--- title: "Reading Everywhere: newbery medal reading challenge" url: https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery medal reading challenge/ description: "Children's and YA book reviews. Library stuff. Possible overuse of the word AWESOME!" --- # Reading Everywhere: newbery medal reading challenge - [About](https://readingeverywhere.com/p/about-me.html) - [Review Policy](https://readingeverywhere.com/p/review-policy.html) - [Frequently Visited Posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/p/frequently-visited-posts.html) Showing posts with label newbery medal reading challenge . [Show all posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/) Showing posts with label newbery medal reading challenge . [Show all posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/) ## Monday, July 23, 2012 ### [Audiobook Review: Call It Courage, by Armstrong Sperry](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/07/audiobook-review-call-it-courage-by.html) Weighing in with my second pick for the [Newbery Medal Reading Challenge](http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2011/12/newbery-medal-challenge-1922-to-present.html) , and I have to admit: I am not exactly rocking this challenge. It's a struggle to pick up an old Newbery winner when there are shiny new releases and ARCs that beg to be read. I feel like a student again, poring through the list of titles, thinking, "That one sounds boring.... so does that one... no way... nope..." But that's part of my motivation for participating in this challenge-- making myself read some of the titles I might not otherwise pick up. I am aiming to increase the depth of Newbery titles I can recommend to young readers at my library... and little by little, I will. My latest selection for this reading challenge is the 1941 Newbery winner: [Call It Courage](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141695368X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=141695368X&linkCode=as2&tag=readineveryw-20) , by Armstrong Sperry. Sperry, Armstrong. Call It Courage . 1994. Recorded Books. Audiobook $25.75. ISBN 0788746480. Why did I choose this one? I'm not a huge fan of survival stories, but it has two things going for it: 1. It's available on audiobook. 2. It's set in Polynesia. My husband and I honeymooned in Moorea and Bora Bora ten years ago, so I was eager to revisit that setting. | | |---| | Newlyweds on Matira Beach in Bora Bora. (Can we go back there, please?) | In Call It Courage , a young boy Mafatu survives a tragic incident in which he and his mother are caught by a hurricane. She doesn't survive, and he is left with a lifelong fear of the sea-- which is not an acceptable phobia for a Polynesian boy to have, considering so much of their daily life revolves around the water. Spurred by the constant taunts of his peers and determined to prove his bravery, Mafatu sets out in a canoe for places unknown and must survive against the elements with only his trusty dog and a friendly albatross for companionship. If you like survival stories, you'll probably like this one: it's pretty solid. As a bonus, contemporary readers will relate to the bullying Mafatu endures, and his desire to prove himself. I was curious, however, about how a 1940s novel would depict Polynesian culture. Would there be a lot of nonsense about primitive natives and whatnot? Mostly, the cultural elements come across well enough. The author describes Mafatu and his people respectfully. However, Sperry constantly refers to another (purportedly cannibalistic) tribe as "the black eaters of men." It's plausible that there were cannibalistic tribes in ancient Polynesia, but the emphasis on their skin color is problematic. Sperry hardly ever mentions this tribe's cannibalism without making sure the reader knows they're black, which is awkward and, frankly, disturbing. But on the plus side, there's a dog in this story, and he doesn't die! I thought for sure he was a goner when he fell in the water near a hungry shark, and his eyes were described as "puzzled" and "so faithful and true" or something along those lines. I was like, "OH NO, HERE WE GO." ...but the dog survived! Hooray! The audiobook makes for a pleasant way to approach this book. The narrator, George Guidall, gives a solid performance. He doesn't display much of a range of character voices, but most of the book is narration, rather than dialogue, so his performance works here. (There's also a 2009 recording from Listening Library done by Lou Diamond Phillips that I'd be curious to hear.) All in all, I'm not in love with this particular Newbery winner, but if I get a request for a Newbery from a young reader who likes action and adventure, I might recommend this one-- but then again, with all the "black eaters of men" stuff, maybe not. It would depend on whether or not the child's parent would be willing to discuss how the language used to describe other cultures or ethnic groups in the 1940s is not necessarily acceptable now. As long as it's used as a teachable moment, I think [Call It Courage](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141695368X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=141695368X&linkCode=as2&tag=readineveryw-20) could work for a contemporary reader. Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [7:00 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/07/audiobook-review-call-it-courage-by.html) Labels: [audiobook](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/audiobook) , [book review](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20review) , [children's](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/children%27s) , [newbery medal reading challenge](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery%20medal%20reading%20challenge) ## Monday, May 28, 2012 ### [Audiobook Review: The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/05/audiobook-review-door-in-wall-by.html) This book is my first pick for the [Newbery Medal Challenge](http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2011/12/newbery-medal-challenge-1922-to-present.html) ! Hooray! As mentioned previously, I'm modifying this reading challenge to make it a little less intense, and will be reading one Newbery Medal winner from each decade (instead of every single winner). And yes, I was going to start with the 1920s, but I have to admit that I keep getting hung up every time I look at the choices for that decade-- they're just not appealing. And it seems I'm not alone, according to [this article on the Digital Shift](http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/04/social-media/early-newbery-winners-pose-a-challenge-to-nerdbery-challenge-participants/) . So it's not just me. Whew! But... any advice, Newbery fans? I've got to read a 1920s Newbery winner at some point, after all... Anyway, after waffling for a few months, I decided to forget about going in order and just jump in with whatever title catches my eye. So! My choice for the 1950s is [*The Door in the Wall*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0440227798/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0440227798) , by Marguerite de Angeli. de Angeli, Marguerite. The Door in the Wall . 