The Chance You Won't Return

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 10, 2014

Review

High school is hard enough for Alex Winchester but as her mother becomes more delusional she becomes more stressed. Her mother thinks she is Amelia Earhart and is planning her final flight. This coming of age story adds something different to the usual story, mental illness. Alex's mother has a nervous breakdown and Alex tries to take care of her siblings and her mother without telling her friends or boyfriend what she is going through. What she eventually finds out is that sharing with her friends will help her, and family is important and we love them no matter what.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Cardi, Annie

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,mystery

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780763662929

Price: 16.99

Galapagos George

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 8, 2014

Review

This true story of Lonesome George, a giant tortoise, who lived to be one hundred years old is fascinating to anyone who has heard of the Galapagos Islands and loves nature. Full of beautiful paintings it also includes in the back of the book, key terms, a timeline and additional resources. This book also meets the Common Core State Standards for English language arts/Science and Technical subjects. A great addition to a personal, school or public library.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

George, Jean Craighead

Illustrator: Minor, Wendell

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780060287931

Price: 14.99

Frankenstein's Fright Before Christmas

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Choose Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

There is a book for everyone, and this one is for that special family that loves fractured fairytales and other stories that are just a little bit off... It tries pretty hard to rythme to the original Night before Christmas tune. This book is certainly colorful and bright. Entertaining for the right child.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Bemonster, Ludworst

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Feiwel and FriendsBook/ imprint of Mcmillan

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: horror,fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780312553678

Price: 16.99

Outside

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

A wonderful winter tale. The illustrations are bold, bright and captivating, telling the story along with the simple text. What child isn't reluctant to go outside to play? And then just as reluctant to come back inside.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Gill, Deirdre

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,realistic fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780547910659

Price: 16.99

Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

A great introduction to the Nutcracker for the younger child and beginner reader. These illustrations are Maty Engelbreit at her best with bright and colorful pictures. It does not have that slight dark tone the original book has. Perfect for parents who plan to take their child to the play during the holidays and want to read the story again.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Engelbreit, Mary

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Harper

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062224170

Price: 9.99

Bad Bye, Good Bye

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

The illustrations look to be multimedia mix,which I like, but slightly on the "dark" side, making the story seem scarier than I would like it to be. Even though the text "lightens" up toward the end, the illustrations do not make it seem like a happy ending. They leave when it is raining and travel at night. One page shows daytime, then they arrive and move in at night. I don't know if this book would help a child alleviate their fears of moving or make them worse.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Underwood, Deborah

Illustrator: Bean, Jonathan

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780547928524

Price: 16.99

Mimi and Bear in the Snow

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

A gentle story about loosing your favorite stuffy. Mimi has her bear by her side all through the day and then looses it. The simple illustration of bedtime reminds us of how tough it might be to get through the night alone. Morning begins the search for bear, the joy of finding him, and the solution to not loosing it again. Thank goodness it was spring though or that bear would have stayed buried all winter! A very cute book for toddlers and preschoolers.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Trasler, Janee

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure,mystery

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780374349714

Price: 16.99

The Lure

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2014

Review

A tough subject line, that inner city kids get but suburban kids won't realise, the very terror of the drugs and violence some inner city kids face everyday. Blaise Montgomery, fifteen, chooses what she thinks is the safety of being a part of a gang will give her. However the danger she is in as a "lure" to rival gang members leaves her with an important decision, stay or leave. A decision a lot of teens face with the choices of friends and situations they find themselves in today. A timeless storyline.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Ewing, Lynne

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062206886

Price: 17.99

I Am A Witch's Cat

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

An adorable story of a small cat/girl and her belief that her mother is a witch. When in fact she is a mother and it is her mother magic that makes her special. Pictures are clever mixed media of cut paper, photographs and three D effect.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Muncaster, Harriet

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Harper

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062229144

Price: 15.99

Soccer Star

Reviewed by: Danielle Grady - Baxter Memorial Library, Gorham, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

A great story of a young Brazilian boy, who wants to be a famous soccer star. A dream so many boys have in Brazil. Their main obstacle however is poverty. This book shares a day in the life of Paulo and his sister, Maria. We meet each of his friends, soccer players, at their daily jobs. As every sister is want to do, she wants to play soccer with her brother too. Unfortunately one of the boys sprains his wrist and Maria is called in to take his place. She is over joyed and she Scores! I love this book, the family dynamics, the dreams and the goals of the children of Brazil and everywhere.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Javaherbin, Mina

Illustrator: Alarcao, Renato

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction,fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763660567

Price: 16.99