Newbery Honor Books of 1960's & 1970's
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4EGBERTINA
11 MAR 2024:
211 and index
This is the second book in a three book series:
AMERICA IS BORN
AMERICA GROWS UP
AMERICA MOVES FORWARD
The Three books comprise a set, subtitled, A History For Peter. These are books written for middle schoolers. Johnson is surprisingly, thorough, but also succinct. He covers elements that I never encountered in school or as an adult. In that the works are meant to be read for fun, by children, expect simplicity; but well-explained simplicity. Johnson leans to the left in his explanations, but this is the left of the 1960’s and he is surprisingly patriotic. (maybe it was a requirement, but I doubt it.)
There is nothing in here so contentious, that couldn’t be utilised as a point of discussion for those that might disagree. The author often summarises a situation with “most Americans agreed” or a similar statement. As a point of logic, such statements are not always verifiable; but most often he is attempting to straddle both viewpoints, particularly when the viewpoint seems unnatural to him.
I’ve read these books out of order, but, so far cannot rave enough about them, and this author. The first book, which I will be reading last, was awarded a Newbery Honor; as was the second. There is a slightly less endearing quality to the third, which did not receive the award. It is a slight blemish that does not detract, meaningfully.
The first chapter begins in 1776, with the Declaration of Independence. Chapter two bring us to 1785, two years after the treaty of peace and the making of the Constitution. I flinched a little when he stated that we formed a democracy, rather than a Republic - but oh well. The chapter finishes with Jefferson as president and the next chapter catches up on the Industrial Revolution and The War of 1812. Chapter Five introduces us two Andrew Jackson. Surprisingly, Johnson seems to view him as someone worthy of emulation. Conveniently, he focuses on the “man of the people” aspect and leaves out the Trail of Tears. All the while, the reader is moving forward through history toward the Civil War. Chapter Eight speeds through Reconstruction to Teddy Roosevelt. From there to WWI. I feel that the perspective is fresh and not repetitive. Lots of Interesting nuggets along the trail.
7EGBERTINA
North America
United States
Westward Expansion
178
From the very first page, prepare to be stunned. Facts of common knowledge are presented with a fresh approach, detailing neglected nuances. The perspective favours the settler over the Native inhabitants, but there are many other topics of interest delineated. The reader will learn origins of idioms, construction of household goods, and differences between fact and generalizations, all detailed succinctly to keep the reader moving forward.
I've particularly enjoyed seeing the changes from colonial settlement to revolutionary settlement, and on to the 1800's, etc. A genuine cornucopia of information.
My one regret is that toward the end of the book, historic references are made and not clarified. Perhaps such things were once common knowledge. Gladly, will I research these, but it would have been that much more enjoyable had the author contributed one or two more sentences.
23EGBERTINA
Europe
Poland
Cabala
56
This seems unlikely to enchant most contemporary children. The vocabulary assumes knowledge of rituals and beliefs outside the average reader. Maimonedes among others did not accept the tradition of Lilith. Perhaps ogres are just more mainstream than demonic descendants of debatable pseudo-religious origins. That is a great deal of explaining for the average child that goes beyond rudimentary introductions to other cultures.
Presented as a picture book, but too many words for those of pictures-book age.
Am I transported into feeling the ethos of wickedness vs light? of feeling to be in Polish or Jewish culture? I am not.
27EGBERTINA
7 MAR 2024:
This 1970 Newbery Honorbook, written by Sulamith Ish-Kishor is quite an interesting read, though, I had not anticipated that.
The story is about Eddie Raphel, an English boy, growing up in a Jewish family. (or is he Jewish boy growing up in England?) Though truthfully, the story only surrounds him.
Writing styles of "person" and "POV" are a weakness of my intellect. Generally, I just read in whichever presentation, I find myself, without stopping to observe closely. Elementary school taught this in such simplistic terms; but, books (to me) are seldom so obviously cut and dried.
