Cam's Connection

Newbery Award Winners The Newbery Medal was established in 1922 in honour of British children's bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually to the best children's book by an American author. Honor books are also awarded for runner-ups. 2003. Crispin: The Cross Of Lead By Avi Set in the Middle Ages, this fast paced historical adventure story is a great and exciting read. The main character is a boy who never even knew his own name until his mother died and the secret was revealed to him by his village priest. The story unfolds as the boy runs away only to be pursued by the cruel overlord of his village who has accused him of a crim he did not commit! 2002. A Single Shard By Linda Sue Park 2001. A Year Down Yonder By Richard Peck During the Depression Mary Alice Dowdel goes to live with her grandmother in a small Midwest town. But Grandma Dowdel isn't any ordinary old lady. Read this amusing novel to find out what hilarious hijinks the pair get up to. 2000. Bud Not Buddy By Christopher Paul Curtis Set in Flint, Michigan in the Great Depression. Humorous and easy. 1999. Holes By Louis Sachar Stanley Yelnats is convicted of a crime he did not commit. The judge gives him a choice of going to jail or to Camp Green Lake. He chooses Camp Green Lake. Every day all the boys at Camp Green Lake dig one hole in the dry lakebed. It soon becomes clear that the warden is looking for something, but what? Will Stanley discover what's going on at Camp Green Lake before it's too late? 1998. Out Of The Dust By Karen Hesse . 1997. The View From Saturday By E.L. Konigsburg Mrs. Olinski coaches her sixth grade class's Academic Bowl team. She is in charge of picking 4 students with wide general knowledge to compete on that team. The 4 kids chosen to be on the team have all been on a journey, and have a story to tell. They're all interconnected, with each other, and with Mrs. Olinski, a woman who has not taught for 10 years since a car accident that confined her to a wheelchair. This book is heartwarming, thought provoking, and as always, has lovable characters who are guaranteed to touch you. It may be a kids book, but this is one that is wise beyond its years. 1996. The Midwife's Apprentice By Karen Cushman Beetle was just a poor beggar who slept in the village dung heap. But she realizes that she has potential to be something more and to share her true gift of midwifery. She becomes an apprentice but runs away after a failed assignment. Will Beetle (who names herself Alyce) face herself and do the right thing? Or will she run away from her problems? 1995. Walk Two Moons By Sharon Creech Salamanca Tree Hiddle has many memories of everything. Her mother, who died giving birth to her brother who died too, living on their farm and all the things that have happened to her. Now she is on a journey with her grandparents across the country sand these memories and others come pouring out as she tells them stories about her life. a very passionate, well written novel. It is the best book I have ever read. 1994. The Giver By Lois Lowry Everyone's responsibilties are chosen for them, as are their spouses, children and most of their decisions. That is what life is like in The Giver and the main character eagerly awaits what his position will be. He is surprised when he is chosen to be the Reciever of Knowledge for the community. He learns about many things like colour and music and how the world used to be, where people could make their own decisions. But the most painful discovery of all is the truth. 1992. Shiloh By Phyllis Reynolds Naylor When Marty finds an abused dog, he wonders whether to return it to its rightful owner, keep it for himself or what to do. He has many confusing choices, and he knows what he does will affect the dog forever. 1991. Manic Magee By Jerry Spinelli Jeffrey Lionel Magee loves to run. And one day he starts running and doesn't stop until he's left home. Pretty soon, he's acquired a nickname, "Maniac" in the town where he spends his days. He meets many different people, confronts racism, and tries to make others happy in this enjoyable read. 1990. Number The Stars By Lois Lowry Annemarie Johansen's normal life has beent urned upside down. It is 1943 and the Nazis have invaded Denmark, making life for her Jewish family very unsafe. The realistic and daring story of her family's escape to Sweden is well told, although I find it a bit juvenile. 1987. The Whipping Boy By Sid Fleischman Imagine being punished regularly for someone else's transgressions. That's what life is like for Jemmy, the royal whipping boy. His job is to take whippings, spankings in place of the prince, because no one can lay a hand on the prince. Jemmy tires of this life and accepts the prince's invitation to run away with him to escape the drudgery of the castle life. This rip roaring adventure is funny, interesting and original. 1986. Sarah, Plain And Tall By Patricia MacClachlan A classic tale of pioneer life in the American west. 1978. Bridge To Terabithia By Katherine Paterson Overrated, in my opinion. A tale of friendship and prejudice. 1973. Julie of The Wolves By Jean Craighead George A truly great story of the arctic, environmentalism and nature. 1968. From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler By E.L. Konigsburg This book, written in 1967, is still completely engrossing and vivid today. It centres around a brother and sister who run away from their home in Connecticut and live in the Metropolitan Museum in New York for a week undetected. Living in the museum, they become enchanted with a new sculpture rumoured to be a lost work of art by Michelangelo. They meet up with an eccentric widow, who is the only one that knows the truth about the statue. It's an ingenius story from a brilliant author (the name Basil E. Frankweiler itself is splendiforous) and explores an idea we've all probably entertained. E.L. Konigsburg's characters are completely believable and always amazingly original and authentic. 1963. A Wrinkle In Time By Madeleine Lengle Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin embark on a perilous quest to try and find her father from where he disappeared to. Meg knows he would never desert them, and that he must need rescuing. Along their journey, they discover many strange and odd places and things. Some people love this story, others hate it with a passion. Which kind of person are you? 1961. The Island of the Blue Dolphins By Scott O'Dell Story of a native girl in California and her first contact with European whalers. 1959. The Witch of Blackbird Pond By Elizabeth George Speare 1936. Caddie Woodlawn By Carol Ryrie Brink Caddie Woodlawn wouold rather go play in the forest or plow a field then cook or sew - she's a first rate tomboy. This book is an amusing and well written account of her bravery, troubles and adventures in the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s. I highly recommend it and the movie.