Newbery Books discussion

I absolutely loved When You Reach Me! It's a book that isn't easy to slot into a genre - it could be called a mystery or also science fiction. I read it at the end of 2009, and it's the first time I remember reading a book before it became a Newbery medal winner. I don't want to discuss it in too much detail, though, because I think it's best enjoyed by not knowing too much about the plot before you read it. My review is here, if you would like to read more of my thoughts on the book.

I agree Luann! This book was wonderful! There was so much detail and so many neat pieces of the story than ran throughout the whole book. I loved not knowing what to expect from this one.
I plan to read it again so that I can get a better feel for the story. I read it so fast the first time because the story was so interesting and so gripping that I couldn't bring myself to stop. I'd love to go back through and read it slower and allow myself time to digest and really consider all the brilliance that is this book.

After I finished this book, it took me awhile to figure out that I'd requested and then read it because it's the 2010 Newbery winner and our selection for May. It was probably too new to have a Newbery medallion on the cover. If I liked "Wrinkle in Time" better I'm sure I would have liked this one more too. I think it was good sci-fi for kids with plenty of real life angst mixed in.

I liked how different it was. You will NOT find another book like this out there. It wasn't just a coming-of-age story set in NYC. And it wasn't just a sci-fi mystery for kids. Setting it in the 70s (I think) made it a little kitschy, which was fun. I also agree you can't really discuss the details - so as not to spoil those who haven't read it yet :-).

Because you can't tell where it is going at the start of the book, it seemed a little disjointed at times - but she was able to tie everything back up very nicely. I really liked this book!

Oh, I just wanted to add that I do think this is Newbery worthy . . . although my favorite book I read last year was the Newbery Honor, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. If I were on the committee I would have picked that one and made this one an honor.

I started it and couldn't make myself finish it. Not sure why-just didn't like it very much.

Ashley wrote: "I plan to read it again so that I can get a better feel for the story. I read it so fast the first time because the story was so interesting and so gripping that I couldn't bring myself to stop. I'd love to go back through and read it slower and allow myself time to digest and really consider all the brilliance that is this book."

That's how I feel, too, Ashley. I read it in one sitting and then I was sorry when it was over. I would have liked to stretch it out a bit, but I just couldn't. I had to know the end! I definitely want to read it again sometime.

Exactly Luann! You just have to know what it all means! I love how everything worked together! Such a great read!

I found When You Reach Me to be a fascinating read. I read it the first time alone, and then read it again with my after school program students who range in grade from 2nd to 5th. The students found the details and mysterious clues intriguing. They did however have no prior knowledge about The $20,000 Pyramid or Dick Clark. So I found an episode on YouTube and we watched to create the prior knowledge needed. Students who read A Wrinkle in Time will get even more out of When You Reach Me, because of many references to this prior Newbery Winner. Overall this is one of my favorite Newbery winners and justly deserves the Medal.

-Mr. Balcom (4th Grade Teacher)

Very cool, Mr. Balcom! How did the 2nd grade students do with it? Is this a group of gifted students? Hopefully When You Reach Me will interest some of your older students in reading A Wrinkle in Time!

They still show reruns of The $20,000 Pyramid on the Game Show Network, if any of your students want to watch more and happen to get that channel.

I just finished this book for the second time, and wow! It's even better the second time around! I loved it and thought it was absolutely brilliant! I caught more the second time through and just loved the simple complexities the author used to tell her story- complex enough to withstand multiple readings as well as interest adults while still being simple enough that younger kids can read, understand and enjoy the story. That takes talent!

I wouldn't have picked it for the Newbery Award (I liked Calpurnia Tate better), but this story is interesting and unusual. It is well written and worth reading. Some other things I liked about When You Reach Me: the dentist was great. I liked the way the author picked a profession not popular with most people (patients), and then had the dentist be helpful, compassionate, quick thinking, even brave. I didn't know that schools ever had dentists, but maybe in NYC they did. I also liked that the mom's boyfriend did not have a key to the apartment. He wasn't sleeping over. He honorably proposed marriage and clearly had her best interests at heart in many ways. The game show parts were wacky and fun. The racism surprised me at first, but then I remembered that it was the 1970's. I was touched by what was under the mailbox--a nice touch.

A Wrinkle in Time is a beloved book for many people, so it was interesting to read about the connection between that Newbery Award winner and this one. Wrinkle is special to me for different reasons than Stead's, however. I have long loved Wrinkle for the strength of family and the love of truth and light embodied in the characters. The time travel is fairly incidental to me, but seems pivotal to her.

I was a child in the 70's, so that made it more nostalgic than kitschy to me. I'll have to read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Kristine. I appreciate your recommendations.

I like your comments, Dawn - all except going with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate over When You Reach Me for the medal! :) I liked Calpurnia Tate a lot until I got to the end. I kept turning pages looking for more, but it just wasn't there! I was very disappointed.