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You and Me and Him

You and Me and Him

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 13, 2015

Review

Best friends Maggie and Nash are high school students in a small town. She is overweight and has some lingering middle school mean girl friendship issues. He is gay with an alcoholic mother. When Tom moves into town, Nash lays claim to him, in hopes that Tom will bring the gay teenager population in their town to two. Tom sends some mixed messages and soon Maggie and Nash are both falling for him, causing a rift in the friendship.

Told from the point of view of Maggie, this story encompasses multiple teen issues including bullying, self-image, and friendship. While Maggie's character is clearly defined, the shallowness of Nash, and the way Maggie allows Nash to treat her, undermines the potential strength of this story.

Overall Book Score: good

About the Book

Author:

Dinnison, Kris

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: romance,realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780544301122

Price: 17.99

Baba Yaga's Assistant

Baba Yaga's Assistant

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 14, 2015

Review

A tale within a tale, this graphic novel tells the story of Masha who is looking for a place to belong after the loss of her mother. Her father has become distant and is preparing to remarry, causing Masha to think of the Baba Yaga tales of her early childhood, as told to her by her grandmother. Masha ventures into the woods and finds herself living the reality of those stories and finds a place with the mystical, and supposedly wicked, Baba Yaga. The art compliments and enhances the story, with varying artistic styles used to express the delicate nuances of flashback. The colors used add depth to the story, and are visually appealing.

Overall Book Score: very good

About the Book

Author:

McCoola, Marika

Illustrator: Carroll, Emily

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: folklore,graphic novel

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763669614

Price: 16.99

Mister Max: The Book of Kings

Mister Max: The Book of Kings

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 15, 2015

Review

Ever since Max's parents disappeared in book 1 of this series (Mister Max), he has been on the lookout for clues to reunite his family. With the help of an enjoyable cast of characters, and his own tenaciousness, Max cleverly unravels the mystery which leads them to a foreign land where it is suspected his parents are being held. Once there, all indicators are that they all are in danger. The pace of the story picks up as Max and his entourage discover that things are not as they seem. Max's quick thinking, wit and bravery help save the day. The mystery is intriguing, but the level of tension and suspense is even and mild. Overall, this is a pleasing end to the trilogy.

Overall Book Score: good

About the Book

Author:

Voigt, Cynthia

Illustrator: Bruno, Jacopo

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Knopf

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,mystery

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780307976871

Price: 16.99

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 18, 2015

Review

A haunting account of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, this non-fiction graphic novel lays out the details of the disaster that followed the hurricane in New Orleans. The text is informational and portrays the bleak situation, while also allowing the reader to connect with individual victims. The artwork is eerily beautiful, allowing the reader to grasp the severity or the situation. Some details are gruesome, as they are reporting the reality, but this is done in a way which is accessible for the age group. The title alone should be a warning that this is not a feel good story, but it is a stunning account of the events and could serve as an excellent gateway for discussion.

Overall Book Score: excellent

About the Book

Author:

Brown, Don

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre: graphic novel

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780544157774

Price: 18.99

Gone Crazy in Alabama

Gone Crazy in Alabama

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2016

Review

The young Gaither sisters (Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern) are leaving their Brooklyn home to head to Alabama for the summer. It's 1969 and their father is sending them to spend the summer with his mother, but not without warning his girls about the differences of New York and the deep South. The girls find themselves on the farm immersed in a very different lifestyle, and learn of a rift between their grandmother and her half sister. When a tornado rips through their community, the sisters come to understand the value of family and the bonds that bind them together.

Williams-Garcia creates believable characters who feel like old friends.

Overall Book Score: very good

About the Book

Author:

Williams-Garcia, Rita

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Amistad/Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction,historical fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062215871

Price: 16.99

The Fog Diver

The Fog Diver

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2016

Review

This high action adventure takes place on and above a futuristic Earth covered with a deadly fog. Only the highest mountains rise above the fog and provide a safe place to live. The Five Families rule over the land and control everything floating and living above the fog. Scavengers enter the fog looking for valuable remnants of humanity that they can salvage to re-purpose or sell. Many who enter the fog end up with a disease that eventually kills them, except for the main character Chess, who was born in the fog and rescued by Mrs. E. He, with other clever children whom Mrs. E. has brought together, work on a salvage raft, searching for valuables that will allow them to get to Port Oro. There they hope to cure their beloved guardian, Mrs. E., who has fallen victim to the fog disease after rescuing Chess years ago. As if the fog wasn't enough of a challenge, add Lord Kodoc who learns of Chess' apparent fog immunity. Kodoc has bigger plans for Chess and puts a bounty on his head, creating a mad dash chase against good and evil. To top it off, add a swashbuckling pirate battle, complete with canons.

The characters are endearing and clever. This novel highlights the idea that what makes us different makes us special, and that we all have strengths and talents. While this story has a satisfying end, it was not concrete, and it seems likely there will be another adventure to come - hopefully soon.

Overall Book Score: very good

About the Book

Author:

Ross, Joel

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper/Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,science fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062352934

Price: 16.99

City Love

City Love

Reviewed by: Jill Hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 9, 2016

Review

Three college freshman arrive in New York City for the summer prior to the start of school. The story is told from the point of view of each girl. All three characters come from varying backgrounds and experiences, and all three quickly find boys to fall in love with.

I am usually a fan of Susane Colsanti's work, but this book was lacking. Colasanti creates interesting characters, but this book is slow to develop a plot until the final three chapters, at which point you are left with a cliff hanger and need to read the next book to know how the issues are resolved. This story had potential, but the drawn out development of the story line and the cliff hangers for all three characters provided no resolution and made the overall book a disappointment.

Overall Book Score: fair

About the Book

Author:

Colasanti, Susane

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: romance

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062307682

Price: 17.99

Playing Pro Football

Playing Pro Football

Reviewed by: Jill hooper - Freeport Middle School, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2016

Review

This comprehensive overview of being a professional American football player is engaging and well written. Students will find it interesting because it does reference many of the league's well known current players, and includes many color photographs. The layout of the book is manageable and eye catching. This book includes a glossary, quotes, diagrams and a list of additional resources. This 64 page book is a great addition to an upper elementary/middle school library.

Overall Book Score: very good