Newbery 2003

Crispin The Cross of Lead
Author: Avi
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot: Crispin is forced to flee after his mother dies because he is falsely accused of a crime and faces certain death if he is caught.
Verdict: Great medieval story
My rating: 4 stars


The House of the Scorpion
Author: Nancy Farmer
Genre: Science Fiction
Plot: Matteo lives in futuristic Mexico where he finds out that he is a clone of El Patron.
Verdict: Chilling concept but fantastic
My rating: 5 stars


Pictures of Hollis Woods
Author: Patricia Reilly Giff
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Plot: Hollis Woods is a foster child who has been bounced from house to house.  As she lives with her current foster parent, she reflects back on her last placement when things went horribly wrong.
Verdict: I was relieved at the happy ending
My rating: 3 stars


Hoot
Author: Carl Hiaasen
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Plot: Roy tries to untangle the mystery of the barefooted running boy while developers have problems with vandalism at the site of a new Mother Paula's Pancake House
Verdict: Excellent satire and not overly environmental
My rating: 3 Stars


A Corner of the Universe
Author: Ann M. Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot: Hattie's world changes when her mentally retarded uncle Adam comes to live with her grandparents.
Verdict: Sad ending
My rating: 3 stars


Surviving the Applewhites
Author: Stephanie S. Tolan
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Plot: Jake comes to the Applewhites' "unschool" and gets involved in their crazy family and a production of The Sound of Music
Verdict: Riotous Fun
My rating: 4 stars

This was a jammed packed year of good books for Newbery with a wide variety of storylines and moods. The House of the Scorpion, Pictures of Hollis Woods, Crispin, and A Corner of the Universe are extremely dark but Hoot and Surviving the Applewhites are humorous.  The House of the Scorpion would have been my pick for the year with Crispin a close second.  I was pleasantly surprised by the Applewhites and overall I think I can say I liked every book from this year. 

Allow me to highlight the following:

• Carl Hiaasen is actual an author of adult books and a satirist.  This was his first book for children.  He also resides in Florida, the setting of the book.
• Crispin was Avi's 50th book.  
• Ann M. Martin wrote The Babysitter's Club series.  
• Nancy Farmer lived along the Mexican border for a time which is where her knowledge of Mexico comes from