Newbery Award Winners and Honor Books (John Newbery Medal) by Sarah Foote

Winner: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:04:18 UTC

Lily bargains with a magical tiger to return stolen stories in order to save her sick grandmother.

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team byChristina Soontornvat

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:06:09 UTC

With superb narrative nonfiction writing, Soontornvat skillfully describes the dramatic real-life rescue of the Thai Boys’ soccer team in 2018.

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to FreedomBy Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Michele Wood (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:07:20 UTC

The true story of Henry “Box” Brown, who shipped himself to freedom in a box, is told in 51 emotionally intense poems that have implications for the present day.

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:08:17 UTC

Sisters Della and Suki rely on each other to move forward after years of abuse from their mother’s boyfriend. They find their own voices beyond the trauma through resilience and the bond of sisterhood.

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada (Author) and Celia Krampien (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:09:11 UTC

In the days before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the Thomas siblings navigate the dangerous space of middle school and the fractured constellation of their family.

A Wish in the Dark byChristina Soontornvat

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:10:16 UTC

Pong, born in a prison, longs to be free and escapes. Nok, the disgraced warden's daughter, looks to capture Pong again. Both discover how the world unfairly brings light only for the rich.

Winner: New Kid by Jerry Craft

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:11:40 UTC

A funny, thought-provoking graphic novel that details Jordan Banks' seventh-grade year as one of the few African American kids in an elite suburban school.

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:12:43 UTC

Painfully self-conscious about her dark skin, 13-year-old Genesis faces new challenges when her family moves to suburban Detroit and she starts a new school.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:13:31 UTC

Themes of conflict, home, identity, the arts, and prejudice are interwoven in this powerful verse novel about a Syrian girl's new life in America.

Scary Stories for Young Foxes byChristian McKay Heidicker, Junyi Wu (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:14:15 UTC

Two fox kits encounter a variety of terrifying episodes in this chilling and skillfully crafted horror book for children.

The Undefeated byKwame Alexander, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:15:18 UTC

Alexander's poetry and Nelson's illustration pair wonderfully in this stunning ode to the courage and strength of African Americans.

Winner: Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:16:15 UTC

Eleven-year-old Cuban American Merci Suárez balances the demands of her multi-generational family with the challenges of being a scholarship student at a private school in Florida.

The Book of Boy byCatherine Gilbert Murdock, Ian Schoenherr

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:17:35 UTC

From Murdock's first line, readers are swept into an epic quest across Europe in 1350 with Boy and a mysterious pilgrim, adventuring to recover seven relics of St. Peter. Layered characters from goats to nuns, lyrical language, and multiple reveals combine to create this powerful story of redemption.

The Night Diary byVeera Hiranandani

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:18:04 UTC

Told in the form of diary entries addressed to Nisha's dead mother, this novel traces a mixed-faith family's flight from Mirpur Khas, Pakistan, to Jodhpur, India, during the partitioning of India in 1947.

Winner: Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:22:43 UTC

In this story told from various viewpoints, including a bully, a deaf girl, a fortune-teller, and more, a rescue is performed, revealing bravery in the midst of fear.

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut byDerrick Barnes, Gordon C. James (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:24:07 UTC

In a vibrant, joyful tribute to the barbershop experience, a young black boy relishes in the majesty of a fresh new cut.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:25:03 UTC

Terse, sharp verse depicts a desperate teenager seeking to avenge the shooting death of his brother. Gun tucked into his waistband, he is shocked by the appearance of childhood friends and relatives on a chilling sixty-second elevator ride. Visceral language and raw emotion result in a powerful novel of grief and vengeance.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:25:37 UTC

Shouldering her mother's expectations, Jade enters a mentor program with an inconsistent mentor. The unfulfillment she feels galvanizes her to follow her own artistic path.

Winner: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:26:48 UTC

Saved by a witch as a baby, Luna is accidentally filled with extraordinarily powerful magic.

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan, by Ashley Bryan

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:27:59 UTC

In the U.S., slaves were erroneously considered objects with a monetary value. Here, Bryan humanizes 11 enslaved people, imagining the dreams and personal reflections that belong only to them.

The Inquisitor's Tale or Three Magical Children and their Holy Dog byAdam Gidwitz, Aly Hatem (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:29:06 UTC

On a dark night in 1242 France, travelers tell the story of three mysterious children: William, Jacob, and Jeanne, and their dog Gwenforte, recently brought back from the dead.

