Child Soldier by Jessica Humphreys and Michel Chikwanine – OPTIONAL

Humphreys, Jessica and Chikwanine, Michel Child Soldier 47 pgs Kids Can Press, 2015. $18.00 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG13 Violence: PG13 GRAPHIC NOVEL/NONFICTION
This is the true story of Michel Chikwanine, who was a victim of kidnap at the age of 5 and forced into child soldier acts in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo. After he was able to escape his life changed forever and he decided to share his story and fight for the rights of children
This is a heavy but important topic. As part of discussion on current events I think it would appropriate part of a teacher led discussion for sixth grade and up. The kidnapping and heavy violence make just too dark for younger grades. I liked the section in the back called What Can you Do? It gives some great ideas for children who want to help out. The art is very basic and is graphic novel format.
EL, MS – OPTIONAL  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz -NO

Schwartz, Simon The Other Side of the Wall 112 pgs Graphic Universe (Simon), 2015. $19.00 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG Violence: PG13
GRAPHIC NOVEL/NONFICTION
This is the authors depiction of his childhood in the early 1980s in the East Germany which was under the control Socialist Unity Party of Germany. His parents apply to leave but face much persecution for their decision from friends, family, and the government. When they finally are allowed to leave, there are other changes they must deal with as well. One big one for Simon the child seemed to be his confusion about his grandparents, since he has one Grandma he can visit who is loving and kind, and one set that refuse to see his family for a long time.
I have always been fascinated by the Berlin Wall, but never knew anything but the basics. (In my schooling they never quite reached modern history, always not enough time). I was excited to read this book but found it completely confusing! Even with more information provided at the end of the book, I am still at a loss. Maybe something was lost in translation? Maybe my mind has finally turned to mush. Either way I wouldn’t add this to a middle or high school library because its overly complicated and doesn’t lay a clear foundation for the reader.  
MS, HS –NO Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Our Moon by Elaine Scott -ADVISABLE

Scott, Elaine Our Moon 72 pgs Clarion (Houghton Mifflin), 2015. $19.00 NONFICTION
This book includes EVERYTHING you have ever wanted to know about the moon; from legends, ancient discoveries, the race to moon, Astronauts, and much more. Features diagrams, photos, and illustrations.
This book is chocked full of information, a student reader could be an expert after reading this book. Better for upper elementary, since its must more than a simple fact book. A teacher could use this to read selections for adding interest to a lesson on the moon.
EL – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author

Duck, Duck, Dinosaur by Kalie George - OPTIONAL

George, Kallie  Duck, Duck, Dinosaur  Illustrated by Oriol Vidal  Harper, 2016.  $17.99  PICTURE BOOK  Content: G.   

Mama Duck has three eggs and she is excited to have a family.  The first two eggs hatch and the baby ducks like to compete, but when the third egg hatches (and happens to be a dinosaur), the dinosaur wins all the competitions.  They compete over who is the biggest, funniest or sweetest and Mama Duck is just happy to have her family and the babies are happy to have Mama Duck.   

At first is seems with this title the book would be a play on the child game, Duck, Duck, Goose, but it isn’t.  It’s a book about baby ducks who compete for their mom’s attention.  There doesn’t seem to be an obvious moral to the story and the pictures aren’t that engaging-except for the dinosaur illustration and he is ADORABLE.  

PREK – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Not After Everything by Michelle Levy - PUBLIC

Levy, Michelle Not After Everything, 327 pgs.  Dial Books, 2015.  $17.99  Content: Language: R (150+ swears; 111 “F”); Mature Content: R; Violence: R.   

Tyler’s mom committed suicide this summer and now he finds it unbearable to be at school.  The football coach keeps tip-toeing around him, the teachers and counselors excuse his rude behavior and his friends and girlfriend look at him with sympathetic faces.  Worst of all, Tyler’s dad is blaming Tyler for his mom’s death and hasn’t stopped tormenting him and he is making Tyler pay for his own food and groceries.  When Tyler finds a job at a photography studio he meets Jordyn and her family and he starts to deal with all of his pent up feelings.   

