I’ve always been a reader, but when perusing through the list of books that have won the Newberry Honor Medal, I was surprised at how few of them I’ve read.
For this month’s Dewey’s Books Mini Challenge, everyone was paired up with a partner to read something new. Although kid’s books aren’t new to me (after all, I’m still technically a child…only a few more months until the label of adult is slapped on me), many of the titles on the list I’ve never heard of.
Wordlily (http://wordlily.wordpress.com/) and I decided to read a book of the Newberry list because Dewey was attempting to read all of them. Then, we each exchanged lists of our favorites. I was to chose a book off of the list she sent me and vice versa. She chose Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson, Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women by Cornelia Meigs, and King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry. I chose Jacob Have I loved because it sounded like the most interesting plot. For her, I chose Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.
My Review:
What shocked me in Jacob Have I Loved was how it was more of literature than a child’s story. Kids want to read about kittens and puppies and horses and firemen. Kids want to read about other kids like them, like Amber Brown or Junie B. Jones. It is not surprising that all of the books I read off of the Newberry list I read for school because of this fact. I think Jacob Have I Loved was particularly guilty of not being very relatable to children.
If I were a fifth grader, I would have hated the book. There wasn’t much action. The protagonist lives on an island village where they depend on crabs and oysters to make a living. The high school has two teachers. You have to ride the ferry to go grocery shopping. One thing is relatable, though, the struggle between Louise and her twin sister Caroline. Many times, their relationship is compared to Jacob and Esau’s relationship in the Bible. Caroline is the precious, sickly, talented child that wins the affections of everyone around her, and Louise is left to herself. Caroline gets to go to boarding school and Louise stays on the island.
What many would write off as childish jealousy goes deeper than that. Louise is greatly affected by her parents’ treatment of Caroline. While Caroline is off making a life for herself, Louise chooses to stay on the island and help her father. Louise makes herself think they are making her stay so she can make herself feel miserable.
The writing has a simplicity that makes it known that the book was written for children. Often, writers like Ernest Hemingway and Ayn Rand are said to have a simple but beautiful writing style. I fail to see it in the great American authors, but you can definitely notice the beauty of the simplistic language. It seems that the writing is a bit cold and grey, as you would imagine the setting of the island to be.
Usually I am disappointed of the endings of books. I find many of them subpar. They usually don’t offer enough closure and sometimes they offer too much. The ending of Jacob Have I Loved is touching, offers plenty of closure, and makes you wonder what happens next. But then your eyes fall on the back cover.
For this month’s Dewey’s Books Mini Challenge, everyone was paired up with a partner to read something new. Although kid’s books aren’t new to me (after all, I’m still technically a child…only a few more months until the label of adult is slapped on me), many of the titles on the list I’ve never heard of.
Wordlily (http://wordlily.wordpress.com/) and I decided to read a book of the Newberry list because Dewey was attempting to read all of them. Then, we each exchanged lists of our favorites. I was to chose a book off of the list she sent me and vice versa. She chose Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson, Invincible Louisa: The Story of the Author of Little Women by Cornelia Meigs, and King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry. I chose Jacob Have I loved because it sounded like the most interesting plot. For her, I chose Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.
My Review:
What shocked me in Jacob Have I Loved was how it was more of literature than a child’s story. Kids want to read about kittens and puppies and horses and firemen. Kids want to read about other kids like them, like Amber Brown or Junie B. Jones. It is not surprising that all of the books I read off of the Newberry list I read for school because of this fact. I think Jacob Have I Loved was particularly guilty of not being very relatable to children.
If I were a fifth grader, I would have hated the book. There wasn’t much action. The protagonist lives on an island village where they depend on crabs and oysters to make a living. The high school has two teachers. You have to ride the ferry to go grocery shopping. One thing is relatable, though, the struggle between Louise and her twin sister Caroline. Many times, their relationship is compared to Jacob and Esau’s relationship in the Bible. Caroline is the precious, sickly, talented child that wins the affections of everyone around her, and Louise is left to herself. Caroline gets to go to boarding school and Louise stays on the island.
What many would write off as childish jealousy goes deeper than that. Louise is greatly affected by her parents’ treatment of Caroline. While Caroline is off making a life for herself, Louise chooses to stay on the island and help her father. Louise makes herself think they are making her stay so she can make herself feel miserable.
The writing has a simplicity that makes it known that the book was written for children. Often, writers like Ernest Hemingway and Ayn Rand are said to have a simple but beautiful writing style. I fail to see it in the great American authors, but you can definitely notice the beauty of the simplistic language. It seems that the writing is a bit cold and grey, as you would imagine the setting of the island to be.
Usually I am disappointed of the endings of books. I find many of them subpar. They usually don’t offer enough closure and sometimes they offer too much. The ending of Jacob Have I Loved is touching, offers plenty of closure, and makes you wonder what happens next. But then your eyes fall on the back cover.
WordLily's Review:
Bud, Not Buddy won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award in 2000.In 1936, during the Great Depression, 10-year-old Bud Caldwell lives in the orphanage in Flint, Michigan that has been his home since the death of his mother, when he was 6. He doesn't exactly enjoy life at the orphanage, but it beats the abusive foster home alternatives he's given. Presented with the opportunity, Bud decides to go in search of his father. His only clue? A couple of fliers he found in his mom's dresser. So he sets off for Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I really enjoyed this book. It fits with my recent infatuation with Depression literature, as well (http://wordlily.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/wg-historical-eras).
There are lots of reasons to love this book. Bud's speech is endearing. What he's been through is heart-rending. His interspersed Rules and Things to Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar of Yourself are funny and usually too true to life. It's a very quick read. Oh, and the kid likes hanging out in libraries! :D Curtis modeled characters in Bud, Not Buddy on his grandfathers.
I can't think of a good reason why anyone would not read this book.
I'm quite interested to read Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. His Elijah of Buxtonwas named a Newbery Honor book in 2008.
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2 comments:
I remember loving Bud, Not Buddy. I don't remember much, but I do remember something about oatmeal. Of all things to remember!
I want to read them both! I really loved Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia, which also won the Newbery.
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