The Tale of Despereaux, Newbery Winner 2004

 

I loved this book! Fantasy is perhaps my favorite genre, The Tale of Despereaux did not disappoint in this regard. In fact I could have finished this in one day quite easily if it hadn’t been for Mario…

At some moment you realize that one level took far longer than it ever should have...

 

The style for the writing is very interesting and reminds me of a modern Rudyard Kipling and a less dark Lemony Snicket, two authors I read a lot. The reader is often addressed and the story seems to be written expressly for the reader. However, don’t assume that just because the story is less dark that it is a completely happy fairy tale. There were plenty of dark parts, mostly concerning the rats. The heroes and villains both had wonderful development showing that no one was completely good or bad. I felt horribly bad for the two villains and was very pleased with the resolution. The message that this book is giving to children is wholesome and, I believe, necessary in today’s world.

And now, two of my favorite quotes on the subject:

"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest." ~ C.S. Lewis

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." ~ Albert Einstein

 

So onward into the week! I am getting familiar with standardized testing this week... very, very familiar.

The View From Saturday, Newbery Winner 1997

I just finished this book after having started it earlier this afternoon. While I was reading it I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. However, I am completely compelled to read it again. Perhaps I was confused about how to respond to it; so many of the characters related to my own life in some fashion...
There were few activities I enjoyed in middle and high school more than Knowledge Bowl. In middle school our team was outstanding but an almost unknown entity to our classmates. But in high school while we never ranked quite as highly, we were one of the school's recognized teams. For most of my four years in high school I was the only girl who regularly participated. It was this part of my own past which drew me to Nadia even though she initially annoyed me.
Like Julian I was often a loner in middle school, I instantly adored his character with all of the quirks that made him so wonderfully real; the fact that he set forth clues in classic literature only endured me to him all the more. Noah, though he could be brash has a head for knowledge. He shares my ability to remember large quantities of mostly useless information with absolutely no bearing on interest or use. Also he does calligraphy. How awesome is that? I don't believe I've ever seen another work in which modern adolescents use calligraphy. Then there is Ethan, I understand his point of view almost better than any of the others, for you see Ethan is a listener. In this day and age people, especially my peers it seems, don't understand the value of listening. In a world that is constantly about saying what is on your mind I like to sit and listen, sometimes I just listen to an entire conversation between my friends without ever interjecting.
However I was never really felt a particularly strong attachment to Mrs. Olinski. This was sad for me, I had hoped that since I am student teaching now I would begin to feel more connected to the teachers in literature.
Oh well, still a really strong work by an author that I enjoy and would definitely read again.

A Gathering of Days, Newbery Winner 1980

A book that reads like a diary can be very compelling. This one however was only so-so; while I enjoyed the book I never really had a strong desire to keep on reading just a little bit more. Certainly Joan Blos has captured the thought and spirit of a young girl in the 1830s but this girl is in the heart of a very uninteresting year. When I read historical fiction I prefer my characters to be within the action of the time, for instance the subplot with the runaway slave was interesting but such a tiny part of the story that I would quickly lose interest.
One thing I should note about the prose is that it by turns amused me and annoyed me. I laughed over how realistic some of the grammar and spelling choices were but then I would be conflicted about using it in a classroom for the same reason. Ah well, que sera,
Overall I liked this book, though it is definitely one I am fine with just having a single read. I was touched by how realistic Catherine was, but often bored by the mundaness of her life.

Maniac Magee, Newbery Winner 1991

Yet another re-read for me this holiday season. The last time I read this was about 12 years ago, but I still remembered it quite vividly. Once again I stayed up late reading; the chapters average about 3 1/2 pages making 'just a couple more' stretch on all night!
This is a story about how a legend is created. And though Maniac himself has no trouble at all passing between the 'white' and 'black' parts of town, I'm still not sure that this book shows his legacy as bringing the two halves together. Perhaps my favorite character is Amanda Beale, I always did appreciate that she loved books. But she is also a no nonsense girl who really puts Maniac in his place and shows him what it means to be home. All in all this is a surprisingly simple story. Ah well, still a very good story and an interesting starting point for many discussions about race, family, and home.

Now if only Maniac would go to school.