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:30:14 UTC

In this coming-of-age story, spunky and courageous Annabelle defends a veteran who has become the target of local bullying attacks.

Winner: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:31:39 UTC

CJ's journey with his Nana is not just a simple bus ride; it is a multi-sensory experience through which he discovers that beautiful music, nature, and people surround him.

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:33:22 UTC

This original fairy tale intertwines with historical fiction to explore music and its power to save, heal, and set free.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:33:55 UTC

Astrid falls in love with roller derby and learns how to be tougher, stronger, and fearless. Jamieson perfectly captures the highs and lows of growing up in this dynamic graphic novel.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:34:33 UTC

Bradley's powerful plot, remarkably drawn characters, and sparse language are outstanding components of this novel about courage, community, and conviction. (Newbery Honor Book)

Winner: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:35:53 UTC

Twelve-year-old narrator Josh Bell uses the rhythms of a poetry jam to emulate the "moving & grooving/popping and rocking" of life on the basketball court with his twin brother, J.B. This powerful novel in verse paints an authentic portrait of a closely-knit family on the brink of crisis. Swish! This book is nothing but net!

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:36:54 UTC

Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical memoir chronicles the incidents and emotions she experienced as an African-American girl growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. Precise language magnifies moments and connects them to the larger historical narrative. Her elegant and evocative stand-alone poems weave a story about her development from a struggling reader and dreamer into a confident young woman and writer.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:37:30 UTC

In this insightful and humorous graphic novel memoir, Cece Bell portrays growing up with a giant hearing aid strapped to her chest. Themes of navigating a new school, sleepovers, finding a true friend and a first crush make this book universal in appeal. Bell shows that our differences are gifts that “can be turned into something amazing.”

Winner: Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:39:14 UTC

Comic book fan and natural-born cynic Flora Belle Buckman and Ulysses, a flying, superhero, poetry-writing squirrel, join forces to overcome Ulysses' arch-nemesis, Flora's mother and encounter a quirky cast of characters. Through poignant, laugh-out-loud episodes, this homage to comic books is a testament to the power of love.

Doll Bones by Holly Black

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:40:05 UTC

In this distinctive coming-of-age tale, best friends Zach, Poppy and Alice set out on a life-altering quest driven by the presence of a sinister bone china doll who haunts their dreams and waking hours. Black explores complex questions of storytelling, imagination and changing friendships in this superbly haunting narrative.

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:40:37 UTC

In 1871 Wisconsin, love, betrayal, grief and violence spur 13-year-old Georgie on a gripping adventure full of hardship, heartbreak and terror. As she tries to solve the mystery of her sister's disappearance, Georgie and her brash, humorous voice pull readers along on her journey of self-discovery.

Paperboy by Vince Vaughter

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:45:19 UTC

Little Man, a sensitive and resilient 11-year-old boy who stutters, ventures beyond the familiar and finds his voice while taking over his best friend's paper route. Set in the summer heat of 1959 Memphis, “Paperboy” is a moving coming-of-age novel.

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-04 20:45:48 UTC

Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but during the year he develops better relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents, and celebrates a quiet triumph of his own.

Winner: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 12:12:36 UTC

Ivan's transformative emergence from the “Ape at Exit 8” to “The One and Only Ivan, Mighty Silverback,” comes to life through the gorilla's own distinct narrative voice, which is filled with wry humor, deep emotion and thought-provoking insights into the nature of friendship, hope and humanity.

BOMB: The Race to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 12:13:39 UTC

A riveting thriller told in three parallel stories: the race against time to build the world's first atomic bomb; the determination to stop the Nazis from developing it first; and the stealthy efforts of Soviet spies to steal the American plans.

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 12:14:55 UTC

Lizzie Rose, Parsefall and Clara are caught in the clutches of a wicked puppeteer and a powerful witch in this deliciously dark and complex tale set in Dickensian England, where adventure and suspense are interwoven into nuanced explorations of good versus evil.

Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 18:21:48 UTC

In the rich tradition of Southern storytelling, rising sixth-grader Mo LoBeau leads the eccentric residents of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, on a rollicking journey of mystery, adventure and small-town intrigue as she investigates a murder and searches for her long-lost mother.

Winner: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 18:23:07 UTC

The importance of history and reading (so you don't do the same “stupid stuff” again) is at the heart of this achingly funny romp through a dying New Deal town. While mopping up epic nose bleeds, Jack narrates this screw-ball mystery in an endearing and believable voice.

