Cecil's Pride, written by Craig Hatkoff, Juliana Hatkoff, and Isabella Hatkoff, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  This story of how Cecil, the lion gunned down by poachers in 2015, lived as seen through the eyes of the scientists that studied him is quite interesting. There are many color and captioned photographs to support the life story of Cecil, a lion that surprisingly survived a tough beginning and led a pack with another non relative lion. Though a picture book format without many traditional end page additions (glossary, index, and further information sections) there is certainly enough information to appeal to young readers and perhaps help lead students to the study of science.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  My students were not alive when Cecil lived, but the magnificence of this noble cat and the sharing of his amazing life prior to his untimely and gruesome loss will certainly appeal to students. I can hope that this simply told story from the scientists who studied Cecil will lead my students to more non-fiction science reading.

Cleo Edison, Playground Millionaire, written by Sundee Tucker Frazier, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  Cleo is a 5th grader with a passion project assigned by her teacher. She decides removing loose teeth with a nerf gun would be a needed and profitable business and fords ahead by bringing said toy to school, "borrowing" a device without asking, posting on You Tube without asking, and using her little brother and her friend for organization and video advertising, ends with obvious consequences from school, her friend Caylee, and her family.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I am a bit torn on this book. The vocabulary for building budding entrepreneurs, the attachments I fear for children watching TV programs, and using the internet without supervision is what bothered me. There is so much valuable vocabulary and the connections to how media may affect people with powers of persuasion, obsession, and connection are unsurpassed by any other book I have read. This book has some major issues to note: adoption is not just about love, but also about loss. Divorce and new families extending your family affects kids at their souls and is sometimes overpowering. We all need people in our lives to recognize our battles and help us move forward despite them. Teachers who read this book are likely to realize some of the traditional projects, like family trees, inherently involve big feelings and possibly some outbursts from students who have more than one tree to create. Giving adults and children a chance to express their thoughts on how Cleo handles her feelings about the woman who gave her up for adoption and her adoptive family and how Caylee handles her father leaving and starting a new family and where that leaves her are important conversations. I love how Cleo grows in this story and begins to recognize her business dreams may affect others.

I will forever believe that how students grow in this world is helped along by books with issues. Characters having issues allows us to build compassion, empathy, and may help us to handle our own baggage in better and kinder ways.
 

Trouble Next Door, written by Karen English, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  New neighbors are always a big deal, but moreso when you fear the new neighbor. This story has it all: science fair, bullies, and social issues both in and out of an elementary school. The main character Calvin is dealing with his Mom away caring for a grandparent, school expectations, friend expectations, and long time neighbors moving away. That seems enough until his greatest fear for a new neighbor comes true. This story is a nice peak into the mind of elementary children. Though the outcomes are expected, the writing is not preachy and the characters are engaging.

A good purchase if you need more chapter books in your collection.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  There is some chatter about bullying, foster care situations, and science fair projects gone wrong (and right), but nothing inappropriate or hard to handle in the grand scheme of things. If you need a series for young readers with many characters of color experiencing school in the suburbs this may fit.
 

Everybody Needs a Buddy (The Big Idea Gang) written by James Preller, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  This edition of the Big Idea Gang called Everybody Needs a Buddy is quite fun! Tge students in the club, Deon, Connor, Lizzy, and Kym hear about the PTA having extra money to spend and come up with ideas to suggest to the PTA for that money. Deon notices a new student, Dinesh Barazani, alone on the playground one day and he goes out of his way to connect with Dinesh. He and his friends in BIG (Big Idea Gang) find a bit of information about something called a Buddy Bench and they come up with the slogan they will use to chat with the PTA about their idea: Everybody needs a buddy!

The short chapters with illustration support are perfect for 2nd-4th grade chapter book readers and the enthusiasm and humor of this group of characters will encourage students to read and consider the problem of how to inspire others when you have a good idea for your community. Miss Zip, their teacher, offers persuasive writing ideas after the story and ties it all together in a nice writing lesson bow that teachers are sure to love.

I did notice a few editing mistakes (missed words) as I read, but all in all this is a solid addition for my two elementary school collections.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Great series for those who serve elementary school populations and want a way to encourage writing for fun and for persuasion.
 

Worst Mascot Ever (The Big Idea Gang), written by James Preller, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  The creation of the Big Idea Gang is in response to the mascot of the Armadillo making no sense since there are not any in Connecticut. There is opposition in class when they put the idea out there that the Armadillo is a horrible mascot, so they decide on a vote. The backmatter: Miss Zip's "Wow Me" Tips is wonderfully done and easily lends itself to a writing lesson!

