South Sound Book Review Council

I am Not Happy!

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Candy Ranney

Written by Caroline L. Perry & illustrated by Sydney Hanson

You may think you see a seemingly cheerful, smiling rodent. But, you would be wrong! The quokka, an Australian marsupial, is much more complex than that. And, the main character of the this delightful picture book does his best to show a (seemingly) grumpy frog that truth through a variety of examples. Dropped his ice cream? He may look happy. But, nope, definitely not. Someone stepped on his tail? Nope, he’s not happy even though he’s smiling. And, people don’t seem to understand that they shouldn’t wake him up for selfies. He’s nocturnal, for goodness sake! Fortunately, he finds a newspaper with an article stating that quokkas are not, in fact, the happiest animals. Now, he’s happy! But, the grumpy from? That frown is just the way he looks and it doesn’t mean he feels that way. Wait, didn’t we just read a story like that?

This wonderfully hilarious picture book introduces a rather misunderstood Australian animal in a way that makes learning fun. Accompanying illustrations are somewhat cartoon like and so good! The text is very accessible, with a sentence or two per page and there is a very informative author’s note at the end that describes the quokka in more detail, including its vulnerable status as a species and what we can do to help it, including leaving it alone and not bothering it for a selfie like in the story! This would be a great book to share when teaching about conservation and boundaries with human-animal interactions. Highly recommended.

Dante N. Ferno is Not a Loser

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Candy Ranney

By Brian Gordon

Dante Nimrod Inferno is your typical 6th grade demon – uncool, goofy and ready to to change his reputation in middle school. Bullied and laughed at ever since his pants fell down in the cafeteria, he plans a fresh start in a new school, where his elementary classmates combine with the kids from the school in Blisshaven. New school means new Dante, right? Not really, because the same yucky bullies are there and his old reputation is lingering. Virgil, a brainy new friend from Blisshaven, enters the story and becomes a rather unwitting ally in Virgils’ quest for greatness. The story ends with a huge school competition (kind of like middle school Jeopardy) in which the teams are in a nail-biting near tie for the win. Dante’s knowledge of comics saves the day for Virgil and him in and they win, becoming slightly more cool and ready for more adventures.

While young readers may not get the references to Dante’s Inferno, they will certainly understand the burps, farts, annoying siblings and schoolyard escapades in this book. And, they will really get into all the hilarious illustrations that are generously peppered throughout the story. Hand this book to those readers who enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Timmy Failure. They won’t be disappointed. Recommended.

Snowy Owl Rescue

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Candy Ranney

Written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Illustrated by Natasha Donovan

Michael is on his way to the soccer field for some solo practice, when he is nearly hit by something. Jet, the “bird nerd” sister of a fellow soccer player, is nearby and explains that it is a snowy owl. They have a wealth of knowledge about birds and shares with Michael, who finds himself growing interested in this magnificent creature. When he goes back to the field the next day, the field is overrun by birders, who want to see this bird themselves. Jet gets his attention and asks for help to take the owl, who is now looking very ill in a cardboard box, to a bird rehab center some distance away. They sneak past the crowds and enlist the help of another young bird enthusiast, who loans them a motorized bike. Through a snow storm and dark woods, they manage to deliver the sick owl to the vet at the rehab center. Their parents find them there and the owl is saved. The story ends with the owl release and Jet and Michael successfully reaching out to the school principal about the dangers of rat poison, which poisoned the rat that the owl ate and was, in turn, poisoned as well.

This satisfying story packs a lot into 135 pages and does so very seamlessly. Characters are realistic and their interactions make sense. Jet comes through as younger, stubborn and passionate about birds and conservation while Michael is focused on soccer and following the rules, struggling at times with their trajectory but slowly building a great deal of empathy and respect for Jet’s ideals and gaining an insight into the world around him. The writing moves us through the story at a good pace and the black and white illustrations are a nice addition without overpowering the words. Add this to your collection for those readers that enjoy animal stories with a good dose of adventure along the way.

Knocking on Windows: A Memoir by Jeannine Atkins

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Stacy Udo

Reviewed by OHS Student, Katherine Z.

In this memoir addressed to women, survivors, writers, and readers, Jeannine Atkins documents her journey to unravel the emotions and relationships in trauma’s aftermath. The book is written and reflected on in verse; it presents the lessons learned by the author from each person in her life – and from herself.

This book is incredibly immersive for being a memoir – everything was visible in the mind, and many verses hit painfully and deeply in a relatable way. The intentional ambiguity of Atkins’ diction was very thought-provoking as well.

This novel is incredible for those drawn to themes of psychology, social behavior, and seeking healing & closure. This novel really makes you think about how every single person has untold experiences and struggles – but also healing and hope are possible.

Things that work well for the book:
Authenticity – sometimes the chronology feels like a blur, or perhaps a misrecalled memory; there were also repeated descriptions and motifs (deja vu); the author doesn’t go too in-depth when writing about other people and describes them in similar ways; these all add to the relatability of one’s mental state being so off that days, people, and experiences blend together.

Subtle theme of ‘hidden dangers’ – things that make you think “this wont happen to me,” or “this isn’t hurting me” until you realize too late; shows how simple yet unpredictable people are – I personally enjoy seeing this in literature; allusions that mean even more if you know about them (Icarus, Sylvia Plath, Ruby Bridges, Picasso, Guernica, Monet, etc.)

