Newbery Honor Books of 1980's & 1990's
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2EGBERTINA
22 JUL 2023
4EGBERTINA
1982:
3 JAN 2023:
North America
United States
Oregon
I thought Willa was the most obnoxious child in the world - until - having read the books out of order, I discovered that Ramona was even more obnoxious at that age. Final realization, these books are obnoxious- not cute.
5EGBERTINA
1982:
Europe
HUNGARY
WWII
16 JAN 2024:
When I was 12, The Diary of Anne Frank was required reading for my generation of JuniorHigh/MiddleSchoolers. It was an important read, on a topic, not often published at that time-period. It was, also, excruciatingly, boring even for an above-average reader. Many of Anne's thoughts were those to which I could not personally relate; and she seemed, surprisingly, rude.
"Head of the Goat" is a much more interesting read. With a few awkward mentions, but, somehow more tasteful. While Anne's Diary educated the world to a reality of living hidden, in Amsterdam, as German born; "Goat" gives a different perspective of the war as it reached Hungary, near the Ukranian border.
Caveats for younger readers: there is a mention of females raped by the German soldiers, though, with no descriptions; and in the final scene,
6EGBERTINA
The Blue Sword
1983:
1983:
15EGBERTINA
1985:
North America
Picture Book
First Reader
Step-parents
19 DEC 2022
superlative illustrations, but my inner child was not impressed. Probably should mention that it is for very early readers.
17EGBERTINA
1985:
North America
United States
New York
5 JAN 2023
I gave this three stars. The writing is engaging and its not a bad story or theme. There was just bit too much realism for this moment in my life. I need more moomintrols and other frivolous writings.
Later: I still cannot grasp the point of this book, overall. Many themes: deception, guilt, loss, ambiguities etc. all well described. many things in the book are well described. I understand that the MC was carrying around tremendous amounts of guilt, and the author makes the reader feel that- I just don't understand why, exactly. I understand that sometimes children grapple with these things, but, I don't understand the "why" of the writing, of this particular book. It isn't any more pointless than most books - I just cannot fathom what it potentially offers to the young reader. I think, were I too have read it as a child (an impossibility by its date of authorship) that my feelings would have been similar. I would have read it because it is well written and I cannot help but finish books - but all the while I feel I would have struggled with the why?
For instance, I once was given a paperback, that I read quickly. I liked it (because I was too dumb to know better); but, struggled with some of the themes. Yes, they are good themes and one doesn't read to stay in one's own bubble. Some new knowledge of the world outside was brought to my attention; something beyond normal loss and sadness. This book goes beyond that. It wasn't an imperfect world view with which I am struggling. It is the prolonged lying and guilt that escapes me. All described beautifully- but- why?
Perhaps this book will pierce the gloom of some child's struggling heart with a similar issue. So, go forward and bless.
20EGBERTINA
1987:
11 DEC 2023:
I have to say - I was a bit surprised by this. I was expecting to completely hate it. This is a very fast read - a little less than an hour.
21EGBERTINA
1987:
26EGBERTINA
1989:
4 FEB 2024:
Like so many of the contemporary Newberys, my main objection is the content. Dean's writing is fine. (disregarding the intentional use of sloppy grammar) The story isn't boring, I just cannot think of a reason to praise it. Yes, neighborhoods such as these exist and children navigate these realities. The author doesn't glorify it; but, simultaneously doesn't offer any positives. Is that the message that there are no positives to be gained? Therefore dont bother? If so, why write this book at all?
The book has a "memoirish" quality. Traditional fiction has a point, gets to the point, and a final outcome. Scorpions has multiple facets, none of which emerges to make a focal point. This could be a month in the life of...without a turning point that leads the MC or reader to a final reflection. I often imagine myself writing down certain memories, and I come to the same sense of dissatisfaction. No point - just a compilation of memories without a cohesive reason to share them. (But I'm not a published author; I dont have an editor guiding me; and I wouldn't expect others to enjoy my book or bestow honors upon it.)
