Common Themes in Newberry Medal & Honor Books

Historical: Many of the books I have read for this exploration took place in the past rather than present day. Although they were fictional, many historical facts and elements were included. I have not read all Caldecott and Newberry Award and Honor books but here are some of the books that I have found to include historical elements or settings.


-Title: Dead End in Norvelt
 Author: Jack Gantos
 This novel takes place in 1962 during the Cold War. In addition to facts about the 60's and current events in that time, the main character, Jack is very interested in history. Jack enjoys reading books about Mayans, Aztecs among other time periods in history. Throughout the novel, Jack is also constantly reading his favorite column in his local newspaper entitled This Day is History. The column contains true facts among a particular day and the historical events that have taken place on that day. Jack is very interested in the past and as a result, the reader learns many historical facts.

-Title: When You Reach Me
 Author:Rebecca Stead
This novel takes place in the 1970's. The dress, language, and aspects of everyday life are all authentic to the time period in which the book takes place. From the details described and the life of the children such as working during their lunch period during school, it is evident that the author knew much about the 70's and included that within the text.

-Title: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village
 Author:Laura Amy
All of the poems within this book contain facts about medieval times. The lives of villagers and the facts in the poems are true to the times. The book does a good job explaining terms that are used and what they had meant in the past. For example, in The Doctor's Son, it describes remedies such as using egg whites to cover a heal a wound. The book then describes in a sidebar that during this time period, this remedy was commonly used.

-Title: Breaking Stalin's Nose
 Author: Eugene Yelchin
This novel takes place during Stalin's reign in the Soviet Union. The main character abides by common communist beliefs and rules of the time and was raised by a strict Communist father in a communal living apartment building. The way of living and beliefs of the main character were common at this time period in the Soviet Union. The author -growing up in the country himself- is very knowledgeable and speaking from experience when he speaks of the time period.

-Title: Inside Out & Back Again
 Author: Thanhha Lai
This novel takes place at the end of the Vietnam War. The main character and her family are refugees coming to America. Lai describes the ships the family are on, and the processes of leaving the country with great detail. It places the reader into the time period of the novel.

-Title: Turtle in Paradise
 Author: Jennifer Holm
This novel takes place during the Great Depression. Turtle's family struggles to get by just as the rest of the country. It is discussed how adults are struggling to find work and children find ways to help their families out such as Turtle working on a boat.

Single Parents: Another commonality that I have recognized among Newberry Award winners, was that of single parents. Whether being the mother or father, many of the books that I read for this project were about a child being raised in a single-parent household. With this, many of the families worked hard to support the children off of one income while facing the loss of a second parent living with them.

-Title: When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead
The main characters are of a girl, Miranda, and her mother. Miranda talks about the struggles her family has been through making ends meet as her mother works hard to support her. Throughout the novel, the relationship between Miranda's mother and her boyfriend strengthens and he becomes a father figure to Miranda by the end of the book.


-Title: Breaking Stalin's Nose
Author: Eugene Yelchin
In this book, the main character is a boy who lives with his father. He is told that his mother has died in the hospital when he was young but finds that it is not true. It is evident the bond between the father and the boy as the book progresses. He does anything for his father and constantly strives to make his father proud.


-Title: Inside Out & Back Again
Author: Thanhha Lai
Ha and her brothers live with her mother in Vietnam. Throughout, the mother hopes that their father will return and life will be easier. The family works hard to survive under the guidance of their mother. Meanwhile, the family deals with the loss and then acceptance of losing the father.

-Title: One Crazy Summer
Author: Rita Williams
The main character and her sisters are raised by their father and grandmother. Unexpectedly, their mother comes into the picture and the girls are swept away to visit her despite their lack of relationship for the entirety of their lives. The girls struggle to bond and accept their mother who was not in their lives. Although both parents are now present in the lives of the girls, they are not together and the children move from home to home.

-Title: Turtle in Paradise
Author: Jennifer Holm
Turtle is a girl who lives with her mother. Her mother; being a single parent during the Great Depression; is unable to support her daughter and sends Turtle away to live with her Aunt. The book deals with the struggles of a single family home living off of little income during the Depression.Turtle and her mother lean on each other for support when life gets tough.