2014 Newbery Contenders

The Newbery books are tough for me.  It is not often that these stories appeal to a broader kid audience, and really, my blog is about finding books that most kids will devour.  However, they do represent the best of kid's literature, and kids who read these books are being exposed to some extremely talented writing, whether they appreciate it or not!

Therefore, I try to look for the contenders that I feel are the most kid worthy.  Some of the contenders I just couldn't imagine a child getting lost in, so I decided not to include those.  Even if they win in January, your child will probably not pick them up unless under duress.

So, this is my first set of books in the running.  So far this has been a fairly lean year.  Last year I couldn't wait to share a plethora of contenders who were able to branch between note worthy and kid worthy.  This year the pickings are quite a bit slimmer, but we will see what the rest of the year holds.  Fingers crossed!

Title:Navigating Early

Author:Clare Vanderpool

Target:Grades 4-8

Series:No

What this book is about:
Our main character Jack has just lost his mother.  His father, who is in the Navy, sends Jack to boarding school where he meets an unusual classmate, Early Auden.  Early is a genius with numbers and actually sees shapes and stories in their configuration.  As Jack deals with the loss of his mother, and Early with the loss of his brother in WWII, they go on an adventure along the Appalachian Trail with leads them to pirates, treasures, and the search for the Great Appalachian Bear.

Why I love this book:
Wow, this book was amazing.  The beginning of the story moves at a slower pace especially with Early’s own recounting of the folktale of the number Pi.  Vanderpool builds in this mythological story alongside the actual story which loosely bears a resemblance to the boy’s own journey.   It takes a little while for the story of Pi and the story of the boys to gel, but when it does the book really clicks.

I loved the characters she has created.  In some vague ways they reminded me of John Irving, but it has been so long since I have read Irving, I hope my memory is not too sloppy.  While the book starts out as a bit of realistic fiction, it quickly moves to quite an adventure with over the top characters and action.

Who this book is for:
The mythological element of the story of Pi, makes this story a better fit for the thinking child.  While there is lots of action and fun and quirky characters, the interplay of two stories could throw off a younger reader.  I have a feeling that kids who enjoyed Where the Mountain Meets the Moon will enjoy this book.

Final thoughts:
Navigating Early was one of those books that thoroughly surprised me, in a wonderful way.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon :Navigating Early  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog at no cost to you.  Yippee!

Title:The Water Castle

Author:Megan Frazer Blakemore

Target:Grades 4-8

Series:No

What this book is about:

When Ephram Appledore’s father has a stroke, their family moves to Crystal Springs where they inherited a property years ago.  This is where their father will try and heal.  Ephram’s ancestors built the castle in a quest to find the Fountain of Youth, and it does appear that the citizens of Crystal Springs are healthier, smarter and live longer than the average person.    However, generational feuds exists in the town, which Ephram learns when he starts school and realizes that there are secrets he can’t put his finger on.  However, he manages to put these feuds aside as he finds a group of unusual friends to help him look for the elusive Fountain of Youth, in a quest to help his father recover.

Why I love this book:

This book reminded me of books I read when I was young.  Kids on a quest with old fashion sensibilities.  However, fear not!  It still manages to be thoroughly modern.  I really liked all the characters, especially Ephram as he struggles with fitting in and feeling less smart and capable than the others around him.  

I also appreciated that the magical aspects of the books were traced back to science.  This is not a “scientific” book, but I like that it is not mystical but inquisitive.   It all falls back on to understanding the world around us. 

Who this book is for:

While this book is extremely engaging, it is not a fast read, so kids have to be willing to invest in a bigger story.   Not all kids will have the stamina for this one.  For those that are willing, it is a fun ride.

Final thoughts:

Mystery, science, history - this book is a mix of all those things.  I personally liked the ambiguity of the ending.  It felt satisfying, while still leaving a little room for the imagination.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Water Castle  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog, at no cost to you.  Yippee!

Title:The Center of Everything

Author:Linda Urban

Target:Grades 4-7

Series:No

What this book is about:

Ruby Pepperdine has lost something,  When her grandmother Gigi dies nothing seems right.  Her only hope is to fix what is wrong and so she makes a wish on her birthday that is sure to come true, if only she does everything right.  But what are the right things to do to make a wish come true?  Ruby is hoping that when she reads her winning essay during the Bunning Day parade that all will be made right.  But can some things be fixed the way they are supposed to?

Why I love this book:

I am usually not a fan of Urban.  I tried to read her last book and didn’t get past the third chapter.  Her stories are without a doubt much quieter and introspective.  However, as luck would have it, this one spoke to me.  Perhaps because I was always the girl who did what was expected of me, and I could absolutely relate to Ruby’s desire to get everything right so she could fix things.  

The story takes place during a parade and I very much enjoyed the narration in this book.  While Ruby’s voice is certainly the heart of the story, I loved hearing the voices of others throughout the parade.  The story circles around the center of the book, which is what Ruby has wished for, and the reveal does not come until the end.  In fact, the story doles out information slowly so that when we get to the big moment of her essay reading we have finally worked our way around to how she got there.  Circles and more specifically doughnuts are the metaphor for this book.

Who this book is for:

I don’t think this is a story for every child.  Kids who like character driven books will enjoy this one and also I think girls who are used to doing the right thing will understand Ruby in a way that others may not.

Final thoughts:

Urban references two previous Newbery award winners, A Wrinkle in Time and When You Reach Me (a book that pays homage to A Wrinkle in Time) during this story.  Perhaps she is hoping that hers will follow in their stead!

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Center of Everything  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog, at no cost to you.  Yippee!