The Courage of Sarah Noble

By Alice Dalgliesh

(1954, 1986) ISBN 0684188309

Even before Laura Ingalls Wilder there were other Lauras and some like Sarah Noble started even further back in the eastern portion of what was to be the United States before the birth of our country.

In this story,  Sarah has to truly be brave by accompanying her father as the two of them set out alone from the family home in Massachusetts to build the future home of the family in a new settlement in Connecticut.  Sarah is brave enough to the point where she agrees to live with a family of Native Americans while Sarah’s father goes back to Massachusetts and fetches the rest of the family.  Sarah and her father have made friends with the family of Tall John, a Native American and as it turns out Sarah learns much from the family and she is happy living with these new friends.  Nevertheless Sarah is overjoyed to see her family return safely for her.

Readers, especially tween readers for whom this book is designed, will receive much in history lessons from this engaging work.  The illustrations are well done, add immensely to the story retelling with the beauty they contribute.

The Courage of Sarah Noble was a Newbery Honor Book in 1955.

On My Honor

By Marion Dane Bauer

(1955, 1986) ISBN 0899194397

One can only hope that young readers, especially tweens, will take time to glance through this book and then proceed to travel through the pages of this interesting tale.  The subject is a serious one and the lesson learned while achieved is valuable for both the book’s characters as well as for readers who will learn it in this second hand fashion.  What is learned with this reading may actually serve as a lifesaver in the future.

After promising his father, on his honor, to refrain from risky behavior Joel proceeds to fall under the influence of a risk taker and tragedy strikes.  This aspect of the story is of course heartbreaking but its telling can be invaluable for young readers of this story and readers will see Joel going through the grieving process.  Joel starts out making much use of rationalization to a great extent as he tries initially to cope with the consequences of his life choices.  However when Joel does decide to reach out, although in anger, and by blaming another person, does resolution begin to be reached.  This story also demonstrates clearly the great value of one’s family in coping with the pain of loss.

The Newbery Honor (1955) award was well deserved.

Bridge to Terabithia

By Katherine Paterson

(1977) ISBN 0690013590

This is a book with many twists and turns.  Readers are first introduced to Jess Aarons, a fifth grader who has prepared himself all summer for the start of school and its upcoming athletic contests with his fellow students only to find that he and the rest of the boys have been bested by the newest student.  Most annoying of all, that superior athlete is a girl and there is not much chance that Jess will be able to avoid running literally into this competitor in as much as she, Leslie Burke, turns out to be Jess’ new next door neighbor.

The reader is next surprised when Jess and Leslie form a fast friendship.  Part of the reason that these two young people become such close friends is the fact that they both possess strong and beautiful imaginations.  With this in common, the two friends create an imaginary and quite separate play area in the woods near their homes.  Their play area, which Jess and Leslie consider to be their kingdom, can be reached only by the use of a swinging rope.  Jess and Leslie, name this secret kingdom, Terabithia and they literally seem to consider this place their heaven on earth, a refuge from bullies and other unpleasant challenges common in the world of tweens.

All does not go well for our young friends when one of them drowns trying to reach this private kingdom one day.  The most difficult aspect of reading this beautifully written book is learning of this turn in the story and having to look on as the surviving friend struggles to copy with this loss.  Inasmuch as this story is beautifully told and also is a very good depiction of a tween friendship, this book is highly recommended even with the challenge presented by the loss of a beloved character.

The Whipping Boy

By Sid Fleischman

(1986) ISBN 0688062164

In a land far away and a time long ago young princes were punished for their transgressions, punished very severely.  Every blow administered however caused no pain at all to the offending princes.  This was due to the fact that the princes had surrogates for their whippings.

As we arrive on the scene, the prince of the land has again earned a sound thrashing for the whipping boy, Jemmy.  Jemmy, an orphan snatched from the streets for this duty is too proud to utter a cry of pain.  This further infuriates the spiteful prince, known as Prince Brat behind his back.  When Prince Brat forces Jemmy to runaway with him they come across some cut-throat ruffians who look to take advantage of the two runaways.  Together with the resourcefulness of Jemmy, help from some relocated friends and changes that Prince Brat undergoes, fortunes change for Jemmy for the better as we leave this land of far away and long ago.

This book's illustrations do much to carry the story along as well as bring to life the secondary but hilarious and picturesque ruffians, Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater.

For tweens with an interest in the fantasy world of folklore and of”medieval times" this book will provide an alternative an entertaining choice to the overly present graphic novel genre.  For tweens working on making sure they are given a fair shake, like Jemmy, this will be a reassuring read.

