Newbery Honor Books 2000- 2019
Original topic subject: Newbery Honor Books 2000- 2020
Talk Newbery Challenge
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2EGBERTINA
2000:
North America
United States
Washington/ Oregon
Columbia River
22 DEC 2022
Was I transported to the 1890's? No. Was I transported this region? No. and I grew up there. Was I transported into a Finnish immigrant experience? No
Not a review:
initial thoughts:
descriptors for this book are pioneer life; there is really very little in this work that evokes the ethos of pioneer life. it has been compared to "little house", and this is egregiously inaccurate. even caddie woodlawn, who i always felt was a bit too tumultuous for my taste, pales beside the wild antics of may amelia. in fact remove the fantastical elements and this work is more similar to pippi longstocking, not my favorite childhood character.
realistic elements: may amelia comes from a time when women are expected to behave within specific parameters. may amelia does not meet these standards. she comes from a culture that favors men, and in this book openly belittles M.A. still, M.A. remarks so sharply on her "despised" status, that she is oblivious to genuine deeds and remarks of affection.
like many modern writings, the tomboyness is accentuated and glorified. i am over this theme- and i was a tomboy. i was who i was, and felt no need to scream it to the world or into the faces of everyone. i dont know who the historic may amelia was - but the storybook version is screaming obnoxious modern expectations.
just as historic females were expected to follow strict social roles - so, too, the modern female protagonist follows narrowly scripted expectations to be always clamoring of her toughness, lack of lady-likeness, and better than any boyness. i sometimes feel that to be a modern female protagonist is more exhausting than any authentic social roles of the previous centuries.
it is because of this focus within the story, that the story fails to be about homesteading, Finnish families, farms, pioneering, or even the community surrounding the Columbia. May Amelia sucks up all the space of this book. you could drop this heroine into any book during any time-period and you would never notice the difference.
Another of my beefs is the alleged homespun grammar. nowadays "pret-near" every book speaks an artificial home-spun grammar, for the sake of authenticity. These are Finnish people; i'm certain their English was interesting, but we get no authentic Finnish flavour. What we read is "perfect" home-spun bad grammar- the way some people, particularly authors of modern books, believe that historic and other ordinary "folk" went round "syllabicating", all sort of barely ejucated-like. I have no Finnish immigrants in the tree, but, i'z a fair-passle that spoke rigidly erudite, and woulda' knuckle-thumped their kin if they went 'round speakin' like this- even during this time-frame.
3EGBERTINA
2000:
North America
United States
14 DEC 2022
This series is not utterly boring- just not spectacularly interesting. I comprehend his memoirs, many of the cultural facets overlapping with my own. Would any other individual have been selected for such a memoir? If I write mine will anyone care? Newbery selection has to be on the basis of his known illustratorship rather than on any perceived literary value.
5EGBERTINA
2001:
Read in 2002ish - so will have to re-read before I can review. However, I have a new question. Is the work transportive? My original question regarded meritability.
Even Winn Dixie- a pleasant piece of writing, but not a spectacular writing has a transportive quality. Is it a book that I will treasure above all others for eternity? No. However, the author has provided a setting that transports the reader into the book. The reader feels himself drawn into the south as it is portrayed. The reader feels a sense of the surrounding community and characters. Until, today, I had been unable to identify this quality missing in so many of these more recent Newberys. I may not desire to be transported to this book-world for ever- but, I am transported. I am in it as I read.
6EGBERTINA
2001:
14 DEC 2022:
North America
United States
Pennsylvania
ADHD
Abusive Family members
I guess I just don't get Gantos. Why is he writing books in the 2000's, about worlds centered in the 70's? Do kids get his references? Aside from that, this theme is not my scene. I just don't know which group of children would treasure this kind of book for an eternity. This is a light read.