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I love this series for the writing connections in the stories and in a section at the back of the books. Many students have great ideas, but struggle to expand them. This series is a nice connection for classroom writing work.

Bee the Change (The Big Idea Gang), written by James Preller, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  This series is a simple chapter book about a group of 3rd graders who work together to create change. In this title the kids, Lizzy, Connor, Kym, and Deon have an assignment where they need to teach others about something they can do to make the world better. It began with Kym taking Lizzy to her parent's friends farm where he was going to show them the hives he manages. Once they are hooked on bees, they want others to care about them, also. Thus begins the plan to teach others and create a bee haven at school, starting with the plants in the school garden.

There is back matter on bees after the story as well as a section about writing entitled "Wow Me Tips". This writing section is what captured my 3rd grade teaching teams and got them excited about sharing this title (and the series) with classes next year.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I loved that it is an easy chapter book that my 2nd-4th graders may find interesting. I loved even more the facts in this title about bees, which are not being supported enough these days. I shared it with my 3rd grade teams in both of buildings as the writing connections at the end are wonderful.

(The book ends with both back matter about bees and notes from their teacher about writing. Teachers at both of my schools love the series for the writing information!)
 

Recess is a Jungle (Eerie Elementary #3), written by Jack Chabert, illustrated by Sam Ricks, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  Eerie Elementary is alive and the scientist that built it, the late Orson Eerie, is at it again. While playing soccer at recess, Hall Monitor Sam and his friends Antonio and Lucy kick a soccer ball near the school fence. It moves on its own into the woods behind the school. While in the woods, which become a jungle that seems to be trapping them, they find an old statue of Orson Eerie and realize this was a trap and the students are in danger. Much adventure ensues as they try to return to the school through the jungle and then a grass maze and dangerous playground equipment.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I love the many of the Branches series as my youngest readers and many others prefer short chapters, lots of picture support, and white space on the page with larger font than most chapter books. This particular series has a pretty good creepy factor with children outwitting a sinister adult.

The Science Fair is Freaky! (Eerie Elementary #4), written by Jack Chabert, illustrated by Sam Ricks, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  This is a very cute series for young chapter book readers that like to be a bit scared. In this series book one, readers learn why the school is called Orson Eerie Elementary and that he became a mad scientist and haunts the school. Sam has been made Hall Monitor and has a special belt as he has beaten the scientist in past titles in the series. In this one, their teacher is planning and explaining to the students about a science fair. When Sam, Lucy, and Antonio discover that the custodian is not happy about it, they become intrigued. They learn that there had not been a science fair in years and decide there must be a reason for that. When they discover there were dangerous situations when there was a science fair, they seek out to find out how Orson Eerie is connected to science fairs. In the library, they find an old book in a broken vent and it begins to move on its own. The kids decide to choose experiments from this book. They figure out the book belonged to Orson Eerie and they know he wants the book back! After removing the book from the school all seems better. Well, until the day of the science fair when everything is out of control and only Sam, Lucy, and Antonio can stop the danger!

Straight Talk for Librarians:  My elementary school students love this series from the Scholastic Branches collection. I love the short chapters and the extra white space as well as the illustrations by Sam Ricks that are engaging and helpful for new chapter book readers building reading stamina and comprehension strength. As always, there are some questions at the end that may help students and/or their parents as they read and discuss the story together.
 

Rise of Herk (Nnewts #2), written by Doug TenNapel, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  Nnewts is a true series since the books end at cliffhangers and it will really be a good plan to read them in order. This is book #2 and is focused on Herk, the adorable Newt from the first story, Escape from the Lizzarks. Herk loves his new family and home in Amphibopolis. He leaves his sister and mother and goes on an adventure to learn about his brother and while away meets a new friend and witnesses a full on attach from the Lizzarks! Herc is responsible, loyal, and very smart and it is impossible to not fall for this character. I was fascinated by how smoothly the speech bubbles and illustrations work together and draw in the reader. I am not a graphic novel fan often, but this is a very good story and I will be adding this series to my two elementary school collections. I believe my upper elementary readers will love it!

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I was very impressed with this story. The story was interesting and heart-warming and the adventure has amazing details and connections. I have not recently read the first and will return to it before reading the 3rd book.
 

