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.

Island of the Blue Dolphins 1961 Medal Winner ******

Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on the true story of an American Indian woman named Karana who was found living alone on an island off the coast of California. During an evacuation of her tribe, she jumped ship in order to be with her brother who shortly died thereafter. This book tells how Karana found shelter, clothes, food, companionship and serenity while living alone on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.

I listened to this book on a Playaway read by Tantoo Cardinal and she did an amazing job. Her voice is calm and soothing, exactly how I imagine Karana's voice to sound. This was one of those books that some how stayed under my radar during my childhood years, and all my friends are shocked I had never read it. Now I am too, how did I miss reading what in 1976 was considered in the top 10 books from the last 200 years. While I can't imagine living 18 years in solitude, this book does help me realize that it's possible. This is a definite must read for all children.

The Black Pearl 1968 Honor Book ***

The Black Pearl tells the story of a young boy whose father owns a fleet of ships to find pearls in the ocean. When Ramon finds a rare and expensive black pearl, his father decides to donate it to the Catholic church in town. When tragedy soon strikes, some begin to wonder if the pearl is possibly cursed, and Ramon decides to break the curse himself.

This book is very short, but for some reason I really had a hard time getting through it. I easily was confused even though the writing style is simple and easily understood. My husband who rarely reads fiction, read it in just a couple of hours, whereas I took many nights to finish it. Even though the summary tells us that Ramon finds the Black Pearl, it doesn't happen until the book is half way finished. I found myself getting ancy thinking, "When does he find the pearl?" For being such a critical event to the whole story, I thought it should have happened sooner. I think young boys would enjoy this book because of the adventure and suspense. Probably 4th or 5th grade.

My Side of the Mountain 1960 Honor Book *****

My Side of the Mountain is about a boy who runs away from his crowded New York apartment to live on his family's land in the mountains. He learns that the mountain provides everything he could want, food, shelter and clothing. But other humans prove to be his biggest problem.

It wasn't on purpose that I read this book immediately after reading "Hatchet" but it sure made it interesting to do so. Hatchet is about a boy trying to get out of the woods, and this book is about a boy trying to stay on one. For the first time I think I finally understand why people go camping. I mean sleep in a tent, eat fish from the river kind of camping. Bringing all of civilization with you in a motor home isn't true camping. But this kid manages to find just about everything he needs to survive a harsh winter and the lean times. The one part of the book that I find hard to believe is that he wasn't over run with animals constantly trying to eat his food and use his shelter. It seems to me that they wouldn't know to respect his space. But then what do I know? I've never lived in a mountain before.

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.

It's Like This, Cat 1964 Medal Winner ***

Dave Mitchell lives in Manhattan and gets a cat. This creates a series of events that bring different people into his life changing theirs and his own.

The author writes so seemingly effortlessly, I felt like I could see Dave's apartment and the streets of New York without long descriptions of them. In this book she introduces the reader to many different places like Gramercy Park, Bronx Zoo, Coney Island and many others. It's a contemporary novel, so I also get a glimpse of what life was like in the 1960's for a teenage boy.

A Wrinkle in Time 1963 Medal Winner ***

A Wrinkle in Time is about Meg and her brother Charles Wallace and their search for their brilliant father who everyone assumes has just left their family.

Is it just me or is this book weird? I've never been good with time travel stories. The time space continuum confuses me. Even the movie The Lake House freaked me out. For some reason it's hard for me to just relax and let go of logic and just enjoy time travel.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler 1968 Medal Winner ******

Claudia decides to run away from home and live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but realizes she can't do it without bringing her brother Jamie along. Soon she's entranced with a new sculpture at the museum and its mystery. Solving the mystery might reveal to her frantic parents where she and Jamie are hiding.

I read this book in one day while in Albuquerque waiting for my dad to finish his meetings. I haven't been able to look at a museum the same way since. I felt such a connection to Claudia and even began wondering myself if I could pull off running away and living in a museum. This book really helps children with their imagination.