Winner of the 1971 Newbery Medal, The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars is the story of the longest day of 14-year-old Sara’s life. Her summer has already been awful and boring, she thinks that her feet are too big and she’s jealous of her beautiful older sister Wanda. Sara, her sister and their [...]
I have a fascination with anything set around World War II and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr continues that theme for me. Published in 1971, it is a semi-autobiographical novel of nine-year-old Anna and her family. Set just as Hitler comes to power in 1933, Anna’s father has campaigned against the Nazi [...]
I grew up not reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl but rather watching the Gene Wilder movie. I loved it! I watched it over and over. When they announced the new movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Johny Depp you can’t imagine the kind of excitement (and nervousness – will [...]
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson, a 1979 Newbery Honor, is such a sweet book with wonderfully sweet characters. Gilly Hopkins is going to stay with me for a long time. Gilly’s transformation that takes place between the opening and closing pages of this book is bittersweet. I felt happy and sad for [...]
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume is timeless. Absolutely timeless. It could have been written yesterday not 1972. There’s nothing about this book to date it. I remember LOVING this book when I was in elementary school and have been anxious to pick it up and revisit it as an adult. As [...]
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