2016 Newbery Medal and Honor Books

< Newbery Medal and Honor Books

Given the Newbery Award's prestige it would be easy to assume that the award winners are all excellent books for children. The Biblioguides Team has not found this to be the case. We always want to provide parents with the information they need to make the best book decisions for their families. With that goal in mind, we've put together a complete list of all medal winners and honor books since inception, and the Biblioguides Review Team is working together to read our way through the winners and to provide a review. Where we have not yet reviewed a book, a description directly from the dust jacket or from the publisher has been provided. In some cases, we have shared a brief synopsis from The Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books (1999).

Reviews are the thoughts and opinions of the particular reviewer and do not necessarily represent all members of the team. Reviews will continue to be added as the team reads more of the Newbery books. We hope this list will help you familiarize yourself with the various winners and provide the necessary information to determine which books would be a good fit for your family!

★
REVIEW TEAM FAVORITE

Last Stop on Market Street

By: Matt de la Peña

Medal Winner

Reviewed by: Sandy Hall
Also read and recommended by: Christine Kallner, Diane Pendergraft, Sarah Kim, Sherry Early, Tanya Arnold, Terri Shown

I love the camaraderie of this little boy and his grandmother. He asks so many questions! I know how that is, living with three little grandsons. This story is simply told and appropriate for little ones. Grandmother finds the good in everyone, and the beauty of her surroundings. She says, “Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, C.J., you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.” We need that mindset so much today. Some have criticized this book for the improper grammar spoken by grandmother and grandson; I don’t see that as a problem. It just reflects the dialect of the characters.

★
REVIEW TEAM FAVORITE

Echo

By: Pam Muñoz Ryan

Honor

Reviewed by: Sara Masarik
Also read and recommended by: Diane Pendergraft, Lara Lleverino, Sarah Kim, Tanya Arnold, Terri Shown

The first definition of "echo" in Webster’s online dictionary is: the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves; the sound due to such reflection. I was intrigued by the title and wondered what prompted it.

The story opens with what feels like an old German fairy tale. Three princesses are ensnared in a spell that binds them to a wood. A young boy loses his way in the forest and happens upon the three magical princesses. The sisters each play the harmonica for him, but instead of hearing their music one at a time, he hears the song swell with all three voices simultaneously. When the song is completed, the sisters help him find his way home, and they bless him with the harmonica and tell him to keep it safe, for the only way their enchantment can be broken is if that harmonica saves “a soul at the moment of death.”

It is here that we begin to subtly get clues about the word "echo." As one sister played the harmonica, the echo continued while the next sister played, and so on. Because this is an enchantment, that echo goes out into the world sending waves of magic with it. And as this blessed harmonica transfers from Frederich in 1933 Germany to Mike in 1935 Philadelphia and then to Ivy Maria in 1942 Southern California, the magic reverberates through many lives, possibly saving many souls. Until, at last, it works its final magic and the enchantment is broken. While the primary setting of this story is WWII, and the war does have an important part to play in the lives of Freiderich and Ivy Maria, the real thrust of the story is the power of music to heal others.

Roller Girl

By: Victoria Jamieson

Honor
NOT REVIEWED

For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid’s life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship. As the end of summer nears and her first roller derby bout (and junior high!) draws closer, Astrid realizes that maybe she is strong enough to handle the bout, a lost friendship, and middle school… in short, strong enough to be a roller girl.

In this graphic novel debut that earned a Newbery Honor and five starred reviews, real-life derby girl Victoria Jamieson has created an inspiring coming-of-age story about friendship, perseverance, and girl power!

From the publisher

Redeemed Reader Review

The War that Saved my Life

By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Honor
NOT REVIEWED

Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.

So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

From the publisher