Printz Award
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.26, 2008, under Adventure, Bullying, Grief, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Newbery, Printz Award, Real life, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? How would you like to be name Turner Buckminster, be the son of a minister that everyone is watching, and be new to an unfriendly town in 1912? It doesn’t sound too hot. If you’re interested in how Turner turns it around, read this beautifully written book.
Why? A book that wins two prestigious honors – the Newberry and the Printz – stands up for attention, and in this case the attention is well-deserved. I love this book, just as I love The Wednesday Wars, Schmidt’s most recent book. In Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Schmidt takes us to Phippsburg, Maine in 1912. He bases the story of Turner and his African American friend, Lizzie, on the true story of the removal of the African American community from the nearby island of Maluga. When Turner and his family arrive in their new home town, Turner flunks out with the other boys and is left lonely and miserable. His aimless wanderings take him to the beach, where he befriends Lizzie, a spunky girl who clams and teaches him to hit a ball the right way. Her life on Maluga Island could not be further removed from Turner’s life as the preacher’s son, and the schism creates a multi-layered plot that is richly engaging, entertaining, and heartbreaking. The minor characters – Mrs. Cobb, Mr. Stonecrop, the Hurds, Reverend Griffin – are well-drawn and enrich the story. Want another reason to read this book? Schmidt’s description of Turner when he touches a whale.
The details: 219 p. 2004
The Pox Party: Taken from Accounts by his [Octavius Nothing’s] Own Hand and Other Sundry Sources by M.T. Anderson
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.02, 2008, under Adult Read, Grief, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Printz Award, Sam's Reviews, Teen Top 10, War
Who would like this book? Teens and adults interested in the events leading up to and during the Revolutionary War, especially as it relates to slavery in the North. Readers need to be prepared for writing that is in the tradition of eighteenth century, educated writing and a disturbing experiment that takes the “Age of Reason” to extremes. If you want a challenging, worthwhile book, this is it!
Why? The Pox Party is Volume 1 in the series The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation. (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves comes out on October 14, 2008.) The book is an ambitious undertaking. Most of it is narrated by Octavian Nothing, a young African American slave who does not realize that he is a slave at the beginning of the book. He narrates his story in the elegant, arch style of the eighteenth century because he is being educated by the philosopher/scientists at the The Novanglian College of Lucidity in Boston. The nature of his education slowly unfolds, and it is deeply disturbing, as are the events that overtake Octavian when the finances of the College dissolve and the Revolutionary War overtakes the nation. During times when Octavian is silenced by duress, the story is told through letters, newspaper clippings, and scientific papers. The extent of M.T. Anderson’s research and his mastery of style and mood are noteworthy. It also deals with significant ideas – slavery, human rights, war, racism. It’s not surprising that this book has won a number of prestigious awards.
The deatils: 351 p. 2006
A Step from Heaven by An Na
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.14, 2007, under Multicultural Fiction, Printz Award
Who would like this book? Teens and adults with curiosity about the experiences of a Korean girl whose family eimigrates to the United States when she is four. Readers who appreciate language will read An Na’s prose slowly.
Why? Young Ju, the narrator of her story, gathers us into the journey which she and her family must make as they adjust to living in California. The painful clash of cultures is heartrending at times, but the sorrowful experiences are balanced by humorous anecdotes and some warm characters. This story of acculuration has won a ream of awards, and I’m not surprised.
Details: 156 p. 2001. Printz Award; National Book Award Finalist
