Super Sons: The Foxglove Mission by Ridley Pearson - OPTIONAL

 

Super Sons: The Foxglove Mission (Super Sons, #2) by Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Ile Gonzalez, 160 pages.  GRAPHIC NOVEL DC Comics, 2019.  $10.  

Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Jon and Ian are the sons of the famous Batman and Superman, but their fathers are busy saving the world elsewhere.  Wyndemere, their city, and Jon’s mom, Lois Lane, are in danger from a virus that is spreading without a known cause.  Jon and Ian join with Tilly and Candace, two girls with their own strengths, to try and find the enemy and be the heroes.  

This is the second book in the series, and much like the first there is a lot of jumbled action.  The book jumps around a lot and there are a lot of story lines going on at the same time, which makes it hard to remember the main story conflict.  The illustrations are appealing and the idea of Batman and Superman’s sons taking on their own challenge is appealing, but I don’t think there is enough to keep readers invested in the series.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson 

Super Sons: The Polarshield Project by Ridley Pearson - OPTIONAL

 

Super Sons: The Polarshield Project (Super Sons, #1) by Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Ile Gonzalez, 175 pages.  GRAPHIC NOVEL  DC Comics, 2019. $10. 

Content: Language: G: Mature Content: G: Violence: PG.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Jon Kent, son of Superman, and his mother, Lois Lane, are forced to move to Wyndemere because of global warming and the rise of water on the coastline.  Superman is enlisted to go to Mars and collect dust in an attempt to build a polarshield in the atmosphere to cool the earth.  As Jon is getting used to living in Wyndemere, he quickly learns that not everyone is welcoming the refugees, and Jon joins up with Ian Wayne, Batman’s son, to fight off the unfriendly gangs.  Jon and Ian also meet Tilly and Candance, two girls who help them figure out who is leading the gangs.  

I was excited to read a superhero book with younger heroes and the graphics are well done.  The story line however is all over the place.  There are poor transitions and multiple characters with multiple stories making it hard to follow.  My eleven-year-old son also read it and said it wasn’t great with too much going on.  The violence is fighting.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Balto and the Race Against Time by Helen Moss and Misa Saburi - ADVISABLE

Balto and the Race Against Time (TimeDogs #1) by Helen Moss, illustrated by Misa Saburi, 132 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Godwin Books (Macmillan), 2019. $16       

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Balto and four other aging dogs find a time machine and are transported back in time. They emerge as puppies in 1925 in Alaska at the time of a terrible outbreak of Diphtheria. They meet Balto and decide they must do everything they can to help him deliver the medicine to Nome.

Students love stories about dogs and time travel. The author's note at the end gives the factual information linked to the story of Balto.            

Molithia Spencer, Media Specialist 

Forever Glimmer Creek by Stacy Hackney - ADVISABLE

Forever Glimmer Creek by Stacy Hackney, 307 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2020. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE       

Rosie lives with her mom in Glimmer Creek, Virginia. She has two best friends, Henry and Cam. They do everything together. Once a year a miracle occurs in Glimmer Creek. Rosie loves to make movies and she is making a documentary about the miracles. she doesn't just want to know about the miracles, she wants to discover what the miracles are and what causes them. A lot of things happen, and the friendship between the three best friends might not make it through all the stress. Henry disappears and how will they find him? She has never met her father and figures out a "sure" way that he will come to meet her.  

Hackney follows Rosie through hardships and frustrations. I like the book, I liked Rosie, and how I could see her growth and development through the book. I think middle school students would really like this book.

Ellen-Anita                                                                

Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg - ESSENTIAL

Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg, 352 pages. Scholastic Press, 2020. $18                  

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE       

Johnstown was a working-class town with a steel mill.  Through the voices of six children we learn of the life in the city below an earth filled dam. People work long hours at the steel mill and children go to school. The dam has a lot of problems with leaking and people in Johnstown complain to the rich owners who have built a fancy resort club on the lake held back by the dam. On May 31, 1889 the dam broke and flooded the Johnstown. Over 2,200 people died that day.      

The story is told in beautiful verse by six children who lived through the disaster. I did not know of this flood, and was so captivated by the story I could not put the book down. The devastation of the flood was devastating to the people and to the town. Clara Barton came and set up Red Cross shelters for the survivors. She helped people carry on after the disaster. This is a remarkable story and a "must read." It would be a great read-a-loud to a class studying U.S. History. I highly recommend this great book. It is well written and easy to read. Read this book!      

Ellen-Anita, LMS       

Milly and the Tale from Across the Street by Martha Langager Klopp - ADVISABLE

Milly and the Tale from Across the Street by Martha LangagerKlopp, 253 pages.Odin Opus Publishing, 2019. $10            

 Content: G

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS  - ADVISABLE

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

 Milly has always wondered about the big house across the street. To her it seems mysterious, like secrets are hidden inside. If only she could get inside! During summer break from school a new family moves in the house and Milly quickly makes friends with the new girl, Cora. Milly and Cora spend a lot of time together and have great fun exploring the magnificent house. They find a secret room, filled with recipes for potions, and ingredients to make them. They have a great time trying the potions, and they actually work.! They are having the time of their lives, until they discover a menacing man, Lance, has made a potion that will take all the fun out of childhood forever. Will they be able to stop him before it is too late?        