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 18:24:24 UTC

On the eve of his induction into the Young Pioneers, Sasha's world is overturned when his father is arrested by Stalin's guard. Yelchin deftly crafts a stark and compelling story of a child's lost idealism.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 18:24:59 UTC

Hà and her family flee war-torn Vietnam for the American South. In spare yet vivid verse, she chronicles her year-long struggle to find her place in a new and shifting world.

Winner: Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:48:10 UTC

This big-hearted, multi-generational epic set in small-town Kansas alternates between World War I and the Great Depression, but never strays too far from the tough-yet-vulnerable heroine Abilene Tucker. With a mix of letters, newspaper articles and a fortune teller's tales, the eclectic people and mysteries of Manifest spring to life.

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by oyce Sidman, Rick Allen (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:48:54 UTC

Welcoming her readers into the “wild, enchanted park” that is the night, Joyce Sidman has elegantly crafted twelve poems rich in content and varied in format. Companion prose pieces about nocturnal flora and fauna are as tuneful and graceful as the poems. This collection is “a feast of sound and spark.”

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:49:53 UTC

Shipwrecks, whaling, a search for home and a delightful exploration of cultures create a swashbuckling adventure. This historical novel is based on the true story of Manjiro (later John Mung), the young fisherman believed to be the first Japanese person to visit America, who against all odds, becomes a samurai.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:50:41 UTC

The voices of sisters Delphine, Vonetta and Fern sing in three-part harmony in this wonderfully nuanced, humorous novel set in 1968 Oakland, Calif. One crazy summer, the three girls find adventure when they are sent to meet their estranged poet-mother Cecile, who prints flyers for the Black Panthers.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:51:17 UTC

Sassy eleven-year-old Turtle finds her life turned on end when she is sent to live with her aunt in Depression-era Key West. With vivid details, witty dialogue and outrageous escapades, Jennifer Holm successfully explores the meaning of family and home… and lost treasures found.

Winner: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:52:45 UTC

Twelve-year-old Miranda encounters shifting friendships, a sudden punch, a strange homeless man, and mysterious notes that hint at knowledge of the future. These and other seemingly random events converge in a brilliantly constructed plot.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:54:08 UTC

Hoose reveals the true story of an unsung hero of the Montgomery bus boycott in a work that seamlessly merges Colvin's own recollections with the narrative voice, providing a uniquely personal view of Colvin and the civil rights movement.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:55:17 UTC

In this witty historical fiction middle grade novel set at the turn of the century, an 11-year-old girl explores the natural world, learns about science and animals, and grows up.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:57:20 UTC

This rollicking yarn, presented through the voice of twelve-year-old Homer, uses humor and pluck to mitigate the horrors of the Civil War.

Where Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-09 23:58:19 UTC

A rich tapestry of stories, both original and traditional, transports readers to a fantastic world where Dragon joins Minli on a fortune-changing quest.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:02:31 UTC

A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor, and human longing, the tale of No body Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.

After Tupac and D. Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:03:17 UTC

This tightly woven novel looks back on two years in a New York City neighborhood, where life changes for two eleven-year-olds when a new girl joins their game of double Dutch.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:04:04 UTC

This rich first-person narrative draws readers into a wild bus ride, winding through the countryside on a journey of self-discovery for Mibs Beaumont and her companions.

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:04:40 UTC

Compelling free verse in alternating voices lyrically tells the story of Cuba's three wars for independence from Spain. Combining real-life characters (such as legendary healer Rosa La Bayamesa) with imagined individuals, Engle focuses on Rosa's struggle to save everyone—black or white, Cuban or Spanish, friend or enemy.

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, David Small (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:05:36 UTC

Intertwining stories of an embittered man, a loyal hound, an abandoned cat, and a vengeful lamia sing of love, loss, loneliness, and hope.

Winner: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:07:30 UTC

Thirteenth-century England springs to life in twenty-one dramatic individual narratives that introduce young inhabitants of village and manor, from Hugo, the lord's nephew, to Nelly, the sniggler. Schlitz's elegant monologues and dialogues draw back the curtain on the period, revealing character and relationships and hinting at stories untold.