Scorpions is written at the brink of the 1990's. Gangs and gang-like behaviour is prevalent across the country, not just inner-cities. I'm having difficulty imagining that this book is written for students already submerged into gang-banger mentality; but, it doesn't seem to guide students away from it, either. No sage advice or caring outreach from a member of the community. Simply, you are out of options; succumb to the inevitable heartache of nothing better and being placed into a dead-end at the age of 12. Since Dean introduces the topic of gang realities to the reader, why doesn't he, then, spell it out. This was a very milk-toast gang. (almost as though he were writing for clueless wannabes in the suburbs) Having known a few clueless suburbanites initiated at this age, this book does nothing to scare them straight.
The school staff, particularly, the principal are atrocious. That doesn't surprise me, having witnessed straight A students neglected by the system; but, I cannot ascertain Dean's point. It is just one of the, seemingly, unfinished strands. The principal is a mindless jerk. No one attempts to raise the MC up. Is this book an attempt to acknowledge the dis-enfranchised? The nearly disenfranchised? Who is the audience being targeted? Was he illustrating prejudice? If so, he would have been better to state it more clearly. Picking on a single student doesn't scream prejudice of an entire group of students. The school drugs Jamal without his mother's comprehension - but that is another strand that gets dropped. ( I've never even heard of peppermint medication. This is a thing? We should all be deeply alarmed that students aren't being medicated with no oversight)
The father makes a cameo appearance - and does that which all abusive/controllers do: he criticizes his son and his son's talents; he compartmentalises family chores by gender making it very clear that "men" are above household contributions; then, further belittles his son's "manhood" by labeling him weak and lazy; pretty much insisting that the only "manly" thing to do for the family is to engage in activities outside the law to provide for his mother. (and of course, Mr Hypocrite provides nothing for the family, legal or otherwise; and the mother just blindly makes excuses)
What kind of children readers comprehend the subtleties?
28EGBERTINA
1990:
24 FEB 2024:
If I had read this as a young adult, I might have been able to distance myself from the full comprehension of its implications. It is well written and compelling to read. In the end, however, I knocked it down because I found the content deeply disturbing.
It is difficult to verify all the accuracy. Regardless of it being accurate to all portrayals, there is certainly a generalised accuracy. (Having read non-fiction accounts)
It is bad enough that children of ll/12 are being betrothed; married by 13. I found the claims of a 50+ year old man to "be in love" with a 12 year old, not only sickening, but fraudulent. I grasp in that culture, the need to portray temporary kindness as love- but the readers of this book are not of that culture and I condemn the confusion of lust as love. This man over 50 years of age is lusting over a 12 year old. He is wealthy, (and has kind eyes as though that means anything truthful) so that justifies it. Granted, she and her family will have provision into their old age - which is why the custom exists. (because women are worthless and the best the female can hope for is provision; and a son to provide for her old age. Let's talk about the physical trauma bonds being induced upon her fragile body and child mind.
It was always going to be a case of child-rape, no matter who she married; but this particular marriage is contrived because another child- rapist defies the "alleged" moral customs of his society, and decides he desires to gang rape Shabanu and her sister. Her "insult" to the man is not getting raped and breaking a stone jar of precious desert water at his feet, resulting in his being splashed.
Instead of the male being punished for his actions, a man must be murdered to soothe his infantile raping ego. Still that is not enough, another girl must be asked to be raped and the property of the dead man's family must be threatened with destruction. Let's not hold the rapist and his cronies responsible for wanting to rape little girls; killing men; and threatening destruction to property and well being. Instead we'll sell the victim to a relative and that will satisfy bruised male honour.
Recap- to be raped can bring women death; to escape rape can compel a woman to be raped by marriage, Good clean wholesome Newbery fun.
Of course, while killing and beating disobedient women is an actuality - the point of the story is that Shabanu learns to keep her heart and mind a secret. Now the author fails to inform the reader that this is a subversive act in this culture. Wives, I mean victims, are not permitted to keep such secrets from their husbands. They are compelled to always speak such hidden thoughts upon request so as to further enslave themselves. No part of the female belongs to her. There is no freedom she is permitted to have without male consent.