Favorite Lines:
She won’t know that ill always remember her. (273)
I don’t fit in my body and I don’t want to have one. (26)
I’d looked out for us. that wasn’t wrong. (31)
A pillow. a brick. breath ending. (34)
Where a boy fell, feathers and waxen wings on fire. no one looked up. everyone was busy. (38)
I miss stumbling into moments when a girl in a book seemed to become me. (50)
We think we want an ending but mean a victory. (103)
While rocks are battered by waves, sand ever so slowly, beautifully crumbles. (229)
The only proof she fought hard enough is if she’s dead. (233)
It was hard, never getting enough sleep, but I loved holding a life in my arms. (236)

Things that do not work well for the book:
The timeline was somewhat confusing, but I did say I liked this part because it may have been intentional. It also allows for parallels to be made between reality/fiction and people.

Image of Jeannine Atkins "Knocking on Windows" book cover with honey bees flying around a thistle sprig in a bottle.

Baby Ballena

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Candy Ranney

Written by Ben Gundersheimer (Mr. G) and illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero

Baby whale Juana is swimming in the warm waters of Mexico. At just one day old, she is already ready to embark on a migration to the icy waters of Alaska for the summer. Juana, her mom and other relatives in her pod travel north, noting the changing scenery along the way. They spend their summer happily eating krill and loving life. As the season changes, they turn and make the long trip back to Mexican waters, where a new calf, Juan, is born. They will stay there throughout the winter and migrate north again in the spring.

Short, accessible sentences in both English and Spanish tell the story of a 10,000 mile migration that occurs every year for these magnificent animals. The words are almost lyrical in their cadence, which are enhanced by the wonderful illustrations done by Marcos Almada Rivero. While this is a fictional piece, young readers are exposed to the basics of migration, whale size, behavior and habitat. An author’s note at the end explains Mr. G’s inspiration of the story and a few more facts. Highly recommended.

The Last Resort

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Candy Ranney

Written by Erin Entrada Kelly

Lila sees ghosts, which is strange and, at times, very dangerous. This was something new for her. She is a typical, albeit dramatic, twelve year old, who has some (typical) middle school friendship issues. That changes when her family has a car accident on their way to her estranged grandfather’s home in Ohio (after hearing that he had passed away). Lila begins to see “people” that her family can’t see. When they arrive at her grandpa’s rather creepy home, Lila meets the neighbor kid, Teddy, who explains her Grandpa Clem’s connection to the ghostly world, including a portal to that world on the fourth floor of Grandpa Clem’s home! Grandpa Clem’s ghost visits Lila and tells her he was murdered. Now, he can’t leave until she finds his killer. Things get stranger and creepier – circus ghosts, nightmares for everyone and Grandpa Clem’s business partner, Howler, who is quit a villain and in cahoots with some evil ghosts bent on revenge. Lila, Teddy and Lila’s brother, Caleb, understand that they are the only ones that can fix the portal, sending the ghosts back to the other world and ending the terrible plot of Howler and the evil sibling ghosts.

This hair-raising story begins rather benignly and draws the reader into the world of Lila, who seems like a very typical middle schooler with a very typical family and life. That all begins to change after the car accident and the tension mounts slowly as the reader is pulled into a new chapter of Lila’s life that is anything but typical. Her relationships with her brother and new friend, Teddy, become much stronger as they come together to fight the evil that has entered their lives. And, Lila grows as a person, becoming reflective and working to change some of her poor habits that did not endear her to her peers. Lila’s bravery shines through and she knows that she is the one that can fight the evil and save everyone, with some help from Teddy and Caleb. After that, it’s over, right?

There are some interesting interactive elements via a QR code at the end of the story. Hand this book to your readers that enjoy Mary Downing Hahn or Dan Poblocki books. It’s just scary enough to be fun. They will want to read it with the lights on, though. Highly recommended.

Escape from Nuggetville

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Midge Livingston

By Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson

Nugget 929 has all they need, loving parents yummy food and close friends but when their dunking day arrives they must become a golden nugget all of that must end. 929 realizes that they want to take a different road and not get dunked. These forbidden ideas form them to run and escape from the planet.

This cute graphic novel is a wonderful tale for younger readers about being yourself, not following the path everyone else is on and fighting for what is right for you. The illustrations are vibrant yet have a softness to them. This is a great book one of the Adventures of Tubby Nugget. We will have to see where Tubby’s story goes in future books.

The Ghost in Cabin 13

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Midge Livingston

Written and Illustrated by J.C. Phillipps

Leah is heading to Camp Cottontail where she will be the youngest member of her cabin. Having never been to camp, she is nervous. Will the others accept her? Is it okay that she brought her favorite doll? Will she humiliate herself? The first day she and her cabinmates find out that one of the biggest rules of camp is to stay away for Cabin 13. Of course all in her cabin want to go check it out in the middle of the night. They break in with an Ouija board and from there things get a little crazy. The air gets cold, they hear a voice and then they all flee. The next day Leah goes back to the cabin in the hopes of making a friend and then the ghost possesses her doll, Beverly.

Will the camp be the same after the doll starts to cause mayhem? Will Leah get her doll back? Will friends be made? Will any of her cabin mates ever want to go to camp again. This fun, lighthearted yet spooky tale will interest upper level elementary students as well as younger middle schoolers. It has a great message of the importance of being yourself and not rushing to grow up. The illustrations are vibrant and the cover will grab readers attention. This is a quick read that won’t freak out readers…..to much.