Jack and the Snackstalk (Princess Pink and the Land of Fake-Believe #4), written by Noah Jones, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  I love traditional tales and this series is great for those who love traditional tales! Princess Pink is not the type of child who loves pink things at all. She loves bugs, sports, and drawing and her pet is a spider. She discovered in the first book that her refrigerator allows her passage to the Land of Fake Believe. In this 4th book she is heading to a friend's house for movie night. None of the fun and crazy things that happen in the Land of Fake Believe phase her and she is able to go with the flow on this adventure that starts with some jelly beans that are thrown out a window. Hilarious adventure ensues in this wildly silly story and the connections to traditional tales is also fun and will lead well into story retelling writing work. The chapters are short and manageable for new chapter book readers.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This Branches series has been very popular for my students. I love Traditional Tales and talk about them a lot, so conversations around these stories have been wonderful!
 

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. The Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto, written by Dav Pilkey, art by Dan Santat, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  Yet another raukous episode of Ricky and his Mighty Robot where there is a greedy and grumpy leader of Pluto upset about the renaming of the once planet to a ball of gas. The story begins with Ricky learning that sometimes his response to things can be rude and he should consider making amends to his cousin Lucy. Meanwhile the President of Pluto is heading out on his plan to attack Earth. There has to be a Flip O Rama scene in this series and in this one Mighty Robot is thwarted in a surprising turn of events! Lucy has been to what she thought was a castle, but turns out to be the rocket ship that brought the invaders. Of course, there is a lot of humor along the way in the latter chapters and Ricky and his Mighty Robot will save the day! Very simple chapters supported well with amazing full color illustrations that engage readers.

I have always felt this series to be better than Captain Underpants, but my students resoundingly choose undergarment humor. I did get more students this year reading Mighty Robot and I am pleased to have this title to add to my collection!  These two masters of children's book writing and illustrating continue to impress in this edition.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Dav Pilkey remains the master of the early reader novel, especially when you need silliness and wild action with a flip o rama section for added joy! The illustrations by Dan Santat will increase the smiles for this title.
 

Rumble of the Coaster Ghost (Notebook of Doom #9), written by Troy Cummings, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  This is book nine of the series and the students are going on a field trip. Alexander, Nikki, and Rip are frustrated by this particular amusement park as it is quite different than they expected, but then things get a bit weird, someone from their group goes missing, and the kids focus on their club notebook to solve the mystery and be rid of the the coaster ghost!

My students love these Branches series books and this series The Notebook of Doom is a favorite, for sure.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Short chapters with white space and illustrations to allow for success for your early chapter book readers in your library population. There are questions at the end to guide discussions. Buy as needed to support your students' needs and interests.
 

Tooth Bandits (Stella and the Night Sprites #2), written by Sam Hay, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  The Stella and the Night Sprites series centers around Stella and her newfound ability to see Night Sprites after meeting a lady at a jewel shop in town who seems to have "enhanced" Stella's glasses. In this story Stella, Beth, and Emily are having a sleepover and there are loose teeth involved. When Beth loses her tooth, Stella hopes her glasses will allow her to see the fabulous Tooth Fairy, but Stella sees a sprite instead. Her interactions with the sprite begin negatively as she considers this sprite to be a thief. As the chapters continue, Stella recognizes there are reasons for the behavior that Stella thought was mean and helps the sprite to find a solution without hurting Beth's chances at her tooth fairy visit. The story is sweet and has many illustrations to support the text along the way. Perfect for young chapter book readers who still need support as their reading endurance builds!

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Branches is a super popular group of series books in my library due to our Scholastic Book Fairs. I do not have many of this particular series, but it is the same format and I am sure it will be loved! I like the questions at the end of the book to guide discussion and thinking about the story characters. I love the limited words on a page and the extra wordless space (I often say white space, but this one has more gray space than white.)
 

Sweet Buttercup (Silver Pony Ranch #2), written by D.L. Green, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  I really have enjoyed the Branches series I have added to my collection. The chapters are short, there are pictures that support the readers, and there are often questions or activites that help students who may be doing reports. Silver Pony Ranch is another good addition from the Scholastic Branches books.

