to Senior Prom with Michael - and Wes has the connections she needs, so, in a crazy trade for a favor, Liz promises to give up the parking spot if Wes will help her get a promposal. 

Every chapter starts with a quote from a romantic movie which sets the stage for the crazy things that happen to Liz throughout this hilarious romantic book. I love the movies as well, and was totally captivated by the story right from the first pages. Highly recommended to my high school readers, the relationships - especially with her best friend were spot on.

Lisa Librarian

Thursday, October 21, 2021

The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison - OPTIONAL


The Right Side of Reckless
by Whitney D. Grandison
, 416 pages. Inkyard Press, 2021. $17.

Language: R (170 swears, 37 “f” + Spanish swears); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sixteen-year-old Regan pretends to be happy as she obediently walks down the path her parents have laid out for her with the perfect boyfriend and the perfect future career. Seventeen-year-old Guillermo is on probation after his third arrest, and he is determined to do nothing else to disappoint his family -- even if that means sacrificing happiness now. Are lines meant to be crossed, or is it better to stay within them?

Regan and Guillermo are on opposite sides of the same struggle as they try to find ways to be happy while also pleasing their loved ones. I was excited to see how Grandison would illustrate balance between their extreme mindsets, but the resolution was not as powerful as I wanted it to be. The main characters set good examples for readers, but they didn’t connect to me, especially when they made choices that felt contrived. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mentions of drug use, innuendo, groping, and mentions of sex and sexting.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

An Alleged Rogue by Sian Ann Bessey - ADVISABLE


An Alleged Rogue
by Sian Ann Bessey
, 250 pages. Covenant Communications, 2021. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Adam has been busy chasing down the man who ruined his family instead of preparing his sister for her coming out. His time away from Society has allowed rumors to swirl -- rumors that paint him as a villain. When Phoebe hears the rumors, she becomes determined to save his sister from him, sure that his moments of kindness are merely a facade.

Bessey has crafted a story to keep readers on edge as the pressure builds by reading from both the protagonists’ and the antagonist’s points of view. The villain schemes while the protagonists think they are resolving all their issues. Somehow, Bessey strikes a balance between giving her main characters enough hardship to wade through that their good fortune feels like a relief, not cheesy. The more I read, the more fun the story became to read.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn - HIGH


Never Saw You Coming
by Erin Hahn
, 320 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2021. $17.

Language: R (90 swears, 48 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Meg just found out that her dad isn’t really her dad, making her gap year to find herself that much more important. Micah has mostly avoided thinking about his dad, but the upcoming parole hearing is reopening the not-quite-forgotten wounds. Affected by choices that weren’t their own, Meg and Micah struggle to move forward under the burden of their pasts.

Meg and Micah have relatable struggles with self-acceptance, with forgiveness, and with their relationships with God. My family issues and my wrestles with my faith felt understood; seeing my heartache and confusion in these pages was comforting, like being heard and supported by a close friend. Hahn expresses genuine pain, genuine healing, genuine sorrow, genuine joy -- genuine journeying through life. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mention of illegal drugs, innuendo, discussions of sex, and mentions of orgasm, masturbation, and rape. The violence rating is for mentions of intended suicide and of a gun.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Monday, October 18, 2021

Why We Fought by Jerry Borrowman - OPTIONAL


Why We Fought
by Jerry Borrowman
, 208 pages. NONFICTION. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2021. $20.

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

World War II was devastating to families and countries, and it would have been worse if not for those individuals and groups whose stories are finally being told here. Risking their lives to help Jews flee and to help the Allies fight against the Nazis, these heroes knew to fight for what they believed was right even when it wasn’t easy.

Borrowman organizes this book into seven sections, and each true story pierces the heart of readers and will encourage them to act in a way that fights for good. None of the heroes talked about in this book went about doing good in the same way; likewise, readers can find their own unique ways of being heroes. Some of the accounts and facts can get dry, but the inspiring stories are worth it.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Thursday, October 14, 2021

War and Millie McGonigle by Karen Cushman - ADVISABLE

War and Millie McGonigle by Karen Cushman, 214 pages. Alfred A. Knopf, 2021. $17. 9781984850102.

