Newberry, Honor and Printz Award Winners

The Summer of Swans by Betsy Byars.  Viking Press, 1970. A wonderfully moving story and Newberry Award Winning young adult novel about an adolescent girl named Sara who is faced with the challenge of searching for her mentally disabled brother Charlie who wanders  away from his home to search for a group of  uninhabited swans. This touching story conveys the love the characters have for each other and the importance of family, loyalty and trust when it is needed the most. The various black and white illustrations enhance the quality of the story. Perfect for 2^nd to 3^rd graders.

 Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. Scholastic, 1990. In this Newberry Award Winner, we learn  about an unconventional  orphan name Jeffery Magee. After running away from the guardianship of his loveless aunt and uncle, Jeffery is forced to live on his own. He is given the nickname “Maniac” because of his unique abilities. He makes his way to Two Mills, Pa a racially divided town. There he befriends a cast of characters including Amanda Beale a girl who takes him under his wing and Mar Bars, Maniac’s rival who eventually helps him in the end. This novel enables students to understand the concepts of racism, a  sense of belonging and friendship. Students in 6^th-7^th grade would benefit immensely from this book.

 Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz. G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1982. In this National Book Award and Newberry Honor Award winning book, Jean is a young girl born and raised in China with her missionary parents in the 1920s.  She is excited about her anticipated move to the  United States where she will meet her grandparents and other relatives for the first time. During this time period, Jean and her parents experience the upheaval of living in a country as foreigners on the verge of the  Communist Revolution. This is an outstanding novel based on personal firsthand accounts about one woman’s childhood experience.  A great read for Social Studies lessons for 4^th-6^th grade students.

 How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. Wendy Lamb,2004. This Printz Award winning book is a very comprehensive young adult novel about Daisy, a fifteen year olds’ experience when she is forced to move from New York to England to live with her Aunt and long lost cousins. Soon after her arrival, an international war breaks out in England forcing the children to fend for themselves and survive the destruction. There are adult concepts addressed in this novel  including violence, mental health and inappropriate family relationships. Junior high and high school students are the target audience.  

  Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. Harper Trophy, 1983. A young boy named Leigh corresponds with his favorite author.  As seen through a series of poignant letters, the reader discovers the challenges this child faces growing up with a single mother working to make ends meet and an unreliable father who is often a disappointment.  This poignant story is truly a touching one where the reader is able to understand his challenges as a young boy trying to navigate the beginning stages of adolescence  under turbulent  circumstances. I would definitely recommend this chapter book for children in 3^rd to 6^th grade.  Newberry Award Winner.

  Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Clearly. Harper Trophy, 1979.  Ramona is an eight year old child who lives with her parents and older sister.  Ramona is a spunky girl living a very typical life in the suburbs.  She often feels unappreciated and inferior by her parents, especially her mother. By trying to gain her mother’s attention. Ramona engages in many typical childhood antics such as clogging the bathroom sink with toothpaste and wearing her pajamas to school. In the end she does learn that her mother’s love is unconditional. A classic tool that can be used with 1^st-3^rd grade students. National Book Award Winner.