Sweet Buttercup is the second of this series. Tori and her sister, Miranda, are at Grandma's ranch for the summer. The horses, her grandma's dogs, and spending time with their grandma brings obvious joy for the girls. They meet a new girl who is boarding her horse at the ranch and is going to a local horse show that Tori and Miranda are a bit nervous about entering. Ashley is abrupt and pointed with her comments and seems to need to be better than Tori. Their grandma encourages them to give Ashley a chance despite that and when Ashley is in a bind at a horse show, Tori steps up to help.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Short chapters and learning some facts about riding is a big draw for many of my students in both of my schools. I love the focus on choice in this story. There are choices with how we speak to others as well as choices in how we react to others. These characters allow that learning to happen naturally. I recommend the Branches series books often as their is something for everyone. This one, quite obviously, will be for my animal lovers!
 

Some Other Now, written by Sarah Everett, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary:  Told in sections past and present, titled “Then” and “Now”, Some Other Now is the story of Jessi. In the past, she is best friends with neighbor Rowan Cohen, whose mother, Mel, is her role model and whose older brother, Luke, is Jessi’s first crush. Jessi has been dealing with her own mother’s debilitating depression, but time spent with the Cohen’s is always the perfect distraction. Until Jessi is diagnosed with cancer and everything changes. In the present, Jessi is separated from Rowan, estranged from Luke, and is too ashamed of some choices to talk to Mel. But as Mel gets sicker, Luke returns from school and unexpectedly approaches Jessi about a fake-dating arrangement that is sure to bring joy to Mel in her last days. The mystery of this story is in the middle as readers wonder about what has happened to all of Jessi’s relationships that have brought her to this point, and how they might end up as Mel’s health increasingly worsens.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Some Other Now was an incredibly moving story about family love, relationship drama, and the difficulties of moving from childhood to adulthood. Jessi’s relationship with each of the Cohens is in perpetual motion, which kept me thoroughly engaged and excited to see what would happen next. The different stages of romance with Luke were dramatic and fraught with emotion in a very satisfying way, though some steamy scenes probably make this most appropriate for high school readers. I was drawn in by the complexity of Jessi’s relationship with her own parents. Her mother is absent from her life for large periods of time while she struggles with her depression, but seeing her as she is seeking treatment in the present is an eye-opening look into a critical perspective on mental health. This book was an incredible page-turner and will be an easy and popular choice for any students looking for serious realistic fiction with a heavy dose of romance.

Duck, Duck, Moose, written by Mary Sullivan, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary:  When Duck, Duck, Moose, and a girl realize Goose is missing, they immediately go on a hunt to find him, coming across other farm animals, a locked gate, and a hive of bees in the process - only to have Goose return the next day from his beach vacation.

Straight Talk for Librarians: 
The song-like rhythm of the text and frequently repeated words make this an engaging read-aloud for younger students, who might find themselves chanting along. All words are simple, repeated frequently, presented through speech bubbles, so young children will have an easy time following along. Although the story might feel unfinished or stir up a few questions- why do they simply give up while concerned their friend is missing, and why were they not aware of Goose’s planned vacation? – those not overly concerned with plot will enjoy the silly hijinks and the chant-like quality of the words.
 

Things I Should Have Known, written by Claire LaZebnik, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary:  When Chloe’s sister, Ivy, who is on the autism spectrum, starts asking Chloe questions about dating, Chloe decides that Ivy may be interested in a boyfriend. She dutifully selects an eligible bachelor from Ivy’s class, Ethan, a movie-obsessed boy who is also on the spectrum. Ivy agrees to the date, but only if Chloe will come too, an agreement that suits Chloe until she discovers that Ethan’s brother, who similarly joined the date, is her school nemesis, David. As Chloe and David are forced to spend time together as chaperones, they grow closer as they see in each other a kindred spirit able to truly understand both the joys and troubles of having an autistic sibling. While the relationship between Ivy and Ethan is uncertain from the start, Chloe and David seem destined to become something more than friends.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  The absolute strength of this book is its insightful, realistic depictions of family life and sibling relationships with a person on the autism spectrum. Ivy and Ethan’s characterization is perceptive and authentic, as are Chloe and David’s interactions with their siblings. This book is worthy of purchase for these depictions alone as they are the primary focus on the story. The romance between David and Chloe is satisfying in its slow burn, enemies-to-lovers storyline and in Chloe’s realization of the power of having deep, meaningful relationships based on shared experiences and mutual understanding and acceptance. That being said, many of Chloe’s other relationships are superficial and make the story lag a bit. Several of the adult characters are quite frustrating as well, but offer some context as to why the sibling relationships between Chloe and Ivy and David and Ethan are so special. Some teen sexual activity makes this a better bet for high school students. This book will appeal most to teens who have a close relationship with someone with special needs, or to those who are interested in gaining insight into the lives of those who do. A solid choice for adding much-needed neurodiversity representation to a collection.
 

