Newbery
2025 ALA Newbery Award – Nailed It!
By Janie Cheaney |
Well, not exactly. We (especially I) were off on our predictions about the winners, but pretty accurate about what the Newbery Committee would be looking ...
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Newbery Roundup #2: Plain Jane, Wrong Way Home, and The First State of Being
By Janie Cheaney |
Our second roundup of Newbery-buzzing books includes a graphic-novel fairy tale, an escape narrative, and a time-travel adventure. Plain Jane and the Mermaid mixes fairy-tale ...
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Newbery Roundup #1: Hank Hooperman, Louder Than Hunger, and The Enigma Girls
By Janie Cheaney |
It's time to start buzzing about Newbery contenders! We'll do our share in the following weeks, but the various ALA award committees have been buzzing ...
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Elf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson
By Betsy Farquhar |
Clay befriends a strange elf dog in this tale that mixes friendship and the fae. Elf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson. Candlewick, ...
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*One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
By Janie Cheaney |
One Big Open Sky fills a history gap with the story of black settlers heading west in wagon trains. *One Big Open Sky by Lesa ...
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Across so Many Seas by Ruth Behar
By Janie Cheaney |
Across So Many Seas tracks the destiny of a Jewish family exiled from Spain in 1492. Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar. Nancy Paulsen ...
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2023 Newbery Winner: Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
By Janie Cheaney |
Freewater, this year's Newbery Medal winner, is as much an adventure tale as little-known history. Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson. Little, Brown (James Patterson Presents), 2022, ...
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The 2023 ALA Youth Media Awards
By Hayley Morell |
A Redeemed Reader Tradition This morning, a Redeemed Reader tradition of multiple years continued: listening to the ALA Youth Media Awards. Last year we gathered ...
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2023 Newbery Buzz #3: Northwind
By Janie Cheaney |
Might Gary Paulsen's last novel be a sentimental favorite for Newbery recognition? The State of Nature Betsy: Janie, this is only the second Paulsen book ...
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2023 Newbery Buzz #1: A Rover’s Story
By Janie Cheaney |
It's that time again, readers! The hour for selecting winners of the world's most prestigious children's book award draws near. Redeemed Reader has little (that ...
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2022 Newbery Honor Book Roundup: Red White and Whole, A Snake Falls to Earth, Watercress, Too Bright to See
By Janie Cheaney |
In our continuing coverage of ALA Youth Media Award winners, we're closing in on the big one: the Newbery! Red, White, and Whole by Rajanni ...
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What’s the Big Deal With the Newbery Medal?
By Betsy Farquhar |
If you've been around Redeemed Reader very long, you'll know that we look at possible Newbery winners every January. Why is the Newbery Medal so ...
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Newbery Roundup #2: Born on the Water, Starfish, Too Bright to See, and The Legend of Auntie Po
By Janie Cheaney |
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nicole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith. Kokila (Penguin Random House), 2021, 37 pages. “My ...
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Newbery Roundup #1: DaVinci’s Cat, Playing the Cards You’re Dealt, Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School, and Black Boy Joy
By Janie Cheaney |
It’s that time of year when librarians across the nation eagerly await the announcement of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards, crossing fingers for ...
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The 2021 ALA Youth Media Awards–How Did We Do?
By Janie Cheaney |
After an hour of listening and scribbling madly as announcements were read, I can now pass on what we learned from this year's ALA Youth ...
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The Hour Approaches–Our Newbery Predictions!
By Janie Cheaney |
Next Monday, Jan. 25, during its annual Midwinter Conference (which is virtual like everything else this year) the American Library Association will announce the winners ...
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2021 Newbery Roundup #2: When You Trap a Tiger, Efren Divided, Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street
By Janie Cheaney |
Three more possible Newbery contenders we never got around to reviewing. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Random House, 2020, 302 pages Lily, ...
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2021 Newbery Roundup #1: Rick, Clean Getaway, A Game of Fox and Squirrels
By Janie Cheaney |
We’re keeping an eye on children's books that have been talked up as possible contenders for the 2021 ALA Youth Media Awards (to be announced ...
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2021 Newbery Buzz #1: King and the Dragonflies
By Janie Cheaney |
Betsy: Readers, we’re kicking off our annual Newbery Buzz discussion series with a book that has already garnered a major award: King and the Dragonflies, ...
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Picture Books about the Middle Ages for Middle School
By Betsy Farquhar |
Picture books aren't just for little kids! Picture books are every bit as enjoyable—and beneficial—for middle school kids. Use one (or all) of the books ...
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5 Newbery Award Winners Better in Audio
By Betsy Farquhar |
What happens when Newbery award winners (and honors) are read aloud by skillful narrators? The books truly come alive. Audiobooks also bring diverse settings and ...
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Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
By Betsy Farquhar |
In this classic survival story, Karana learns to fend for herself on an island after her tribe leaves for the mainland. Island of the Blue ...
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Front Row Seat at the ALA Youth Media Awards
By Janie Cheaney |
No, none of us were actually in the room in Philadelphia where the awards were announced. But anyone can get a front-row seat through the ...
Read More Newbery Roundup #2: All the Greys, This Was Our Pact, A Good Kind of Trouble, To Night Owl from Dogfish
By Janie Cheaney |
Continuing our roundup of possible contender for the 2020 Newbery Medal All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker. Viking, 320 pages. Olympia’s artist ...
Read More 2020 Newbery Buzz #3: The Undefeated and A Place to Land
By Betsy Farquhar |
Every January, we love to discuss the merits (or demerits) of books we’ve seen getting “Newbery buzz” in the broader children’s literature world. The actual ...
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Newbery Roundup #1: The Line Tender, Tristan Strong, and 1919
By Janie Cheaney |
Newbery season is upon us, culminating in the American Library Association Youth Media Awards on January 27. We've been keeping an eye on books that ...
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2019 ALA Youth Media Awards: the Redeemed Reader Team Reacts
By Betsy Farquhar |
This morning, the American Library Association (ALA) announced its Youth Media Awards. The ALA also welcomed awards announcements for titles awarded by the Asian/Pacific American ...
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Prognosticating the Newberys, 2019 Edition
By Betsy Farquhar |
updated 1/28 with actual results/how we did. It's the time of year when librarians and other kidlit nerds like ourselves get antsy. The ALA will announce this year's Youth Media Awards ...
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Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
By Janie Cheaney |
In Piecing Me Together, a Newbery honor book, a black teen in a low-income neighborhood carves out a place in the world through art and ...
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Picture Book Round-Up: 6 Multicultural Youth Media Award Winners
By Betsy Farquhar |
The 2018 ALA Youth Media Awards were announced last week, and children's lit fans around the country live-streamed the event (unless they were privileged to ...
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Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
By Betsy Farquhar |
Four sixth graders come together in a serendipitous turn of events in this year's Newbery award winner, Hello, Universe. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. Greenwillow, ...
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The 2018 ALAYMA Results: Redeemed Reader Reacts
By Betsy Farquhar |
Hot off the press! The Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scot King Awards and more were announced this morning. We've made our predictions, and now Betsy offers ...
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Freedom over Me by Ashley Bryan
By Janie Cheaney |
An actual slave ledger from 1828 inspires this group portrait of eleven African Americans who remain free to dream. Freedom over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their ...
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Prognosticating the 2017 Newbery (and other ALA Awards)
By Betsy Farquhar |
Today’s the day Betsy and Janie haul out their crystal balls from under the clutter in the hall closet (Betsy moved across country this year, ...
Read More *Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larsen
By Janie Cheaney |
Hattie Big Sky draws upon the experience of the author's own grandmother to create this enthralling story of hard-won optimism and frontier grit. a review from ...
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*The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
By Megan Saben |
The first book in a top-notch series about an extraordinary thief and the intertwining of three kingdoms is amazingly well done. *The Thief by Megan Whalen ...
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Newbery Buzz Discussion Series
By Betsy Farquhar |
We love discussing books here at Redeemed Reader! We also love "prognosticating the awards": discussing potential Newbery Medal candidates (these are potentials to us; the ...
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Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
By Janie Cheaney |
The rough, tough world of girls' roller derby is the setting for this surprisingly sweet depiction of friendship, breakup, and change. Roller Girl by Victoria ...
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The 2016 ALA Youth Media Awards–What happened??
By Janie Cheaney |
As we were saying last Saturday . . . you just can’t predict what the Newbery committee is going to do. Trends have been toward ...
Read More Prognosticating the Newberys
By Janie Cheaney |
On Monday, the American Library Association will announce the winners of their annual Youth Media Awards. The oldest and most prominent of these is the ...
Read More The 2015 ALA Youth Media Awards
By Janie Cheaney |
Yesterday morning, the American Library Association announced their annual Youth Media Awards—which include, as any devotee of children’s literature knows, the celebrated Newbery and Caldecott ...
Read More *The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
By Janie Cheaney |
*The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Dutton Children’s Books, 1978. 182 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 10-12) and up ...
Read More *Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
By Janie Cheaney |
Note: this review was originally published on February 4, 2011. Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Preus, Amulet Books, 277 pages plus historical note and ...
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*El Deafo by Cece Bell
By Janie Cheaney |
*El Deafo by Cece Bell. Amulet, 2014. 241 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) Bottom Line: Author/illustrator Cece Bell recounts ...
Read More Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
By Janie Cheaney |
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Penguin, 2014. 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 5 (ages 12-14) Bottom line: Award-winning author ...
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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (25th Anniversary)
By Betsy Farquhar |
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2011 (reissue of 1989 copy). 156 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10Recommended for: Ages ...
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*Carry on Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss.
By Megan Saben |
*Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss, Greathall Productions, 2009. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Maturity Level: Levels 3-5 ...
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Ghosts: Real or Make Believe?
By Betsy Farquhar |
Ghost stories: most of us relish that slightly spooky feeling we get when an urban legend or hair-raising tall tale is well told around a ...
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Second-Grade Perils: The Year of Billy Miller
By Janie Cheaney |
The Year of Billy Miller, by Keven Henkes. Greenwillow, 2013, 229 pages. Age/interest level: 6-8. Kevin Henkes’ name on a book jacket automatically gets attention. ...
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Newbery Buzz: The Truth of Me, plus one more
By Janie Cheaney |
This is our last "buzz" post, but tomorrow Betsy and I are going to go out on a limb and make some predictions about the ...
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Newbery Buzz: The Center of Everything
By Janie Cheaney |
Betsy and I are back to dialogue about childrens' books that the American Library Association may delight to honor. This year's ALA Youth Media Awards ...
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Newbery Buzz: The Real Boy
By Janie Cheaney |
If you have any interest in youth literature at all, you know that the Newbery Award, announced in January by the American Library Association, is ...
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ALA Awards: Newberys and Caldecotts, Splendors and Glooms
By Janie Cheaney |
One month ago was “Oscar night for Librarians,” when the American Library Association announced their “best of” picks for children’s literature. We’ve given some space ...
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The 2013 ALA Youth Media Awards: It’s the Bomb!
By Janie Cheaney |
Only total kidlit geeks would do this: click the live webcast link on the American Library Association website and watch an hour of book geeks ...
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On All Fronts: New Nonfiction of World War II
By Janie Cheaney |
My sister, who serves at a docent at a prisoner-of-war museum in Texas, says that her most eager listeners are pre-teen and teenage boys. When ...
Read More Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
By Janie Cheaney |
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. Harper Collins, 1972 (paperback reissue 2003). 208 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: Young adult, ...
Read More Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
By Janie Cheaney |
Gary Paulsen's classic survival novel Hatchet offers a realistic--as opposed to romantic-- view of nature and what it takes to survive in the wild. Hatchet ...
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Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
By Janie Cheaney |
Breaking Stalin’s Nose, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. Henry Holt & Company: 2011, 154 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 5 ...
Read More No Place Like Norvelt
By Janie Cheaney |
Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos, FSG, 2011, 341 pages. Age/interest level: 10-13. (2012 Newbery Medal winner) Norvelt, PA, 1962: a depression-era-town that’s slowly ...
Read More Oscar Night for Librarians
By Janie Cheaney |
Actually, it’s not at night, but first thing in the morning. And there are no backless evening gowns or acceptance speeches (those come later). But ...
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*The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
By Janie Cheaney |
The Perilous Gard, by Elizabeth Marie Pope. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001, 288. Age/interest level 12-up. Reading Level: Teens/Young Adults Recommended for: Ages 15-18 Bottom line: ...
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Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
By Janie Cheaney |
Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool. Delacorte, 2010, 342 pages plus historical notes. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 Bottom line: ...
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Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
By Janie Cheaney |
Turtle in Paradise, by Jennifer Holm. Random House, 2010, 177 pages plus historical notes. Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 Bottom ...
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One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
By Janie Cheaney |
One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia. HarperCollins, 2010, 215 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 Bottom line: One Crazy Summer is ...
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