This story is heartbreaking and Tyler’s character is likable.  It has a good message about how people can help each other survive hard things in life.  I couldn’t put the book down.  That said, the mature content was on-page sex and a lot of crude sexual references.  There is physical, emotional and verbal abuse that is severe.  Also the amount of swears is over the top.  I guess the public library would have to consider their audience, but there is no way you could put this in a school library.  PUBLIC   Reviewer, C. Peterson.

To the Stars! The First American Woman to Walk in Space by Carmella Van Vleet – ADVISABLE

Van Vleet, Carmella To the Stars! The First American Woman to Walk in Space Charlesbridge 2016. $16.99 NON-FICTION/PICTURE BOOK
This is the story of Astronaut Dr. Kathy Sullivan. The pages rotate between her interests and experiences as a child/teen and her life as an adult in her career. We learn how adventurous she was and how she broke out of social norms to become the first woman to walk in space. It features fairly simple words and harmonious illustrations.
This is picture book is one that could be easily read to K-2 grade for a read-aloud about astronauts or accomplished women. It could also work for that age group to create a biography if including information found in the back of the book. We always hear about Sally Ride, but here is another amazing woman to discover!
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

The Dragonsitter Takes Off by Josh Lacey -- ADVISABLE

Lacey, Josh The Dragonsitter Takes Off, illustrated by Garry Parsons. Little, Brown and Company (Hachette Book Group), 2013. $15.00. Contents: G.

In this follow-up to The Dragonsitter, Edward and his family are once again babysitting their uncle's dragon, this time while he's off on a yoga retreat. Through a series of emails and hilariously-illustrated attachments, Edward reveals that Ziggy the dragon has disappeared. Where could Uncle Morton's beloved pet be? And how will Edward know where to find the dragon when Uncle Morton is too wrapped-up in his inner peace to email Edward back?

This one is just as humorous as the book before it, and children will likely delight in the surprising reason why Ziggy has disappeared. Divorce and estranged-parenthood are lightly touched on, leaving room for discussion for those who wish it.

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Caryn

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas - OPTIONAL

Maas, Sarah J.  Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4), 645 pgs.  Bloomsbury, 2015.  $18.99  

Language: R (150 + swears); Violence: R; Mature Content: PG-13. 

HS – OPTIONAL 

Celaena has returned to Adarlan, but she is no longer the same person.  Celaena has a full understanding that she is Aelin Galathynius, the Queen of Terrasen.  Although Aelin still has connections to her assassin’s guild and the head of the palace guard has been waiting for her, she came back to Adarlan to put down the king and the dark demon Vlag that are taking over.  With her old friends and enemies, along with some new ones, Aelin takes her dark past and merges it with her dreams of the future in an attempt to put Adarlan to rights, get back her kingdom and free the world’s magic.   

I love this series because of the fast moving story line and the great chemistry between the characters.  This far into the series it’s fun to have all the history between the friends as well, but that was also a problem because Maas doesn’t always help the reader remember the events from other books.  The content makes this hard to recommend because the violence is disgusting and merciless.  There is also threats of rape as well as a lot of sexual tension.   

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Shades of Darkness by A.R. Kahler - NO

Kahler, A. R.  Shades of Darkness (Ravenborn, #1), 292 pgs.  Simon and Schuster, 2016.  $17.99  Content: Language: R (125 swears; 21 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

Kaira goes to an art intensive private school in the remote forests of Michigan.  She found this school as an escape from something violent that happened at home, but she feels like the same supernatural elements that were a part of her traumatic past have found her.  When a couple of kids at school die, Kaira has to face the darkness that is coming for her.  

If I had not committed to reading this book for this review, I would have put it down and never picked it up again after the first fifteen pages.  The first ten pages are all about Kaira’s friends’ sexual preferences as a way of describing their characters.  There is a lot of gratuitous “F” words and sexual talk.  Mature content aside, this book was still awful.  There is a vague reference throughout of this horrible thing that Kaira did and the book takes forever to set up and then when the supernatural elements are connected to this horrible thing she did, it seems rushed and confusing.  The book doesn’t have a satisfying ending… or middle or beginning.   

HS - NO  Reviewer, C. Peterson.