The Grand Escape, written by Neal Bascomb, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary:  The Grand Escape is a thrilling piece of narrative nonfiction that tells the story of a group of POW soldiers held in a German prison, Holzminden, during World War I. The first section of the book introduces each of the players in the culminating “Grand Escape” story, all of whom first tried to escape from other camps in which they were being held. Each unsuccessful attempt is recounted, ending with each man being labeled as a flight risk and sent to the “Alcatraz of Europe”, Holzminden. Holzminden was run by a ruthless and terrible German officer, Karl Niemeyer, who made the experience in Holzminden so awful, and was so spiteful and personal in doing so, that this group of men with prior attempts at escape banded together in their most dangerous and daring attempt yet. From the digging of a massive, claustrophobia-inducing trench to the traverse of hundreds of miles across the border to freedom, we follow the heroes of our story as they face obstacles and loss to achieve a seemingly impossible goal.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Interesting and exciting books about World War I for young people are hard to come by. The Grand Escape captures excitement and adventure from that time period and brings it to life. The narrative is fast-paced and presented in short, easily digestible chapters. There are fantastic archival photographs and documents throughout, in addition to maps that illustrate the paths and distances traveled by the prisoners during various maneuvers and escape attempts. There are times when the sheer number of names and figures can be slightly overwhelming and may lose an unenthusiastic reader, but history lovers, particularly war buffs are sure to be gripped by this tale, and there may even be some teen readers who could be converted into nonfiction readers by this slim and exciting volume. An easy purchase for libraries in which Bascomb’s other books are popular.

Ink in the Blood, written by Kim Smejkal, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Celia and Anya have been friends since their apprentice days. Each holds the mysterious power to transmit tattoos to other people via the ink that runs in their blood. Their “gift” is controlled by the orders of Divine. Celia and Anya long for a life beyond the temple walls. They plot their escape with the help of a fallen mistico (priestess) and join the Rabble Mob. The Rabble Mob is a traveling theater troupe that performs morality plays within the careful constraints of the Divine. Celia and Anya soon learn their past won’t be so easily escaped.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Ink in the Blood is a dark fantasy novel filled with characters whose gender is unknown or shifts. The lack of consistency leads to some confusion as to which character is speaking in parts of the novel. It is especially confusing when one character refers to another as "he" on one page and "she" on the following page. It was unclear whether this was intentional or due to spotty editing. Consistent use of the convention of they or we would have made more sense. The individual characters of the Rabble Mob are frequently more interesting than either Celia or Anya. Celia’s weakness, whining and moping is irritating. Act I of the book moves incredibly slow. The pace picks up in Act II and it's the best written section of the novel. The novel is clearly meant for high school level readers. There are multiple references to drinking absinthe with predictable consequences. Celia finds herself in several romantic entanglements that stop short of being sexual encounters. A character gouges her eyes out and multiple characters go mad.

It's clear the author completed tons of worldbuilding before the novel was written. Unfortunately, some of this previous work needed to be included in the novel for clarity's sake. The novel has good bones, but they never get fleshed out. I enjoyed parts of the novel but not the entire novel. The novel is book one of a planned series.