There are two sequels in this story. Shabanu after marriage and Shabanu as grandparent. I will not be able to stomach this continuation. As readers, reading from the perspective of Shabanu, it will be to easy to forget that this married woman with child/children is a teenager; that she will potentially be a grandmother by 24.
35EGBERTINA
1993:
North America
Road trip
Urban
Connection- Purpose
Fatherhood
168
30 AUG 2023
This is another book that is difficult to rate. I expected to hate it and have to force myself to read; but it was a quick read. Was I transported? Well, - sort of. Its funny, how you can be transported into an imaginary book-world, even though you have never been to such a place or engaged in magical practices etc. It was harder to feel deeply transported into a life-experience so far removed from one's own. It was very much like "watching" the book. I wonder if a younger male reader is better able to identify with the MC. I never had a good grasp of his inner workings. He doesn't seem to know himself well. Is the author suggesting that the lack of a father has given him no mirror to reflect?
Towards the end, the meaning has better focus, but, the meaning tends to follow the father, not the son. The father gains clarity; not so much the son. The father is attempting to find connection and purpose. It was the one portion of the story that I could grasp through experience, rather than through a sense of intellectualization. As a character, Jimmy doesn't really evolve and the author doesn't notify the reader of any major alterations. His one semi-epiphany is that if he has a son he will be there for the son, and that is thought to be the primary paternal necessity. I feel as though that is a common mythology of the world, that men don't need to do much, their presence is the overriding factor to well-being. Mere "presence" doesn't really solve for authentic connection and purpose. In this regard and others there is no resolution to the story.
Crab may or may not have found enough of it for his purposes. The seeming shallowness of his attempts may have been all the depth he could evoke under the circumstances. Jimmy, likewise, settles for a substitute in his theory of presence as the main ingredient to successful fatherhood and developing offspring. It was a book of the 90's and a philosophy, very much touted and re-kindled in the 90's.
Couldn't help but notice that daughters are relegated to the separate domain of women and mothers. The "conjure" man goes so far as to declare: "A man finds peace in his sons and a woman finds life in her daughters." Just to be perfectly clear (in this book) - fathers have no impact on daughters - and mothers/women no impact on sons. Got it!
There is complexity in these pages and the reader is given much to contemplate. Having said that, it is not a book to treasure for eternity. It is not a book I would recommend to my progeny, their descendants, or pupils in a classroom. This work represents the changes in children's literature that I cannot fully articulate at this time. It more closely resembles works that teachers forced me to read, such as: A Separate Peace and Bless The Beasts And Children. Whatever their literary merit, were they really children's literature? I cannot imagine liking this as a child. I am old-fashioned, I like the partition and separateness of books for children. I have no objections to adult books that welcome young readers, I just don't know if this is a book that I would cast into that category. It is a book that I can see an older reader finding of his own accord, I am just uncertain whether it is worthy of remarkable attention. Lawd knows I was reading Peter Straub and worse, but not because I had any supposition that it was appropriate; neither would I have read such things had I had access to more innocent delights.
36EGBERTINA
1994:
3 FEB 2024
As far as readability goes, this story succeeds. Personally, I found the content of a dubious quality. Of course, I know that is just my inner fuss-budget. I will never come to grips with this coarse style of writing; particularly for children's literature. I'm not naive, I know these kind of environments exists, even for children. I simply have trouble comprehending the attraction for authors and readers. Having been written in the 1990's - the use of retarded/retardation as a descriptor seems stunningly out of touch. For parents, that might wish to monitor reading, this has plenty that is objectionable. Realistic, perhaps - but not meritable. The topic is pretty raw.
47EGBERTINA
1997:
North America
United States
Appalachia
Virginia
Familial loss
20 JAN 2023
Not a review:
This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It starts out with just ordinary characters. Some tallish tales, and jokes that didn't overly speak to me. However, it all comes together in the end.
48EGBERTINA
1998:
5 JAN 2023
Of course, I had already seen the movie, years ago. At first I was pleasantly surprised that the movie had not followed the book; toward the end, though, it seemed to have lost an overall charm. There were charming moments, but the story seemed lost.
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