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We Were Liars

We Were Liars

Reviewed by: Shirley LaBranche - Maple Stone School, Acton, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 10, 2014

Review

We Were Liars is a mystery/suspense novel centered on three cousins and one family friend within the very wealthy Sinclair family. Every summer they go to the Sinclair's private island off the coast of Massachusetts where the world fades away and they have summer fun-until Summer Fifteen. Cadence Sinclair Eastman is the story's narrator and she tries to piece together what exactly did happen just before the accident that left her with debilitating headaches and other symptoms. Because she is the narrator events unfold slowly and memory is faulty. She cannot quite remember, things the adults are not telling her, and she must remember on her own-but the memories are just too painful and remain out of reach until the dramatic end. Recommended.

Overall Book Score: good

About the Book

Author:

Lockhart, E.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780385741262

Price: 17.99

Winterfrost

Winterfrost

Reviewed by: Shirley LaBranche - Maple Stone School, Acton, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 14, 2014

Review

Winterfrost is a delightful story with the theme of self-forgiveness and awareness of one's feelings and surroundings. Set in Denmark during the Christmas week and featuring the mythical creatures, Nisse, the reader is taken on a magical romp through the Winterfrost. Winterfrost is a weather phenomenom where fog descends and freezes on trees, grasses, and houses creating a magical winter wonderland. The fun begins when Bettina's parents are both called away during the Christmas holidays to different emergencies and obligations and Betinna, age 12, is left in charge of the house and her baby sister. She puts her sister, Pia, outside for a fresh air nap-as all Danish babies nap outside well bundled up, and baby Pia is stolen. The mystery of who has stolen the baby and why reveal plenty about how misunderstandings can grow to divide families. Charming and instructive on the legends of Denmark.

Overall Book Score: excellent

About the Book

Author:

Houts, Michelle

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery, realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780763665654

Price: 16.99

Frida & Diego

Frida & Diego

Reviewed by: Shirley LaBranche - Maplestone School, Acton, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 8, 2014

Review

Frida & Diego is both a beautiful and informative book. The opening page of each chapter is done in bright red and all chapters contain photos to illustrate the time period covered. There are ten chapters that cover the lives of Frida and Diego and tell the stories of how and when their lives intersected. The information is thorough and accessible. The book then has an extensive and satisfying 38 pages of resources. The first section is titled Paintings of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. In this section the reader finds a list of museums in Mexico and the United States that have the paintings with a note that many are available to see on line. The next two sections are devoted to photos of the paintings - one section for each of the artists. The paintings are followed by a detailed timeline. We then come to the notes, bibliography and index. Highly recommended.

Overall Book Score: excellent

About the Book

Author:

Reef, Catherine

Publisher: Clarion Books

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12, all ages, adult / professional

Binding Type: other

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780547821849

Price: 18.99

Hickory Dickory Dog

Hickory Dickory Dog

Reviewed by: Shirley LaBranche - Maplestone School, Acton, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 15, 2014

Review

Hickory Dickory DOG is absolutely charming. The playfulness of the language along with the expressive illustrations - especially the facial expressions of boy and dog. Murray takes the old nursery rhyme and ticks us through the day with "a dog, a boy and clock." The alarm rings and the day begins. When lunchtime arrives it is "Hickory, lickery, lunch, some yummy food to munch." We go through the day in this way. "Hickory dickory, doo, Uh-oh! a glob of glue." When dog later rolls in leaves we have "Hickory stickory, stack, a scritchety, scratchety, back." When dog dries off after a bath we have "Hickory, flickory, fly." Fun to read and hear. Highly recommended.

Overall Book Score: excellent

About the Book

Author:

Murray, Alison

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: other

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780763668266

Price: 16.99

Sleepytime Me

Sleepytime Me

Reviewed by: Shirley LaBranche - Maplestone School, Acton, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 15, 2014

Review

Sleepytime Me is a story with vibrant language and rich illustrations. The world prepares for rest beginning with the sky and the animal kingdom. "Yawn around, yawn around, sleeptime sky," the refrain, goes from sky to farm, to town, to house, to ME! Beautifully rhythmic and rhymed. Highly recommended.

Overall Book Score: excellent

About the Book

Author:

Fine, Edith Hope

Illustrator: Denis, Christopher

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Random House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780449810620

Price: 17.99

Wild Things!

Wild Things!

Reviewed by: Shirley LaBranche - MapleStone, Acton, SMLD

Review Date: October 14, 2015

Review

Wild Things! by Betsy Bird, Julie Danielson and Peter Sieruta is a delightful read full of thought provoking insights and good old fashion literary gossip. Written by three bloggers with impressive reviewing credentials, we get the inside story of many children's books. My favorite was the epitaph which slipped through on the first edition but has been removed in all subsequent editions: Virginia Kirk US A Nasty Soul Is Its Own Reward 1765-1776. This was aimed at Virginia Kirk, the editor of Kirkus Reviews and inserted into a scene when Hancock is visiting the graves of his children in the book, Will You Sign Here, Mr. Hancock? Why the nasty epitaph? A particularly vitriolic review of Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations created for Snow White. This book not only gives many similar inside stories, but also outlines trends in Children's Literature. Sure to be a hit among students of literature and book lovers in general.

Overall Book Score: excellent