'When you come to a stone wall, if you look far enough, you will find a door in it.' Robin receives these words of advice, but is not quite sure what they mean. In 14th century England, Robin was expecting to prepare for knighthood at Sir Peter de Lindsay's castle. Unfortunately, Robin becomes ill, and, as a result, he can no longer walk. Brother Luke rescues him, and, eventually, helps him get to Sir Peter's castle, where Sir Peter is recovering from war wounds. Sir Peter's castle comes under attack by a Welsh army. Because of thick fog, Sir Peter cannot determine how strong the attacking army is, but his forces manage to keep them out of the castle. There is a standoff and, soon, the food and water supplies dwindled. Someone must go for help, but whom? Sir Peter can't spare any of him men. Suddenly, Robin understands what was meant about the door in the wall. This won the Newbery Medal in 1950.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0440227798

ISBN-13: 9780440227793

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What do you do if you're bored at school, and nobody appreciates you at home? Well, Claudia Kincaid decides the only answer is to run away. She plans very carefully to be gone just enough time to teach her parents a lesson in 'Claudia appreciation'. She decides to hide at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and to take her brother Jamie along, because he's got more money than she does. While they're there, Claudia becomes intrigued by a statue that was recently sold to the museum. She believes that Michelangelo created it, but there is controversy around it, and the only person who knows the truth is Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the person who sold it to the museum. Claudia and Jamie talk to Mrs. Frankweiler, an eccentric old woman, who decides to make a deal with Claudia and Jamie. This won the Newbery Medal in 1968.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0689205864

ISBN-13: 9780689205866

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Jonas's world is perfect, and under control. There is no war, fear, pain, or choices. Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the Receiver of Memories. He receives special training from The Giver. He discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives, and he desperately looks for a way to break the terrible cycle in which they live.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal, Rebecca Caudill Award

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0440237688

ISBN-13: 9780440237686

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Bod, short for Nobody, Owens has lived in the graveyard for as long as he can remember. Due to a frantic plea from his recently dead (murdered) mother, Bod was given a home in the graveyard, as well as the protection of its ghosts, werewolves, and other residents until he is old enough to protect himself. Growing up in a cemetery leads to many adventures from making friends with visitors to getting kidnapped by ghouls. Most dangerous of all, he attends school briefly with other living, breathing children. Along with this is the ever-present danger lurking outside. Bod wonders how he will manage to survive amongst the living with only the lessons he has learned from the dead.

Awards nominated: 2013 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: mec

Date read: 6/22/2009

ISBN-10: 0060530936

ISBN-13: 9780060530938

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Commenter: Valerie, grade 54

Will Stanton is the last born of the Old Ones, servants of the Light, who are immortals, dedicated to saving the world from domination by the evil force known as the Dark. Will goes to Wales to recover from an illness. According to an old North Wales tradition, a harp of gold will be found at a certain hill by a boy, followed by a white dog with silver eyes. Will needs to recover the harp of gold because its song will rouse the Sleepers by the Pleasant Lake. The Sleepers will join forces with the servants of the Light to fight the battle between Light and Dark. Will bumps into Bran Davies, and his dog, which is white and has silver eyes. The two boys set off on their mission, only to be plagued by the Grey King, one of the Great Lords of the Dark, at every turn. Can they find the harp of gold, awaken the Sleepers, and win the battle, or will the Grey King stop their mission? This is book four in the Dark is Rising sequence and the winner of the 1976 Newbery Medal.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0689500297

ISBN-13: 9780689500299

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