The 2010 Newbery Winner Is. . .
The Newbery Medal is awarded every year by a committee of librarians to recognize "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." Last year's winner was The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. (I know. Technically, Gaiman is British, but he lives in the U.S., so that's why he was eligible. Confusing!)
This year's winner was just announced today, and the 2010 Newbery Medal goes to When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.
Have you read it yet? Do YOU think it was the best American book published in 2009? If you were on the committee voting for the Newbery Medal, which book would YOU have chosen? (Remember, only books published in 2009 by Americans are eligible.) Let us know in the Comments.
UPDATE: 1/18: Congratulations also to the 4 Newbery Honor Books for 2010. All amazing books too!
- Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
- The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
Cool!I am gonna it at the library!
Comment #1 | Posted by: Tonks Lupin on January 18, 2010 at 09:38 AM
I've read it! I think it's worthy of the award. It's a really great book. For anyone who hasn't read it, I would! Congratulations!
Comment #2 | Posted by: Summerlovergirl on January 18, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Never read it. I'd have chosen Lone Wolf.
Comment #3 | Posted by: Marytonga on January 18, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Never read it. I would probably have picked the last Percy Jackson book. But I will read this one! (Thanks, summerlovegirl!)
Comment #4 | Posted by: Bookworm288 on January 18, 2010 at 11:35 AM
I haven't read it. Love The Graveyard Book! I'm not sure what i would have chosen...
Comment #5 | Posted by: Miranda on January 18, 2010 at 12:11 PM
I have heard of it, and it seems really interesting! I want to read it!
Comment #6 | Posted by: Candysplash on January 18, 2010 at 01:16 PM
i like diary of a wimp kid i have do your own,dog day, and my cool book is dear dumb diary #9
Comment #7 | Posted by: alexanderthecool on January 18, 2010 at 02:33 PM
I loved When You Reach Me!!
When you read it, you might get confused, but just keep reading.
- Andy
:)
Comment #8 | Posted by: Andyslibrary on January 18, 2010 at 02:51 PM
I haven't read any of those...I'll check them out of the library soon!
~treehugger17
Comment #9 | Posted by: treehugger17 on January 18, 2010 at 03:51 PM
Never read it, but I want to now... However, I would've picked The Last Wolf of Ireland, it's my favorite book.
Comment #10 | Posted by: lorelai17 on January 18, 2010 at 04:11 PM
good books; but its all in america...
Comment #11 | Posted by: bmw3bug on January 18, 2010 at 05:15 PM
I haven't read it... yet! I'm gonna try to get it at the library. If it won that award, it must be a great book! Thanks!
Comment #12 | Posted by: green queen 09 on January 18, 2010 at 05:56 PM
Ive never read it. I really like the Twighlight series. One of tose books should have won. In my opinion.
Comment #13 | Posted by: 321laugh on January 18, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Hey, just one question; What is the Graveyard Book and is it a horror book?
Thanks,
Alice
Comment #14 | Posted by: Sunshine_Girl_3231 on January 19, 2010 at 12:59 PM
i got that book for christmas and haven't read it yet. now i have to read it!
Comment #15 | Posted by: bluecookiedough on January 19, 2010 at 10:46 PM
Some books with this medal are good, but some are sub-par.
Comment #16 | Posted by: Nathan on January 22, 2010 at 09:23 AM
The ALA needs to re-evaluate their criteria! They have botched at least two and possibly the last three years! How Nancy Farmer didn't win this year for her epic finale to her first trilogy Island of the Blessed is beyond me! She should have also at least won Honor recognition for Sea of Trolls. Not to mention that last year's winner Graveyard Book was universally questioned as a legitimate contender. I am a teacher and change is needed!
Comment #17 | Posted by: Whit on February 02, 2010 at 02:28 AM
cool ill check it out,but i think the lightnig theif should have won!!!!!
Comment #18 | Posted by: soccergirl on February 09, 2010 at 07:29 PM
hoooplaaah!!!!!
Comment #19 | Posted by: kelsey on February 25, 2010 at 09:44 AM
I agree with Whit on the need for the ALA to reevaluate their criteria. The omission of this year's only serious book of rhyming poetry, 'Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland', was criminal. I understand there's been a lot of (undeserved) hype over the the new Tim Burton adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland' — given the hard sell by the Disney machine, Alice overload was inevitable — but Burton's botched Wonderland redo should not have been held against J.T. Holden's pitch-perfect homage to Carroll's classic tale. For years rhyming poetry has been given the short shrift by critics and awards groups alike, while free verse has rode the wave of respectability — and given the rubbish put out by most rhyming poets these days, I can certainly understand the built-in resistance. But by the same token, when a book of rhyming poetry reaches the level of excellence that 'Alice in Verse' so clearly has, shouldn't it be the responsibility of the ALA to include such a book on their Annual Children's Notable List? In a recent interview the author was asked why his book was not submitted for the Newbery Medal. He responded, 'It was. My publisher submitted it to both the Newbery and ALA Children's Notable committees. Sadly, it didn't make the cut.'
He's right. It's very sad. A truly remarkable literary achievement slipped through the cracks. Of course, this is nothing new — John Steinbeck's 'The Red Pony' didn't make the cut either.
Comment #20 | Posted by: Cray on March 18, 2010 at 01:22 AM
I been meaning to read this book. But i never get to causse it's always checked out. =(
Comment #21 | Posted by: B on March 25, 2010 at 09:16 AM