Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Newbery award was first given in 1922 to the author of "the most distinguished conttributions to American literature for children".

Please feel free to read any of the books published before 1982. This includes the winners and the runners-up.

In the Suggestion Thread Rosemarie had these for some reads she really enjoyed.

Aug 15, 2022 01:27PM
Rosemarie comment

"Here are some I enjoyed:

Miracles on Maple Hill
Winterbound
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze
Caddie Woodlawn
The Bronze Bow
The Trumpeter of Krakow
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Adam of the Road
Blue Willow
The Door in the Wall
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"

I read The Trumpeter of Krakow this year and enjoyed it.

I enjoyed it too, when I read it a few years ago, Pam.

Whoo hoo - this is right up my alley as I am just 8 books away from reading all of the Newbery winners! I've read 53 written before 1982 - what do you need to know? :)

Too many good ones to name but Caddie Woodlawn is among my favorites. Jacob Have I Loved among my least favorites.

Congratulations Karen! That is impressive.

I think I am probably around a dozen or so.

Karen, it would be great if you could share your most recent read or anything you're reading now. We can keep adding books here until the end of the year since it's a buddy read.
I really did not like Jacob Have I loved! Just terrible in my opinion.
Caddie Woodlawn was a delight!

It would also be great if you shared some of your other favourites or recommendations,

Why was 1922 such an important year for literature?

I will read The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

Sandy, all of our discussion threads stay open indefinitely, so please feel free to add books next year as well. There are so many
Newbery books that this buddy read will be extended into 2023.

What a great plan Rosemarie!

Thanks!

Thanks for this.... I've tried to pick up some winners this year, but find my reading has not kept pace with my intentions.... I'll be checking back with this thread!

This year I have read five Newbery winners so far which puts me seven away from reading all 101 I think it is. I've read:

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera - the most recent winner. I gave it three stars but I'm in the minority there - most seem to love it. It is science fiction - who knew? - and a good story but too many coincidences and not enough conflict. A well-intentioned book about the importance of story-telling and knowing where we came from and who we are in order to move forward in our lives. I just needed a bit more clarity and integration.

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes. I gave this one four stars. The 1952 medal winner, it is the story of an adorable dog gone missing and the children who refuse to stop looking for him. The book is a bit dated, but fun to read and a lovely story of small town life in days gone by when everyone knew and looked out for everyone else. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would a ten year old today enjoy it? No idea. I'd like to hope so.

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois I gave this 1948 medal winner five stars. This is a fun story of fact and fiction, the only factual part of it being the eruption of the volcano on Krakatoa Island I would imagine. The rest is pure fun and fantasy. There is adventure and there is technology. It sometimes drags in it's description of said technology but not enough to bore the reader away from the story. There is a celebration of diversity, albeit sometimes a bit dated in its political correctness. And it is broad enough in its language and scope to interest readers of all ages.

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox. I finished this one in August and haven't reviewed it yet. I'd give it between 3 and 4 stars. The 1974 medal winner takes place in the mid-1800's and is the story of a young boy stolen away from his home and forced to work on a slave ship as a piper, playing music to keep the slaves dancing for exercise to keep them fit for sale on the auction blocks. It was mostly a lost cause as the inhumanity of the slave trade and the brutal conditions during the passage are exposed. I thought it was a good story, and a representational introduction to the horrors of slavery for the target audience but many disagree on Goodreads!

And just this morning I finished The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes. A solid five stars. I don't know what children were like in 1924 but they must have been a whole lot more sophisticated than kids today. This is no Captain Underpants. Blurb - " With its bloody battles, brutal buccaneers, and bold, spirited hero, this rousing tale will enthrall young listeners in search of seafaring adventure." It is unapologetically violent and bloody. And beyond that it is written in convoluted seventeenth century prose and pirate speak which I had to read out loud to make any sense of. I loved it but sadly, I think it would be hard-pressed to appeal to a young reader today.

