Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite!

Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite! 

by Ashley Spires

Burt the Beetle isn’t a biter, but he is a hugger!   Unfortunately, that appears to be all that this Ten-Lined June Beetle can do.  In this informative graphic novel, Burt shares the exciting abilities of other insects, then laments that he lacks their amazing powers.   He finds a way to be useful, however, when the other insects find themselves trapped in a spider’s web!

This entertaining graphic novel has a fun story combined with great facts about different insects!

Pawcasso

Pawcasso 

by Remy Lai

Bored, and with no friends outside of school, eleven-year-old Jo is not excited about her summer break from school.    Things take a turn, however, by an unusual sight.   From her window, Jo spies a dog, with no owner, walking down the street carrying a basket.   A curious Jo follows the dog as it proceeds to the town and visits stores to collect items from a list in its basket.   Jo’s fascination turns to panic when she is assumed to be the owner of this amazing creature, and she suddenly finds herself surrounded by friends and attention.   Although Jo attempts to keep up this facade, the growing popularity of her canine companion (who she names Pawcasso), makes the truth harder to conceal.

This fun graphic novel has a sweet story and wonderful illustrations!  A great choice for fans of graphic novels.   

My Life As A Potato

My Life As A Potato 

by Arianne Costner

Ben Hardy's bad luck with potatoes has followed him from California to his new school in Idaho!  When he accidentally injures the school mascot, Steve the Spud, Ben is forced to take his place. Not wanting anyone, especially his friends and his new crush Jayla, to find out that he's the one in the mascot's costume, Ben tries to keep his new role as Steve the Spud a secret. However, as Ben becomes more popular, he's finding it is harder to keep his secret mascot identity hidden. 

This entertaining realistic fiction is part of the 2021 - 2022 Maine Student Book Award list! This is s great choice for anyone looking for a humorous story.

Millionaires for the Month

Millionaires for the Month

by Stacy McAnulty

Would you like to be a millionaire for the month?   Felix and Benji have the chance to spend over five million dollars, but there is a twist.   Billionaire Laura Friendly has offered them a challenge that, if they win, will earn them ten million dollars!   However, the challenge involves spending just over five million dollars in a month.  Even if they win, they don't get to keep what they bought, but they'll have ten million dollars to keep!   If they lose the challenge, they not only lose all that they bought, but they also don't get any money.   Spending five million seems easy at first, but Felix and Benji soon learn that the rules Laura Friendly has given them makes it a lot more difficult to spend the money than they thought it would be.   Will they spend the money in time?

I found this to be a very entertaining book that offers many valuable lessons!   Felix and Benji learn a lot about the money, friendship, family, and themselves throughout the story.    

Author's website: http://www.stacymcanulty.com/

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The Best At It

The Best At It
by Maulik Pancholy

What is Rahul the best at?   He is determined to be the best at something.   Although he knows he is good at math, he is hesitant to join the Mathletes, preferring to try his hand at more exciting activities like football and acting.   Unfortunately, finding the one thing is is the best at proves to be more challenging than he thought.   Will he be able to find something that he can be the best at?

This is a touching, emotional story!   Rahul, in his quest to find what he can be the best at, also faces challenges, including hurtful interactions with a cruel school bully.   However, he also makes many important discoveries as he works to understand more about himself.   A wonderful realistic fiction  from the 2020 - 2021 Maine Student Book Award list!

Author's website: https://www.maulikpancholy.com/

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane
by Julia Nobel

With her mother traveling for work, Emmy is sent to a boarding school in England.   Before she leaves home, she discovers mysterious medallions that belonged to her father, who disappeared many years earlier.   After arriving at her new school, Emmy discovers there may be a connection between her father's medallions and a secret society.    Will Emmy be able to solve the mystery of the medallions and her father's disappearance?

This suspenseful mystery is a great choice for readers who like a good mystery full of danger and excitement!   I was very excited to learn there is a sequel to this book and look forward to reading the next book!

Author's website: http://julianobel.com/

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We're Not From Here

We're Not From Here
by Geoff Rodkey

Earth has been destroyed and the only hope for humans is the distant planet of Choom.   Despite Choom being inhabited by some very unusual looking creatures, Lan and his family are among the group that choose to make the lengthy trip.   However, once they arrive, the group receives the news that the humans are no longer welcome on the planet.   After much negotiating, Lan's family is permitted to try living on Choom in order to prove that humans are not as dangerous as the residents of the planet believe them to be.  Will they be successful in convincing the creatures of Choom to allow them to stay?

