Newbery 2010

When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead
Genre: Fantasy
Plot: Miranda's friend Sal suddenly stops hanging out with her after being punched by a random person.  Her mother prepares to go on the TV show Pyramid.
Verdict: A bit confusing
My rating: 3 stars


Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
Author: Phillip M. Hoose
Genre: Nonfiction
Plot: The true story of Claudette Colvin, the first African American to refuse to give up her seat on a bus and inspiration to Rosa Parks.
Verdict: Courageous girl
My rating: 4 stars


The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Author: Jacqueline Kelly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot: Set in 1899, Calpurnia Tate learns about the natural world from her naturalist grandfather.
Verdict: Lots of nature
My rating: 3 stars


Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Author: Grace Lin
Genre: Fantasy (folklore)
Plot: Minli decides to seek The Old Man in the Moon to change her family's fortune.
Verdict: Awesomely woven tale!
My rating: 5 stars


The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot: Homer goes off to rescue his older brother Harold who was illegally conscripted into the Union army.
Verdict: A lighter Civil War adventure
My rating: 3 stars

2010 definitely brought a mixed bag of different books to the Newbery table.  I was very impressed by Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and I am a little sad that it did not win the medal.  In her author's note, Grace Lin talks about how she was not interested in her Asian heritage until she started reading Chinese fairy tales.  Her book is an attempt to make these tales accessible to Westerners.  Claudette Colvin was also very interesting reading as I did not know that there were others who refused to give up seats on the bus before Rosa Parks.  Phillip Hoose also conducted in depth interviews with Claudette so it's almost an autobiography.  When You Reach Me is a decent book but it is hard to say too much about it without giving away the ending.  In my opinion, I thought some of the Honor books deserved the medal more.