Graven Images 1983 Honor Book ***

Graven Images is a compilation of 3 short stories with a common theme. Each story has a graven image that a person or people rely on. Each story contains the supernatural and the use of both irony and light-hearted humor.

This book would be great for a classroom to invoke a discussion on how we worship "statues" in modern day. It was a quick read, I finished it during a plane ride. I found it fun but not too earth shattering. I think it would be find for a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade class to read.

Fine White Dust 1987 Honor Book *****

Fine White Dust is about Pete's summer after his seventh grade year. This is the summer he meets the Man, who at first he think is an axe murderer. But when he discovers that he is actually a preacher and attends his Revival Meeting, he finds that the Man will change his life. Pete has always felt different from his parents and his best friend Rufus, an atheist. But the Man understands him and helps him become a born again Christian and even asks him to leave everything behind to follow him.

This book grabbed me on the very first page and that's hard to do. I loved the foreshadowing using the fine white dust and the similes the author used throughout the book. I read it in just a few short hours. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone younger than junior high, but this would be an amazing book to use for a book report or a literary review exercise in high school English.

My fourteen year old-son read this book and he was surprised I liked it as much as I did. He thought I should have only given it two stars.

Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush 1983 Honor Book *

Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush is about a 14 year old girl named Tree who is left to care for her retarded brother Dab for days at a time while her mother works and dates her boyfriend. Unbeknownst to her Dab suffers from a rare disease that becomes acute when one takes drugs or drinks alcohol. Dab has been using barbiturates and becoming increasingly ill. Tree's dead uncle, Brother whom she never knew existed appears to her as a ghost and has her enter a magical mirror where she learns that her father isn't really dead but abandoned her family, her uncle didn't die in a car accident but committed suicide, and that her mother used to beat her brother and tie him up. Her mother finally returns home and find Dab extremely ill, they get him to the hospital just in time to run up a big bill before he dies. So she must leave again to work off the debt and brings in a homeless woman to live with Tree who moves into Dab's room less than 24 hours after his death.

If my wonderful summary of the book doesn't give it away I'll tell you straight out. I hated this book! Anyone reading this review should shower me with gifts and thank you cards for reading this book so that they don't have to go anywhere near it. Not only is it confusing and strange, it's inappropiate for children, and I question how valuable it even is for adults. Never I have a read a book that has caused me to consider a negative star system. I feel like finding the author and asking for compensation for time wasted reading this book. Either after reading 72 Newbery books I have no idea what it takes to be considered a Newbery, or somehow the judges that year were using the same barbiturates as Dab when choosing this book.

Hatchet 1988 Honor Book ******

Hatchet is the story of a boy who while flying to see his father for the summer is in an awful plane crash with only his hatchet to help him survive. He learns to rely on resources available to him and manages to survive on a lake somewhere in Canada. Instead of marking time by days, he marks them by events like: Day of First Fire, Day of First Fish, Day of First Meat. He also learns that hope is necessary resource for survival.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't stop reading it, which lately has been a rare thing for me. I didn't want to eat, sleep or exercise until I knew this kid was going to be okay. And for some reason after finishing the book I had a strong desire for roasted chicken. I think every teenager should read this book, especially those who live in a world full of everything they could possibly want. I'm so glad I bought this book, it's a definite keeper.

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.

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.

Jacob Have I Loved 1981 Medal Winner ***

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 1982 Honor Book ****

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 is about a 3rd grader and her adventures in school and at home with her family.

The Ramona books are like Junie B. Jones ONLY BETTER! Who doesn't love Ramona? One of my best friends growing up was named Ramona so that name has a special place in my heart, and so do these books.

Sarah, Plain and Tall 1986 Medal Winner ****

Sarah, Plain and Tall is about a woman who comes to be a bride for a widower and raise his two children. She soon discovers she misses the coast of Maine and the children fear she will leave.

I read this book in college before I was married. I think then I felt sorry for poor Sarah and couldn't understand why she would choose this kind of life for herself. But now that I'm older and with children, I can see how wonderful Sarah is and why she makes the choices that she does.