Unfortunate circumstances leave Stanley Yelnats at the mercy of the warden of Camp Green Lake, where he, and other inmates, are forced to dig five-foot deep holes all day, every day, to 'build character.' After hearing rumors of hidden treasure, and a bandit named Kissin' Kate Barlow, Stanley tries to dig up the truth. Can he untangle the mess of clues before he sweats to death, or the yellow-spotted lizards kill him? This book won the Newbery Medal in 1999 and the Rebecca Caudill Award in 2002.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal, Rebecca Caudill Award

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0374332657

ISBN-13: 9780374332655

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Commenter: St. Charles Reader, grade 0

Juan de Pareja was born into slavery in seventeenth-century Spain. To his good fortune, he came to serve the Spanish painter Velazquez. He discovers a love for art and a talent for painting, but he must practice in secret because the law forbade a slave from painting. After many years, Juan is given his freedom but continues as Velazquez's assistant until the great painter's death. Read this first-person account, based on the actual life of Juan de Pareja, to learn about Velazquez and life as a painter during a brilliant era of famous artists.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: msp

Date read: 1/6/2011

ISBN-10: 0374335311

ISBN-13: 9780374335311

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Karena is left alone on the island where her tribe used to live. Most of the men were killed by Russian otter hunters, who refuse to honor their agreement to share the otter skins. An elder of the tribe paddled to the mainland, and brought back a ship to take the survivors off the island. Karana went to look for her little brother and, when she found him, the ship had gone. Shortly afterwards, her brother is killed by wolves. This is the story of Karana's life on the island- how she found food, made weapons, made clothes, created a place to live, and, most of all, befriended the animals.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0395536804

ISBN-13: 9780395536803

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Fourteen-year old Dave Mitchell lives with his parents, in a small apartment in the middle of New York City. He doesn't get along well with his father, and they get into many petty, explosive arguments that end up giving Dave's mother an asthma attack. After these fights, Dave usually finds shelter at 'Crazy' Kate's, the Cat Woman. One day he decides to adopt Cat, an orange tom that he befriends. It is through Cat that he meets his new friend, Tom, a nineteen-year old who doesn't have a lot of prospects, until Dave's dad decides to help him find a job. With Cat as his constant companion, Dave meets Mary, a girl he becomes great friends with, helps a struggling teen, and becomes closer to his father in this thoughtful book about growing up in one of the busiest cities in America.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 1437838391

ISBN-13: 9781437838398

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After injuring his hand, a Boston silversmith's apprentice becomes a messenger for the Sons of Liberty in the days before the American Revolution. This book won the Newbery Medal in 1944.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0395900115

ISBN-13: 9780395900116

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