 Wow! This was a fun tale of friendship, secrets and mystery. I loved the story of Milly and Cora, and how they rise to the occasion and make some pretty mature decisions. I liked how honest they were and how well they worked together with the potions. Potions like Canine Communications, Permanent Mood Enhancement, Human-Animal Conversation, and more. They worked liked real scientists in the secret room, with strange ingredients. They showed they knew how to follow directions, measuring, timing, mixing and stirring. I recommend this book. I read it in one sitting.       

 Ellen-Anita, LMS                                                                   

Three Keys by Kelly Yang - ADVISABLE

Three Keys (Front Desk #2) by Kelly Yang, 288 pages Scholastic Press, 2020 $17 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Mia Tang’s family (along with a bunch of investors) have bought the Calivista Hotel. Mia really enjoys working the front desk, with her best friend Lupe’s help, and is looking forward to a new year of school. Jason Yao isn’t in her class this year, but Lupe is. Their teacher, Mrs. Welsh, is a surprise. She doesn’t think Mia is as good a writer as last year's teacher and she supports Proposition 187 - which would prevent undocumented immigrants from coming to school if it passes in the election. This proposition is causing a lot of contention, at school, in the community and statewide. When Mia suggests Hank add “Immigrants Welcome” to the hotel’s sign, one of the investors is unhappy and threatens to pull his support, plus someone is leaving racist messages around the hotel. 

A great follow-up to Front Desk - Mia’s story continues on a larger scale, now it’s not just her immigration story but extends to her friends. Lupe struggles with her parent’s status, Mia’s mother makes friends, but although they are Chinese, they are prejudice, and of course, Mrs. Welch. I love the conversations Three Keys can generate, a great selection for book club or a class novel. 

Lisa Librarian  

So This is Love: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim - ESSENTIAL

 

So This is Love: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim, 411 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2020. $18. 

Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Cinderella went to the ball, leaving her slipper at midnight, but when the Duke comes around to try the glass slipper on eligible young women, Cinderella doesn’t get her chance.  When the Evil Stepmother sells Cinderella as a servant to a gruff man, Cinderella decides to escape from his wagon.  Cinderella is wandering on the side of the road when she meets a nice servant girl from the castle who helps Cinderella find a job at the castle.  As Cinderella starts to unveil the corrupt Grand Duke and befriend the King’s sister, the Duchess, she also crosses paths with the prince.  

I loved this twist on the Cinderella story.  Cinderella was an empathetic character who was like-able and easy to cheer on.  Although the corruption of the Grand Duke was predictable, it was a fun spin in the story.  I also liked the development of Cinderella and the prince’s relationship.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.              

The Race to Kangaroo Cliff by Alexander McCall Smith - ADVISABLE

 

The Race to Kangaroo Cliff (Tobermory, #3) by Alexander McCall Smith, 224 pages.  Random House, 2018. $16.  

Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

The school ship Tobermory is on another adventure.  The crew sets off from Scotland to Australia where they are going to participate in a tall ships race.  The kids are around twelve years old and along with their regular schooling, they learn how to man the ship.  Exciting side adventures happen along the way, including being chased by crocodiles, but in the end the crew works together and enjoys being at sea.  

I love this series for younger readers because there is suspense and adventure, but at the same time the characters are kind and work together.  There are little illustrations throughout, and it is a fast read. This is a good series with feel-good story lines.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson     

Nacho's Nachos : The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack by Sandra Nickel and Oliver Dominguez - ESSENTIAL

Nacho's Nachos : The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack by Sandra Nickel, illustrations by Oliver Dominguez PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY Lee and Low, 2020 $19. 9781620143698 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ignacio Anaya was born in Mexico at the turn of the 20th century. Because there were a lot of Ignacios, he went by Nacho. One of his favorite foods were Quesadillas - his foster mom made them best!. He learned how to cook from her and eventually got a job working at a restaurant called The Victory Club in Texas. One day, a special customer came in with friends and asked Nacho to make something new and different - with limited ingredients in the kitchen, he grabbed some tortillas, sprinkled on cheese and a strip of jalapeño - melted it all together and "Nacho's Special" was born. 

No spoilers here, there's more to the story - celebrities, a recipe for making the "original" and an extended author's note with sources make this picture book biography a fun celebration of the 80th anniversary of nachos. Dominguez's illustrations are full color and realistic. A great way to introduce a cooking activity or talk about someone behind an everyday thing - yes, someone invented nachos!

Lisa Librarian