I read The Slave Dancer back in the 90s when my daughters were in elementary school. I was impressed and thought it a worthwhile read.

I agree that The Twenty-One Balloons is a fun read.

I haven't read Ginger Pye but I have read The Moffats.

I seem to have read just one book from this list "The Giver". I will try and read two more this year - "The Westing Game" and "A Wrinkle in Time"

I finished Shen of the Sea: Chinese Stories for Children by Arthur Bowie Chrisman last week. The 1926 Newbery Medal winner, it is a collection of Chinese tales written by an American who spent most of his adult life studying Chinese history and literature though he never seems to have visited China. So there is a fair amount of discussion on GR about appropriation and racism, but I very much enjoyed the book. They are amusing stories split between morality tales and the imagined invention of cultural items such as chopsticks or china plates. The book is beautifully illustrated by Else Hasselriis.

I wish I knew whether children of the 1920's read books like this. I can imagine my father reading this kind of literature. I can almost imagine myself reading it. But I cannot imagine the vast majority of children today reading it. Children's lit was much more sophisticated (I'm not sure that is the word I am looking for?) prior to the likes of Captain Underpants and Dork Diaries. Authors in Mr. Chrisman's time wrote up to children, not down. Or maybe children's lit was meant to be read to children, not by children? Or is it just a matter of the Newbery Committee thinking this (and many others like it) is what children should like/be reading? I just wonder at the change in children's books over time.

Without getting too philosophical here, this quote by C.S. Lewis seems relevant here although I cannot tell you why.

“I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story.”

Am I justifying my enjoyment of kiddie lit or demonizing the kiddie lit books that I, personally, don't enjoy? Kids love Captain Underpants. I wonder if my father would have too?

I know what you mean, Karen, but at least the kids are reading.

My grandson went through the Captain Underpants stage, and they are funny. Some of the names are over the kid's head, like Miss Anthropy, the grumpy school secretary. They're not literature, but they're genuinely funny-if you like that sort of humour.
Your father might have, once he got over the first shock.

I've just finished reading Roller Skates by Ruth Sawyer and loved it. It won the award in 1937 but is set in 1890's New York City.

I am really hoping to join in on this after the Election is done and put to retention boxes!

When will that happen, Lesle?

I really enjoyed Roller Skates too. A clever twist the way Ruth becomes Lucinda. A good story about old New York.

Rosemarie wrote: "When will that happen, Lesle?"

Unfortunately Early Voting is now with weekend and longer hours open coming up here in a few days. Election Day is November 8th for us. Provisionals, Military and the Official we will be done by the week of Thanksgiving.

Im hoping either the week of Thanksgiving or after the Federal Audit which would be after the week of the 9th of December.

It is just too mentally hard on me during Election that I really have a hard time with reading. I know most will not understand that, but the older I get the harder the Election time is on me.

Rosemarie do you have thoughts of books for November and December? If I do not have them it will give me time to order them.

Please share your thoughts on what you have in mind. This is one list I really would enjoy. I never had a chance to read these when younger and there are some great books we have read so far that have been suggested, that I was not aware of and glad we have read.

For November and December we're going to read or reread Christmas, other holiday and animal stories of our own choice.
Fairy tales count too.
The book I'm going to reread is The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter.
If you haven't read The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin, I highly recommend that one.
For something a little different and darker at times, there's The Chimes by Charles Dickens.

Rosemarie wrote: "For November and December we're going to read or reread Christmas, other holiday and animal stories of our own choice.
Fairy tales count too.
The book I'm going to reread is [book:The Tailor of Glo..."

I like your recommendations, Rosemarie.

Thanks, Trisha.

Are these recommendations Newbery related or are these for a different category?

Karen wrote: "Are these recommendations Newbery related or are these for a different category?"

Those are for our upcoming buddy read which has just been opened.

Sorry if it caused any confusion, Karen.

I've just finished the delightful The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong.
.

