Favorite 15 Newbery Medal Winners
By Julie Sara Porter, Bookworm
The winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal is The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill. Some of the best
Newbery winners contain original ideas and concepts, relatable protagonists,
and strong attention to detail particularly for history. The top 15 in this
blogger’s opinion are (in chronological order):
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by
Elizabeth George Speare (1959)-Never has Puritan New England been
portrayed more claustrophobic and judgmental and never has a character
been more out of her element than 16-year-old Barbados native, Kit Tyler.
The witch trials and the element that breeds them are excellently captured
in Speare’s writing. Even the slightest deviation from the norm such as
not attending Meetings, acting out stories from the Bible, or writing
someone’s name in a Horn Book, become causes for suspicion. The friendship
between the rebellious Kit and Hannah Tupper, a Quaker and the titular
so-called witch is lovely as Hannah opens her home to outsiders like Kit
and an abused lonely girl. Her home becomes a safe haven from the dismal
climate of the village. The witch trial scenes are filled with suspense
and bring out the contrasting beliefs of the villagers and Kit and Hannah.
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine
L’Engle (1963)-The science fiction classic which follows the adventures of
Meg and Charles Wallace Murry who search a tesseract for their missing
scientist father is well-known. But many of the themes and characterizations
still resonate today. The eccentric Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs., Who, and Mrs.
Which are fascinating tour guides into this story of centaurs, mediums,
and The Black Thing (a dark cloud that is the symbol of all evil). The
science fiction worlds in L’Engle’s book compare to classic worlds such as
Middle Earth, Wonderland, OZ or other fictional settings for the reader to
remember and long to visit. Underneath all of this weirdness the book has
some strong themes about fighting against conformity as the Murrys and
their friends take on the telepathic IT.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil
E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (1968)-Art appreciation may not be
the usual subject for a juvenile novel, but this literary tour of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is not to be missed. Claudia
and Jamie Kincaid run away to the Met and stay inside after hours. The
Kincaid siblings display cunning and resourcefulness as they infiltrate
school groups so security guards mistake them for visitors and use “wishing
coins” for money. For Millennials and younger children, it will make an
interesting read as the Kincaid children use the nearby Donnell branch of
the New York Library, the museum’s records collection, and a completely
disorganized file cabinet in Connecticut to research a marble angel statue
and its mysterious collector, Mrs. Frankweiler. Yes, kids, sometimes we
had to go the long way for research in the old days.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by
Mildred Taylor (1977)-The segregated Depression era South seen through the
eyes of 9-year-old, Cassie Logan is stark, uncomfortable, and
unfortunately very real. The racism that inflicts the Logan family is
portrayed in many ways such as when a young white girl and her father
throw Cassie on the road and make her call the girl “miss” after Cassie
accidentally bumps into her. Cassie gets even with the girl in a very epic
manner showing her as a very strong intelligent girl ready to fight
against her oppressors. Many of the violent scenes such as revealing victims
of burning and tarring and feathering as well as the organization of a
lynch mob are very disturbing and unforgettable. They show the true impact
of racism and how it affected everyone around them. The ending is
purposely left ambiguous as the racist climate will continue to effect the
Logan family for generations to come.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine
Paterson (1978)-This is the go-to book for any lonely kid who withdraws
into their own private world of books, video games, or fictional kingdoms
to deal with the stress of the outside world. Many readers will relate to
Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke as they create their fantasy world,
Terabithia, a haven from such difficulties as Jesse’s catty sisters and
bullying classmates. The children reveal their creativity by detailing
adventures in their fantasy world where they reign as monarchs. Some
readers may even recall their own Terabithias. The book’s tragic ending is
well-written and beautifully realized as the characters deal with loss and
the idea of moving on. Knowing that this was based on a friend of
Paterson’s son, makes the story even more moving and cathartic.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
(1979)-Mystery lovers and puzzle aficionados have fallen in love with the
Game created by multi-millionaire Samuel Westing, a cross between Sam
Walton and Willy Wonka, to find his heir and to discover which of them had
taken his life. The players are all unique individuals that reveal more of
themselves as the game goes on. From Angela Wexler, a debutante tired of
being treated as a pretty face to Berthe Erica Crow, a dour Salvation Army
worker with a secret connection to Westing, the ensemble is brilliantly
realized by Raskin. The real star and scene stealer however is
13-year-old, Tabitha Ruth “Turtle/T.R.” Wexler, amateur detective and
probably the youngest stock broker ever. With her knowledge of the stock
market and observation of the other players, Turtle is able to stay ahead
of the other heirs.
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine
Paterson (1981)-Anyone who has been a sibling can relate to the struggles
of Sara Louise Bradshaw, as she has to live with her pretty talented
sister, Caroline. Sara Louise nicknamed “Wheez” is tired of Caroline
receiving all the attention from her parents, classmates, and the local
community. Many readers can
understand the feelings of envy of more talented and successful siblings
and the low self-esteem issues that sometimes comes with that sibling
rivalry. While not long on plot, the novel shows several scenes of Sara
Louise struggling to carve her own identity first as a crab fisher then as
a nurse/midwife, an occupation that allows her in one final scene to come
to terms with her past pain.