7EGBERTINA
2001:
8EGBERTINA
2002:
27 DEC 2022:
North America
Canada
Coal Harbor
Merit: yes
Transported: yes
I don't know how to classify this book. I also don't know how to justify it. It is a simple book, but surprisingly enjoyable. It is humourous and silly, but somehow not annoyingly obnoxious. Was I transported? I believe I was. I was fully able to identify with Primrose in her staunch, but unlikely belief.
10EGBERTINA
2003
13 JAN 2024:
This book was very intense. Although, it didn't develop as I imagined, it was better. Very gripping.
12EGBERTINA
2003:
3 JAN 2023
North America
United States
Florida with occasional flashbacks to Montana
Am I transported to a Floridian atmosphere? No. This book could take place anywhere.
Endangered Species; preservation
owls.
Hoot was readable. There were interesting moments and enough plot to carry the reader through. I greatly fear this seems to be my general summation of so many modern selections. As to the merit of this title to have been selected- I can only suppose that its greatest merit is the environmental issue that it espouses. I didn't find it realistic. Often you encounter reviews begrudging the old fashioned happy endings of generations past. Is this any different? Crude humour, modern slang, stunted adults -so that the children shine, violence and bullying presented as some kind of generational absolute. This is a work of this generation. There is no elegance to the writing. There are occasional pleasant descriptions of nature, but nothing outstanding that sucks the reader in to it. Will future generations cling to this work as a model of literature? I cannot predict. Does this work qualify as a cut above all others? I find that doubtful. Its a book like so many others. The work is targeted toward slightly younger readers, but still within range 12 year olds. I recall reading many just plain books as a child with no particular merit; but they weren't given awards distinguishing them. Plenty to enjoy, if you enjoy other Newbery books. I simply, cannot proclaim it an outstanding wonder of the ages. In fairness, not many of the Newberys are.
My general impression of historical Newberys is that selections were based on exposing children to historical or cultural information. That hasn't changed except in the expectations of the surrounding culture. Modern readers condemn the faults of past historical viewpoints without recognition that their own works equally reflect a viewpoint particular to their culture. The new perspectives are neither exceptional nor enlightened. Simply, they are the perspectives of their times. They carry the expectations of their generation just as decidedly as the works of the past did. Future generations will judge them by future interpretations.
I bemoan the fact that so often 3-5 books can be awarded runners-up, rather than one. Had there been a mere hundred works to have been read, rather than four-hundredish, my efforts would be complete.
This work is legible, consistent to its current cultural expectations, but not transportive.
And at this juncture, I realize that I wasn't even transported to care about the owls. I do care about owls; but this work did not even elucidate the issue enough to cause the reader genuine concern for the owls. There is nothing meaningful in the efforts of the protagonists. We do not feel their concern. Nothing here demonstrates for the reader authentic effort at conservation. It is all based on silliness. I am neither transported to the community, nor the environment of the owls.
17EGBERTINA
2005
10 DEC 2023:
Merit: not that I can see
Transported: Not really. Another surface plot; surface characters; surface theme; even surface autism. This story could take place anywhere, anytime, not specific to Alcatraz- California, or even planet Earth. I cannot see that this book does much to enlighten about life with an autistic or otherwise intellectually unique child.
not a review:
yet another newberry weirdo. there is some historicity to families living on Alcatraz; its just that this book doesn't garner any charm toward the topic. the book is a thinly veiled attempt to accentuate one child's experience with autism, but i'm not sure what the author's point is. its hard to care about any of the characters. the authenticity to time is severely lacking. these characters are mostly modern children, with modern attitudes and modern values. the warden's daughter is so obnoxious, she exceeds even modern interpretations of an obnoxious child. Her character seems to lack a purpose in the structure of the story. If she is intended as a foil, for what purpose? even the backdrop of al capone is not well structured. The title seems more for shock value; it doesn't deliver.