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 'F'); Violence: G; Content: PG (Racist comments)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Millie McGonigle is growing up on the coast of California in 1941. After her Gram's sudden death, she is anxious and a little bit obsessed with the dead and dying. And as war comes to America, its easy to see the morbid all around. In this coming-of-age historical fiction, Millie will grow to see her Gram's final message as one of hope and learn how important that hope and positivity will be in war time. 

I found this middle grade historical fiction novel to be rather meandering in its storytelling, and thus a little hard to really get into. Its a bit of a different Homefront take than the usual WWII piece as the story begins before Pearl Harbor, and ends before the war concludes. I enjoyed the anxious and gloomy protagonist--it was a delightful change from the usual WWII teens you meet in literature--and this felt very realistic with normal family life happening around big world events. Overall its a nice story but nothing I'd immediately recommend everyone needs to read. The PG rating on content is related to a neighbor family who are very prejudiced; their racist comments are always immediately responded to, however, by the protagonist or her family. 

Reviewer: TC

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

The Bickery Twins and the Phoenix Tear by Abi Elphinstone - ADVISABLE

The Bickery Twins and the Phoenix Tear
(The Unmapped Chronicles #2) by Abi Elphinstone
, 330 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2020. $18 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Fox and Fibber have been competing with each other their whole lives. Their parents have taught them to be selfish, uncaring, and rude. But when the family businesses are facing ruin, and neither twin can come up with a viable business plan, the twins stumble into an antique shop run by an old man, Casper Tock, and are whisked away to Jungledrop. Morg, banished there in book 1 is up to her old tricks again, this time her magic is causing a draught in our world, and if she finds the "forever fern" will take control of Jungledrop. The Twins can save both worlds, but they will need to learn to get along first. 

I love the magic - so many different kinds, magical food, magical beasts, enchanted maps and plants, even furniture that anticipates moods. The story moves along quickly and is so engaging, a terrific read aloud. This is a delightful series, and book 2 easily stands on its own. 

Lisa Librarian

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Cross-Country Christmas by Laurie Lewis - OPTIONAL


Cross-Country Christmas by Laurie Lewis
, 245 pages. Covenant Communications, 2021. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

After crashing a Tesla (that isn’t hers) through a fence (that isn’t hers) out in the country, CC ends up staying at the ranch of the man, Reese, whose fence was broken. CC and Reese resist the nudges of their hearts to explore the pull between them -- at first. Mishaps with the sheriff, some exes, and a mother  seem to ruin their fragile relationship, but no one told their hearts.

Lewis created some interesting characters with deep wounds for readers to laugh and cry with. I loved how CC and Reese’s story shows readers that everyone has baggage and that baggage does not define us. However, I was disappointed by the long explanations that were used to give the backstories of the main characters; those passages were tedious and hard to pay attention to.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Monday, October 11, 2021

Superpowered by Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary - ADVISABLE


Superpowered
by Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary
, 302 pages. NONFICTION. Random House Books, 2020. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

If you’ve ever felt anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed, Jain and Dr. Tsabary are here to help. They’ve done all the research, and they know that you have superpowers to overcome your worries. Let this book be your guide to unlocking your powers and refinding your true self!

Jain and Dr. Tsabary don’t pretend that our anxiety doesn’t exist or isn’t hard to live with. They validate the struggles their readers are going through and literally empower their readers by teaching them how to develop skills to face challenges. This is not a book to read and set aside; the interactive exercises help readers practice what Jain and Dr. Tsabary propose, proving that we can save ourselves with these superpowers. I love everything about this book, from the sciencey stuff to the illustrations, and am excited to implement these ideas in my own life.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen