1941 - Call it Courage

Dates read: September 2008
Read or listened to: Listened to
Pages: 128 pp.
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So, it looks like I managed to read two young-people-alone-on-an-island Newberys back to back. I would have to say that hands down, I preferred Island of the Blue Dolphin. I came to know Karana's thought processes, her plans for her survival and I experienced her struggles with her. I had a difficult time connecting with Mafatu and seemed to hear his experiences as a laundry list of I did this, then this, then this, and now I am brave.

I do respect the theme of the book--that we all have fears, and for good reason. Mafatu feared the sea as a result of an accident that took his mother's life and nearly his when he was only 3-years-old. Facing our fears is the best way to overcome. It is amazing that he was able to overcome those fear on his own--without the support of those who supposedly cared for him. I certainly hope that this book is one that can give readers the courage to face their fears and come off conquerors.

This is a quick listen--only 2 hours.

1961 - Island of the Blue Dolphins

Dates read: August/September 2008
Read or listened to: Listened to
Pages: 223 pp.
Rating: ●●●●●

This is a very beautiful story. Karana is a young girl living on an island with members of her tribe. Her community is devastated by the arrival of and ultimate attack from the Aleuts who kill many members of the tribe. Soon thereafter, a white man's ship arrives and the tribe evacuates the island to prevent future disruption. In a completely selfless act to save her brother who has been left behind, Karana jumps off the ship and swims to shore so that the young boy is not left alone. It isn't long until her brother, Ramo, dies and she is left alone on the island. The bulk of the book is an account of the many years that Karana lives and survives on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. This book is based on a true story from the mid-1800s.

Typically, I would be skeptical of a book without dialogue. (She is alone.) But he had a way of combining Karana's thoughts, descriptions of the surroundings, and accounts of her daily life that I never felt that the book was moving too slowly. I agree with other reviewers that her ingenuity and resourcefulness were inspiring and that the many ups and downs of the story (relationships with her animals, arrival and departure of other boats, etc.) contributed to the story's appeal.

2008 - Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

Dates read: August 2008
Read or listened to: Read
Pages: 96 pp.
Rating: ●●●●●

Unfortunately, I read this book a few weeks ago so I don't have lots of specifics to write. I really did love this book though. It is a book of monologues set in Medieval times. Characters range from the peasant to the nobility. I felt that several--the women, especially--were really brought to life. I found myself envisioning how it would be read and felt on the stage. If I taught 6th grade social studies, this book would be a must! It is quite informative and emotional. LOVED IT!

2005 - Kira-Kira

Dates read: Jun/Jul 2008
Read or listened to: Read
Pages: 272 pp.
Rating: ●●●●○

I really liked this book. Unfortunately, I finished it nearly a week ago and broke my first rule of book review blogging--that is to post within 24 hours after finishing the book so that it is fresh in my mind. It isn't fresh.

Anyway, here are a few thoughts:

• I didn't find this book quite as depressing as many of the reviewers did. Sad, yes, but I was interested in the way that the family stayed together and valued each other above all else.
• Lately, I have been drawn to books describing discrimination and prejudice. I have been born and raised in a relative state of ease and it is enlightening and disheartening to recognize the reality that some people live with. We all need to be aware of these things to stop the plague of intolerance and prejudice. The Japanese-American family in this book gave a perspective not commonly seen.

I will say that this is probably not a children's book--more of a Young Adult novel.

1987 - The Whipping Boy

Dates read: June 2008
Read or listened to: Read
Pages: 89 pp.
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Here is how it was for me: First 60 pages took me several days to get through. The characters seemed flat although I thought the story idea was fabulous! (I thought about giving this a rating of 2 out of 5, but it takes a lot for me to do that because it is a Newbery and I want to assume there are a lot of strengths.) I sat down tonight determined to finish the last 29 pages and, lo and behold, they went really quickly. Prince Brat had changed and his "newness" was believable because of the dialogue and action he was involved in. Jemmy was still skeptical of his change but, little by little, he came to realize that perhaps the change was for real. In a nutshell, I struggled to get through the first 60 pages even though I really wanted to love it. I did love the last 30 pages!

1949 - King of the Wind

Dates read: June 2008
Read or listened to: Listened to
Pages: 176 pp.
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Nice book. I remember way back when at BYU, my children's lit professor (Dr. Tunnell) giving us some names of authors and series that treated specific topics that may be of interest to young readers. He mentioned Marguerite Henry as the horse author and this is the first of her books that I've read.

I need to stop listening to these books and start reading them again. I think there is so much more engagement with a book when it is read. Obviously, if I am listening to it I am doing something else as well. But I suppose that is what I have time for right now!

Anyway, I enjoyed the book. It is an account, romanticized certainly, of the Godolphin Arabian Sham (early 18th century) who was born in Morocco and then moved to Paris and England. He is a direct ancestor of many of the finest racing horses throughout history. The book chronicles the unfortunate events of Sham's life accompanied by his mute horse boy, Agba. Sham's talents go unrecognized until his sons show proficiency in racing. This is a very nice historical fiction showing the unappreciated horse and his boy triumph over adversity and come out on top!

1970 - Sounder

Dates read: June 2008
Read or listened to: Listened to
Pages: 128 pp.
Rating: ●●●●●

Another boy and his dog story...but not really.

This is a very moving story. Unfortunately, it deals with issues in our culture and history that we'd like to forget. Namely, the unjust treatment of African-Americans. The boy in the book is unnamed. This reminded me that his experiences could've happened to so many African-American individuals over such a long period of time. The melancholic language of the book added to the tragedy of the story. Fortunately, the boy shows resilience and fortitude to overcome in face of the adversity. I really loved this book.