Newbery Honor/Award Books...

When I first glance at a book, if I see the seal on the cover for an award or honor, it immediately draws my attention. That's what happened when I came across the book, Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. This book was a Newbery Honor book in 2008. I began reading it to my 5th grade class last year, and now I see why it won the honor. My students were so drawn to the story that they never wanted me to put the book down. Sometimes it was hard for me to find a stopping point... I wanted to continue to read every time I started. The book is about a little boy, Elijah, who was the first freeborn slave, born in Buxton (settlement in Canada). The story tells about his life, many obstacles he must overcome, and gives the reader an insight to the humor and pain in his life. There were a few slow parts in the middle, but my students didn't lose interest. Rather, they wanted me to keep reading so they could get to the climax as the plot began to thicken and rise. I can't wait to read it to this new group of 5th graders.

Another Newbery Award Winner that I read was Holes by Louis Sachar. This book earned the award in 1999 and it became a movie a few years later. I actually saw the movie before I read the book, and the book was better, by far. It gave greater detail into the situations that Stanley faced, as a juvenile delinquet. It added humor, to make younger adults appreciate it. However, it teaches morals and values through the character's selflessness and unselfish acts. I would recommend both of these books to anybody around the age of 10 and up...