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:09:25 UTC

Elijah is the first free-born child in Buxton, a Canadian community of escaped slaves, in 1860. With masterful storytelling, vibrant humor, and poignant insight into the realities of slavery and the meaning of freedom, Curtis takes readers on a journey that transforms a “fragile” eleven-year-old boy into a courageous hero.

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:10:01 UTC

A new boy's arrival in a sixth-grade classroom helps Frannie recognize the barriers that separate people and the importance of hope as a bridge. Transcendent imagery and lyrical prose deftly capture a girl learning to navigate the world through words.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:10:37 UTC

Seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood is convinced his teacher hates him. Through their Wednesday afternoon Shakespeare sessions she helps him cope with events both wildly funny and deadly serious. “To thine own self be true” is just one of the life lessons he learns.

Winner: The HIgher Power of Lucky by Sharon Patron, Matt Phelan (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:12:34 UTC

Patron takes readers to the California desert community of Hard Pan (population 43), where ten-year-old Lucky Trimble eavesdrops on twelve-step program meetings from her hiding place behind Hard Pan's Found Object Wind Chime Museum & Visitor Center. Eccentric characters and quirky details spice up Lucky's life just as fresh parsley embellishes her guardian Brigitte's French cuisine.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:14:45 UTC

Sixteen-year-old orphan Hattie Brooks is looking for a place to belong—a home. In 1918 she leaves Iowa for the Montana prairie. In this engaging first-person narrative, Hattie strives to forge a new life. Vivid imagery and careful attention to historical detail distinguish this memorable novel that portrays her struggle to “prove her claim.”

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:15:17 UTC

Eleven-year-old Penny looks forward to spending the summer rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers and scheming with her cousin Frankie. Instead she navigates the space between her two families and uncovers the reason for their estrangement in this funny and touching tale of intergenerational love set in 1953.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:16:02 UTC

“A boy can take off his shirt to swim, but not his shorts.” Twelve-year-old Catherine creates rules for her younger, autistic brother David in an attempt to normalize his life and her own. In her debut novel, Lord's heroine learns to use words to forge connections with her brother, her workaholic father, and a paraplegic friend.

Winner: Criss Cross by Lynne Ray Perkins

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:20:43 UTC

Criss Cross follows the lives of four fourteen-year-olds in a small town. Each at their own crossroads, this ensemble cast explores new thoughts and feelings in their quest to find the meaning of life and love. In thirty-eight brief chapters, this poetic, postmodern novel experiments with a variety of styles: haiku, song lyrics, question-andanswer dialogue, and split-screen scenarios.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:21:22 UTC

Readers will be riveted by the chilling history meticulously documented in Bartoletti's book. By weaving the personal stories of 12 young Germans into the larger fabric of Nazism and World War II, Bartoletti elevates understanding of Hitler's strategic plans of manipulation to a new level and offers contemporary youth the opportunity to question the choices they might have made in the same situation.

Princess Academy by Sharon Hale

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:22:56 UTC

Miri and the other young women of her rocky highland village are forced to leave their close-knit community when the prince must choose a bride. Miri soon becomes the strong, resilient, and courageous leader of the academy. The book is a fresh approach to the traditional princess story with unexpected plot twists and great emotional resonance.

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson, Hudson Talbott (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:23:35 UTC

Jacqueline Woodson's magnificent poem “Show Way” tells the story of slavery, emancipation, and triumph for each generation of her maternal ancestors. She pays tribute to the creative women who guided their “tall and straight-boned” daughters to courage, self-sufficiency, and freedom. Whether with quilts or stories, poems or songs, these women discovered and shared the strength to carry on.

Whittington by Alan Armstrong, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:24:28 UTC

Armstrong creates a glorious barnyard fantasy that seamlessly weaves together three tales: Whittington the cat's arrival on Bernie's farm, his retelling of the traditional legend of his fourteenth-century namesake, and one boy's struggle to learn to read. The tales unite the disparate citizens of the barn community in a celebration of oral and written language, the support of friends, the healing power of humor, and the triumph of life.