Island of the Blue Dolphins, Newbery Winner 1961

Of all the Newbery Award winners I had read previously, this was possibly the one I read the fastest. I picked up Island of the Blue Dolphins one day in the middle of a snowstorm and read through it very quickly. It is by no means short compared to a lot of the works I have read, yet it is so exciting that it is nearly impossible to put down!
One of the reasons that this book is so interesting is that it is based, however loosely, of a true story. The most gripping parts of the tale are true, but what Scott O'Dell writes only augments the original tale - a young girl living alone on an island after her people leave. It is among the most straightforward example of person vs. nature that you can find, yet reading it gives you a sense that it wasn't so much Karana vs. the island but that Karana was a part of the island.

Here is an overhead shot, it is Navy owned now I can't find any really good photos.

 

I found it to be a fascinating story, certainly one of the best in the sub-genre of survival. I can also appreciate Karana's attitude in much of the story, she is not angry, though she can be very sad and lonely. But what I truly love is her fondness for animals. My own family has a large menagerie consisting of three cats, and three dogs, with an additional fish that I keep at college; over the years though we have owned 4 dogs, 6 cats, a gerbil, 3 hamsters, 2 newts, 2 salamanders, dozens of snakes (winter relocation project), 2 rabbits, and a hedgehog. This doesn't even touch on the numerous animals that we have taken in that were lost (seriously, our house is like an operating branch of the Humane Society) or injured, such as a pigeon that lived in our grill while we fed it and it recuperated. In fact, the last cat that became a permanent resident was hit by a car on the street just in front of our house, we were going to bury him, but discovered that he was alive. The Humane Society fixed him up and when he was put up for adoption nearly a month later I went down and paid the price. He is funny looking, basically he broke half his face, but he fits into our family so smoothly.

Karana also took in the injured animals, likely because she was lonely. I cannot imagine never being able to talk to anyone; I get restless after a couple days of only relative solitude. Overall this is among the most powerful narratives, the first-person viewpoint really sucks you into the story, I will definitely be offering this book in my classroom (which is closer than ever as I'm about to start student-teaching!)

Teacher Survey of Newbery Books

While doing some research for a paper, I came across this interesting survey... I'm going to take the test and then check how I compare! Mind you, I'm doing this from memory, no looking at the list of titles.

Descriptor/Clue Title

1. Claudia runs away and lives at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is one of the winners I had previously read, I hope to be able to review this gem soon! Maybe I'll read it when I'm home for Christmas break.

2.  An epic type book set in the land of Pyrdain
Ummmm... I know it's by L. Alexander. Can't remember if it is The Book of Three or not.

3.  Poor black sharecroppers and a faithful coon dog

Wooo! Here's one I read for the review. I recommend this book to anyone, even those who aren't particularly fans of the 'dog story' genre.
4.  A mentally disabled younger brother named Charlie
I believe this one to be Summer of the Swans, but again I'm not sure.

5.  Super rats
I haven't the foggiest idea.

6. Her Eskimo name is Miyak

Another one I reviewed and loved! Certainly one I'd consider using in a classroom someday.
7. A 13 year old white boy is forced to join the crew of a slave ship and "dance" the slaves
Well, based off of the description I'm pretty sure this is Slave Dancer.

8.  Mayo Cornelius Higgins
Not a clue.

9.  Will Stanton tries to find the golden harp to awaken the ancient sleepers
I'm thinking that there is a book called The Golden Harp.

10.  Cassie Logan, a girl reared by a proud and independent black family
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry... I'm not entirely sure that's one of the winners.

11.  The secret land of Leslie and Jess

A great book, hard to believe I read it almost a year ago, I still remember it very vividly.
12.  Sixteen heirs to the Sam Westing estate
The Westing Game, haven't read but know the premise.

13.  A 14 year old New Hampshire girl keeps a journal for two years and during this time her father remarries and her best friend dies
A Gathering of Days - look for my review of this one soon!

