...And Now Miguel, Newbery Winner 1954

Joseph Krumgold is one of the six dual winners of the Newbery Medal - the first in fact! Although I reviewed his novel Onion John many years ago, ...And Now Miguel was actually his first winner.

Confession - I avoided this book for quite awhile (that's actually the case with most of the remaining books), you see - the beginning of Onion John was SUCH a chore. But remember I said that the father-son relationship blossomed into something amazing right as the book was finishing? That was the entire book this time! I loved how this book examined relationships, responsibilities, and growing up. My older copy said it was destined to be one of the great American novels, I'm sad that it doesn't appear to be more popular.

This book has an interesting backstory - it's kind of a biography. Krumgold did lots of work in Hollywood and was asked by the U.S. Department of State to create a film about Hispanic-American rural life. This docu-film (documentaries back then often played fast and loose with the facts) was 'And Now Miguel', he later adapted the film into this book. Which was later adapted into a film...

Is it an adaptation circle... or an adaptation triangle?

Anyhow, the Chavez family were very real and were in fact sheep ranchers. Krumgold must have spent quite some time with them because the utter realism of the book is so comforting. I think that the realism of family life has rarely been so well conveyed in a book.

Miguel Chavez is a twelve year old boy in a family of sheep ranchers. Every year his father, uncles, and two older brothers take the family's sheep up into the mountains for the summer. Miguel is really eager to join them this year and sets about trying to prove how responsible he is so that his father will allow him to come. Unfortunately, it seems like his hard work may not be enough, so he asks St. Isidore for help.

I feel to tell more would spoil just how good of a book this is. Certainly the minority depictions in this book are are breath of fresh air after my last two reads- particularly Smoky. *shudder*
Let's just list what makes this book amazing:
*Rural life depiction
*Solid father-son relationship
*Catholic depiction that doesn't dive into fantasy
*Excellent discussion about not getting things for free - you need to put something into it to get what you desire

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.

*Natural consequences - both good and bad
*Siblings being friends but also mentors
*Amazing family values, "We didn't just get lucky (finding a responsible hand). We raised him."

In closing:

READ THIS BOOK!