Winner: Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:26:03 UTC

Two sisters lie on their backs, watching the stars and repeating the Japanese word for “glittering”––“kira-kira.” Like this quiet opening scene, Kadohata's tenderly nuanced novel glitters with plain and poignant words that describe the strong love within a Japanese American family from the point of view of younger sister Katie. Personal challenges and family tragedy are set against the oppressive social climate of the South during the 1950s and early 1960s.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:27:22 UTC

With Alcatraz as the evocative backdrop for this highly original novel set in 1935, twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan tells about the travails of “the Rock,” where his father has taken a job. Hilarious antics are deftly interwoven with themes of isolation and imprisonment, compassion and connection.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:28:14 UTC

Set in Maine in 1912 and propelled by a tragic historical event, Schmidt's powerfully haunting novel probes a forbidden friendship between a preacher's son and a dark-skinned girl from a nearby island. Steeped in imagery and laced with surprising humor, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy explores powerlessness, possibility, and the profound impact individuals can make.

The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:29:16 UTC

The Voice That Challenged a Nation meticulously explores resonant themes with the masterful structure of a musical composition. Eloquent, economic prose sheds a personal light on one woman's sometimes reluctant role as a symbol in the struggle against racism and her calling to share an illustrious gift.

Winner: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:31:19 UTC

The Tale of Despereaux draws the reader into an enchanting account of a smaller-thanusual mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. With character and plot far more complex than the traditional fairy tale, separate stories introduce Despereaux, condemned for talking to the princess; the evil rat, Roscuro, who loves light and soup; and Miggery Sow, a farm girl with royal aspirations. Their fates are threaded together as Despereaux undertakes a hero's quest that culminates in mice, rats, and humans living almost happily ever after.

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:32:10 UTC

Twelve-year-old Martha receives a page from the journal of a classmate, Olive, who has died in an accident. Olive's entry about a desire to be Martha's friend, to see the ocean, and to become a writer propels Martha into a journey from childhood to the brink of adolescence.

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:32:57 UTC

Murphy draws material from primary sources, such as private diaries, newspapers, and books, to give insight into the political, social, and cultural challenges of the yellow fever epidemic. The compelling narrative pulls readers into the crisis, illuminates the community's responses, and shows the best and worst of humanity.

Winner: Crispin The Cross of Lead by Avi

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:35:28 UTC

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is an action-filled page-turner set in fourteenth-century England. “Asta's son” is the only name the thirteen-year-old title character has ever known when he is suddenly orphaned and stripped of home and possessions. Accused of murder and wanted dead or alive, Crispin flees his village and falls in with a juggler, Bear, who becomes his protector and teacher. Relentlessly pursued by Crispin's enemies, the pair flees to solve the mystery of his identity and fight the injustices of feudalism.

A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:37:10 UTC

With the surprising arrival of a mentally disabled uncle, twelve-year-old Hattie Owen's world is turned upside down. Ann Martin used her own childhood memories to create a 1960s small-town setting, perfectly suited to this poignant story.

Hoot by Carl Hiassen

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:37:57 UTC

Hiaasen's wildly funny satire features the new kid, Roy, joining forces with tough Beatrice and the elusive Mullet Fingers to defeat a bully, thwart an avaricious corporation, and save a colony of burrowing owls. Hiaasen's work is both a rollicking adventure and a serious examination of values that threaten our environment.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:38:30 UTC

Farmer tackles the provocative topics of cloning, the value of life, illegal immigration, and the drug trade in a coming-of-age novel set in a desolate, futuristic desert

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly-Giff

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:38:59 UTC

Twelve-year-old Hollis Woods unfolds her story of foster care and a search for family in images from her sketchbook, which reveal both her memories and her artistic soul. Strong visual imagery, multi-layered structure, and memorable characters create an emotionally satisfying story.

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:39:52 UTC

Tolan features pierced and spike-haired Jake, who has been expelled from every possible public school before his unwilling arrival at Wit's End, N.C., and the homeschool run by the chaotic and outrageous Applewhite family. The eccentric characters and fast pace culminate in a hilarious musical production that forces Jake to grow.

Winner: A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:42:48 UTC

Park takes readers to twelfth-century Korea to tell a timeless story of dedication to one's dreams and art in A Single Shard. Tree-ear, an orphan, becomes fascinated with a nearby community of potters. Drawn by their exquisite craftsmanship, the adolescent boy begins to assist the master potter Min. Tree-ear's determination and bravery in pursuing his dream of becoming a potter take readers on a literary journey that demonstrates how courage, honor, and perseverance can overcome great odds and bring great happiness.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:43:37 UTC

When eleven-year-old Primrose Squarp's parents disappear at sea, her faith in their return defies all adult logic. Set in British Columbia, Everything on a Waffle combines quirky characters, recipes, and amazing twists of plot in a striking combination of the barely credible and profoundly true.

