Coming home one night, a young man is kidnapped, a large bag is thrown over his body, and he is tossed on a ship headed out to sea. Naturally he's scared, and angry, when he learns the voyage will last for 4 months. His fear and anger double when he finds out that the ship he is on is a slaver, headed to Africa, and his job on board will be to 'dance the slaves' brought on board so their bodies will stay strong, and, more importantly, profitable. This book is an ocean adventure, a historical novel, a tale of suspense, and survival set during one of our nation's darkest times in history. This is the winner of the 1974 Newbery Medal.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0027355608

ISBN-13: 9780027355604

Check the library catalog

Get ready for an amazing journey through time that explores familiar events, as well as the unusual in a most interesting and engaging way. History comes alive with the Greeks and the Romans, on a crusade, or in battle with Napoleon. You also travel all over the world and experience what it was like then and there. A good read and the first book to receive the Newbery Award in 1922. The book was updated by the author's son, Gerard Willem van Loon, taking the story from 'The United States Comes of Age' through 'A Turbulent Peace'. An additional revision continues the story through 'The Earth as a Global Village.' The book concludes with an animated chronology in graphic novel fashion.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 6/23/2010

ISBN-10: 0871401711

ISBN-13: 9780871401717

Check the library catalog

Middle school student Sara feels as if she exists on two planes. Sometimes, she is happy and excited, the next moment, she is plunged into despair. Sara has been living with her Aunt Willie, her older sister, Wanda, and younger brother, Charlie, since her mother died and her father left. An illness with a high fever has left Charlie unable to speak and with the intelligence of a much younger child. Sara feels it is her responsibility to care for Charlie and defend him against the world, especially against boys like Joe Melby. Charlie disappears one night and Sara is sure that he has gone to look for the swans they watched the previous day. Before too long, Aunt Willie calls the police and the whole community is on the alert. When Joe Melby offers to help Sara search for Charlie, she isn't at all sure she wants to accept. While the suspense builds, Sara finds she is also on another search, for herself.

Similar books: The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: vverscaj

Date read: 1/13/2011

ISBN-10: 0670681903

ISBN-13: 9780670681907

Check the library catalog

This is the tale of a mouse who must save a human princess. Despereaux has done the unspeakable. He has spoken to humans and he even claims to be in love with the Princess Pea. For this, the High Mouse Council sentences him to be thrown into the dungeon where the rats will surely kill him. Despereaux, though, escapes the dungeon only to find that his precious princess has been kidnapped by a wicked rat and a poor dimwitted serving girl. Despereaux must go back to the dungeon, this time by his own choice, in order to save the princess he loves. This Newbery winner is a tale of romance, adventure, chivalry and . . . soup.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 12/29/2010

ISBN-10: 0763617229

ISBN-13: 9780763617226

Check the library catalog

After Garnet Linden finds a silver thimble, her life becomes much more exciting. Rain comes to end the drought which had threatened their crops and animals. An orphan boy comes to their farm and becomes part of their family. Garnet and her friend get locked in the library. She gets to run the threshing machine but falls asleep at the wheel. And all summer long, she is fattening her pig for the County Fair. Read about the quiet adventures of Garnet and her 'magic' thimble on a Wisconsin farm in the 1930s

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 1/28/2011

ISBN-10: 0805003061

ISBN-13: 9780805003062

Check the library catalog