I'm taking two book classes at the moment. One that runs all year and hits on all the genres and another that is just Newbury winners. I read the following for the Newbury:
roll of thunder hear my cry
slave dancer
the grey king
They all were worthy of the award when they received it in the 1970's, but lately I have to ask what's up with the winners? They are a mixed group of novels and not ones I could whole heartedly support.
Roll of thunder is perhaps one of the best and most thought provoking childrens' books I have ever read. It's a historical fiction set in the 1930's south. Cassie is a 9 year old girl learning many truths about racism for the first time. She is a strong likable character, as are her brothers and her adult family. The characters are complex, never wooden, nor perfect. The situations are just what you might expect for that setting.
Slave Dancer was a new one for me. Very well written by Paula Fox who has a beautiful ability to turn words. Another historical piece set in 1840's in the south. Jessie is kidnapped to play fife on a slave ship to help exercise the human cargo. He learns a lot about the evils humans can put upon each other.
Finally, the third was one of a series by Susan Cooper. A boy is born human only to awaken to his old self at age 11. He is an immortal soul called an "old one" and he is the last. Now he must play his part to fulfil the prophesy. It's a fight of good versus evil. Will Stanton befriends Bran and together they get a magical harp which is part of keeping the evil at bay.
For my other class I have four on deck. I nearly made my 50 book quota by Columbus Day. I think from this point on I will list books read by each month.