If I am accurate in my supposition, this book is written in the first person. However the author does so with such skill, that it is not clunky as the many modern first person narratives. The story is divided into three sections; the first and third, introduction of subject and closing of subject, are presented by Hal Kent, when he moves to London from Denver, Colorado and meets the Raphels and their son, Eddie; and when he returns stateside, three years later. Sandwiched in-between these two perspectives, is the bulk of the tale told through the eyes of Eddie's younger sister, Sybil.
Though Eddie is the alleged key figure - somehow, he is not. Perhaps Eddie is just the explanation of how Sybil comes to meet Hal, but that is not the focus of the tale. Eddie impacts his family members and Hal, but, mostly we see the impact upon Eddie as he matures, particularly by his father. At many junctures this seems more a memoir of Eddie's father. First, Mr. Raphel's choices and actions impact Eddie - then Eddie impacts the father. The family is not inert, but they are a kind of window-dressing. Each family member is well detailed in personal characteristics and unique details. The disclaimer admonishes the reader that no resemblance of persons, living or dead, is intended. However the authenticity of this story blazes through, which is why this story is so powerful.
No setting of the story is directly specified. It could take place in any time. I feel highly confident that the story takes place in the Edwardian Era. We are told that this London neighborhood is newly constructed. Not being of the region, I don't recognize it, but I feel certain that a native could make a reasonable guess. In some ways, I feel that the remnants of this type of neighborhood have been portrayed often in my life. Gem magazine is mentioned 2x. Hal isn't sent to school, midterm, but tutored at home, implying either Turn-of-the-Century attitudes, or more recently rejuvenated attitudes. Hal rides a new electric bus. London Electrobus Company was in service 1907- 1910. Hal reads G A Henty books (i tend to think he was doing this closer to Henty's lifetime)
Sybil sings songs, that though they were traditional, were re-popularised in the Edwardian time-period. Sybil mentions a poem, newly printed in a newspaper. It was printed first in a newspaper - then put into a book by the author in 1912. Sybil mentions girls her age wearing the long skirts of adulthood.
The writing is excellent and enjoyable. I was pulled to continue reading at each moment. The most challenging portion of the story is the father's controlling/abusive personality. This was no fictional abuse. Throughout, the father exemplifies the characteristics, now, known to be those typical of abusers. The author never directly states that the father is selfish and self-absorbed; for those familiar with the pattern, it cannot be missed. I even had trouble with a comment made by a family member to the effect that Mr Raphel thrived on poverty. The reader is given a small insight by Sybil, acknowledging in one instance of the barrier of a moral code. Had this character been written as a loving and sympathetic father, the reader could have staunchly agreed; but as he is not, and his moral code generally flounders into his own favour, i dont buy the trapped by ethical decision format. It is not uncommon among abusive males to keep women and children impoverished. When freed from those trappings, they often find the energy to be productive toward choosing better finances.
Finally, I took issue with the portrayal of a softened man; one, whose real fault was merely that of being unable to cope with sad prospects. Strikes me that this man was a master manipulator. I do look forward to reading more writings by this author.
30EGBERTINA
Fictional Location
I really dont know what to think of this book. This was a short work for slightly younger readers than YA. Nothing wrong with the writing. The story never sucked me in. Perhaps, i just needed to be about 8 to have felt the thrill.
34EGBERTINA
14 JAN 2024:
This was the most bizarre and pointless book. Hamilton's descriptions are rich; I just cannot relate to the characters, plot, descriptive writing. Were there themes?
It was so confusing from the outset. The characters were impossible. A custodian that condones playing hookey; Adolescents with "brilliant" insights into people's psyches, but also insights that had no meaning or authenticity. I couldn't keep Buddy and Junior straight in my head for the entire book, The nicknames were too common. The custodian and homeless street kid "adopt" and kidnap a runaway boy with a mysterious mental issue. Pianos that aren't played. This author has even more medals. ugggghhhh!
37EGBERTINA
North America
United States
California (possibly). A father lives in Santa Monica, but I don't recall them ever mentioning to where they fly/travel.
I doubt that anybody is monitoring these- but just in case-
CONSIDER THIS ENTIRE POST A SPOILER ALERT.