Carver: A Life in Poems by Marilyn Nelson

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:44:31 UTC

Nelson challenges readers with a truly new biography of George Washington Carver. Told from multiple perspectives, this collection of fifty-nine poems reveals littleknown facets of the remarkable scientist, who it too often dismissed as “the peanut man.” With simple sophistication and beauty, Nelson transcends Carver's brilliance and scientific achievements to present the essence of this profoundly humble man.

Winner: A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:47:23 UTC

A linked series of vignettes set in rural Illinois during the Depression, A Year Down Yonder tells the story of fifteen-year-old Mary Alice who leaves Chicago to spend a year with Grandma Dowdel. Her initial apprehension about life in a small town with a scheming old woman gradually gives way to admiration and love as she recognizes the warm heart behind Grandma's shenanigans.

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:48:03 UTC

Sailing across the Atlantic with her uncles and cousins becomes a journey of discovery for thirteen-year-old Sophie. The carefully designed plot gradually reveals the truth of Sophie's past, even as readers begin to wonder about this rag-tag crew. Through journal entries, multiple viewpoints are weaved into a story that speaks to the power of survival and the delicacy of grief.

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:48:45 UTC

Spending the summer with his estranged father, Joey longs for the two of them to be winners together, but their lives gradually spiral out of control. As the old “wired” Joey returns, readers will long to see him regain his balance in an out-of-kilter world. Like many family stories, this is a tale whose pain is generously laced with humor.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:49:37 UTC

Hope Was Here relates how sixteen-year-old Hope and her aunt move to a small town in Wisconsin to join the “short order dance” of life at the Welcome Stairways Diner. In the course of just a few months, Hope encounters issues as diverse as her customers: corruption in politics, a new love, serious illness, and the meaning of family.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

sarahfoote73 — 2021-06-10 00:50:33 UTC

When a stray dog appears almost magically in the midst of the produce section of the Winn-Dixie grocery store, he leads ten-year-old India Opal Buloni from one new friend to the next in a small Florida town. The stories she hears from each one help her to piece together a new definition of family.

The Last Cuentista

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:07:22 UTC

Centuries after Earth is destroyed, Petra arrives on a new planet, where she uses traditional stories and cunning to outwit enemies and rescue other survivors.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:08:13 UTC

In this novel in verse set during the 1980s, Reha struggles with her cultural identity as an Indian American girl while coping with the realities of her mother’s leukemia.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:09:00 UTC

Applying conventions of traditional Lipan Apache storytelling, this lyrical novel follows the entwining stories of Native teen Nina and Oli, a snake boy from the spirit world.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:09:35 UTC

In rural Vermont, Bug spends the summer preparing for middle school, grieving Uncle Roderick's death, and grappling with a ghost and gender identity.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:10:29 UTC

A Chinese American girl, too embarrassed to eat the watercress her family picked from the roadside, learns of her mother's childhood experience with famine in China.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:15:29 UTC

A lyrical narrative tells the story of several children who escape slavery to discover freedom among a community of formerly enslaved Black people living in the Great Dismal Swamp.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:16:31 UTC

Iveliz’s thoughts and emotions are revealed in poignant, candid diary entries that chronicle her experiences with grief, relationships, bullying, and family conflict.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:17:13 UTC

A mapmaker’s apprentice, Sai joins a group of explorers on a journey to map unexplored territories. Filled with secrets and double-crossing, this seafaring adventure follows Sai as she charts a new path to her destiny.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:17:53 UTC

As Maizy gets to know her ailing grandfather and helps run the family’s Chinese restaurant during an unplanned summer in Minnesota, she also discovers her family history and fights racial prejudice.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:19:07 UTC

This humorous and wondrous adventure of a boy and his magical dog is a timeless coming-of-age story marked by masterful world-building.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:19:40 UTC

This artistically illustrated novel shares a hero's journey of Johannes, a free dog, as he learns about friendship and living in the wider world.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:20:24 UTC

With the hope of attaining his own freedom, a servant boy saves his master’s life multiple times as they travel the Silk Road.

sarahfoote73 — 2024-02-06 15:20:56 UTC

In this graphic novel memoir, Pedro embarks on a family road trip to Mexico in a Winnebago, and shares the complexities of belonging to two cultures. (A 2024 Newbery Honor Book, the Belpré Illustrator Award book and Belpré Author Award book)