I really enjoyed this book!  Set in the future, this science fiction story is full of action and humor.    Many readers will love this choice from the 2020 - 2021 Maine Student Book Award list!

Author's website: http://geoffrodkey.com/

The Last Human

The Last Human
by Lee Bacon

In a world run by robots, there were no humans left.  At least, that's what they thought.   Then a girl appeared, throwing chaos into the world of three robots.  The robots that discovered her must make a choice.  Turn her in so that she would  meet the same fate as the other humans, or risk their own existence to save what may be the last human? 

This science fiction story is a fantastic pick from the new 2020 - 2021 Maine Student Book Award list!    It's full of twists and turns as a trio of robots come to question what they had always been taught about the humans. 

Author's website: http://www.leebaconbooks.com/

Guest

Guest
by Mary Downing Hahn

Mollie's baby brother has been taken the Kinde Folk!   In his place have they left a changeling, one of their own babies.   The changeling, whom Mollie and her mother call Guest, is a sickly, scrawny, mean creature.   Determined to get her sweet baby brother back, Mollie journeys with Guest to the dangerous world of the Kinde Folk, hoping that they will be willing to trade her brother for the baby they swapped him with.  Will Mollie be able to convince them to return her brother? 

Guest is a creepy,  twisted tale by Mary Downing Hahn!   Full of suspense and magic, this is a fantastic choice for readers looking for an eerie story to read!

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The Eleventh Trade

The Eleventh Trade
by Alyssa Hollingsworth

When his grandfather's beloved rebab is stolen, Sami is determined to recover the missing instrument they brought with them when they escaped from Afghanistan.    With the help of a new friend, he is able to locate the rebab in a store, however he must pay $700 to get the instrument back.   Unable to pay, Sami soon discovers a creative method of raising the money: trading items.   Through a series of trades, Sami begins to raise the money he needs, but will he make enough in time to get the rebab back?

The Eleventh Trade is a powerful story about a young man facing challenges in a new country while struggling with the heartbreaks of his past.   This is an amazing selection from the current MSBA list!

Author's website: https://alyssahollingsworth.com/https://alyssahollingsworth.com/

You Go First

You Go First
by Erin Entrada Kelly

Charlotte and Ben live more than a thousand miles apart and have never met.    However, they are connected through their regular online Scrabble games.  When Ben faces an unexpected challenge at home, he feels the need to connect more with Charlotte, unaware that she has also recently encountered struggles of her own.   This story, which alternates between the two narrators, tells of the difficulties that Charlotte and Ben face at school and home over the course of a week. 

This is a powerful story and many readers will be able to connect to the different challenging situations, including struggles with family, school, and friends, that Charlotte and Ben deal with. 


Author's website: http://www.erinentradakelly.com/

The Mad Wolf's Daughter

The Mad Wolf's Daughter
by Diane Magras

When knights capture her father and brothers, young Drest is determined to rescue them before it is too late.  In order to do so, she must make a dangerous journey to the castle where they are being held.  She finds help in an unlikely source, an injured knight that was left behind after her family was captured, but can she really trust him with her seemingly impossible task?

Set in Scotland in 1210, The Mad Wolf's Daughter is an action-packed story full of adventure!   I'm looking forward to the sequel to this exciting book!

Author's website: https://www.dianemagras.com/

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Shouting at the Rain

Shouting at the Rain
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Storm-loving and frequently barefoot, Delsie is facing a summer of questions and challenges.   One of her best friends has suddenly abandoned her, choosing to instead spend her time with a new, mean girl.   Delsie, after spending her entire life living with her grandmother, is starting to wonder about her mother and why she left her so many years earlier.   As Delsie struggles to find answers, she is drawn to a new boy in town, Ronan, who comes with similar struggles of his own.

Shouting at the Rain is a wonderful, emotional story!   Many readers will be able to connect to Delsie and some of the issues that she, and her friend Ronan, are working through. 

Author's website: https://www.lyndamullalyhunt.com/

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Skylark & Wallcreeper

Skylark & Wallcreeper
by Anne O'Brien Carelli

When Lily and her grandmother are forced to evacuate a nursing home during Superstorm Sandy, her grandmother gives her a pen to take care of.   However, Lily later realizes that she has lost the pen that her grandmother entrusted her with.  What is so special about the pen?  Will Lily be able to find it?  