There is a great deal of nuance in this book that goes undetected. I have to wonder how much of it young readers are expected to recognize. The most obvious theme of the work is the supernatural, which, surprisingly, works at creating an authentically spooky atmosphere; not every children’s ghost story can make that claim. As a child I did enjoy some slightly spooky books, but as an adult, I have to wonder how many parents want their children being exposed to some of these elements.
A secondary theme is the issue of a divorced family and the combining of a new blended family. As a book from the 1970’s, this is a popular topic, and one that was done with nauseating frequency. However, it is just part of the back drop; the author doesn’t attempt to moralize, console, or any such thing. It is interesting that by avoiding those reflections, Snyder incorporates several critical elements of this divorce that explain the behaviour of Amanda, which will not only be lost on children, but many adults reading this as well. Amanda is clearly being gas-lighted by her father; (gas-lit?) and used as an intentional tool aimed at venting his spleen on Amanda’s mother. As I say, that is not the purpose of this book, but it is interesting to find it in the story so genuine and so subtle, but only recognizable to a reader familiar with the tactics. Yet, the story, gracefully, side-steps it; and all the focus, like that of most children’s works, emphasizes the children’s adventures, with the adults primarily in the background.
In the very first pages, when we are being introduced to Amanda, she brags that her father cares so deeply about all of her interests that he buys expensive gifts for her, just because she asks. Instantly, I know that this father is substituting money over time and genuine affection. It is approached so, quietly, as to be unrecognizable. Later, she tells her new step-brother, David Stanley that her father is rich, richer than his father. David never argues or flinches, he just keeps on being her friend and the story never remarks about that either. Later still, we come to suspect, then to know, that most of the things he has bought, are things that Amanda doesn’t even like, and further, are bought knowing that they are things the mother fears irrationally. A disturbing issue here is the mention of some animal abuse. I know that it has been mentioned in other children’s books, on occasion, I’m just not sure how I feel about it. (in children’s books).
Another, instance in which we can recognize the father’s malicious nature is that an airplane ticket is bought and specific travel arrangement made in advance, but Amanda with her father’s consent, casually decides to spend the night at a friend’s house without informing the mother, until after she misses the plane, causing the mother to have to drive out of her way to pick up her daughter. There is never mention of why this is wrong; there is no mention of the mother’s obvious discomfort at this extra burden. Children might understand that Amanda is being rude and selfish, but are they understanding that the adult male is out of bounds?
Anyhow, on to the crux of the story. The initial pages quickly inform the reader that Molly, Amanda’s mother and Mr Stanley, David’s father have recently married and bought this new home to which Amanda is begrudgingly, being brought. Additionally, David has three younger siblings, that he has largely lovingly nurtured after the death of his own mother. David and his siblings are tender and affectionate. (with the exception of always telling Janie to shut up- which I guess happened in books and tv, sometimes, more so from the 70’s forward, but not in my world. That phrase was not to be stated, at home, school, or anywhere. So many reviewers act as though books without angst, bullying, and drama are unrealistic- but the the books are not the issue- it is the way that culture devolved. In many ways, it would be books such as this that pushed those boundaries, having been pushed so far, now, fifty years after the fact, that this book seems harmless. My younger self would have felt a certain discomfort with some of these social changes appearing in books)
The first supernatural theme is dabbling with the occult. It unfolds that Amanda describes herself as a practitioner of these arts having been initiated by an older “friend” that mostly uses and defrauds her. (another instance of how the author never points it out- you either see it or you don’t)
A subset of this mysticism is re-inforced by a vague unusual belief system in David’s own family. He has premonitions as did his mother; the younger brother, Blair has second sight; and their mother had a very fluid belief system open to ghosts and other unusual possibilities.
Because of this foundation the younger step-siblings are willing to submit themselves to Amanda’s machinations as she initiates them into the world of the occult. Neither David nor Blair are fooled by this charade, but they enjoy the fun of it.
A final preternatural event in the story is the appearance of the poltergeist and a few red-herrings.
