“And the winner is…PART II”

In my last article, I wrote about the world of children’s literature and the numerous awards that embrace it. Like picture books, the juvenile novel field has its own set of special honors. These recognitions highlight a wide range of topics like diversity, the environment, and the family. But, of all the notable acknowledgments, it is the Newbery Medal that encompasses the essential elements needed for a great book.

The Newbery Award, named after the eighteenth-century English bookseller, John Newbery, is presented annually by the American Library Association to the author of the most distinguished juvenile novel published during the previous year. Part of the original goals of this bronze medal, created by Rene Paul Chambellan in 1921, was to foster creativity in the field of children’s literature and…“to give those librarians, who make it their life[’s] work to serve [children], an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field.”

Previous winners include “The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle” by Hugh Lofting (1923), “Island of the Blue Dolphins” by Scott O’Dell (1961), “Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle (1963), “The Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson (1978), “The Giver” by Lois Lowry (1994), and “Holes” by Louis Sachar (1999). This year’s winner is “The Higher Power of Lucky” written by Susan Patron and illustrationed by Matt Phelan.

In this tale of self-discovery, ten-year old Lucky Trimble is left temporarily alone after her mother is electrocuted during a fierce thunderstorm that rocks the little desert community of Hard Pan. Lucky’s estranged father calls on his ex-wife, Brigitte, to fly over from France and take care of the motherless child.

Two years into Lucky’s “new” living situation, Brigitte becomes restless and longs for her life back in Paris. After discovering that her new guardian has begun taking online courses in Restaurant Management from a school in Paris, Lucky begins to worry that her current caretaker may abandon her by dumping her off at some orphanage in Los Angeles.

As Brigitte’s departure seems more eminent, the young girl takes matters into her own hands and runs away. Lucky hopes that her absence will cause Brigitte to have a change of heart about leaving her and the small town she has grown to love.

It is through Brigitte’s search for Lucky that the young girl realizes that though Brigitte is not her biological parent, she does love her unconditionally. This realization enables Lucky to come to terms with her mother’s death and also allows her to come to grips with the fractured relationship she has with her father; thus, giving Lucky a “higher power” of healing.

The next time you or someone special in your life is looking for a book with wonderful characterization, a captivating plot, and deals with issues that might hit close to home, be sure to check out the many Newbery Award winning books at the Columbus Public Library. They are the ones with the blue ribbon prominently displayed on the spine of the book. I guarantee that no matter what honor book you pick, you are sure to find one that will enable you to reach your “higher power” of reading enjoyment. If you have any questions regarding the many notable books featured in this article or would like a listing of other great books, feel free to contact me at 564-7116 opt. 4.