"The Dark Frigate"

This is my first review in a series on the Newberry Award books. (See previous post for introduction to series.)

The Dark Frigate
Author: Charles Boardman Hawes
Age Level: 12+ years
Newberry Award: 1924

Young Philip Marsham has been bred to the sea. When his father dies, leaving him an orphan, and a gun accident forces him to flee for his life, Phil finds himself in the company of a fellow sailor. The two make their way on foot to the port town of Devon where they secure a berth on a frigate called the Rose of Devon. The ship is eventually seized by pirates and Phil is forced to stand by and witness their numerous villainous acts. In the midst of storms and battles, Phil struggles to save the ship, all the while searching for an opportunity to escape.

This is an exciting tale about adventure on the high seas. Although the beginning is a bit slow and the pacing is awkward at the end, the greater part of this tale is very entertaining. The characters are well-developed and complex. The pirates are thoroughly wicked yet also have their own warped sense of honor among "gentlemen of fortune". The story is set in 17th century England and the author did extensive research to make his tale as true to life as possible. The language, particularly the dialogue and nautical vocabulary, can be difficult, yet very authentic. I imagine that this would be a great book to listen to on CD, if you can find it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone age 12 or older, keeping in mind that there are some very unsavory characters.

Newberry Medal Books

Introduction to Series:

I thought it would be an enjoyable project to read and review the Newberry Medal Books (first awarded in 1922). I have no plans to proceed in any particular order. However, I will most likely attempt to alternate between the early medal winners and the more recent award recipients. If there is a particular title about which you are curious, please feel free to request it. I will do my best to provide a prompt review.

For more information about this award and how the winning books are selected, you can visit the American Library Association (ALA) website found here.

Check back soon for my first review.

Virginia Lee Burton

Virginia Lee Burton (1909-1968) is one of my favorite authors. She had the wonderful ability to personify inanimate objects and endow them with very human emotions. I also appreciate the themes and values she addressed in her books. I loved these books as a child and my children enjoy them still. Her seven self-illustrated books are ideal for children ages 4 to 8 years, although even older kids may enjoy them.

Calico the Wonder Horse, or the Saga of Stewy Stinker
This book is a good old-fashioned western drama written in early comic book style. Calico and her faithful owner, Hank, have many adventures as they try to outwit Stewy Stinker and his Bad Men. This tale has humor, suspense, and is utterly unbelievable. My children love it!

Choo Choo
This is the story of a little engine named Choo Choo. One day she decides that she is tired of pulling heavy coaches all day long. She wants to be free and show off to everyone, so she runs away. Ultimately, Choo Choo learns an important lesson about independence and being responsible. This is a great read!

Katy and the Big Snow
Katy is a tractor who helps repair roads in the summer and plow snow in the winter. When there is a huge blizzard that buries the entire town, the people of Geoppolis can depend on Katy to rescue them. A good story highlighting the importance of determination and perseverance.

Life Story
As the subtitle proclaims, this is "the story of life on our Earth from its beginning up to now." It is very cleverly written as a play in five acts; the first act covers billions of years while the last act follows the passage of only one year. Please be aware that, in this book, the author wholly subscribes to the theory of evolution. Regardless of your worldview, this book would be an interesting way to introduce your children to our culture's predominant views of the origins of life.

The Little House
This is my personal favorite. It is an endearing tale about a little house who is curious to see the city, only to discover one day that the city has surrounded her. It is not what she imagined it would be. She realizes that her heart's desire is to return to "the country on a hill covered with daisies and apple trees growing around" where she can see the moon and stars at night and watch the seasons change. Reading this story always leaves me feeling nostalgic for the simplicity and beauty of the country. I highly recommend this book.

Maybelle the Cable Car
In this story, Ms. Burton celebrates the efforts of the people of San Francisco to save their cable cars. The cadence and rhyme of this story make it an enjoyable one to read aloud. After introducing this book to my children for the first time, they immediately requested that we visit San Francisco to ride the cable cars.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel 
This is probably the most well-known of Ms. Burton's works, and rightfully so. It is a wonderful story about the inseparable team of Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne. The timelessness of this classic tale is due to the author's ability to illicit strong emotions from the reader: suspense, elation, despair, and eventually triumph. What a great read!