Linda Jo Martin

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The Newbery Project

April 30, 2016 By Linda Jo Martin Leave a Comment

I’m a participant in The Newbery Project, a group collaboration blog with reviews by people who have agreed to read and review Newbery Medal winning books. The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association (ALA) for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature in the USA, the prior year.

Newbery MedalPeople who read all the Newbery list books are called Newbery completists. I’ve met a few, at Goodreads.com. I want to be one.

I’ve been reading middle grade and young adult novels from the Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor Book list for a long time now. My desire to read Newbery Medal winning books started because I read children’s novels out loud to my young children while homeschooling them in the 1990’s. We developed a habit of reading Newbery Medal winning books and Newbery honor books together as a family.

I’ve already read many of the titles on the list. I include Newbery Honor Books as well as Newbery Medal winners, and it is a long list, so there’s still a lot of books I haven’t read yet. To see the entire list with the ones I’ve read marked off, visit my children’s literature blog.



 

Books I reviewed for the Newbery Project blog


 

1. Secret of the Andes

 

Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark - a Newbery Medal winning book (1953).
Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark
Buy this book now

Secret of the Andes won the Newbery Medal in 1953. The author, Ann Nolan Clark, spent about twenty-five years teaching at the New Mexico Tesuque school for Native American children. After that, she received a grant to travel through South America. This book, one of many she wrote, is intended to teach children about a native culture.

My review of Secret of the Andes – at The Newbery Project


 

2. I, Juan de Pareja

 

I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton De Trevino - a Newbery Medal winning book (1966).
I, Juan de Pareja
by Elizabeth Borton De Trevino
Buy this book now

I, Juan de Pareja won the Newbery Medal in 1966. This is a historical novel told from the point of view of the slave who served artist Diego Velázquez in Spain, in the 1600’s.

My review of I, Juan de Pareja – at The Newbery Project

My review of I, Juan de Pareja at my children’s literature site, Literature For Kids


 

3. Adam of the Road

 

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray - a Newbery Medal winning book (1943).
Adam of the Road
by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Buy this book now

Adam of the Road won the Newbery Medal in 1943. The protagonist in this middle grade middle ages novel is Adam, who embarks on a road trip with his father and his dog. Through many adventures, and misadventures, he learns about the life of minstrelsy. Yes, that’s a word. Minstrelsy means: The art of the medieval minstrel.

My review of Adam of the Road – at The Newbery Project


 

4. Crispin: The Cross of Lead

 

Crispin: The Cross of Lead - a Newbery Medal winning book (2003).
Crispin: The Cross of Lead, by Avi
Buy this book now

Crispin: The Cross of Lead won the Newbery Medal in 2003. This is another middle ages novel, but this one is for slightly older children in their early teens. Crispin’s mother died sending him into retreat from his village. This book chronicles his travels.

My review of Crispin: The Cross of Lead – at The Newbery Project


 

The Newbery Medal list – how it influenced my writing

After reading many of these novels, I set my heart on writing YA and middle grade novels. That started in 2001. My novel, River Girl, is available at Amazon.

I’m editing four other early YA novels, known as the Antediluvian Adventures.

Because I’m writing in this genre, I need to read the type of books I’m working on. So The Newbery Project serves a real need for me, as well as being something that helps fulfill a goal I set for myself years ago.

River Girl by Linda Jo Martin

My River Girl

I’m sorry to say, during my Newbery reading adventure, I was waylaid by a bad relationship. The man immediately attacked my desire to write in the middle grade and young adult genres and objected to my reading of books on the Newbery list. After seven difficult years I had to leave this person in the past. Details here: What Really Happened When I Left Happy Camp and Moved to Idaho.

Now that I’ve recovered from that experience, I’m going back to my love of children’s literature, renewing my website, Literature For Kids, and reading Newbery list books again.



 

My intention is to read one of these books, each month. I also have a heavy reading schedule for books intended for adults.

This article was originally published on September 9, 2007. I updated it and added new information on April 30, 2016.

Image credits… Book images come from Amazon, where I like to do most of my book shopping. I’m including affiliate links. I appreciate your use of them as this is how I support myself these days. The Newbery Medal image comes from the American Library Association. Here’s their Newbery Medal page. The River Girl book cover is my own work of art. The original is in my living room.


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— LindaJoMartin (@LindaJoMartin) April 29, 2016


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Hi, I'm Linda, the Book Lady, and I'm excited about reading. A book is a gift you give yourself. It is so much fun to open that cover and discover what was hidden within. Books share the wisdom of the ages with us. Who wouldn't want that? So I read frequently and encourage reading. If you're a reader, let me know by becoming my friend on GoodReads.


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