Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - The King's Fifth

The King's Fifth

by Scott O'Dell
(1967 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Ji M.
Have you read The King's Fifth? 
It's an interesting book. 
The story starts out with a 17-year-old cartographer named Esteban de Sandoval who is currently in custody because he has hidden a very valuable stack of gold from the King and is also accused of murder of his captain, Mendoza. During Esteban's time in jail, he writes a journal on his adventure of when he found the gold. There was seven people on the adventure. Who were they? How did they find the gold? Did Esteban kill Mendoza during his adventure? But more importantly, where is the gold now? Because the king demands his fifth. I like how this book changes perspective from Esteban's time in jail to the time of his adventure. It's a good way to know more about why Esteban is in jail. This book is very adventurous with never-ending challenges. 

This book was: Decent and interesting!

I would recommend this book to:  People who like adventure.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Medal" - I, Juan de Pareja

I, Juan de Pareja

by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
(1966 Newbery Medal)

Recommended by: Nathan H.
Juan de Pareja was a slave in the first half of the seventeenth century. He belonged to the mistress of a keeper of warehouses. When Mistress dies of plague, he is sent to work Master Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez, a great Spanish painter. Juan wishes to paint, but such work is forbidden to slaves. Juan decides to begin to steal charcoal sticks and colors to paint with. After some time, Bartoleme becomes and apprentice for Velazquez. Juan and Bartholeme become friends, and Juan confesses his secret to him. Bartolome isn't angry at Juan, and give him colors to work with. Bartholeme  moves away, eventually and Juan is sad. Master Velazquez takes Juan to Italy, where Master receives orders to paint the pope. Juan helps his master sell some art while in Italy. If you want to know the exciting ending, read the book!

This book was: Harsh, yet inspiring!

I would recommend this book to: People with a respect of art.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Medal" - Gathering of Days

Gathering of Days

by Joan W. Blos
(1980 Newbery Medal )

Recommended by: Kennedy H.
At the beginning of this book, Cathy can't find her schoolbook. A couple days later she finds her book on the side of the path on her way home. Inscribed in it is "PLEAZ MISS, TAKE PITY, I AM COLD" in block-like letters. Cathy then asks her friend, Cassie, who she thinks wrote it. She thinks either a fugitive or phantom did. There has never been a fugitive in their town of Meredith, and they don't want one! my favorite part of the story was when the note writer send Cassie and Cathy a piece of lace for the help. This book is historical fiction but has real life events. This book takes place in Meredith, New Hampshire, from 1830-1832. I like how the book has fictional characters but real-life events. The ending is very sad, but interesting.

This book was: Very interesting!

I would recommend this book to:  People who like historical fiction!

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - Hatchet

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen
(1988 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Cecelia S.
Have you ever been lost? Have you ever had to fight for your own survival with only a hatchet? Well, Brian Robeson had to in the amazing book, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Brian Robeson gets stranded in the middle of the Canadian wilderness after the pilot flying him has a heart attack. With nothing but his hatchet, Brian learns to defend himself against the harsh things that happen in the wilderness, such as bears and wolves, barely any food and no shelter. My  favorite part in the book is where he and the wolf are staring each other down. At that moment, Brian and the wolf knew that neither were going to hurt the other. Brian had become another part of the wilderness.

This book was: AMAZING!

I would recommend this book to:  Wilderness lovers!

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - Figgs & Phantoms

Figgs & Phantoms

by Ellen Raskin
(1975 Newbery Medal Book)

Recommended by: Alberto V.
This book is about how a depressed girl, Mona Lisa Figg Newton, is following the clues her Uncle Florence, a book dealer, left after he died. The clues are to find his capti (Figg's heaven).  Mona is encountering some difficulties along the way. Will she make it so her uncle knows where to go? My favorite part of the book was when they were getting Uncle Florence out of town to color his bus for his birthday surprise.

This book was: Very interesting and confusing!

I would recommend this book to:  Mystery and fantasy lovers!

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Award" - A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder

by Richard Peck
(2001 Newbery Medal )

Recommended by: Everlyn V.
The book takes place right after the Great Depression, around 1937. Mary  Alice's father has lost his job so her family could no longer pay for her, so they sent her to live with her grandma in the country for awhile. Her grandma was a tough old lady, but Mary soon grew to love her. Mary and her grandma do many fun things together like baking pies, trapping foxes, and pulling pranks. She also made a friend named Royce who she really likes. Find out more about what happens to Royce and Mary Alice and how Mary Alice becomes a country girl by reading the book, "A Year Down Yonder". I promise you the ending is great!

This book was: Captivating and funny!

I would recommend this book to:  People who like to read historical fiction.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - Sing Down the Moon

Sing Down the Moon

by Scott O'Dell
(1971 Newbery Medal Book)

Recommended by: William S.
Bright Morning is a Native American girl who has a friend named Running Bird. They are tending sheep when they are both caught by Spanish slave traders. They bring them to a Spanish village. There she meets two girls, Rosita and Nehang. Nehang promises to help them escape. They do and on her way back, a Spaniard shoots her friend, Tall Boy. When they get back to the village, Bright Morning begins a womanhood ceremony. Soon after, the Long Knifes, or white people, command the Navaho to leave the village or face death. Instead, they move up to a mesa next to the village thinking the Long Knifes will leave after awhile. Instead, the whites destroy the village and wait for the Indians to starve on the mesa. They wait til the Navaho have no choice but to come down. They march to a dreary place called Fort Sumter. There, Tall Boy and Bright Morning get married and run off with their baby to find a better life.

I would recommend this book to:  Anybody!

I rate this book:

Books By Blei: "Newbery Medal" - Moon Over Manifest

Moon Over Manifest

by Clare Vanderpool
(2011 Newbery Medal Book)

Recommended by: Kaitlyn P.
Abilene Tucker is sent to Manifest after she recovers from a leg infection that almost killed her. Her dad, Gideon, has seemed distant ever since, with his stories few and far between. All Abilene wants is for Gideon to be on this train with her; the train heading to Manifest: a town with a past. There, she makes friends, and meets Miss Sady, a diviner who tells her the story of Ned and Jinx. Through all of this, one thing she realizes is that everyone needs a chance to tell their own story, and that they have an important impact on the world. My favorite part is when Abilene reads the sign that say Miss Sady is a medium, and decides that's a bit modest. The middle is sort of drawn out, but everything makes sense at the end.

This book was: Amazing!

I would recommend this book to:  Everyone!

I rate this book:

Books By Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts

by Gennifer Choldenko
(2005 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Daniel F., Jr.
A family is living on Alcatraz (sounds weird, right?). The father works as an electrician for Alcatraz. The mother stays at home and teaches her children Moose and Natalie. Moose is an all around kid, he is tall, likes sports, and does good on his school work. Natalie is a mentally disturbed child at the age of 16, she is older than Moose  but her mom tries to keep her at the age of 10. Natalie needs to get into the Esther P. Marinoff School to help her learn and to get better. Her mom is trying to "help" but she is refusing help. Read the book to find out what happens to Natalie.

This book was: Hard to put down.

I would recommend this book to:  Fans of drama!

I rate this book:

RMS Hot Reads for October 31, 2014