Newbery Award and Newbery Honor Books

1. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Image retrieved October 8, 2007, from, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7484149.

When eight-year-old Lucky's mother is killed by a down livewire in a thunderstorm, Lucky's always-absent father makes arrangements for his ex-wife, Brigitte, to come from France to take care of her in Hard Pan, California. Life in this desert town of 43 is slow and hard. Most of the town is out of work and live off government subsidence, including Lucky and Brigitte. To pass the time, Lucky eavesdrop on the town's addiction meetings (AA, Smokers' Anonymous, Gamblers' Anonymous, etc.). While listening to the addicts share, Lucky realizes that they all overcame their addictions with the help of a Higher Power. Still grieving the loss of her mother and feeling sure that Brigitte will want her old life back, lonely Lucky runs away to find her Higher Power.

I loved this book! Patron did a wonderful job of developing the characters. Despite the hardships experienced by the citizens of Hard Pan, I understood why they chose to remain in a town whose industry was no longer thriving. They had each other and took care of one another, warts and all. Had Patron not created such interesting and unique characters, it might have been less plausible that the people of Hard Pan would have remained.

Needless to say, the controversial use of "scrotum" on the first page of the book didn't bother me (some librarians have been pulling the book from shelves), and I would not have a problem with my child reading it. Since it has 5.5 reading level (mid-year fifth grade), she probably wouldn't attempt until possibly 4th grade. I am betting by that time that she may have already heard worse on the playground or on TV.

2. The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

image retrieved October 9, 2007, from http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=25&pid=407414

The View from Saturday is about four sixth-grade students from different walks of life who come together as teammates for Mrs. Olinkski's academic team. Mrs. Olinkski's assembles her team without knowing why she has chosen these particular four and without knowing that they have formed a foursome, whom they have dubbed The Souls.

The story of The Souls' journeys to one another are told as four individual vignettes from first person point of view. Scattered among these vignettes is the story of how The Souls came to be, and how they became the most successful sixth grade academic team in Epiphany Middle School history.

I chose this book because I participated on my school's academic team and coached one at a local high school. I had hoped the book would have centered more uponthe team and its meet. However, it focused more on the individual stories and the Saturday tea parties The Souls had a Mr. Vingh's inn. While I enjoyed the mystical nature of Julian Singh (one of The Souls) and his father, I did not particularly enjoy the book.