Alternating between 2012 and 1944, this historical fiction tells the story of two brave girls and their dangerous work during World War II.  This fantastic story will be a great choice for readers who enjoy books that are set during World War II!

Author's website: https://www.anneobriencarelli.com/

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective
by A.B. Greenfield
illustrated by Sarah Horne

Ra, a Pharaoh's pampered cat, prefers to spend his days lounging by the pool.   His spoiled, uneventful routine is disrupted by the kitchen cat Miu, who requests his help in solving the mystery of a missing amulet.   Reluctant at first, Ra, along with his dung beetle buddy Khepri, agree to investigate the crime and help Miu prove that a young servant was not the culprit.   Will this team of detectives be able to solve the case?

With entertaining characters and many humorous moments, this fun mystery will be a great choice for many readers!

Author's website: https://www.amybutlergreenfield.com/

Book Trailer:

Nightbooks

Nightbooks
by J.A. White

Alex loves to write scary stories, but he never imagined he would be trapped inside one!   On a late night trip to the basement of his building, he is magically lured to the apartment of Natacha, who soon reveals herself to be a witch.   In order to survive, Alex must read one of his creepy stories to Natacha each night, but soon finds himself running out of ideas.   With the help of Yasmin, another captive of Natacha, will he be able to find a way to escape? 

Nightbooks is a wonderful, yet eerie, selection from this year's MSBA list!  The dark, magical tale will be a fantastic choice for readers looking for a creepy story! 

Author's website: http://jawhitebooks.com/

Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 12
by Susan Hood

Ken Sparks is being sent away.   It is World War II and he is one of 90 children selected to travel on the SS City of Benares, which will take them from London to Canada.   The beautiful ship is quite different from life in wartime London, with plenty of food for the travelers as well as other luxuries  never experienced by Ken and the other children escaping the war.   At first, it is a dream come true, until a torpedo changes everything and forces Ken, and the other passengers, to struggle to survive.

This outstanding historical fiction, told in verse,  is based on real life events.   I found myself eager to learn more about the City of Benares after reading this book.  This selection from the MSBA list is a great choice for fans of historical fiction as well readers who enjoy stories about shipwrecks and survival!

Author's website: https://susanhoodbooks.com/home

The House in Poplar Wood

The House in Poplar Wood
by K.E. Ormsbee

Twins Lee and Felix are only allowed to leave their house together once a year, on Halloween.  They live on opposite sides of the same house, with Felix unable to leave Poplar Wood.    Their mother, who works for Memory, is unable to see Felix and their father, who serves Death, can never see Lee.  This is how it has always been for Felix and Lee, because of the Agreement their parents made years earlier.   Felix and Lee tried to break the Agreement once before, with disastrous results.   Now they have been offered another opportunity to break the Agreement that has controlled their lives, but it involves working with Gretchen Whipple, whose family is the sworn enemy of the twins.  Will Lee and Felix accept the dangerous risk of destroying the Agreement so that they can bring their family together? 

This story is a great choice for readers looking for a creepy book!   It is a good blend of action, mystery, and suspense.   A wonderful selection from the 2019 - 2020 MSBA list!

Author's website: http://www.keormsbee.com/

Poetree

Poetree
by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds
illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani

Can a tree write poems?  After poetry-loving Sylvia attaches one of her poems to a tree, she is delightfully surprised to find, when she returns the next day, that a different poem has been put in its place.  Did the tree write back?   Unable to stop thinking about this special tree, Sylvia continues to share her poems.  A surprising, yet sweet, twist brings the story to a heartwarming conclusion.

This is a wonderful book that combines a sweet story with beautiful poetry!

Author's website: https://shaunalavoyreynolds.com/

Can I Be Your Dog?

Can I Be Your Dog?
by Troy Cummings

Desperate for a home, Arfy, who lives in a cardboard box, sends letters to residents of Butternut Street, hoping that someone will take him in.   His hopeful requests for a home are, sadly, met with rejections from each person he reaches out to.   Will Arfy ever find a home?

What a sweet story!  Told in letter format and accompanied by bright, engaging illustrations, Can I Be Your Dog is a wonderful story that will spark conversations about what we can do to help homeless animals like Arfy. 

Author's website: http://www.troycummings.net/