Last week I started Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field and quit after two chapters. It was boring and just a little too "quaint".

I've just finished the charming Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright, with illustrations by the author.

Rosemarie are you thinking about keeping this one open for next year?
Hoping there is enough interest.

I am keeping it open in 2023, Lesle. It's a good resource for those who want to read more Newbery books.

Wonderful. Some great suggestions are listed and I hope to read a couple next year!

I would be interested in doing some Newbery buddy reads so I'm glad to see that the thread will be here!!

I finished Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt by Esther Forbes, the 1944 medal winner, a few weeks ago. I liked it although Johnny is not meant to be a very likeable character. Fortunately, he matures as the story unfolds. It is a very long book for what it is. I don't know that it would hold the interest of a modern day young reader. Good book though!

Karen wrote: "I finished Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt by Esther Forbes, the 1944 medal winner, a few weeks ago. I liked it although Johnny is not meant to be a very ..."

My daughter loves this book! It's one of her favourites but she did have the context of the times when she read it. I really liked Johnny .... Forbes made him very human .... like all of us we have faults we have to work through and hopefully throughout life we will continue to change and become better people. Glad you enjoyed the read.

I liked that book as well.

I read The Westing Game this month and was disappointed with it. Has anyone else read it? I plan to read I Capture the Castle next month and hope it is good.

Shaina wrote: "I read The Westing Game this month and was disappointed with it. Has anyone else read it? I plan to read I Capture the Castle next month and hope it is good."

I LOVE I Capture the Castle! It's very whimsical and fun. Enjoy!

I Capture the Castle is delightful.

I read The Westing Game last year. I didn’t like it either. I felt like it was silly and contrived. I did not read it as a kid.

Sandy wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I read The Westing Game this month and was disappointed with it. Has anyone else read it? I plan to read I Capture the Castle next month and hope it is good."

Shaina, I read it a fe..."

Spot on review, Sandy. Definitely not for children! She tried to throw every stereotype in. I wonder what the author was thinking.

Cleo wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I read The Westing Game this month and was disappointed with it. Has anyone else read it? I plan to read I Capture the Castle next month and hope it is good."

I LOVE I Capture the C..."

That really sounds good. Thanks, Cleo!

Rosemarie wrote: "I Capture the Castle is delightful."

Fingers crossed, Rosemarie!

Pam wrote: "I read The Westing Game last year. I didn’t like it either. I felt like it was silly and contrived. I did not read it as a kid."

Yes! Contrived is the right adjective. I kept wondering if I had missed something. I would rather reread a Famous Five mystery than this book.

Funny - I gave The Westing Game five stars and highly recommended it for young readers! I read it for the first time in 2016, in my sixties I guess. Takes all kinds! :)

And that's a good thing, Karen!

Karen that is what makes every book special!

Indeed!

I am just finishing up the 1940 winner, Daniel Boone by James Daugherty. First and foremost I was so surprised by the book format when it arrived at the library. It is picture book size. That was unexpected! It is 94 pages in a large font and liberally illustrated in sepia tone by the author. It is also, apparently, highly controversial in its racism to the point that many libraries won't have it on their shelves and it is very difficult to purchase. Being in my sixties and having seen it all in my lifetime, I'm a terrible judge of this kind of thing but I am assuming the issue is the handling of "the savages" and the POV that the white settlers were fully justified in their fear and treatment of them in the name of expanding the US territory and eradicating every last Indian. While the natives do come off looking a bit less human, I think the author does a reasonable job of balancing the scales - the native people do their fair share of eradication also albeit generally upon undue provocation - especially given that the book was written in 1939, but as I say, I'm not a good judge of this kind of thing and I tend toward that unpopular ideology that books such as this are teaching moments. And far better informed people than I have forced this book out of print. An interesting read altogether. I have just The Story of Mankind and this year's winner left and I'm done with the Newberys until next year! And every year thereafter! Whoo hoo!