Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - Li Lun, Lad of Courage

Li Lun, Lad of Courage

by Carolyn Treffinger
(1948 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Miles C.
The book, Li Lun, was an adventure book that was about a son that was very afraid of seawater. When the annual father-son fishing trip came, he would not go. His father sent him to mountain Looshan to plant seven grains of rice. My favorite part of the book was when the gulls pecked out five rice plants because one time when I was gardening a rabbit ate all my plants. There were some parts I liked and disliked. The beginning of the book was very hard to get into. The overall book though was AMAZING!
Does Li Lun ever plant the rice plants?

This book was: Boring in the beginning, but gets better!

I would recommend this book to: Anyone who liked adventures!

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper's Penguins

by Richard and Florence Atwater
(1939 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Maggie K.
This book was an amazing book! It all started when a penguin came to Mr. Popper, but he didn't know what to do with him. Many people thought Mr. Popper was crazy. He put a hole int he fridge so the penguin can go in and out of the fridge. He named his first penguin, Captain Cook. He was lonely so he wouldn't eat. They then got a second penguin, and they were happy. After that, there was another package. It was more penguins for him. So he froze the basement for the penguins to live. Mr. Popper enjoyed the penguins company, and so did his children. How long do you think these penguins can survive in an apartment? What do you think he does with the penguins when he leaves? Well, read this book to find out!

This book was: A really good book!

I would recommend this book to:  Most of my family!

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - The Cricket in Times Square

The Cricket in Times Square

by George Selden
(1961 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Michael A.
This book is a great book to read if bored. The book is about how a cricket named Chester got stuck on a train headed from Connecticut to New York! A boy named, Mario, runs his parents new stand and he heard a noise. He finds Chester! Mario takes care of him and Chester is his new pet (my first pet was a dog named Zac). The stand was not going so well; only like on person would buy newspapers there. Then when Chester is sleeping, he meets a cat and mouse. They are very friendly and welcoming. After they talked and talked, Tucker, the mouse, played some music from the radio. Chester copied the music in the most soothing way. Then attention came to Chester; he was famous. Chester got so much sales for the business, it became popular and then something big happened! I will not tell you, but you should find out!

This book was: Kids' fiction!

I would recommend this book to:  People who love classic books!

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Honor Book" - The Winter Room

The Winter Room

by Gary Paulsen
(1990 Newbery Honor Book)

Recommended by: Nathan M.
This book is about how a family from Minnesota tries to fix their farm from breaking, but when they try fixing the farm they always break it. The seasons also help break the farm, so the family has to try to help the farm from breaking. During the spring, the thing the family hates doing is killing the animals but they have to so that they can get money. At the end of the book something magical happens. The grandpa does something probably no other 80-year-old could do, he...

This book was: Exciting!

I would recommend this book to:  Readers that want to be challenged.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Medal" - Shadow of a Bull

Shadow of a Bull

by Maia Wojciechowka
(1965 Newbery Medal)

Recommended by: Ethan M.
A young boy named Manolo Olivar lives in Arcangel, a small city in Spain. His father, Juan Olivar, is a famous bullfighter and Manolo is always compared to him. His father died during a bullfight from the bull. Manolo has a lot of pressure to fight his first bull at the age of twelve, when his father fought his first bull. Six men have been preparing Manolo for his day to fight his bull. He is scared to fight after he sees a goring, which is the horns of a bull getting in the limbs of a fighter. Manolo's best friend, Jaime's, brother's dream has always been to fight his very own bull. Manolo invites him to his first fight, but he doesn't know what the count will say. Will Manolo surrender or will he follow his father's footsteps into fame?

This book was: Terrific!

I would recommend this book to:  People who are under a pressure decision.

I rate this book:

Books By Blei: "Newbery Medal" - Island of the Blue Dolphins

Island of the Blue Dolphins

by Scott O'Dell
(1961 Newbery Medal)

Recommended by: Maeve S.
Karana is a regular girl, daughter of the chief of the tribe, has a family, and is happy at where she is. But her world gets shaken up when otter hunters come to her home, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and take her father's life. So when her saviors come to save her tribe and herself, she finds out her brother is still on the island, so she jumps off of the ship to get her brother, but the ship is out of sight when she gets back. She has to make the choice after her brother's death, to leave and reunite with her tribe again or stay there alone for the rest of her life.

This book was: Interesting!

I would recommend this book to: Anyone who likes dogs.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Award" - When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead
(2010 Newbery Medal)

Recommended by: Anna H.
This book is about a girl named Miranda that takes place in 1997. She keeps getting mysterious notes that are totally creeping her out. She asks her mom about the notes, but she's not sure what to do. Later, Miranda gets another note stating that she should not share the notes with anyone. Now she's extremely nervous because she thinks the anonymous writing is spying on her. But is he/she? Jump into Miranda's crazy world and learn about the possibility of time travel!

This book was: Unpredictable!

I would recommend this book to:  Anyone who is interested in time travel.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Award" - Sounder

Sounder

by William H. Armstrong
(1970 Newbery Award)

Recommended by: Tyler S.
The book, Sounder, is about a young boy that lives with his mother, father and his dog, Sounder. The boy's family is very poor. Every night the boy's father and Sounder go hunting for food and to get money. One morning they wake up to the smell of ham. The family ate the ham for three days straight until one night the sheriff and two of his deputies came bursting through the door. The sheriff had told the family that the boy's father had stolen the ham from work and the father was put in jail. When the sheriff left with the father, Sounder goes running after them and one of the deputies...after that the boy goes looking for Sounder, but cannot find his beloved Sounder anywhere. Where did Sounder go? 

This book was: Sad!

I would recommend this book to:  Anybody

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Award" - Johnny Tremain

Johnny Tremain

by Esther Forbes
(1944 Newbery Book)

Recommended by: Megan L.
Johnny Tremain experiences a lot for only being 16-years-old. Johnny's whole life gets turned upside down on more than one occasion. He had many devastating things happen to him. It would be like being told you would get one million-dollars in the mail and no mail comes. Johnny tried to do many different things before going to the Boston Observer for a job. He tried going to most shops on Hancock's Wharf. This book was fun to read because you get to learn about history and how people felt, plus you get to learn about the planning before a battle.

This book was: Great to read once you get to know the characters!

I would recommend this book to:  People who like to learn about history.

I rate this book:

Books by Blei: "Newbery Award" - The Westing Game

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin
(1979 Newbery Medal)

Recommended by: Bethany B.
The Westing Game starts out with seven families, a doorman, and a maid. There was a dressmaker, a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, a judge, a bookie, a burglar, a bomber and a mistake. The people that lived there were Baumbach, Theodorakis, Pulaski, Wexler, Hoo, Ford, Crow and Sandy. my favorite part was when the bombs went off. I think this book is a mystery because the people who are living at the Sunset Towers have to find out who killed Mr. Westing. They were given clues to find out who killed Mr. Westing. If one person finds at who killed him they get all of his cash.

This book was: Boring at firs but gets better.

I would recommend this book to:  People who like mystery books.

I rate this book: