Newbery Medal Winners, 2000-2009

The Graveyard Book

by: Neil Gaiman

Amazon Price: $7.84 (as of 02/14/2012)

Nobody Owens was a toddler when his family was murdered, an event that takes place at the beginning of the book, which is recommended for ages ten and up. He escaped by toddling out the door while the murderer was busy... straight into the loving arms of ghosts and ghouls in the nearby graveyard. There he was raised with the help of a night visitor, Silas. This book is highly recommended, despite the focus on the macabre.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

by: Laura Amy Schlitz

Amazon Price: $3.82 (as of 02/14/2012)

A school librarian wrote this as a play for the children in her school. There's a series of narratives for each child to perform. Each narrative tells about the life of a different citizen in a medieval English village. Her imaginative writing earned her the Newbery Medal. What a wonderful surprise!

The Higher Power of Lucky

by: Susan Patron

Amazon Price: $3.43 (as of 02/14/2012)

Lucky, age ten, lives in the Southern California desert with a guardian. She longs to learn about her Higher Power after eavesdropping on an AA meeting.

Criss Cross

by: Lynne Rae Perkins

Amazon Price: $1.00 (as of 02/14/2012)

Small town teenagers look for the meaning of life. This book is loved by many, but not understood by some. Nothing happens externally, but internally, Debbie and Hector explore what it means to grow up. Heartwarming, different, and worth reading.

Kira-Kira

by: Cynthia Kadohata

Amazon Price: $3.00 (as of 02/14/2012)

Katie Takeshima moves with her family from Iowa to Georgia where her parents work in a poultry plant. She adores her older sister, Lynn, who unfortunately develops lymphoma.

The Tale of Despereaux: Special Signed Edition: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread

by: Kate DiCamillo

Amazon Price: $222.00 (as of 02/14/2012)

A small mouse, sole survivor of his litter, is expelled from his clan after touching a human being, a princess. The princess is also in trouble. Can Despereaux save her? This book gets rave reviews. Told from the POV of the mouse.

The Crispin: Cross of Lead

by: Avi

Amazon Price: $3.35 (as of 02/14/2012)

Crispin is a thirteen year old boy living in the middle ages in England. His mother dies, and then he must flee from town with the help of a priest. The priest is killed before he can give Crispin a secret, and Crispin is accused of the murder. The book, a real page turner, is about what happens next and how Crispin eventually learns the secret of his life.

A Single Shard

by: Linda Sue Park

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 02/14/2012)

Tree Ear, a boy living in 12th century Korea, wants to be a potter. He is an orphan living under a bridge in poverty with CraneMan, a disabled but loving friend. During the days he hides while watching the most talented craftsman in town.

A Year Down Yonder

by: Richard Peck

Amazon Price: $2.05 (as of 02/14/2012)

A sequel to A Long Way From Chicago: A Novel in Stories. This time fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is forced to live with Grandma Dowdel for an entire year. For about fifth grade up.

Because of Winn-Dixie

Amazon Price: $7.16 (as of 02/14/2012)

Don't miss seeing this movie!!! It is truly excellent, and brings the story to life in a beautiful way.

Bud, Not Buddy

by: Christopher Paul Curtis

Amazon Price: $3.06 (as of 02/14/2012)

Bud is running away from abusive foster homes and avoiding Hoovervilles in 1930s Michigan, hoping that a jazz musician is his father. When he reaches Grand Rapids, the "father" rejects him but other members of the band are not so inhospitable.