Honestly Ben, written by Bill Konigsberg, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary:  Ben Carver has always been one of the quieter boys at Natick boarding school. His family farm in New Hampshire is a place where emotions are suppressed, not freely expressed. Returning to Natick after winter break, Ben is hoping for a fresh new semester. He became engaged in an unexpected romantic relationship with his best friend, Rafe, during the previous semester, only to have Rafe admit that he had identified as gay all along, causing Ben to break things off feeling confused and betrayed. Now Ben has met Hannah, who attends a nearby girls’ school and seems interested in Ben for all of the reasons that make him feel like an outsider. And he has been voted captain of the baseball team and honored as the likely candidate of the school’s top scholarship, provided he can keep his grades up. Things will really turn around for Ben this semester if he can just forget about Rafe, but that is proving to be harder than expected for Ben.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  There were several concepts in this book that really worked for me. I loved how Ben’s character was pushing against traditional and sometimes toxic concepts of masculinity. He challenged teammates who made sexist or objectifying remarks and had in depth conversations with Hannah about aspects of the patriarchal society that bothered her. I also really appreciated how Konigsberg depicted the stress that Ben was under in a high-stakes education environment, in the running for a competitive scholarship and leading the baseball team as captain. It felt very realistic to me and I think students at my school will really relate to those dynamics. The big issue for conversation in this book is Ben’s attraction to his best friend, Rafe, his process of understanding those feelings and his need to combat some internalized homophobia in order to express them. Some aspects of this issue were handled really well, like the depiction of Ben’s thought process as he tried to make sense of having feelings for another male, which were entirely new to him. There were other aspects that I felt conflicted about, like Ben’s thoughts about bisexuality and his ultimate decision to identify as straight, but attracted to Rafe, often referred to as the “gay for you” trope. On one hand, I thought Ben really considered the many labels that he could apply to himself and consciously chose not to embrace the term bisexuality, which I see and validate as Ben's authentic feelings in that moment and he desire to not use a label that doesn't seem to fit him. On the other hand, I recognize that this trope can be problematic, especially in the bisexual community, and can be seen to reinforce some negative bi stereotypes which makes me hesitant to recommend it heavily. Ultimately, I intend to add this book to my collection, but I would recommend that other libraries add other titles to their LGBTQIA+ offerings first before considering the inclusion of this book. It seems that there are other titles that more successfully accomplish what this book attempts to do.
 

Graceling: the Graphic Novel, written by Kristin Cashore, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary:  Katsa is a Graceling, a person graced with a special skill that sets them apart from others. Katsa’s skill is deadly fighting ability, which has made her valuable to her ruthless uncle, a king who now uses her as his enforcer. On a royal mission, Katsa meets Po, a Graceling with incredible combat abilities who has traveled a great distance in search of his missing grandfather, who Katsa rescues on her mission. As his grandfather recovers, Po stays at the castle, sparring daily with Katsa as they ponder who has the most to gain from kidnapping his grandfather, and what other sinister plans such a person might consider. Katsa and Po make a startling discovery that sends them on an epic journey back to Po’s homeland, but the path will be treacherous and their enemy is even more dangerous than expected.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This is a graphic adaptation of the 2008 bestselling fantasy novel and it is masterfully done. The story holds up well without aging itself as it takes place in a fictional land with little technology. Illustrator and adaptor Gareth Hinds artwork is incredible, capturing the essence of the original story and leaving little out. The fight scenes, which are plenty thanks to the specific Graces of Katsa and Po, are particularly impressive, as are the way in which Hinds handles Katsa’s internal thoughts. A specific feature of Gracelings is their two-colored eyes, which are striking in the graphic version. The inclusion of different skin tones and hair types amongst the characters from different lands is particularly welcome in this updated version. Many students will be drawn to this exciting fantasy graphic novel and it may even draw some readers to the original series as well. A highly recommended purchase for middle school and high school libraries.
 

I’m a Hare, So There, written by Julie Rowan-Zoch, reviewd by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  What is the difference between a rabbit and a hare?  Hare will tell you.  Hare gets called a rabbit all too often and gets upset.  He rants about the differences between himself and a rabbit.  Hare tell us of other similar creatures who look alike but are different.  Along comes Coyote, who tries to catch Hare.  Coyote calls him a rabbit.  Hare doesn’t like being called a rabbit and punches Coyote in the nose.  Coyote flies to the ground and gets knocked out.  Hare calls out “I’m a HARE! So there, Jackal!”  Squirrel corrects him “Technically, that was a coyote!”

Straight Talk for Librarians:  The story explains the difference between a hare and a rabbit along with several other animals.  The violence and characters are similar to the 1950-1980s TV cartoons.  I ask myself does nostalgia make this book acceptable to so many on Amazon? 

There are better ways to handle situations when someone calls you something you are not.  Hare gets upset when called a rabbit.  Hare goes on a rant to explain differences between himself and a rabbit as well as other animals like turtle vs tortoise.  When caught by Coyote and called a rabbit, Hare punches Coyote in the nose and knocks him out, even though Coyote was chasing Hare.  This book would promote a great discussion of what not to do and how to better handle situations.
 