19EGBERTINA
2005
North America
United states
Maine
Malaga
18 DEC 2022:
Not a review:
Moxie. :-)
will have to review later. i felt genuine emotions through this book. i can only presume that i identified with the situations. i laughed; i cried; ( i never cry at books); I felt outrage. I cannot think of when i last got so caught up in a story that i felt genuine outrage. hang on the edge of my seat?- sure- but overt outrage?
25EGBERTINA
2007
North America
United States
Montana
During WWI- but not about WWI
Homesteading
19 DEC 2022:
Not a review- just random thoughts
a lot of cliches; did people speak in cliches during this time period? cannot bring myself to care about the characters. predictable; nothing special here. and the slight love interest was to gag and die. failing to see how this is children's literature. and the superstitiousness.
I could not find the MC's superstitious nature endearing. It wasn't identified as a superstition and seemed to get all mixed up with her pseudo-religious expressions. It felt very inauthentic to the religious feelings of the day, and seems as though the author could not replicate a true comprehension of religion, and relied on mixing it with superstition. Perhaps the author's interpretation of religion is that it is identical to magical thinking. Im not saying that some people dont jumble these things, it just seems that those that do, do so in a different manner.
The main theme of this book is community/ belonging. It feels too obvious, because the plot doesn't reveal it, but the author states it outright, several times.. This outright stating of things, interferes with the quality of the story several times. The reader, figuratively, has his head bashed in that this story is about community, belonging. Guess I didn't belong in this book.
Many Newbery books try to work a story around a piece of history. But this book seems to be working hard to show the readers, presumably children, about WWI, only life for homefront Americans during WWI; also, she attempts to do this while creating an homage to her grandmother and her homesteading effort.
For whatever reason, it feels too forced. I dont mind books explaining new concepts to children, but this book never seems to get the reader to feel the time-period, or her themes of community. It is a very superficial story, that never enveloped me. I feel a strong need to find a real book on WWI, now, to balance out her deficiencies.
Graveyard Stew: My mom was raised in Montana and neither she, nor, her mother called it this. Given the connotations I found on line- there is little chance that my mother would have used such a term; I suspect that had she heard it, she would have mentioned it. Ive no doubt that her mother would never have said such a thing. Which raises the question- if great grandma had used it- my mother would have known of it. We just called it Milk-Toast. Ours was always made with homemade bread, well buttered. It's really the butter that give the flavour. Mom dunked left-over cornbread, doughnuts, etc into milk as well, but never named it. During the Depression this was an accessible meal, as my mom's family always had homemade bread and a milch-cow. By my request, the milk is warmed, never boiled. Even as a child, I detested the taste of scalded milk. Also, if you dont scald it, you dont get that icky skin of denatured proteins subjected to high temperatures.
27EGBERTINA
2008
North America
Canada & United States
Ontario & Michigan
Freed Slaves
Slavers
25 DEC 2022:
Not a review- just a comment:
I liked the last portion better than the first half, but was frustrated by the ridiculously long conversation taking place in the barn in the final chapters. they always comment on how much elijah talks- well guess what- the author drones on excessively at this point. oh wait - we are in a huge hurry not to get caught- but we will talk for at least three chapters - cause we are in a hurry - and its probably dangerous - and lets throw in one of those zags i detest in which we leave - but then come back and talk some more. OY!
28EGBERTINA
2008
28 JAN 2023:
This is the second book by this author that I have truly loved. I can't place what the quality of writing is- but he tugs at the innards with no sappy overtures. He makes me laugh, genuine laughter. (not so easy these days.) He does the humour better than Gantos and doesn't take it too far.
"When gods die, they die hard. It's not like they fade away, or grow old, or fall asleep. They die in fire and pain...they leave your guts burned."
29EGBERTINA
2008
12 JUL 2022:
"Do you think it's an advantage or disadvantage to live only with people who are like yourself?"