14. Chesapeake life of Caroline and Louise
I don't know.

15.  A book of poems about life at an imaginary inn run by William Blake

Uhhhh.... Yeah, I've read it. And it's okay. 
16. Dicey, James, Maybeth and Sammy Tillerman
Dicey's Song

17.  Journal writing of Leigh Botts to his favorite author
I don't know. 

18.  Aerin, with the guidance of the wizard Luthe and with the help of the blue sword, wins the birthright due her as the daughter due her as the daughter of a Damarian King
Crap, I don't know, but this one sounds awesome!

19.  A mail-order bride from Maine

Yet, another great read! My review is almost as long as the book!!!
20.  Prince Brat and Jemmy

This is a fun little read. I recommend this for the younger patrons of the Newbery Medal.
21. 16th president "in pictures"
Abraham Lincoln: A Photobiography

22.  Celebration of insect life and insect poetry

Super enjoyable! I wasn't sure about this book, but when I listened to it I found it to be very interesting.

23.  Danish Jews escape/Copenhagen 1943

Still my favorite among the winners! If you only read one of the Newbery Winners this is the one I would recommend.
24.  Jeffrey Lionel was always running

Another of my favorites, haven't reviewed it yet, but this is the first book I stayed up late reading.

25.  A lost beagle, Marry Preston and Judd Travers
Possibly Shiloh?

26.  Aunt May, Uncle Ob, Summer and Cletus

A real short read. Simple, but very nice; not thought-provoking but feel provoking.
27.  Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas and Gabriel
No idea.


So now that I've done the survey I'm looking at the results.

Results of Survey 2 -
Newbery Award Books 72 respondents
Title - Percentage of teachers answering correctly - Did I get it?

1.      From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler                      0         Yes

2.      The High King                                   0                       No (But close)

3.      Sounder                                           51.3                     Yes

4.      Summer of the Swans                      33.3                    Yes

5.      Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH       62.5                No

6.      Julie of the Wolves                           20.8                   Yes

7.      The Slave Dancer                             11.1                    Yes

8.      M.C. Higgins, The Great                  25.0                   No

9.      The Grey King                                   0                       No

10.  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry          19.4                  Yes

11.  Bridge to Terabithia                          51.3                   Yes

12.  The Westing Game                             11.1                 Yes

13.  A Gathering of Days                          18.0                 Yes

14.  Jacob Have I Loved                            50.0                 No

15.  William Blake's Inn                             0                    Yes

16.  Dicey's Song                                      9.7                   Yes

17.  Dear Mr. Henshaw                            20.8                   No

18.  The Hero and the Crown                          0                No

19.  Sarah, Plain and Tall                         70.8                   Yes

20.  The Whipping Boy                             16.6                  Yes

21.  Lincoln: A Photobiography                   4.1                 Yes

22.  Joyful Noise                                          4.1                 Yes

23.  Number the Stars                             19.4                    Yes

24.  Maniac Magee                                 11.1                     Yes

25.  Shiloh                                                 4.1                    Yes

26.  Missing May                                   2.7                       Yes

27.  The Giver                                            0                     No

Which gives me a 70.4%. Not too bad, all the ones I got wrong are ones I hadn't read yet, so I'm feeling pretty good. Would you be able to do it?

Rabbit Hill, Newbery Winner 1944

I know, it's been a long while since I've written anything, but I've kept pretty busy with school work. Anyway, I took the holiday weekend as an opportunity to breeze through this short work.
Rabbit Hill was written by Robert Lawson who, though a prolific author, isn't very famous today. His only other work that I had heard of was Ben and I. I had seen his illustrations before in The Story of Ferdinand and Mr. Popper's Penguins.
The problem I found with this book is that it is quite obviously dated. Mind you it is still enjoyable in it's own fashion but I have no idea what demographic I recommend it for; I enjoyed it and I think that my brother may begrudgingly find amusement in it, but we also had several of the old talking animal stories read to us as children, far more than I see with my peers or younger children. For instance, I found some of the best bedtime stories in this book:

Raise your hand if you remember this.

 

No one I know has even heard of Uncle Wiggily, whom my young mind believed to be as important as Winnie the Pooh. Turns out Uncle Wiggily was popular in the 1910s - 30s. There was even a school reader!

However, I just cannot think of any child today who is both willing to enjoy a simple story such as Robert Lawson has penned and verbose enough to comprehend the dialogue of the characters.