1987 Newbery Award winner.

Holes

By Louis Sachar

DVD V2266

This film based on the 1999 Newbery Award book, Holes by Louis Sachar, stars Shia LaBeouf as the main character, Stanley Yelnats in this coming of age tale.

The entire Yelnats family has experienced bad luck for generations and when Stanley finds himself unfairly accused of the theft of some very expensive shoes, he is not surprised about his quick conviction and sentencing to a juvenile detention center.  Given his circumstances Stanley initially welcomes being sent to Camp Green Lake however upon his arrival he realizes how extremely misnamed this supposed juvenile detention center is. Even with all these challenges, Stanley manages to find the real purpose of the holes that the camp juveniles must dig every day, who really stole the shoes he was accused of taking, and best of all he manages to reverse the fortunes of his family as well as his own.

With its youthful characters, and their resourcefulness under extremely challenging circumstances, the film Holes will be especially appealing to audiences that include tweens. 

Jacob Have I Loved

By Katherine Paterson

(1980) 0690040784

Commencing the reading of this book can be somewhat painful for anyone who has ever experienced sibling rivalries.  Of course we are aware that such rivalries can be normal occurrences in families and that most families survive these challenges.  In fact those readers who do complete the reading of Jacob Have I Loved are rewarded with a tale that ultimately has a happy ending and is well written.

The book’s main character, Sara Louise, has always felt herself undervalued by her family who she is convinced love only Sara Louise’ twin sister, the more beautiful and talented Caroline.  The reader can see quite clearly from the first page that Sara Louise has almost crippled herself emotionally due to all the suspicions and resentments that she bears towards her sister.  It almost gets to the points that readers may begin to wonder whether Sara Louise is either imaging slights against her or whether the family is actually abusive towards Sara Louise.

As this story progresses and Sara Louise continues in her struggles to come to terms with her different disappointments.  Due to the unhappiness that she has caused for herself, or at least has exaggerated, Sara Louise almost passed up an opportunity for a well deserved college education.  Fortunately she listens to the advice of a friend and takes the opportunity she deserves.  Eventually Sara Louise grows to the level she deserves and even considers entering the medical profession, as a doctor.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

By E. L. Konigsburg

1968 (068985322X

Unlike the stories of the usual run aways that newspaper readers are informed of and that cause much vicarious worrying, Claudia Kincaid is a very much prepared eleven year old girl.  Before setting out to absent herself from her family, the family that Claudia views as taking her for granted as well as placing too demands on her, Claudia pinpoints the exact place to which she wishes to run.  Yes, the place to run to is even more important inasmuch as we learn from the beginning that Claudia is not one to welcome discomfort or cold or hunger.  That is how Claudia decided on running to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where one can live in comfort if one is careful not to be discovered by the museum personnel.

As soon as Claudia begins to make her plans she realizes that being short of savings, not being one to put off spending on treats, and she must find someone with a bankroll, so to speak.  That is how Claudia decided to bring her brother, Jamie, who never spent any of the loot he has ever acquired.  Jamie is flattered by being let into this plot and agrees to join her.

With all the intrigue that Claudia and Jamie must involve themselves in while secreting themselves from the security personnel and also attempting to solve a mystery about one of the museum statues this story has so much to hold the interest of readers.  Readers of this book have ranged from ages of nine and on up.  When these readers are quizzed years later, they tend to sigh with pleasure and agree that this is one of the greatest books ever.  No wonder that it won the Newbery Award in 1968.

The Cat Who Went To Heaven

By Coatsworth, Elizabeth. ISBN 9780027197105






This is the story of a cat who came to live in the household of a struggling Japanese artist and in the end brought him great luck. At the time that the cat enters the picture, the artist and his housekeeper barely have anything to eat but that does not stop the housekeeper from doing an illogical thing. She brings home another mouth to feed, the cat. The artist who knows better than to go along with this action is nevertheless so kind hearted that the cat stays. With the introduction of the cat into this household it seems that there is a change in the fortunes of this household. The artist is suddenly given an important commission to paint a portrait of Buddha by the local temple. While the artist commences to create his painting carefully and thoughtfully, the cat who may have had something to do with the reversal of fortune for this household, sticks by close to the artist almost begging to be included in the commissioned work. That a cat be included in a portrait of Buddha seems an insurmountable obstacle in that it is was believed that the cat along of all animals refused to accept the teachings of Buddha. The reader will no doubt be profoundly touched by the answer to the question as whether the cat will get his wish. This is a beautifully written and illustrated work. The pictures bring the work of the artist to us, a living canvas as the painting grows and grows. Whoever introduces this book to children does them a profound favor.