Comparison of 70's to today
37EGBERTINA
2010
North America
United States
Maine - starts there anyhow
Civil War
Humour (so they claim)
13 DEC 2022:
mixed feelings about this. i didn't enjoy it at first, as it reminded me of every other off-putting contemporary newbery. but i stuck through it to the end and enjoyed the last portion slightly better. not so much that the story was more compelling, just we had finally gotten to the crux of the work, which is to bring some historical imagery of the civil war. possible comparison to huck finn, but it has been 50 years since i read that- and would have to re-read to do exact comparison. I never enjoyed Huck Finn as well as Tom Sawyer. Getting a little tired of the silly aspect of these newberys. I could easily see how other readers might enjoy this much more than I.
39EGBERTINA
2011
27 DEC 2022:
will come back to review.
I really enjoyed this. First book in a great while to capture the feel of older Newberys. History written with children in mind. Not perfect history but a pleasant introduction.
43EGBERTINA
2012
Europe (Eastern)
Soviet Union
Moscow
Communist regime during Stalin
Probably 1940's- to early 1950's
28 DEC 2022:
This work is shorter, has large print and many illustrations that seem to indicate that it is intended for a slightly younger audience. It is a complicated topic, though. Young readers have been exposed to the Civil War and the Holocaust numerous times. There are very few youthful “reads” directed toward Communist regimes. The explanations of Communist Moscow are introduced one at a time throughout the events of young Sasha’s life over two days. There is a light humour to offset the heaviness of the topic, but not the usual rambunctious, far-fetched, humour typical of so many modern Newberys. I am not an art major, but I feel that the illustrations resemble Communist graphic design. They are quite pleasant, and not too “busy”.
Day 1: The book opens with ten year old Sasha Zaichik writing a letter to Stalin, extolling the praises of Communism and Stalin and his excitement about his upcoming induction into the Young Pioneers, a compulsory organization similar to Hitler’s Youth. Sasha lives with his father in a communal apartment, the walls of which dont even touch the ceiling and offer no privacy. He and his father have two rooms because his father is a high-ranking government official. Most other families have a single room, even when they have more occupants.
In the middle of the night, Sasha’s father is arrested and hauled away. Immediately, we come to know that another family has made the accusation in order to occupy the larger rooms. That family moves in immediately, that same night, disbarring Sasha from the apartment that he viewed as home, and unpleasantly tells him that he will enjoy growing up in a state-sanctioned orphanage.
Sasha believes this to be a mistake that will soon be rectified. He goes to the home of an aunt and is turned away because they cannot be associated with the child of a criminalized father. He sleeps in the basement, as he continues to look forward to tomorrow’s ceremony.
Day 2: At school the reader is introduced to several uncomfortable realities. Some students are treated with hostility, as enemies of the state. One boy is denounced for being Jewish. Sasha is coerced into denouncing him as well, under threat of shame and punishment. Meanwhile another boy is likewise stigmatised, but his offense is not mentioned until later. Eventually, Sasha, who has been, previously, coddled and praised is debased once his father’s arrest becomes known.
Two farcical moments permit Sasha to exclaim his gratitude for his native communism in which he and his countrymen are blessed beyond those of the West, who will never achieve the magnificence of Soviet Communism.
An incident occurs crucial to the unfoldment of the story and is resolved in a most unexpected manner.
Another incident discloses something unknown to Sasha about his family history.
Sasha is manipulated into spying on his comrades, but after several revelations of the day decides, instead, to leave.
The ending is abrupt, with one surprising image, but leaves the reader to decide for himself the probable fate of Sasha. This brief story permits Sasha to realize in a single day, realities not fully absorbed by generations across decades.
Having mentioned Hitler's Youth - it would be a welcome read to see a historical biography of the Young Pioneers organization, as well.
47EGBERTINA
2014
DEC 2022:
not a review:
Started mostly hating this. hated it almost to the end. once you can make yourself accept the malevolent possession of a doll, as factual, its easier to cope. i think the beginning of the story is awkward, which is why it takes a while to accept the premise; that and doll possession is not really my thing. reminded me of a cross between "mixed up files ..." and "the egypt game." both of these works take a bit of easing into. the story has a self conscious quality in which it has to explain quests to the reader. my final lack of a satisfying quality is burying a doll of absolute priceless value.
