Category Archives: Newbery Award

This and that

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Lizzie Ross

As NYC swelters through the dog days of summer, I find myself wishing for an early start to fall. This summer, what with work projects and reading projects and writing projects, has been busy. It’s also passed quickly — in ten … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Gothic, Graphic Novel, Newbery Award, Poetry, Supernatural | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The sea, the sea, the sea

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Lizzie Ross

Before continuing, set the soundtrack for your reading here (but only if you don’t mind reading with some music playing in the background). The Wanderer (2000), Sharon Creech “The sea, the sea, the sea.” When she first writes these words, Sophie, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Newbery Award, YA Lit | Tagged | 9 Comments

Summer omnibus, part 1

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Lizzie Ross

Once again I find myself with a foot-tall stack of books I’ve read but not yet reviewed for my followers, next to a stack of papers to grade and projects to complete for school, which started 3 weeks ago. Normally, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, History, Humorous, London Underground, Newbery Award, YA Lit | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Identity themes, reader response, and the critical lens

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Lizzie Ross

A conversation with a student last night sparked this post, which covers wide swatches of literary theory as well as some personal issues. Read on if you dare. A few decades ago I took a course on Japanese literature that … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical lens, Identity themes, Newbery Award, Reader response theory, reading, Slavery | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Steig-mania

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Lizzie Ross

Most people are familiar with at least one character from the works of William Steig (1907-2003): Shrek, that sweet but lonely ogre who leaves his cave to find his place in the world, which ends up being back at his … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Humorous, Newbery Award, YA Lit | Tagged | Leave a comment

ABCs

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Lizzie Ross

Though written in 3 different decades, these four books run along parallel routes that often meet and the separate, each providing insight for understanding the others. Each is about characters of Chinese heritage, about Chinese immigrants in the US, about … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical fiction, Newbery Award, YA Lit | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Triptychs

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Lizzie Ross

A (relatively) quick post today, and then an apology in advance. I picked up Laurence Yep’s Newbery Honor book, Dragonwings, and the first few pages made me think of Frank Chin’s Donald Duk, which in turn made me think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical fiction, Newbery Award, Science fiction, YA Lit | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Indelible art and stories

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Lizzie Ross

Three images from my childhood reading are permanently etched on my mind: a boy diving deep into the sea to rescue his ivory seagull; a tiny carved Indian sitting in a canoe atop a snow-covered mountain waiting for spring-melt to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Newbery Award | Tagged | Leave a comment

Knots untangled

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Lizzie Ross

When You Reach Me (2009), Rebecca Stead This is going to be a tough post, because I don’t want to spoil anything about this book for you if you haven’t read it yet. It’s important NOT to know in advance … Continue reading →

Posted in Newbery Award, YA Lit | Tagged | 7 Comments

Darwin in Texas, 1899

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Lizzie Ross

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (2009), by Jacqueline Kelly, 338 pp. So, 21st century women: Take away your conveniences, your open-minded views of gender roles, your comfortable ease with addressing intellectual challenges, and how would you do? Would you chafe at … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical fiction, Newbery Award | Tagged | 2 Comments