We tend to think of “fake news” and doctored photos as a modern-day phenomenon, a product of the internet and digital photography, but this book tells the tale of two young girls during WWI who used an early camera to convince their parents to believe their tales about the fairies they entertained when playing by the local brook.  Things snowballed, and before they knew it, their photos had become a worldwide sensation, being discussed and evaluated by famous people, including Arthur Conan Doyle.  We so often skip reading Authors’ notes, but in this case, the note in the back of the book is one of the most valuable parts of the book, adding context and perspective, pointing out similar issues between this prank of the past and the modern-day need for discerning truth in what we view and read.  The illustrations are very much in keeping with the era of the story, thus inviting readers in and providing a sense of setting for young readers unfamiliar with the time.

The main body of the book is written in an almost poetic manner, with rich illustrations that evoke the mood and sentiment of life in an ancient wilderness.  It tells about the life cycle of a giant redwood tree, but more as a story than as informational text, yet it is still full of scientific explanations.  Toward the end, it also shares the historical/sociological aspects of work that has been done to protect the Giant Redwoods from over harvesting.  Several pages in the back are dedicated to “Facts about Coast Redwoods,” expounding in a more expository manner to some of the phrases used earlier in the tree’s story, adding more information/details.

It’s a straightforward text for young readers that provides the basics of how seeing-eye dogs are trained and what kind of services they provide.  It explains for children that when such a dog is in its harness it is in work mode, and they should not attempt to pet or play with it.  It describes some of the commands dogs learn, as well as some cues they may give to their owner.  Because it is a text intended for young readers, the depth of information is somewhat limited, as there are only a few sentences, in large font, per page.  The text on each page is supported by full-color photos on the opposing page.  The book contains all your basic non-fiction text features, including table of context, index, etc. I wish they had kept with the more traditional academic vocabulary of “Glossary,” instead of “Words to keep” though.  Also, although there is another book in this series dedicated to other service animals, I thought it would have been nice in this book to include a sentence or two explaining that Guiding for the blind is only one type of service dogs (and other animals) have been trained to do.

It’s fine I guess, but it wasn’t my favorite of similar type books.  This one seemed more concerned with being cute than with being informative, and I’m not sure their cuteness attempts always hit the mark. When the book is explaining that carrots aren’t really that good for rabbits, and could give them cavities, I don’t know how many modern kids are going to understand the point of the illustration of a rabbit with a kerchief tied around its face.  It makes the bold statement at the beginning of the book that no matter what kind of pet we have they love us, but is that really true?  I know dogs and cats can develop relationships of affection with their owners, but how does one know if a tarantula or a gold fish loves one?

This is a level 2 Blastoff Reader. It talks about the different types of technology used in a school and a brief history of technology in school. This book is coding in school, but a more appropriate title would be technology in school as it did not talk very much about coding. This book has many informational text features including bold words, labels and a glossary.

The British Museum is in trouble, it needs a donation right away to stay open. Lottie Lipton follows clues that lead her underneath the museum into the catacombs. She goes on an adventure that may lead her to treasure and saving the museum.

Remy, a raccoon, had his house broken into and his most prized possession a journal is missing. Remy and his friends the mice join forces to search for the journal. Remy and his friends must escape different perils while searching for the journal and discover new friends along the way. This book is part graphic novel, part illustrated chapter book. Students who are trying to move from graphic novel to chapter books may find this a decent transition.

Mia Tang moved to the US with her family in search of a better life. Instead they have faced many challenges. Mia’s mom thinks they have found the perfect new job managing a motel and it comes with free lodging. Unfortunately the owner of the motel is mean and managing the motel is a lot of work. Mia decides to help her family by running the front desk of the motel and in doing so makes new friends and overcomes many obstacles.

The Year of Living Awkwardly runs the reader rapidly through the life of high school sophomore Chloe Snow. The author, Emma Chastain, compels the reader through this emotional year with Chloe and her classmates as she works at the pool concession stand, plans to go to dances, hilariously prepares for and takes the PSAT, terrifyingly attends traffic safety classes, and flubs trying out for the school musical. If that isn’t enough drama, her parents have separated and are proceeding with a divorce. Chloe lives with her attorney dad while her writer mom has moved to Mexico with the boyfriend. Can Chloe forgive her mom for leaving? or her dad for dating Chloe’s English teacher? Can Chloe even figure out who her real friends are amongst the teen drama at school? Chastain presents a sophomore girl who is unfiltered, sexually aware and floundering to find love in most of the wrong ways. Some readers will be put off by this girl’s choices, though no doubt there are girls who have lived parallel lives to Chloe’s by the age of 16. The teenage angst is dripping from this novel as Chloe is battling how to be true to herself as she trusts and loves others. This is an additional purchase for upper high school students.