As a children’s story, I am not certain how I feel about this book, particularly, as these topics would have been cutting edge themes in their day. As a story, Snyder is rather deft in tying these elements together without belaboring them. In 2015 as a very aged adult, I read another work by her, The Egypt Game, which offered mild enjoyment. The Headless Cupid seems to tie together more adeptly. She does seem to have a certain craft in envisioning how young minds might creatively engage. The book does draw you in to this world immediately, even as an adult. The real question for readers to decide is whether they want either themselves or their children to be drawn into this world.
42EGBERTINA
23 JAN 2023:
I haven't yet finished this, but this may be the worst book ever. I thought "Junior Brown" was off kilter, but so far I can't even find a plot. This reads like a never-ending list of bizarre relatives names, that are not even described well enough to picture in the mind who they are or their place in the story. There are weird news-clippings that berate members of this family; occasional descriptions of quirky behaviors/habits/physical descriptions.
Of course, I will finish it after a nap, but this really is a book I'd be happy to DNF. It's like word salad. (and not the kind of salad with complimentary ingredients)
I have no idea when the Phantoms of the title will appear, but meanwhile there are some absurd "play on words" with Fig Newtons as characters and sociopolitical projects. I have trouble imagining which generation of children could adore this story; let alone make sense of it.
The book makes mention of two (at least two) random items, somewhat inappropriate for kid-lit. Of the book titles mentioned, is a book on the sex habits of college males; then the MC accuses a (cousin?) of having a venereal disease.
There is a strong obsession with Joseph Conrad that defies explanation. Perhaps if I had read his books, but I doubt that would help. Are we to suppose that readers, 14 and under have read or should read Joseph Conrad?
My final summation is this work is a bad acid trip experienced by an already schizophrenic mind. At last I have a book that I despise more than Smoky The Cowhorse
Am I transported? Not even a smidgen. I would read a hundred free verse diatribes on teenage angst before re-reading this. If this book has a purpose - it is to be distributed to all occupants of Hell.
50EGBERTINA
North America
United States
Oregon- I think
1970's
Was I transported? Maybe.
Ramona the Pest was one of the first books that I bought for myself. I still have my copy. One of my teachers sometimes read parts of this book as we worked on other projects. It took me years to realize, that I had not loved this book as much as I thought that I had. I found Ramona's conflicts a little disturbing. I remember laughing about the Dawnzer Lee Light- but not much else. (Through the work of another book- "Little Orvie" by Tarkington, I came to realize, that I didn't enjoy unhappiness and frustration in a book. Tarkington had been one of my first authorial loves. Later, still, I realized I disliked others elements in his books, even though his writing was wonderful.)
Reading as an adult, Ramona's conflicts bother me less; though they don't delight me either. Her father's smoking would have been in keeping with the times, as my own father also, smoked (though never inside). However, one wonders if that element can resonate with future generations. Ramona's mother also works part time and then full-time - which corresponds with changes of that period. The scenes of fast food restaurants resonates. Though she doesn't use the title Burger King, this coincides with some of the first mainstream competitors for McDonalds and A & W. Barely took my children to such places, but I recall the huge thrill such locations provided when traveling across the country. Again future generations live in a world where such "innocent" pleasures are no longer viewed as innocent. Can that undiluted thrill translate across generational changes?
I feel that I can resonate with the writings about Ramona as they coincide with my own early memories. However, I am not entirely certain that I am transported. I am not certain that other young readers can be transported into Ramona's world. Can a child of the 2020's relate with the childhoods of the 1970's? Smoking fathers and fathers quitting smoking have different contexts, now that smoking is a tremendous sin. Eating in fast food restaurants, are no longer, new and surprising delights - as they are now both commonplace and rejected by portions of society. While I am sure my children were occasionally delighted by a happy meal or a "Pokemon" / "beanie baby" prize, I doubt they will ever comprehend the sheer innocence of a fast-food hamburger, now that it is no longer innocent; now that it is a health hazard and a detriment, a signifier of status, etc.
One has to wonder how Ramona books, which were always a bit more mainstream than the average Newbery selections, came to be viewed as something exceptional. Enjoyable, yes; exceptional, not really. Across the Pond, Enid Blyton's works of childhood were much more transportive. Here at home, Robert McCloskey's similar childhood works are significantly more delightful. tbc
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