Have you ever thought about what you would do if you only had 24 hrs left to live? The Vanishing Deep by Astrid Scholte is a suspenseful dystopian Sci-fi thriller. This book is a tale based on two orphaned sisters in a futuristic water-world, Equinox and Palindromena. The oldest sister, Elysea, drowns during a dive and leaves the younger sister Tempest to survive on her own. For two years Tempest was diving and saving money to resurrect her sister, Elyea. At Palindromena her sister is brought back to life for only 24hrs. Tempest wants to find out from her sister what happened the night she died and what were the secrets she withheld about their parents’ death. This Sci-fi thriller is a real page-turner and kept me thinking about what was going to happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful thriller with a little bit of romance.
Category Archives: Reviewer’s Library Type
The Music of What Happens
Max is athletic, outgoing, and still closeted about his sexual preferences except with his closest friends. Jordan is exactly the opposite. Told in alternating chapters from each teen’s voice, Bill Konigsberg has once again authored a story of real, raw life for two boys who discover the other to be inherently attractive — a pull in their soul that seems surprising because of their differences. Jordan’s family is in crisis because of his father’s death. Max is the type of person who loves to help people — a perfect match. Max also seems like the person who has everything in control, but readers will ride along with Max on his physical and mental journey which is the more important focus of Konigsberg’s story. Max and Jordan’s love is so exciting as they enjoy those times where they invent new activities they can enjoy together. Their passion gets real and this is when Max’s struggle will no longer be able to stay hidden. The Music of What Happens is a wonderful addition to the growing LGBTQ+ literature available to young adults and should be in every school library.
Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure
Written by Camille Andros
Illustrated by Brianne Farley
Like Charlotte the Scientist Gets Squished, Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure is a story about a rabbit named Charlotte who is really into science. In this tale, Charlotte’s grandfather has moved in with Charlotte and her family. Grandpa encourages Charlotte to continue with the science experiments.
One day, Grandpa gets sick then the other forest animals start getting ill. Charlotte has a guess as to what was making everyone sick but the experts who came to town didn’t pay her any attention. Charlotte continued on in spite of the experts. Charlotte diligently worked in a methodical manner.
Does she find the cure? Read this wonderful brightly colored picture book to find out. Like her other book, Camille Andros includes a page of scientific terms and their definition.
The Moon by Grace Hansen
Primary grade students wanting basic information about the phases of Earth’s moon will especially find The Moon helpful. There are nine pages of text, each opposite a full page of gorgeous color illustration or photo of the text’s topic. Each page of text usually has three sentences set in a large font. Topics include: creation of the moon theory, reflection of the sun’s light / phases of the moon, and craters.
The Moon measures 11″ x 9.5″.
The Moon ends with a page of three More Facts, a glossary, index, and Abdo Kids Code (abdokids.com OTK0536) for “crafts, games, videos, and more.”
To the Moon! by Jodie Shepherd & illus. Mike Byrne
To the Moon has the format of The Magic School Bus in that it has the story line accompanied by most of the illustrations and the factual text bubbles on every page turn.
To the Moon tells the story of Neil Strong’s class field trip to the Space Museum. There Neil sees exhibits about Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon in 1969. Neil wants to gather as much information as he can to make his science fair project extra special. Then, using his imagination Neil is transported to the moon itself. On the moon, Neil comes across an android named Luna who fills him in on basic moon facts like: lack of air, gravity, craters, and use of space suits. Before he knows it, Neil is back at the Space Museum and ready to go to the moon himself someday.
There are enough facts in this book that a student could use To the Moon as a reference book for a report. Mike Byrne’s does an awesome job showing the vast size of the moon using perspective. Mike also includes people of color in the illustrations and a student in a wheel chair. Though these do not add information to the story being told, it is a small step forward from a cultural diversity point of view.
To the Moon ends with an activity for making a moon diary of the moon’s phases and the usual: glossary, index, reference books, and websites (www.lerneresources.com) including NASA.