Maya is in an experimental phase in her life, quite literally. Going into the summer after graduating high school and losing her mother to cancer, Maya’s world is in a state of emulsion — droplets that aren’t mixing together in the right way. Whit, her boyfriend of over a year, dumps her for another girl. Her dad is more concerned with carabiners than college preparations. Her best friend, another boy, is leaving for college at the end of the summer. Maya’s summer plan consisted of transcribing notes from a college professor at MIT, where her mother had previously worked as a chemist and where Maya would be attending in the fall. But shortly after the implosion of her love life, Maya discovered a notebook of her mother’s with field notes on an secret experiment with a serum containing pheromones to spice up the mother’s relationship with her dad. With the help of a PhD candidate in the lab at MIT who had also worked on this secret project, Maya devises a way to continue the experiment, the goal of which is to get her boyfriend back. A true love story without many surprises, Meredith Goldstein gives readers a character that has a little fun while figuring out with which guy she really has the right chemistry. Recommended for hopeless romantics who like clean finishes.

This book is a blend of fact and fiction as we read the story of Nae (cowboy) and Kate (storekeeper’s daughter) as they navigate life in the wild west. Along the way, there are text and photo boxes with facts about that time period. There is a timeline and map included, as well as index, glossary and table of contents.

While the mix of facts and fiction is interesting, it is somewhat confusing that the fact boxes often do not coordinate with the fictional story line presented on the same pages. For example, Kate’s brother is really sick and the doctor is at a ranch five miles away. Yet, on the same two page spread there is a fact box with information about the Pony Express. The facts are great, but the story is a bit weak and doesn’t really mesh with some of the facts (as mentioned previously). And, elements are (very) briefly mentioned in the story line, but a have a big presence in the accompanying fact box.

This might be a decent book to rouse student interest for more substantial information. But, don’t rely on it. Not recommended.

Written in verse, this book reads visually like skiing quickly down a snowy hill of moguls. The archival black and white photos are the frosting on the cake to this story. This is the biography of Peter Seibert of Massachusetts. Pete learned to ski at seven years of age, “there was nothing else like it in the world.”(13)

The first section “AMERICA” tells of Pete’s years of skiing on his high school’s ski team, being too young to enlist when World War II breaks outs, but enlisting when he turns eighteen in the 10th Light Division (Alpine), Army training in the snow of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and Pete becoming an Army snow instructor in white camouflage.

“OCEAN” dwells on the anticipation of crossing the Atlantic Ocean before seeing action in World War II.

“ITALY” takes place in the Apennine Mountains in Northern Italy. The German Army is on top of peaks looking down on the Allies. The Allies need to dislodge the German Army before the Allies can advance. Pete was in the Allied platoon in snow mountain gear slowing working their way up the mountains before the 7:30 a.m. attack began. It was a remarkable feat “that so many Americans had climbed the impossible east side of Riva Ridge…Not one of his soldiers died in the climb to the top… the Germans fought back for four days but then surrendered.”(110)

In another battle, Pete was wounded from an artillery blast. Pete would be in the hospital for almost two months. During this time Germany surrenders.

Back in “AMERICA” Pete will undergo many surgeries, go through rehab, and wonder if he will ever ski again.

“THE PROMISE” finds Pete teaching in a ski school, qualifying for the U.S. Ski Team of 1950, and learning how to run a ski resort after injuring his ankle. In 1962, Pete opens the Vail Ski Resort.

Enjoy gliding through Pete’s story as if you yourself are on skis with him. This is a side of skiing and World War II that is often at told.

Set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this latest novel by Kiersten White is sure to appeal to many different readers. Even if you have no previous exposure to the Buffy movie or TV series, this book will quickly grab your attention. Twin sisters, Artemis and Athena, have grown up in the world of Watchers – those who help advise and protect Slayers. Nina (Athena) has always felt like an outcast among her peers and family. This “weak” character soon finds herself thrown into the power of becoming the very last Slayer. Adventure ensues to try and take down demons that threaten the world. New found Slayer powers cause Nina to have to make quick decisions for the first time in her life – decisions that will have great impact upon those she loves. Deceit among characters is an underlying factor that helps drive the plot. There are many descriptive fighting scenes, fueled by strong female characters and minimal, secondary male characters. Readers of Fantasy will delight in the characters, setting, and plot of this novel.