My kids and I set a goal to read through all of the Newbery winners over several years. We’re now officially 1/3 done (having read 33 of the 99 current books), and we have all agreed upon our five favorite and least favorite Newbery winners so far. (To see our progress, you can look here!)
Least Favorites
Ginger Pye (Eleanor Estes)
Okay, we really cannot describe how much we all disliked this very long and meandering book. Not only was the plot incredibly predictable from the beginning, but we felt like the writing was just plain… bad? Eleanor Estes is a noted children’s author, but this was as dry and uninspiring and painful a book as we’ve probably ever read. When I suggested we read the sequel, Pinkie Pie, there was a near coup attempt by my children. One star is generous.
The Whipping Boy (Sid Fleishmann)
We found this story just plain odd, and I am actually fascinated by a writer who could come up with this strange tale. Thankfully it was short, or else I’m not sure we would have finished. The reviews that call it “whimsical” and “engaging” and “adventurous” and “satisfying” certainly got something wholly different from it than we did.
Missing May (Cynthia Rylant)
So this one wasn’t terrible — but we also really slogged through it and felt pretty depressed by the end. A young girl loses her adoptive Aunt May, and she and her uncle attempt to process their grief by communicating with her dead spirit. If you have a child who is struggling through the loss of a close relative, I could see this book being meaningful as a means to process grief — otherwise, skip it.
Call It Courage (Armstrong Sperry)
I feel a little insecure sharing this as one of our least favorites because I know it is a well-loved classic by many. However, we felt that Mafatu’s character was underdeveloped and his adventures seemed quite unrealistic. Perhaps it was just too short a book to develop his character, but in any case, not one of my kids enjoyed this one.
Flora and Ulysses (Kate DiCamillo)
While we like some of Kate DiCamillo’s other books, this one did not appeal to us at all. It is very quirky with characters who are too extreme and a plot line that just made us feel like we were wasting our time. We did not see or experience the redeeming value that perhaps is there. Regardless, we won’t ever be reading this one again.
Favorites
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred D. Taylor)
The best, the best, the best. We can’t say enough about how much we loved this book from its engaging plotline to its meaningful characters to it’s hard historical truths. While certainly intense at times, I believe this is one of the best children’s books ever written. My kids were quick to all share this as their very favorite.
The Giver (Lois Lowry)
I first read this book the summer before my sixth grade year, and I couldn’t wait to share it with my own kids. One of the things we love about this book is that it creates an entire alternate world that becomes so real and believable. The story is fascinating and sad and extremely thought-provoking. My 9-year-old daughter has read it twice since we listened together as a family.
Julie of the Woves (Jean Craighead George)
I enjoyed this one, but my kids overwhelmingly voted it as a top favorite. It’s fascinating from a scientific level in learning about the Alaskan terrain, living off the land, and the life of an eskimo. It also has an incredibly meaningful plot that has enough twists to really keep you engaged. There is one questionable scene where Julie is assaulted by her husband, so be aware of that if you have young listeners.
Number the Stars (Lois Lowry)
This is one of the best “gentler” introductions to World War II that I know of. While there are Nazi searches, hiding Jews, and lots of hair-raising moments, it is also told in a way that is accessible (and not too overwhelming) for a younger child just learning about the atrocities of World War II. All of my kids loved this book.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh (Robert C. O’Brien)
I have to be honest and say that this was one of my most surprising favorites. It has a remarkably fascinating premise about highly intelligent rats who are building a self-sustaining society for themselves. I really can’t think of a book we’ve read that is remotely similar to this one, but I think it’s uniqueness is what really made it a favorite.
While these are our current five favorite and least favorite Newbery winners, we still have a long way to go! Have you read these books, and do you agree or disagree? I’d love to hear in the comments!