2008. Listening Library. Audiobook $24.00. ISBN 9780739371879 . Winner of the 1950 Newbery Medal, this title piqued my interest because of its medieval England setting. Robin, the son of a nobleman, has always anticipated growing up to become a knight, but finds he must learn to cope with a different sort of life when he loses the uses of his legs after an illness. This book is what I'd call a cozy read. I enjoyed the details of medieval life and was inspired by Robin's struggle to come to terms with his physical challenges. His transformation from a spoiled brat to a young man with a sense of purpose is heartwarming, as is the large cast of endearing characters who support and encourage him. But I have to say: this is not the most suspenseful story ever. An adult with an interest in history (me!) is likely to enjoy it, but the lack of tension in the plot might make it pretty dull for a young reader. For example: the characters are traveling through a wood, and realize they have to stop for the night. One character mentions he had been this way before, and found a woodcutter's cottage to be a hospitable place to stay. With this kind of setup, you're thinking-- okay, SOMETHING BAD has definitely happened to that woodcutter, and our main characters are about to be attacked by wolves or bandits or zombies. Right? Nope. The band of travelers finds the cottage easily and the woodcutter and his wife are indeed friendly and accommodating. The lack of complications is sort of sweet, really. But will it appeal to today's readers, who expect twists and turns and cliffhangers? That said, the audio production of this book is truly stellar. Roger Rees, a well-known actor who got his start in the Royal Shakespeare Company, expertly breathes life into the archaic language of the book, making it accessible for contemporary readers. Too, his steady pacing and wide variety of character voices keep the narrative interesting despite its relatively low-key plot. The audiobook is further enhanced by the addition of medieval music and other sound effects at appropriate times (e.g. when the narrative mentions a song being played on a harp, or church bells ringing), making for a memorable listening experience. If you're going to read [*The Door in the Wall*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0440227798/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readineveryw-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0440227798) , the audiobook is definitely the way to do it. Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [7:00 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/05/audiobook-review-door-in-wall-by.html) Labels: [audiobook](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/audiobook) , [book review](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20review) , [children's](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/children%27s) , [historical fiction](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/historical%20fiction) , [newbery](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery) , [newbery medal reading challenge](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery%20medal%20reading%20challenge) ## Thursday, January 5, 2012 ### [Challenge Accepted!](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/challenge-accepted.html) In keeping with my New Year's resolution of being a more interactive blogger, I'm signing myself up for a few reading challenges. [The Debut Author Challenge](http://www.thestorysiren.com/debut-author-challenge) , hosted by [The Story Siren](http://www.thestorysiren.com/) , looks like just my cup of tea. I love reading debut authors! A quick count tells me I read and reviewed nearly 20 books by debut authors last year, so I'm thinking I can probably manage the official goal of the challenge, which is to read and review at least 12 middle grade or young adult novels this year. The first debut novel I'm reading this year is Incarnate , by Jodi Meadows. Thanks, HarperCollins and NetGalley! Eye-catching cover, right? I'm only about 25 pages in, but the story is intriguing so far. I'm really liking it. I'm also going to try the [Newbery Book Challenge](http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2011/12/newbery-medal-challenge-1922-to-present.html) , hosted by [Mr. Schu](http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/) and [Colby Sharp](http://sharpread.wordpress.com/) . This challege encourages participants to read every single Newbery book... ambitious, right?? But the challenge very kindly allows for modifications and above all, NO STRESS. So I'm going to take Mr. Schu's advice and simply commit myself to reading one Newbery winner from each decade this year. I have way too much going on to read all the Newberys, and to be honest, that's not a particular goal of mine. But I am curious about some of the older Newbery winners, and I'm sure I can find at least one winner per decade that I'll enjoy. I haven't decided yet what I'm going to read from the 1920s, but my selection from the 1930s will be Hitty: Her First Hundred Years , by Dorothy P. Lathrop. When I was a kid, my mom told me it was a really good story, and I completely blew off her suggestion because I was the kind of reader who needed to discover books on my own. (Also, maybe because I was being kind of a brat.) I'm sorry, Mom. I'm going to read Hitty , and I bet you're right about this book! How about the rest of you? Are you excited about any particular reading challenges this year? Any tips? Recommendations? Posted by [Allison](https://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [7:00 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/challenge-accepted.html) Labels: [debut author challenge](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/debut%20author%20challenge) , [newbery medal reading challenge](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery%20medal%20reading%20challenge) [Older Posts](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery%20medal%20reading%20challenge?updated-max=2012-01-05T07:00:00-08:00&max-results=20&start=20&by-date=false) [Home](https://readingeverywhere.com/) Subscribe to: [Posts (Atom)](https://readingeverywhere.com/feeds/posts/default)