The Latest

Last May, I challenged myself to read all of the Newbery Award Childrens' Books. 86 books have been given the distinguished award so far. Currently, I have read 38. Not quite half. I took a long break in the fall from reading them; I felt like some adult material was in order. I have enjoyed discovering the differences between each book that has won. Some are easier reading, younger grade levels, and some are far more complex and intriguing. I have been sailing between the Hawaiian Islands, hunted during the Salem witch trials, in a battle with King Arthur, and stuck in a dust storm. Some of these books include precocious young girls on a mission, young boys trying to honor their families, children running away only to hide in a fantastic museum, and some with people who are grieving or lost. During the weeks I have been reading I feel like I've been on an emotional roller coaster. There's a reason these books have won and usually each evoke a different kind of emotion. Some are very funny, some are very, very sad. Overall, I am enjoying this immensely. Here are some of my favorites so far since I have started:

The Grey King (the fourth book in a series)
The Giver
A Single Shard
The Bronze Bow
Holes
The View from Saturday
From the Mixed-Up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze

I had read quite a few before I started this challenge. Looking at the list, there are many of those I would recommend as well. But any book you read from the list is guaranteed to be good.

I have a large stack of books that are calling my name. I better grab my box of tissues.