When You Reach Me

 

By Rebecca Stead

9780385737425

In this book, awarded the 2010 Newbery Award, our main character is Miranda a sixth grader who presents the reader with a good representation of the present day life style of many young people around us.  Yes, Miranda is a Latchkey Kid living with her mom in New York City.  Miranda’s father is not in the picture.

Miranda and her next door neighbor, Sal, another sixth grader, negotiate their way every day back and forth to school past the homeless, in particular one man who sleeps at night under the mailbox, and the older youths who hang around and look menacing to the passing Miranda.  Miranda and her mother, a paralegal, have their dreams for a possible financial windfall should Miranda’s mom be successful on a game show.  The preparation for this game show has become a family project with even Richard, mom’s boyfriend, taking part by lending his support also.

Early in this story Miranda is presented with the challenge of trying to determine the identity of the sender of notes that are coming her way in mysterious methods.  These notes convey the baffling message that the writer will be coming to save the life of a friend of Miranda’s but that Miranda must write back to the writer of these notes.  For almost the entire length of the book the identity of the note sender is unclear.  However the reader to who takes note of Miranda’s interest in time travel will consider that the final turn of this book makes more sense.

The Westing Game

By Ellen Raskin
(1968) 0525471375

The “Westing Game” is thoroughly intriguing, complex in its plot and full of characters upon characters.  It is suggested that it’s reading is undertaken only by readers with a sufficient amount of time as well as a location where distractions can be held to a minimum.  The variety of twists and turns as well as character transformations in this work call for readers who are able to pay close attention.  It is the confident view of this reviewer that overall, readers will be well rewarded for their efforts.  There is never a dull moment in this book but it is necessary to focus fully from start to finish.  This book, winner of the Newbery Award in 1968, is one of the most enjoyable mystery books that this reader has ever encountered.

In that the main character, at least a very important one, is a 13 year old girl, this book seems ideal for the Tween audience.  This work however can be fully enjoyed by a very wide age group.  The interesting constant twists and turns that start from the beginning and end only when one closes the book ensure the attention of its audiences no matter who they are.

The main theme of the book is that of a huge fortune available to one of 16 potential candidates, with the winner to be the one who is able to determine who is person responsible for “taking the life of Samuel W. Westing”, the person who is the extremely wealthy person after whom this book is named.  To help you start solving this mystery, the immediately preceding sentence has been written so as to contain two important hints to get you started in the “Westing Game.”

Sounder

By William Howard Armstrong

VHS 96 minutes.  ABC’s Wonderful World of Disney V1188

The struggles undergone by an African-American family living in Louisiana during the time of the Depression is the subject of this video/film based on the 1970 Newbery Award book by Armstrong.  The father in the family is driven by desperation to steal and getting caught is sent to prison thus setting the family further into poverty.  The son, referred to only as Boy has to assume the role of breadwinner by working in the farming chores.  Despite the tragedy that is portrayed in this book/video, it is the drive and the perseverance and love of the family that will stay with the reader/viewer.

Number the Stars

By Lois Lowry

(1989, 1998) ISBN 0440227534

Two friends are walking home together with a younger sister, or running as the mood strikes them when they are confronted by the realities of their world.  Their running catches the attention of German occupation soldiers patrolling the streets of Copenhagen and stopped for questioning.  No, they have done nothing illegal or threatening to the occupiers but have committed a tactical error by calling attention to themselves with their running.  It is 1943 and Denmark has been occupied since 1940 when as a survival tactic it surrendered to Germany.  Annemarie Johansen and her family are neighbors of the Rosen family whose daughter, Ellen is Annemarie’s friend.  Before we progress very far in the story we see Annemarie’s family and circle of friends endanger their lives to insure the safety of the Rosen family.  The Rosens and all Jewish people are being targeted by the occupiers for “relocation”, a term which in fact pertained to the attempts by the German occupiers to annihilate the Jewish People. Newbery Award 1990.

A Single Shard

By Linda Sue Park

(2001) ISBN 0395978270

We meet Tree-ear, approximately eleven years of age, during the twelfth century in Korea.  Tree ear is an orphan and has no house.  One day as he goes about foraging for food he notices the work of Min a potter and he longs to be trained by Min.  Due to a mishap Tree-ear does start to work for Min.  When an emissary from the royal court informs Min that if Min can send another example of his work to the royal court that he will be considered for a commission.  Tree-ear volunteers to travel the long distance with the pottery but after this potter is broken during the trip, Tree-ear delivers a single shard and with this delivery Min wins the commission.  This story deals with the desire to create beauty.  It seems so fitting that the mere telling of this tale is beauty itself.  It is a thoroughly convincing story and absolutely holds the reader’s interest.  A wholehearted recommendation is given this book.

Newbery Award winner of 2002