Gosh Darn It, a Great Book Won the Newbery

Posted by Surrural Librarian on Jan 27 2009 | Novels

First, someone I voted for actually gets to be president. Then, a book I adore wins the Newbery. What’s going on here?

And look at the really sweet post on Gaimain’s journal about getting the phone call from the committee.

Yay for the Graveyard Book!

2 comments for now

2 Responses to “Gosh Darn It, a Great Book Won the Newbery”

  1. # Meg Allison

    I wonder if the Newbery committe took Anita Silvey’s investigative look into the appeal for children of the winning titles of the last few years into consideration (10/1/08, School Library Journal).

    I ordered The Graveyard Book in November not only because of some interesting and glowing reviews I read, but because my 5th and 6th graders have been clamoring for scary stories. One of my teachers snipped, when overhearing me tell my library aide to advise our younger readers that it is scary stuff and might not be appropriate for them, “then why’d you buy it?”.
    I bought it and added it to our collection because it is just the thing for my older students, these children who have cut their teeth on Harry Potter, Mary Downing Hahn, and Rick Riordian, and are ready for something new that will knock their socks off.
    After reading aloud the first chapter to one class, the book was an instant hit, with half the class putting it on reserve.
    I can’t remember that happening with “Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!”, “A Single Shard”, and no matter how much I love that droll parsley grinder, “A Higher Power of Lucky”.

    Popularity over quality? Hmmm … it’ll be hard to argue in this case. Neil Gaimain’s accomplishment is well deserved.

    Bravo!

    27 Jan 2009 at 11:13 pm

  2. # Pam

    I agree Meg, I’m so glad Gaimain moved to the US so he’s eligible.

    He wrote on his blog that adults find Coraline scarier than kids usually do, kids think of it more as an adventure. And it’s true, I am totally freaked out by the book and my students tease me about it, they think it’s not scary at all. I wonder if they’ll say the same about The Graveyard Book. Truly, I think the first page is the scariest part of the book – that and that creature underground, frrrrr frrrrr.

    28 Jan 2009 at 9:46 am

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