"Turning Straw Into Gold: Award-Winning Books for Young Adults"

 Several Sundays ago I reviewed five of the Young Adult Golden Sower Award Nominees for 2003-2004.  The remaining five are excellent novels and I hope these short blurbs do them justice!!!  Some parts of the reviews have been taken from the Golden Sower Award Manual.

 “The Ransom of Mercy Carter” by Caroline Cooney--- In colonial America in 1704, Mercy and her family and neighbors are attacked in the dead of winter, many are killed and over 100 taken prisoner.  With courage and confidence, Mercy helps many on their treacherous 300 mile trip to Canada, with their Native American captors pushing and pulling everyone the whole way.  Once there, each English Puritan must decide for himself or herself whether to hang on to the hope of ransom, or release themselves to the new life of a Native American.  Where do their loyalties lie????

“Soldier Boys” by Dean Hughes --- In this World War II novel, the lives of two soldiers---one a young Mormon boy from a farm in Brigham City, Utah, and the other a German boy who is a member of the Hitler Youth--- are told.  In parallel stories, the soldier boys experience the effects of war and eventually come to their own conclusion as to its meaning.  The powerful ending at the Battle of the Bulge will stay in your memory for a long time.

“Soldier X” by Don Wulffson --- Erik Brandt, now a professor, recalls the days of his youth as a German soldier during World War II.  During a horrific battle against Russian soldiers in which many in his unit perish, Erik makes the decision to exchange uniforms with a dead Russian soldier in order to survive this cruel war.  This decision will force Erik to make other choices, which will test his will to survive.  It’s actually based on a true story.

“Straw into Gold” by Gary D. Schmidt --- Tousle’s life depends on the answer to a riddle.  He must solve it in seven days or be killed.  With no one to ease his way in this challenging quest but the cruelly blinded Innes,  Tousle sets off to find the banished queen.  She alone possesses the answer that can save them.  Running for their lives---pursued through dark woods and across raging rivers by the king’s men--- the boys soon find themselves challenged by another, even more mystifying riddle: What happened to the young prince, who was taken away so long ago by a magical little man who could spin straw into gold??? Is the royal heir hidden in plain sight??? Could the Queen, after so many years, even recognize him???

“Touching Spirit Bear” by Ben Mikaelsen --- Fifteen-year-old Cole Matthews blames the world for all his problems and strikes out at anyone who gets in his way.  When he seriously injures Peter Driscal by smashing his head against the sidewalk, it looks like he will be sent to prison.  However, his parole officer presents him with another option-----Native American Circle Justice.   He will be required to live on a remote Alaskan island by himself for a year.  Cole pretends to repent and chooses Circle Justice rather than prison because he thinks he will be able to escape from the island.  While on the island he is mauled and critically injured by a mysterious white bear known as a Spirit Bear.  When rescuers arrive, Cole is near death but is beginning to understand that he is responsible for his own life.  As his body heals, Cole must also face his anger and figure out how to heal his soul.

Also, the Library has activities to accompany all the Golden Sower Nominees –whether it’s a kindergarten picture book or a moving novel from the Young Adult category.  The Library is interested in starting a Young Adult Book Review Group.  If anyone is interested, please contact me at the Library or my email address is: shansen@columbusne.us.