What’s Your Next Great Read? Book Reviews with Ms. Cecily

Are you looking for great adventure in far off lands? Interested in a beginner chapter book? Maybe you are somewhere between? No matter your reading level or interest the library has something waiting for you!

Really Truly by Katherine Vogel Fredrick
This is the third entry in the Pumpkin Fall Mysteries.  It’s much like the old Nancy Drew mysteries sure to capture the attention of anyone who likes a good mystery. Truly Lovejoy is excited for the perfect summer in Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire: swim practice outside, working at the bookstore, one-on-one time with her mom, and best of all, time with the dreamy RJ Calhoun who may just like Truly back. But the idyllic falls apart when she’s sent off to Mermaid Academy-sparkly tail and all – on Cape Cod.
J FREAges 10+
Grand Canyon Grab by Ron Roy
This A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #11 begins with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visiting the Grand Canyon when they spot Parker Stone- a famous TV star. They can’t wait to get his autograph, but before the can Parker is kidnapped! Only a few clues and his pet parrot are left behind. It’s up to the trio to find Parker before it’s too late!
J ROYAges 6+
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
A sweeping, spooky, adventure! Cass’s best friend is a ghost and she can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead. To make matters worse her parents write about ghosts but don’t believe she can see ghosts. When Cass’s parents start hosting a TV show about the world’s most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh, Scotland. Here, graveyards, castles, and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms. And when Cass meets a girl who shares her “gift,” she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil — and herself.
J SCHAges 9+
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
A brave and unusual girl named Serafina lives secretly in the basement of the Vanderbilt’s grand Biltmore Estate during the Gilded Age. Serafina’s father is the estate’s maintenance man and warns her to keep herself hidden from the fancy folk who live on the floors above, but when children at the estate start disappearing, Serafina steps into action with one of the young Vanderbilts. A blend of history, mystery, and magic!  
J BEAAges 9+
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
One of my favorite Thanksgiving books. On the day before Thanksgiving, a group of children visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nugget and his turkeys. The children and turkeys giggle and gobble, and everything is gravy. When the trip comes to an end, the children leave the farm with full hearts — and bulging bellies — reminding people and poultry alike that there is much to be thankful for.
E PILAges 4+
T.Rex National Geographic Kids by Andrea Silen
Giant teeth! Crushing bite! Slicing claws! And … feathers? Travel back in time to meet the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. Learn about these fascinating giants of the past through the fossil remains of Sue and Scotty.
ER 567.9Ages 4+
Tiny Terrors! The World’s Scariest Small Creatures by Ginjer L. Clarke
Did you know that the blue dragon sea slug is the length of a paperclip but can store deadly jellyfish venom in its body for use against predators? Or that the golden poison dart frog is only an inch long, but its skin holds enough poison to kill ten people? These tiny terrors don’t have to be big to be deadly! Learn how they kill and where they live – good news probably not in your backyard! 
ER 591.65Ages 8+
Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero
Llewellyn does not like to feel afraid or sad, angry, lonely, or embarrassed. And so he comes up with a brilliant plan: he tucks each of his feelings into jars and hides them away where they won’t bother him anymore. But when he gets in trouble in class, Llewellyn finds he needs to put away excitement too. And when joy is quickly followed by disappointment, he decides to get ride of joy as well. After a while, Llewellyn walks around not feeling much of anything at all. And what happens when his emotions refuse to be bottled up any longer?
E MAR Ages 4+
Perfectly Imperfect Mira by Faith Pray
Mira wants to be perfect at everything she tries. Everyone around her is good at something, but Mira’s not sure if she’ll ever find a thing of her own. One day, Mira decides to try…and because of that one simple act, everything changes. With a stumble, a wobble, and a humongous flop or two, will Mira learn to find the beauty in her imperfections?
E PRAAges 4+
The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
One of the best books of 2020! A poignant and timeless story of friendship that twines together moments in underexplored history.
On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant where their fathers work has exploded. The two girls, who’ve always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina’s estranged grandmother, Rita. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person. Oksana must face the lies her parents told her all her life. Valentina must keep her grandmother’s secret, one that could put all their lives in danger. And both of them discover something they’ve wished for: a best friend. But how far world you go to save your best friend’s life? Would you risk your own?
J BLAAges 9+
Glitch by Laura Martin
Regan and Elliot are training to become Glitchers- people who travel in time to stop others from altering history to change the future. The two have always been enemies and it’s worse since Elliot passed his practice simulation and Regan. Then they find a letter from Regan’s future warning them that they will have to work together to prevent something terrible from happening.
J MAR Ages 9+
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it so the show can go on? Follow along as students turn their school upside down trying to catch the turkey, ending with a twist that ensures no turkeys are harmed (or eaten!). This hilariously zany children’s picture book combines STEAM concepts and traps with a silly story and fun illustrations,
E WAL Ages 4+
Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne
It’s a time for giving thanks when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to 1621 on the first Thanksgiving Day. The Pilgrims ask them to help get things ready. But whether it’s cooking or clamming, Jack and Annie don’t know how to do anything the Pilgrim way. Will they ruin the holiday forever? Or will the feast go on?
J OSBAges 6+
A History of Underwear by Hannah Holt
From Paleolithic lion cloths to Henry VII’s wives wearing underwear on their heads to Mary Walker, a civil war surgeon who was arrested for wearing men’s underwear and clothing to better work on patients, this book surveys the vast and fascinating history or our most private clothing, on a paleolithic to more up to date undergarments.
J 391.4 HOLAges 4+
Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak
So…how does your brain work and how can you make it work better? During the day, your brain helps you do things- eat, walk, play, and learn new things. Using your brain helps it stretch and grow. But you have the power to grow and train your brain just by going to sleep? While you’re resting, your brain is doing some of its most important work! Your brain gets cleaned at night while you are sleeping. It is also while you are sleeping that you lock in what you learned during the day.
J 612.8 DEAAges 4+
The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Crime Story by Emma Bland Smith
This early biography about Elliot Michener, a counterfeiter and all around bad guy, is interesting and uplifting. When Elliot Michener was locked away, he was determined to defy the odds and bust out. But when he got a job tending the prison garden, a funny thing happened, he found new interest and skills- and a sense of dignity and fulfillment. Elliot transformed Alcatraz Island and the island transformed him.
J B MICAges 7+
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
Zachary Ying doesn’t know much about his Chinese heritage. His single mom was busy making sure they go they and his schools taught Western history and myths. Zack is woefully unprepared when he discovers he was born to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China for a vital mission. But the Emperor binds to Zack’s AR gaming headset instead of his body, Zack’s mom’s soul gets taken by demons! Sack now has this infamous tyrant yapping in his headset and he has to journey across China heisting magical artifacts and defeating historical and mythical creatures while learning to wield the emperor’s incredible water dragon powers. If Zach can’t complete the mission he could lose his mom forever. You don’t want to miss the nonstop adventure across China!
J ZHOAges 8+