52EGBERTINA
2015
North America
United States
Ohio/South Carolina/New York
1960's
Memoir
1 FEB 2023:
53EGBERTINA
2016
Europe
England
WWII
Evacuees
30 JAN 2023
4 FEB 2023:
Read 2x; second time to grandchildren.
so- loved this. started hating it- as i was not really certain where all that hatred and animosity was going. incredible job portraying that ada found kindness awkward and uncomfortable. if you've ever loved a child scarred by circumstantial unpredictability - you feel the accurateness of this response. brought factual elements of the war in without didacticism.
will be re-reading this today with grandchildren.
read the sequel. didn't like it as well, at first; in the last part, the former charm finally comes through. ends abruptly, though.
57EGBERTINA
2017
Europe
France
Middle Ages
Anachronistic
Literary Jumble
15 DEC 2022:
I have to admit this was the most difficult book to rate. I detested it at first and for a long time. It was a little better somewhere toward/ after the middle. Finally it was pretty darn good at the end. I'm just not certain that I want to rate the whole book as good. It was difficult to care about the characters as individuals. Yes, I marginally cared; enough to want a satisfying ending and enough to endure until I could find out where this bizarre tome was heading. They are, however surface characters with surface emotions.
To start, the book is a parody of Chaucer's Canterbury Tale. A cute idea. Though, at first, not terribly more interesting. There is a great deal of scatology, spaced out just far enough that I am not tempted to toss the book, jump out of my window or display other injurious actions, to either animate or inanimate objects at hand. I don't know how I endured the flatulent dragon. Surprisingly, this is an actual writing of historic documents. ( this makes me tolerate it slightly better- but I wonder if it might not have been articulated more delicately. Regardless of its historic value, it is not humourous to me.
Recalling that this is a work aimed at children, I find myself wondering how the pseudo-history works for those that are unlikely to know actual history and simultaneously unlikely to want to know history.
This is a work for strong readers. I don't see this being picked up by just any old kid off the street.
It was apparent from the outset who Jeanne was modeled to represent. About the time that She "recognizes" Louis IX- ( not the correct king or time-period)- is when the book begins to become more interesting.
There is a great deal of religious controversy that glosses over the horrors of history past. and likely, goes over the heads of modern youthful readers, but in some places at least should impress readers with a sense of unfairness.
It was the the very final portion of the book that gets truly interesting, and was even clever enough to provide me with one definite surprise. Perhaps, if I had been raised Catholic or studied the Saints more diligently, I might have seen it coming. By this time the description of a particular climactic event is so engaging, that I can forgive its entirely fictional representation.
The book covers immense ground. Parodies of Classical works; mentions/usage of other classical works; philosophy. It even very minimally makes reference to the upcoming Reformation and Enlightenment by touching on free will, 2x, so quietly, that if you don't already comprehend the term and its historical location on the time-line, you will blink without recognizing it. If you want to help build your sense of history, I recommend being prepared to research alongside, so that you can appreciate the story and the history it conveys.
In addition to the scatology, which I view as largely pandering to modern appetites, there is a fair amount of irreverence, which, also, I see as pandering. How deeply you are offended by that irreverence is an individual decision. If it feels like outright blasphemy, it seems unlikely that a reader could stomach this long enough to get to the ending.
For all these reasons, I can't decide upon a rating system. I would rate the beginning as 2 stars; the middle as three stars and would rate the final portion as four; I don't want to get into mathematical calculations of averages/medians/ percentiles. So, I will just give it three; - an average rating. The ending doesn't quite make-up for the rest, it just made it finally worth while.
In keeping with my questions: yes, the book has merit, Im just not certain if children can recognize that without significant hand-holding. It is a modern book, and I am not certain it will retain any sense of freshness for generations.
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