The Big Break by Mark Tatulli Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Best friends and middle schoolers, Andrew and Russ are in the process of filming a documentary about a local cryptid – the Jersey Devil – which they plan on entering in a contest. They’re trying to figure out how it should end and add some special effects when Russ gets distracted by a new friendship. With a girl – … Read more
Far from Home Zita the Spacegirl #1 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Zita and her friend Joseph find a meteor crash site and within the meteor is a device with a big red button that Zita can’t resist pressing. It opens up a gate to another world and Joseph promptly gets sucked in. Zita follows him shortly thereafter, but discovers that Joseph has already been … Read more
A Deadly Education Scholomance #1 by Naomi Novik Fantasy * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Galadriel, “El” is a year from graduation at a magical boarding school (Scholomance). She’s got her work cut out for her just trying to stay alive in its cutthroat environment where it’s every student for themselves, unless they belong to an Enclave. El doesn’t have any close friends or ties and if she wants to survive graduation, she’ll need … Read more
A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Prequel to the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Dystopian * * * Stars (Pretty good) This prequel to the Hunger Games series introduces young Coriolanus Snow (who later becomes the President of Panem), struggling to maintain his family’s standing in the Capital while contending with hunger and poverty and the political machinations of his rivals. As part of his education, Snow and his classmates are given an assignment to … Read more
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose Nonfiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) “The Boys Who Challenged Hitler” is a nonfiction book about a group of teenagers who secretly fought against the Nazi’s known as the Churchill Club. The group lived in Denmark during World War Two/ The Holocaust. Even though the book is nonfiction, its written in a format that is interesting and story-formish. 🙂 The book itself is … Read more
The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horowitz Fantasy Juvenile Fiction YA Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) 12-year-old Clementine is going to be the next Dark Lord Morcerous, after her father Elithor. And while she’s received endless instruction in her future responsibilities, her heart, her nature aren’t exactly suited to being really evil. To make matters worse, her father has been cursed by a power-hungry witch who intends to force him to cede … Read more
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award of excellence, sponsored by the American Association of Libraries (ALA), that is given annually to a book published for young adults. The Printz winner is chosen by a committee that can also name up to four honor books. Winning books can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or anthologies and must be published between January 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. Learn more about the Printz Award … Read more
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book was amazing! The main character is Jay Berry. He has a little sister named Daisy who is his twin. Jay was born healthy, but Daisy was born with a crippled leg. Jay thinks his summer is boring until he sees monkeys by the bottoms. Seekin gthe advice of his grandfather, Jay sets out to … Read more
Find all the items on the list, take photos of your discoveries, and share/upload them below. You can participate as an individual, family, or team! This activity is part of our Button Up and Read Winter Reading Challenge (January 1 – February 28, 2021). You can join the Challenge virtually through Beanstack, or participate by picking up a paper log at the library. There are challenges and activities for children, teens, and adults. Check out … Read more
