Rabbit Hill1945 Medal Winner **

Rabbit Hill is the story of a family of rabbits and their neighbors hoping that the New Folks moving into the empty home will plant a garden so that they'll have food to eat. The story focuses on their son Little Georgie and his adventures. The animals are shocked to discover that not only do the New Folks plant a garden, but believe in being kind to animals as well.

I tried to give this story the benefit of being 60+ plus years old when reading it, but it was still not very good. The other books written in this decade that I have read are much more compelling. I just couldn't seem to get past the fact that these rabbits are able to build a home, can food, make soup, sew clothes, write letters, but unable to grow a garden? This fact might have been overlooked by children six decades ago, but I think kids today wouldn't willingly suspend their belief that these animals can't feed themselves. It's a harmless story and children who enjoy animals might like it.

Millions of Cats 1929 Honor Book **

Millions of Cats is about an old man and his wife who wanted a cat. He can't decide between the millions of cats so he brings them all home. They then let the cats decide which one can stay.

I'm not a fan of cats, and I didn't really get this book. It's a short read and small children might enjoy it.

Adam of the Road 1943 Medal Winner **

Adam of the Road is about a boy in 13th Century England who is the son of a minstrel. When he loses both his dog and father in one day, he has many adventures as he attempts to reunite with both of them.

Adam of the Road is interesting but not captivating. It is sort of a coming of age, except the boy is pretty grown up and mature at the beginning. I have to admit, that living in the 21st Century it's pretty frustrating to know that most of his problems could have been solved with a cell phone. While I felt like the book was well researched, I didn't feel like I had a real sense of what life was really like in England. His adventures seemed unrealistic to the point of fantasy and so I'm not sure how minstrels truly lived at that time. I do think this book would be interesting for young boys however.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry 1997 Medal Winner **

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry looks at a year in the life of a poor family living during the depression trying to make ends meet and save their land while battling white prejudice.

I read this book while reading another book titled Cane River set in New Orleans before and after the end to slavery in America. Because this book was set in the 1930's (about the time that Cane River ended) it almost felt like a sequel to Cane River.

I thought this book did a good job of helping a middle class white child understand what it would feel like to grow up as a poverty stricken second generation sharecropper. I was amazed at how awful the whites are portrayed in the book. Truly biased, prejudice and just plain mean. I think this book would help children think about their own attitudes towards other races, religions and cultures. It's easy to read the book and think, "Oh I'd never do that." But the reality is people did do that, and still do that.

Old Yeller 1957 Honor Book **

Old Yeller is a story about a boy and his love-hate relationship with a dog named "Old Yeller" Spoiler: Old Yeller dies.

I need to give full disclosure and say that I do not like dogs. For most of the book I was agreeing with Travis and his dislike for Old Yeller. The ending seemed a little dramatic to me Travis having to shoot the dog himself. I must admit I didn't shed one tear reading this book. But in all fairness, Where the Red Fern Grows does make me cry.