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Hesse, K. (1997). Out of the Dust. New York, New York : Scholastic Press
Out of the Dust is a verse novel written by Karen Hesse. It was the winner of the Newbery Medal in 1998, Scott O'Dell Award, an ALA Notable Children's Book, an ALA "Best book", a School Library Journal "best book of the year", a Booklist "Editors' Choice" award, a Book Links "Lasting Connection", a Publishers Weekly "best book of the year", and a New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing" selection.
Set in Oklahoma during the years 1934-1935, this book tells the story of a family of farmers during the Dust Bowl years. Billie Jo being the main character, it goes into her own life and struggles. The structure of the novel is unusual in that the plot is advanced entirely through a series of free verse poems. Billie Jo Kelby, the main character, is described in the opening of the book as long-legged girl, thin and red-headed just like her father (she calls him Daddy). She was expected to be a boy, and her parents had named her so only to be surprised with a baby girl, hence the masculine name. She has a hunger for piano playing and a taste for apples. Billie Joe tells on how she knows her father wants to have a son instead of a daughter, but how he still loves her anyway. The opening of the book also describes the dust storms causing trouble on farms, Mad Dog Craddock who is a boy who Billie Jo has feelings for and academically rivals.
I choose this sample because it is historical fiction and many boys that read in the young adult literature section would rather read history based content. This type of written is very rare in my genre. I choose this sample because as a boy, I loved reading things about history. I did learn from this sample that the need for Billie Jo’s father to want a boy enhances the novel.
Citation
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal
Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, Not Buddy. New York, New York: Delacorte Books for Young
Readers
Bud, Not Buddy is a 1999 children's novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. The book is the winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature, as well as the Coretta Scott King Award that is given in recognition of outstanding African-American authors.
Bud, Not Buddy is the story of ten-year old Bud Caldwell, an orphan living in Flint, Michigan in 1937 during the Great Depression. Since the death of his mother, four years earlier, Bud has been living in an orphanage, as well as short stints in several foster homes. All he has of his mother are a bag of rocks and a photograph of his mother as a child and four fliers that show Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators playing in different places one of which is in Flint, Michigan. The story opens with Bud being placed with a new foster family, the Amoses, where Bud soon meets Todd Amos, their tormenting and abusive twelve year old son. After a fight with Todd, Bud is forced to spend the night in the garden shed where he is stung by hornets. After extricating himself from the shed, he causes Todd to wet the bed with warm water, and rather than returning to the orphanage, he decides to seek out Herman E. Calloway. With suitcase in hand, Bud starts walking the 2 miles to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Andrew Jackson lives.
This novel is very typical for young adult literature. This novel is geared towards young boys who love to read. I love this sample because it describes the place and location in which my grandfather grew up. This novel took place around the same time that my grandfather was growing up. I did learn that my grandfather could recognize actually some of the places mentioned in this novel.
Citation
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal
Park, L. S. (2001). A Single Shard. Boston, Massachusetts: Charion Books
A Single Shard is the winner of the 2002 Newbery Medal, awarded for excellence in children's literature; it also received an honorable mention from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature. The novel was written by Linda Sue Park, and is set in 12th-century Korea.
The novel tells the story of a 12 year old boy named Tree-ear. He is an orphan and lives under a bridge in Ch’ulp’o, a small village in 12th Century Korea, with Crane-man, a crippled old man. Tree-ear scavenges for food most of the time, but after a full meal, Tree-ear loves to watch the potter, Min, make his pottery. One day, when no one is around, Tree-ear sneaks into Potter Min's house for a closer look at his creations. There are many objects, but one object particularly interests Tree-ear: a rectangular, lidded box. It is undecorated on the outside, but Tree-ear suspects that the inside is more spectacular. Out of curiosity, Tree-ear decides to look inside the box and finds five smaller boxes. They fit perfectly around each other. Potter Min shouts when he finds Tree-ear, who dropped the box in fright, breaking it. To repay the potter, Tree-ear offers to work for nine days, as the box took three days to make. Min assigns Tree-ear the task of collecting wood for his nine days of work. Tree-ear is dismayed, for he secretly wants to make a pot. After his work days are completed, Tree-ear offers to work for the potter for free in hope of getting to make his own pot. Tree-ear is assigned various tasks but never has the chance to make a pot. Tree-ear eventually learns that Min will not teach him how to make a pot, due to the tradition of a potter teaching his son.
I choose this novel because it was an international young adult literature novel. These are also rare in my genre. I love the way it talks about a boy in the need of a father and another man steps in to fill that place. I did learn about some Korean traditions that took place during this time period and they are still practiced today.
Citation
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal
Stine. R. L. ( 1992). Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House. New York, New, York: Scholastic
Press
Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novels written by American author R. L. Stine and first published by Scholastic Publishing. It is a collection of stories that feature semi-homogenous plot structures, with fictional children being involved in scary situations. Themes in the series include horror, humor and the supernatural. Sixty-two books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title from 1992 to 1997. Various spin-off series were written by Stine: Goosebumps Series 2000, Give Yourself Goosebumps, Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Triple Header, and Goosebumps HorrorLand. Another series, Goosebumps Gold, was never released.
Since the release of its first novel, Welcome to Dead House in July 1992, the books have gained immense popularity and commercial success worldwide.[3][4] As of 2008, the series has sold over 350 million books worldwide in thirty-five languages and has been listed in many bestseller lists, including the New York Times Best Seller list for children. The series has spawned a television series and numerous merchandise.
These type of novels are great for boys who love gore and thrilling stuff. These type of young adult novels are very popular with young boys. I did learn while viewing this novel that Stine takes you on a journey that keeps you on the end of your seats.
Citation
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal
Kenney, J. ( 2007). Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York, New York: Amulet Books
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is a realistic fiction novel by Jeff Kinney. It is the first book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The book is about a middle-school child named Greg Heffley and his struggles in middle school. Greg also had problems with his best friend, Rowley Jefferson. The sequel to the book is Rodrick Rules. Diary of a Wimpy Kid first appeared on FunBrain.com in 2004 which was read 20 million times. The hardcover was released on April 1st 2007. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was named New York Times bestseller among awards and praise. A film of the same name was released on March 19, 2010.
The book opens with Greg Heffley saying how embarrassing it is to be having a journal with "diary" on the front and that whoever sees him with it will call him a "sissy". Greg also goes to mention that one day he will become rich and famous but for now he is "stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons". Greg faces too many hardships, including Halloween. As Greg and Rowley go Trick-or-Treating, they anger some teenagers who chase them. They barely escape but manage to get to Greg's grandma's house. The teenagers see them inside and Greg and Rowley taunt them. Not all goes to plan, though, and when they get home and Greg's dad, who was hassled by kids, throws water at them and the water soaks their candy. The Wizard of Oz play[5] is also a hardship for Greg. Patty Farell, who plays Dorothy, is coming on stage, and since Greg is a tree, he thinks he can throw apples at her, but the director takes this part out of the play for health and safety. Mrs. Norton, the music director, tries to make the trees sing an embarrassing song, but on the night nobody sings out of fear and the play is ruined.[6]
These types of novels are great for goofy and trouble-making boys who love reading silly and dingy stuff. These types of young adult novels are very popular with young boys. I did learn while viewing this novel that there are pictures that go along with what is going on in the novel.
Citation
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal