The 21 Balloons 1948 Medal Winner ****

The 21 Balloons is a story of a man who decided to travel around the world in a hot air balloon. But one seagull changed all that, and his trip took a very different turn. Stranded on Krakatoa island just before the famous 1883 explosion, he meets 20 families who live quite comfortably in a society based on cuisine and eating out. He is later found alone, ill and traumatized. The whole world is anxious to hear his story, but he'll only tell it in San Francisco to his explorers club.

This is a fun book for children. The author states that he mixed truth with fiction with no attempt to separate the two. The book has several suspenseful moments which would make it fun as a read aloud in a classroom. I have to admit I'm now wanting to research Krakatoa and try to find exactly what did happen.

Across Five Aprils 1965 Honor Book ****

Jethro Creighton lives in Southern Illinois with is parents and sister. His brothers are off to fight a war to keep the country together. One brother is fighting on the Union side, and the other has joined the Rebs. This story follows the Creighton family across five Aprils and tells of the heartache and tragedy that the Civil War brought to so many families. They will face death, sickness, injury and many other losses before the war ends.

I found this book interesting but hard to stay engaged. I enjoyed most reading about Lincoln and how he was perceived throughout the war. I felt like I learned many aspects to the war that I didn't know before. For instance, Lincoln ran for re-election against a military general that had fired just a couple years before, and he wasn't even able to carry his own hometown. Some felt like Lincoln was doing too much, and others felt as though he hadn't done enough. He truly was between a rock and a hard place. The other interesting perspective on the war was seeing it through the eyes of the family. They didn't realize the magnitude of the war at the onset just like everyone else. As the war continues on, so does the devastation both physically and emotionally. I have greater appreciation for those willing to fight to keep this country together.

Pictures of Hollis Woods 2003 Honor Book ****

Hollis Woods is a foster child that tends to run away. She finally finds a place where she feels like staying put. Interspersed between the chapters are different pictures of Hollis Woods. These pictures give us glimpses into her life before she met her new guardian Josie. As Josie's memory begins to deteriorate, Hollis must find a way to keep them together. Her solution? To runaway of course, only this time bringing Josie with her. Her destination is the one place she once felt like she was truly a part of a family, the Regan's summer home. As worried "Mustard woman" the social worker looks for her, Hollis for the first time begins to find herself.

This book is very reminiscent of The Great Gilly Hopkins only much more somber. I enjoyed reading it, and found myself looking forward to the next picture. While I enjoyed Gilly Hopkins more because of it's humor and colorful characters, I found this book interesting with a much more likeable protagonist and found myself rooting for her to find the family so has long desired.

My Brother Sam is Dead 1975 Honor Book ****

My Brother Sam is Dead tells the story of the Revolutionary war through the eyes of Tim Meeker, a young boy whose brother Sam has left the Yale and his family to fight with the Rebels. Tim can't decide if he's a Tory (sympathizer with the British) or wants to see America a free country. Ultimately the decision doesn't matter as life gets more difficult and the war continues on.

Growing up American, everything I've ever heard about the Revolutionary War has been through the eyes of brave, strong Patriots who fought tooth and limb for our freedom. This book has helped me see there is a whole other side to the story. There were towns of colonists who were just fine under British rule and didn't see a need for independence. Yet they had to make sacrifices too, for a country they didn't even believe in. I've always seen Tories as unpatriotic ignorant old people whose love for the Mother Country would never die. My opinion of them have changed as a result of this book. I think every student studying U.S. history should read this book. It will help them gain a deeper appreciation for their freedom, it will help them see there are two sides to every story, and hopefully it will help them see that war is not the best solution to a problem.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 1996 Honor Book ****

The Watsons are known as the "Weird Watsons". Kenny tells stories about his family's trip to see their maternal grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents want to leave his older brother Byron there to live with his grandma because he's such a trouble maker. They arrive to experience first hand the tensions between whites and blacks. Kenny witnesses an event so horrible he wonders if he'll ever be the same.

This book is similar to the author's other newbery, Bud, Not Buddy. While told in a humorous and light-hearted way, the author does a compelling job showing what life was like before the human rights bill was signed in 1964. I laughed out loud, and also stopped to pay close attention. I fell in love with the Watsons. Because of the tragic death at the end, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone younger than ten years old.

