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more reader response to Newbery books
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From: Jonathan Hunt <jhunt24>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 16:07:38 +0000
First of all, the results of our mock Newbery with 12 fifth grade participants was THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer as the Medal winner with A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann Martin and BLUE EYES BETTER by Ruth Wallace-Brodeur as Honor books.
Needless to say, we were very excited about THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION and A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE. The former was our overwhelming favorite for the very reasons Kate McClelland mentioned, and my students were blind to any flaws in the novel. The latter also aroused intense passion in our discussion--it's hard not to fall in love with Hattie and Adam--and was a solid second choice. While both books had broad appeal, the boys tended to favor SCORPION, while the girls backed CORNER.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even have CRISPIN in my classroom this year. Avi seems to have published quite a bit recently and it's hard to buy everything. I had a good friend who did not think this one was a Newbery contender so I did not buy it. Boy, were we ever wrong! I'm looking forward to reading it, though, as I really do like Avi. In fact, just finished reading THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE to my class and they loved it.
SURVIVING THE APPLEWHITES is a book that I added late to my classroom because it seemingly went out of stock immediately after it was published. I'm sure collectors are pulling their hair out trying to find a first printing of this one. I only had a couple of students read this one before we voted, but both of them enjoyed it and found it very funny and amusing. Likewise, HOOT received a warm response from the few students who read it. Probably broader appeal in middle school for both of these books.
However, my students did not warm up to PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS at all. They found narrative structure very confusing, particularly in the beginning. I didn't care for this one very much either, but as I only read it after all their complaints, I can't say that my opinion influenced them very much. If anything, they influenced me. I had a good friend describe this one as "Paterson-lite" which I think is very apt. I guess I just prefer the real McCoy. Wasn't THE SAME STUFF AS STARS wonderful?
Also in the egregiously overlooked category, may I point out that two books did not receive recogntion from either the Newbery or Printz committees, yet still managed to make both Notable Books for Children and Best Books for Young Adults. They are THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME by Elizabeth Partridge and BEFORE WE WERE FREE by Julia Alvarez. Both are excellent.
Jonathan
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Received on Sat 15 Feb 2003 10:07:38 AM CST
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 16:07:38 +0000
First of all, the results of our mock Newbery with 12 fifth grade participants was THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer as the Medal winner with A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann Martin and BLUE EYES BETTER by Ruth Wallace-Brodeur as Honor books.
Needless to say, we were very excited about THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION and A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE. The former was our overwhelming favorite for the very reasons Kate McClelland mentioned, and my students were blind to any flaws in the novel. The latter also aroused intense passion in our discussion--it's hard not to fall in love with Hattie and Adam--and was a solid second choice. While both books had broad appeal, the boys tended to favor SCORPION, while the girls backed CORNER.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even have CRISPIN in my classroom this year. Avi seems to have published quite a bit recently and it's hard to buy everything. I had a good friend who did not think this one was a Newbery contender so I did not buy it. Boy, were we ever wrong! I'm looking forward to reading it, though, as I really do like Avi. In fact, just finished reading THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE to my class and they loved it.
SURVIVING THE APPLEWHITES is a book that I added late to my classroom because it seemingly went out of stock immediately after it was published. I'm sure collectors are pulling their hair out trying to find a first printing of this one. I only had a couple of students read this one before we voted, but both of them enjoyed it and found it very funny and amusing. Likewise, HOOT received a warm response from the few students who read it. Probably broader appeal in middle school for both of these books.
However, my students did not warm up to PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS at all. They found narrative structure very confusing, particularly in the beginning. I didn't care for this one very much either, but as I only read it after all their complaints, I can't say that my opinion influenced them very much. If anything, they influenced me. I had a good friend describe this one as "Paterson-lite" which I think is very apt. I guess I just prefer the real McCoy. Wasn't THE SAME STUFF AS STARS wonderful?
Also in the egregiously overlooked category, may I point out that two books did not receive recogntion from either the Newbery or Printz committees, yet still managed to make both Notable Books for Children and Best Books for Young Adults. They are THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME by Elizabeth Partridge and BEFORE WE WERE FREE by Julia Alvarez. Both are excellent.
Jonathan
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Received on Sat 15 Feb 2003 10:07:38 AM CST