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
(1987)-While the plot is simple: two former enemies run away and learn
about each other becoming friends, Fleischman’s book gives two brilliant
lead characters that make the journey an excellent one. The spoiled
prince, Horace AKA “Prince Brat” and his street-smart whipping boy, Jemmy
bounce off each other really well when thieves mistake Jemmy for the
prince and vice versa. The two also really come through in some of the
more dramatic incidents such as when an almost free Jemmy feels guilty
about leaving the forlorn “out-of-his-depth” prince behind and refers to
him as his friend. (“Cows would give beer first.”) Also when Horace
confesses that he wishes he could be more like the whipping boy because
“(he’s) not afraid of anything.” The duo really come into their own as
stronger characters that are more than their outside appearances of a
prince and a servant.
Number The Stars by Lois Lowry
(1990)-The Holocaust is the subject of many novels juveniles and young
adults. This terrific story is a fresh take by focusing on people who
risked their lives to help Jewish families escape from the Nazis. Annemarie
Johansen, the 10-year old-protagonist, is written with a lot of depth and
courage as she does her bit to aid the Resistance by delivering packages
and helping her family hide her best friend’s family. The suspenseful plot
moves along briskly as the Johansens use ingenuous methods such as hiding
goods for the escaping Jewish family by staging a mock funeral for a
non-existent aunt. This book shows how people can use whatever means to
aid others in times of crisis.
The Giver by Lois Lowry (1994)-Lowry’s
second book on this list is a brilliant science fiction novel about a
dystopian society masquerading itself as perfect. 12- year-old, Jonas
begins to recognize the cracks in his society when he is named Receiver of
Memory, made to remember the old ways of life. The memory exchanges
between Jonas and his mentor, The Giver, are moving and heart-breaking as
Jonas experience things like colors, animals, multigenerational families,
and real love for the first time. People who long for a perfect society
should read this and realize what could be sacrificed in a drive for
perfection.
The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen
Cushman (1996)-Karen Cushman had a talent for writing strong-willed
Medieval era female protagonists. Her first novel, Catherine Called Birdy dealt with a noblewoman trying to fight
an arranged marriage to a much older nobleman. Her second, equally
brilliant novel gives another excellent lead character, Brat AKA “Beetle”
and “Alyce,” the title apprentice. Alyce studies and trains as a midwife
despite her tyrannical superior, Jane. Alyce is a kind-hearted likeable
character as she helps a poor woman give birth (while Jane runs off to aid
the Lady of the Manor) and searches for a homeless boy who is like a brother
to her. The reader will understand and empathize with Alyce’s resolve to
make something of herself as a midwife and a woman in the Medieval era.
Holes by Louis Sacher (1999)-Anyone
who has read Sacher’s Wayside School
series will know what to expect when they read his books and Holes has
them all over: humorous situations (juvenile detention boys forced to dig
holes for their Warden), clever word plays (the protagonist’s name is
Stanley Yelnats IV, the same name backwards), and odd almost supernatural
happenings (the Yelnats family is cursed with bad luck thanks to a “no
good pig stealing great-grandfather.”). Sacher’s writing is biting,
humorous, and extremely touching particularly the relationship between
Stanley and Zero, another boy at camp. Another touching highlight to the
book is the story of Kissin’ Kate Barlow, a school-teacher-turned-outlaw
and her interracial romance with Sam, a turnip farmer. The story of Kate
becomes a thread that ties the modern story of the boys in the camp and
the Yelnats’ family curse drawing them all together in one clever
conclusion.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul
Curtis (2000)-If a book was ever meant to have a soundtrack, it would be
this one. The story of Bud, an African-American boy who runs away to find
his family is a great journey into the world of blues and jazz music.
Along the way, Bud joins Herman E. Callaway and his jazz band, the Dusky Devastators
of the Depression. The portrayal of the jazz musicians is written
brilliantly as the band reveals their closeness and accepts Bud as one of
their own. Herman and his band give Bud a sense of family and purpose as
he strives to become a musician like them. He also learns about his family
and past in a moving recall that answers questions for him.
Crispin, Cross of Lead by Avi
(2003)-Like Midwife’s Apprentice,
this book also takes a look into the Middle Ages as the plot revolves
around Crispin, a peasant boy who searches for his father’s family with
only a cross as his clue. The details of Medieval peasant life are greatly
described as Crispin and his mentor, Bear encounter lords, priests, and
other travelers. The setting gives the reader a strong sense of place and
time using examples like Crispin being called Asta’s Son, the first few
years of his life to point out his illegitimate birth or characters being
forced to hold to spoken oaths. It is a thoughtful lesson into Medieval
culture and what Crispin had to fight against to find his place in that
world.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
(2009)-Gaiman’s book is an original take on the standard ghost story by
telling this book largely from the point of view of the ghosts themselves!
Everything about the book is unique and original such as a family of
ghosts taking in the recently orphaned toddler, Nobody, and raising him as
their own child. Nobody also is a multi-faceted character as he travels
between the world of the living and the world of the dead making friends
and family on both sides finding difficulties in reconciling his interest
in the living world with his life in the ghost world. The plot has its horror
scenes such as an antagonist that was responsible for the death of
Nobody’s family and is obsessed with finding the lone survivor. But Nobody
and his ghost friends and family are portrayed almost like the Addams
Family or Halloweentown residents of the Nightmare Before Christmas, creepy and spooky but somehow
charming and loveable in all of their creepiness and spookiness.
Well that’s my
list. What are your favorite Newbery Winners and Honorees? Please, share your
thoughts in the comments below.
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