100 Animals, written by Steve Jenkins, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Seven categories of animals on two pages each.  The categories are underwater, underground, treetop, airborn, desert, arctic, and indoor.  There are 100 common and rare animals very nicely illustrated among the 14 pages of this picture board book with several lift flaps.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  A lift flap board book is usually for the very young.  The back of the book states it is a first word book for babies and toddlers featuring 100 simple and unique animals.  This book is extraordinary with a handful of rare animals such as a tarsier, echidna, oarfish, flying dragon, and desert rain frog. It probably is presumptuous to believe your child’s first words be hummingbird, jackrabbit, or even flying snake.  Most of the book has three or four syllable animal names with colorful realistic pictures.  I would target this book for upper elementary.  I ranked it as an additional selection because I would use it for an older audience than the book recommends.

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games Prequel), written by Suzanne Collins, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Coriolanus, a member of the infamous Snow family, finds himself in an opportunity to be a mentor for the 10th annual Hunger Games. Snow’s family has fallen on hard times and is struggling to keep up with the high-class society of the Capital. Snow’s problems grow as he soon discovers he will be mentoring a tribute from District 12, one of the worst-performing districts in the Games. Soon Snow’s opinion of his tribute changes and she participates in multiple devious activities. As the preparations for the games continue Snow learns that his tribute is in fact NOT from District 12 but instead part of a group that travels between the districts. Due to unfortunate circumstances, she is now trapped in the games. Snow begins to learn more about his tribute and starts to realize his world is very different from the world beyond the capital walls. Snow must now pick a side, either help a new friend and bring an end to the sinister games or join the creators of the games and help perpetuate the cycle.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  A prequel to the Hunger Games series, this novel really forces die-hard readers to question their perceptions of characters both in this novel and in the original title series. I really enjoyed this read as I found myself constantly making new inferences about the Hunger Games universe. This novel also answers many questions left unanswered by the original series. All around this was a well-written and structured book. The story was not just about how did this young likable kid turn into the big bad bloody monster readers thought he was. It also developed an almost lyrical story about the rebellion and defiance over the games. Signaling to the reader the events of the original series are not new but emphasize the war that has been going on for generations. Unlike my original assumption, the ending of the book left me building large and small connections from the prequel to the original series, instead of being the big bow on top it felt advertised as. Personally, I give this book 5 stars. It is a great companion to the universe and offers something for new and old Hunger Games readers.

How it Ends, written by Catherine Lo, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary:  How it Ends contains many of the typical elements of young adult novels: mean girls, high school drama and friendships imploding over a betrayal or series of betrayals. What sets How it Ends apart from the crowd is its gentle handling of those topics. Annie and Jessie are unlikely best friends who struggle with real problems. Jessie's social anxiety cripples her ability to form true friendships. Two of her former friends are the most popular girls at school. They turned on her in middle school and make Jessie’s life at highs school pure hell. Annie's mom died and she struggles to make peace with her stepmom and stepsister. The choices the girls make for better or worse define the outlines of their ever-changing friendship. The story unfolds in alternating chapters told from the perspectives of Annie and Jessie. Jessie fears Annie is slipping away from her and into the thrall of Courtney and Larissa. Annie wishes Jessie could forgive and forget and the girls could all be best friends. When Annie reveals Jessie’s secret to Courtney, their once close friendship begins to unravel. When Annie’s life falls apart, will Jessie come to her rescue, or will Annie have to carry on alone?

Straight Talk for Librarians:  How it Ends deals with tough topics in an unflinching manner. The voices of both girls are distinctive, even without the chapter endings the delineation between characters is clear. Jessie’s anxiety is presented realistically. The way her mom and Annie try to “help” Jessie will feel familiar to any teen who struggles with anxiety and bullying. Annie’s relationship with her stepmom and stepsister is realistically portrayed. The novel contains mature content: references to mental illness, underage drinking, sex, pregnancy, and abortion. I highly recommend this novel for readers high school age or older. The mature content might make it a controversial addition to a middle school library.
 

No Fair! No Fair! and Other Jolly Poems of Childhood, written by Calvin Trillin, pictures by Roz Chast, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  I think this is the dark side of poetry in this book. I am not surprised to find out that this is a New Yorker journalist that is penning these odes to childhood as they are likely more appealing to adults than children. The illustrations by Roz Chast even feel more appealing for adults than children, though the topics of the poems could be very funny, neither the illustrations nor the poems strike a chord for me. The afterward from Calvin Trillin give some insight into the topics of the poems, but not enough to change my thinking. The poems felt heavy, not fun.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I may be able to talk some of my male students with a darker sense of humor to check it out, but I doubt it will become a favorite for many students. (My brothers might have liked it.)