Snow Song by A.K. Riley
This simple poem shows small children enjoying little moments in snow as it builds in the woods, on hills, through the town, and on the local pond. This poem uses interesting descriptive words to describe the accumulating snow such as “lathering” and “creamy.” These words are not normally used in conjunction with the image of snow and it leaves the reader struggling to picture the type of snow covering the ground.
This is a good preschool through first grade poem, but because of the odd descriptors, it is an easy one to skip.
Points to note: illustrated by Dawn Lo
Speak Up by Miranda Paul
Knowing when to use your voice can be difficult. This book gives our littlest readers ideas on when and how to speak up and use their voices for good. It follows a diverse class through their day, giving real life scenarios of when and how students can use their voices individually or together. Some instances given are: if a teacher mispronounces your name – Speak Up! If you need be an ally to a friend, animal, or plant – Speak Up! When a rule isn’t fair – Speak Up! Even if your voice is quiet as a whisper, try it – Speak Up!
This is a great story to teach self advocacy and allyship to our youngest learners.
Points of note: illustrated by Ebony Glenn; diverse characters shown throughout.
Boxitects by Kim Smith
Creativity. Teamwork. STEAM. These three themes make this book a hit with all readers
The story follows Meg, a boxitect, as she creates magnificent structures at Maker School. Problems arise when another boxitect enters the school and suddenly there is competition. Meg and Simone have very different styles. When the end of year showcase requires them to work together, will they let their competition and differences keep them from winning? Or can they work together to create something even more magnificent?
The book ends with instructions to make your own box creations. A perfect book for kids who have just moved and may have a plethora or boxes sitting around. Points of note: book cover is different than the jacket.
Swashby and the Sea, Beth Ferry
This picture book, Swashby and the Sea, by Beth Ferry, is a heartwarming tale of unexpected friendship crossing typical age barriers. Although the book is recommended for ages 4-8, I think it would be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Juana Martinez-Neal’s illustrations bring the story to life through: word play in the sand, detailed facial expressions, and minute details like observant crabs and hints of Spanish language, like Swashby’s boat, El Recluso. The story begins as Swashby, a reclusive sailor, has retired to the beach for a relaxing life of solitude. However, his plans are quickly ruined when his new neighbors, a granddaughter and her grandmother, move in. The book tells the story of a friendship between a young playful girl of color with an elderly grumpy white man. The unnamed girl’s persistence and kindness eventually win over the tough sailor, or Mr. Swashby as she calls him. My only complaint is when the girl is swept into the sea, the severity of the situation is not acknowledged. Highly recommended for in-depth discussions or lessons, or as quick pleasure read that leaves you with a warm feeling inside.
A Mustache Baby Christmas by Bridget Heos, ill. by Joy Ang
Back in 2013, Bridget Heos and illustrator Joy Ang gave birth to Mustache Baby. If you know Mustache Baby, then you already know what happens when his mustache starts out short, then grows long with ends that curl. This book has facial hair magic verses Christmas magic. Two, two, two magics in one story.
The story begins with Billy’s (a.k.a. Mustache Baby) friend Javier , who was born with a full beard. “On Christmas Eve, Javier’s beard…turned white…[making] him Santa’s #1 helper, Santa Baby!”
Santa Baby is helping adult Santa, but forgets to make the toys. Oh, no! Along comes Baby Billy to become an elf and make the toys. Hurrah! With all the work of making the toys, Baby Billy’s mustache has grown long and curls at the ends. Oh, no! “BAD GUY MUSTACHE!” is keeping all of the toys he’s made for himself. Baby Santa becomes upset. His beard is growing longer turning Javier/ Baby Santa into “MAD GUY BEARD!” The two start a snowball fight with each other. When Elf Baby/Billy hurts an innocent the two rush to help the injured. Slowly, their mustache and beard go back to normal, just in time for adult Santa’s arrival. Adult Santa invited them to ride along with him in his sleigh. “…kids heard them exclaim, as they rode out of sight, Merry mustache to all…and to all a beard white!”
If you are a Mustache Baby fan, yes you will want this book , too. If they are new to Mustache Baby younger children may find this book with BAD GUY MUSTACHE and MAD GUY BEARD disheartening at Christmas time, but older children will like it. This said, it is not a wonderful stand alone book without the rest in the series.