My list says that I will read half of the Newbery Medal Winners from 1922 to the present. I'd really like to see myself read them all AND post about them on this page...here it goes...
1926: Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
Humorous Chinese Folktales.
The cover wasn't enticing me but once I got through the first story I was hooked. Definitely a book I will be introducing to Zola when she's a bit older. It was funny and thoughtful.
I'd like to know how authentic the tales are...
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1952: Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
This was a past read. I didn't like it. I didn't even get through the whole book. I could not abide by the writing style. It was dry and I guess I just didn't get it. If I get through the rest of the list this year I may come back to it.
It's curious to me that this book has made a come-back in the last few years. I don't know why.
_______________________________________________________________________1963: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I have never met a person that read this book and didn't love it.
When I was a kid I put off reading it even though so many people were expressing how much they thought I would love it- mainly my school librarians, ha! I was put off by the cover (this is going to be a theme with me) and the idea that it was a 'science' book. Then I had to read it twice before I understood what was going on. But eventually I fell in love.
________________________________________________________________________1978: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
4th or 5th grade? I can't remember the year I had to read this book... I was always in the advanced reading group in school. Sometimes that meant I was all by myself reading in the back while the rest of the class worked on something else. Other times there were one or two other students in the group with me. This was an advanced reading assignment... now I'm thinking it was fourth grade... I was in a rebellious stage and even though I secretly LOVED this book I acted impassive in class. I thought I was so cool. Thank goodness I got over that phase and I can now freely admit to crying over this wonderful story.
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1991: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
I read this book because of my youngest sister. She's 11 years younger than me so we didn't live in the same house growing up for very long but every time I'd go home I would raid (actually I still do this) her bookshelves (no one in my family has just one). I borrowed this book from her one year, loved it, and read several more Spinelli books. Thanks, Stevie!!
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1983: Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt
This is not the Newbery cover but it is the cover that I remember from middle school. I was assigned to read, Homecoming by Voigt and it has such a profound effect on me that I continued with her other stories. Homecoming sticks out as a top 5 book from my middle school years; a girl who runs away, takes care of herself and her siblings and turns out ok in the end. I was hooked. Darcy is such a strong character that I wanted to be her.
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1999: Holes by Louis Sachar
Another read thanks to my sister, Stevie. Just a fun children's story. Written well and original enough to be worthy of this award.
And the movie is fun too!
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1987: The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishchman
I do not understand why this book is on this list. It is simple. A super short, fast read. And it's not even an original story. It's a Prince and Pauper re-do. I need to do some more research to find out why it won.
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2007: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
I fell in love with this little girl. I rooted for her the whole way through. I'm not sure what my take on this story would be if I were a child but as a parent it is a beautiful read.
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2010: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
A reflection of A Wrinkle in Time. The whole thing feels like an homage to L'Engle, Stead is obviously a huge fan. It is a great book in it's own right, though. A good look into human connection and how we have the power to affect one another throughout all of time.