Surviving the Applewhites 2003 Honor Book ****

Jake Semple's parents are both in jail, he burned down a middle school and now as a last resort has to live with the Applewhites, a free-thinking family who run the Creative Academy. The Creative Academy is unlike any other school Jake has ever seen. No homework, no teachers, and you write your own curriculum. E.D. is supposed to share her curriculum with Jake. E.D. is nothing like the other Applewhites, she likes order, routine and predictability, certainly hard to come by living at Wit's End, the Applewhite's farm. Pretty soon chaos moves to catastrophe when the father decides to direct "The Sound of Music" and tries to break out of the norm by casting every race and color as the von Trapp family. Soon both Jake and E.D. discover even they have talents that can be appreciated in an extremely unconventional family.

What a unique and fun book. Definitely a great classroom read for 4th grade and up. The chapters alternate between E.D's and Jake's point of view. The author did a great job with dialog, I could hear the different voices and fluctuations automatically. I found it difficult to put down and finished in a just few days. A great story for any teenage boy or girl to read that is headed down the path of "goth".

Hurry Home, Candy 1954 Honor Book ****

Hurry Home, Candy is a book about a stray dog that has no one to love him or take care of him. Through the story we learn how he came to become a stray and how he eventually finds a home.

I'm not a dog lover but this book actually makes me want to get one. The author does a great job of helping us see the world through a dog's eyes. We see how we as humans appear to a dog, especially a puppy and why they do the things they do. This would be a great book for a child to read before they get the dog that they have always wanted.

Ella Enchanted 1998 Honor Book ****

Ella Enchanted is the story about a girl who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy, Lucinda. This gift becomes a curse as she realizes that her obedience can harm the ones she loves. Her stepsister discover that she must do whatever they ask and use it to their advantage. While trying to convince Lucinda to take back the gift, Ella figures out how to overcome her curse herself.

I have to say that I think for first time in my life I think that Hollywood did a better job with the screenplay than the author did with the book. I thought the movie was fun and delightful and the entire time I listened to the book on CD I found myself comparing it to the movie. While the story is good in and of itself, I much prefer Hollywood's rendition of the book. I like how in the movie there is more intrique and danger and that Ella does not instantly fall in love with Char but actually protests his reign. She encourages a good character arc in Char while going through her own. The movie also does a better job addressing the issues of prejudice and bias.

The Courage of Sarah Noble 1955 Medal Winner ****

The Courage of Sarah Noble is about a young girl who is left behind to live with Indians while her father goes to bring back the rest of her family. She learns to be brave and discovers that the Indians are just as loving and kind as her own family.

This was a very short story that I listened to on tape. The beginning stated that the story was based on some historical facts, that a young girl was indeed left behind to live with a family of Indians in the new America. My girls were with me listening to the story and really enjoyed the tale. I think this would be a good book to read before talking about race relations and how we feel about others from other countries.

Because of Winn-Dixie 2001 Honor Book ****

Because of Winn-Dixie is about a girl name India Opal who moves with her father a preacher to a small town and finds a dog in the local Winn-Dixie. She able to make friends and have lots of adventures because of Winn-Dixie.

I really enjoyed the movie and the book is very close to the movie. It's so fun to listen to the stories, makes me wish I could go to Fanny's library and listen to her while sucking on lozenges. I wonder what my sorrow would taste like.

Hope Was Here 2001 Honor Book ****

Hope is a girl without a father and mother and raised by her aunt moving from place to place. They leave bustling New York to go to a rural town in Wisconsin to run a diner. There she waitresses and gets involved in city politice helping the diner's owner fight the corrupt mayor. She also must deal with her past and that she had a father who left and mother who wouldn't raise her. Spoiler: There is a death at the end.

I listened to Hope Was Here on CD and the cover said for 10 and up. Ummm.... I'm not so sure about that. I would probably say 14 and up. I don't know how much a 10 year old would be interested in teenage love, city politics and fighting leukemia. I did find the story intriguing and touching and liked the development of characters. I feel as though if I were to walk into Welcome Stairways I could sit right down and tell Flo that I'd like the meatloaf and apple pie which is Addie's speciality.

Sounder 1970 Medal Winner ****

Sounder is a story of a boy whose father and dog disappear the same day. His father is sent to jail for stealing a ham to feed his starving family and his dog is shot trying to prevent the white men from taking his dad. The boy must learn to adjust to life without the comfort of his father and search for his dog who he thinks has left to died in the woods.

This is probably the most beautifully written Newbery I've read so far. The imagery is akin to poetry. While the story was interesting (similar to Adam of the Road) it was written in a way that made reading a true pleasure. There were times I would reread a sentence or a paragraph just to marvel and his amazing way of explaining the simplest of scenes. When I get the chance I would love to find out what else this author has written.

The Whipping Boy 1987 Medal Winner ****

The Whipping Boy is about a prince and his whipping boy. Because the prince can not be hit, whenever he does something wrong another child is punished. Together they leave the castle and have all sorts of adventures that helps the prince see the error of his ways.

This book was nothing like what I thought it was going to be. Because of the title, I was expecting something dark and depressing. Actually it's quite funny and hopeful. Very clever story and the chapter headings were funny and made me want to keep reading. I was surprised to discover that whipping boys were not fictional and actually existed.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle 1991 Honor Book ****

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is about a 13 year old girl living in 1837 who must return to her family who are not living in America. Having stayed behind in England to finish her semester she discovers she must make the trip as the only passenger. Between a mad captain and a revengeful crew she must figure out what it takes to stay alive and see her family again.

I really enjoyed this book, it should be a movie. I was able to get through the story quickly and even find myself looking for moments that I could steal away to read this book. This story starts out to be seemingly obvious but has wonderful surprising twists and turns. I really appreciated the author's appendix at the end of the book and his suggestion at the beginning to refer to throughout the novel. Masts, rigging, bowspirit and other such words are unfamiliar to me and his appendix helped me picture where she was and what she was doing. I admire Charlotte's spunk and surviving such a horrible situation.

The Cricket in Times Square **** 1961 Honor Book

Chester the cricket is an accidental stowaway and find himself in Times Square at a news stand. There he meets Tucker the mouse and Harry the cat and Mario the son of the family that owns the stand. Like Charlotte's Web, Chester discovers that he has a talent that can bring luck to the Belini family and spare his own life.

I listened to this book on CD read by Rene Auberjonois. His reading is so fantastic that I'm not sure I would have liked the story as much had I not heard it read by him. He has so many voices that helped give each character its own unique personality. The sounds of the cricket also helped me understand just how amazing his talent truly is. I could listen to this book over and over.

A Long Way From Chicago 1999 Honor Book ****

A Long Way From Chicago is about Joey and Mary Alice and their adventurs spending one week with Grandma for seven summers. Grandma is full of ideas and stories and lies, from shooting a coffin with a shotgun to convincing the bank her friend's house is where Lincoln debated Douglas, this book is full of surprises and laughter. You'll even learn how to reform ruffians with a dead mouse in a bottle of milk.

I read this book in one day. It was great fun. I thoroughly enjoyed Grandma and her antics. Each chapter was a different summer with Grandma, and like the children I was sad when they stepped on the train and realized this was to be their last summer with Grandma. This would make a fun read aloud book for children either in the classroom or at night.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch 1956 Medal Winner ****

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is a biography about Nathaniel Bowditch who saved hundreds if not thousands of lives by changing the way ships navigate on the seas. He overcame many trials and heartache to succeed in his life and benefit others for years to come.

I loved this book. I found it so fascinating. After reading it, I needed to know if it was a true story, and unbelievably it is! What a wonderful example for children to follow. I especially loved how he learned foreign languages: the New Testament, Dictionary and Grammar book was all he needed in the language he was learning.

A View From Saturday 1997 Medal Winner ****

A View From Saturday is a story about 4 6th grade children and how their lives unexpectedly intertwine and together they form a team that goes on to beat junior high teams. The story is told from the four children's perspectives and their teacher's as well.

I loved this book. Of course I'm biased because I loved her other Newbery From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I found myself lost in their story and was disappointed when it ended. That is definitely a book I could read over and over just like the Mixed Up Files. Definitely a fun book for a 6th grader to read.

Dear Mr. Henshaw 1984 Medal Winner ****

Dear Mr. Henshaw is a book of letters that a boy writes to an author, Mr. Henshaw. The letters reveal the troubles the boy faces changing schools and coping with divorce.

I was surprised this was written by Beverly Cleary the same author who wrote the Ramona books. I expected something light hearted and funny, but instead I found it to be touching and very poignant. It's easy for me to see why this was a Medal Winner. I think a copy of this book should be in every divorce lawyer's office and required reading for every couple seeking a divorce.

Boy With a Pack 1940 Honor Book ****

Boy With a Pack is about a boy who decides to make some money peddling his goods in the Wild West (Ohio). He walks from New Hampshire with many adventures along the way.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in what America was like in 1837. Still new in independance it's a great way to find out how different life was like then, but also how some things haven't changed at all.