The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Here are some of the Recipients and Honors from our catalog! Take a look at the Recipients page for the full list. Don’t forget to contact the Southfield library to place items on hold if we don’t have a copy available right away!
 | Hello, Universe 2018 Winner Kelly, Erin Entrada Filipino folklore and real life converge at the bottom of a well. Even while following signs and portents, the characters are the definition of creative agency. Masterfully told through shifting points of view, this modern quest tale shimmers with humor and authentic emotion. Our Catalog |
 | Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut 2018 Honor Book Barnes, Derrick A boy walks into a barbershop; a prince walks out. Through lyrical free verse, Derrick Barnes’joyous paean celebrates the universal, transformative, confidence-building experience of a great haircut. Our Catalog |
 | Long Way Down 2018 Honor Book Reynolds, Jason Terse, sharp verse depicts a desperate teenager seeking to avenge the shooting death of his brother. Gun tucked into his waistband, he is shocked by the appearance of childhood friends and relatives on a chilling sixty-second elevator ride. Visceral language and raw emotion result in a powerful novel of grief and vengeance. Our Catalog |
 | Piecing Me Together 2018 Honor Book Watson, Renée “I am learning to speak. To give myself a way out. A way in.” Jade’s mixed media collages evolve as she finds her voice. Through artful and poetic language, Watson explores themes of race, class, gender and body image in this dynamic journey. Our Catalog |
 | The Girl Who Drank the Moon 2017 Winner Barnhill, Kelly An epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her. Our Catalog |
 | Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives & Dreams Brought to Life 2017 Honor Book Bryan, Ashley Using original slave auction and plantation estate documents, Ashley Bryan offers a moving and powerful picture book that contrasts the monetary value of a slave with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away. Our Catalog |
 | The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children & Their Holy Dog 2017 Honor Book Gidwitz, Adam Gidwitz strikes literary gold with this mirthful and compulsively readable adventure story set in medieval France. In a style reminiscent of The Canterbury Tales, this multiple-narrator fairy tale relates the adventures of Jeanne, a white Christian peasant girl who has prophetic visions; biracial white/black William, a Muslim-born monk-in-training with preternatural strength; and Jacob, a Jewish boy with incredible healing powers. Our Catalog |
 | Wolf Hollow 2017 Honor Book Wolk, Lauren Annabelle has lived in Wolf Hollow all her life: a quiet place, still scarred by two world wars. But when cruel, manipulative Betty arrives in town, Annabelle's calm world is shattered, along with everything she's ever known about right and wrong. When Betty disappears, suspicion falls on strange, gentle loner Toby. As Wolf Hollow turns against him, and tensions quickly mount, Annabelle must do everything in her power to protect Toby - and to find Betty, before it is too late. Powerful, poignant and lyrical, Wolf Hollow is an unforgettable story. Our Catalog |
 | Last Stop on Market Street 2016 Winner de la Peña, Matt CJ’s journey with his Nana is not just a simple bus ride; it is a multi-sensory experience through which he discovers that beautiful music, nature and people surround him. CJ’s questions are familiar, and Nana answers him with gentle wisdom. Right up until their arrival at the last stop on Market Street, Nana guides CJ to become “a better witness for what’s beautiful.” Our Catalog |
 | The War that Saved My Life 2016 Honor Book Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s powerful plot, remarkably drawn characters and sparse language are outstanding components of this novel about courage, community and conviction. Our Catalog |
 | Roller Girl 2016 Honor Book Jamieson, Victoria Astrid falls in love with roller derby and learns how to be tougher, stronger and fearless. Jamieson perfectly captures the highs and lows of growing up in this dynamic graphic novel. Our Catalog |
 | Echo 2016 Honor Book Ryan, Pam Muñoz Four stories, one harmonica. This original fairytale intertwines with historical fiction to explore music and its power to save, heal and set free. Our Catalog |
 | The Crossover 2015 Winner Alexander, Kwame Twelve-year-old narrator Josh Bell uses the rhythms of a poetry jam to emulate the "moving & grooving/popping and rocking" of life on the basketball court with his twin brother, J.B. This powerful novel in verse paints an authentic portrait of a closely-knit family on the brink of crisis. Swish! This book is nothing but net! Our Catalog |
 | El Deafo 2015 Honor Book Bell, Cece In this insightful and humorous graphic novel memoir, Cece Bell portrays growing up with a giant hearing aid strapped to her chest. Themes of navigating a new school, sleepovers, finding a true friend and a first crush make this book universal in appeal. Bell shows that our differences are gifts that “can be turned into something amazing.” Our Catalog |
 | Brown Girl Dreaming 2015 Honor Book 2018 Middle School Battle of the Books Entry Woodson, Jacqueline Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical memoir chronicles the incidents and emotions she experienced as an African-American girl growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. Precise language magnifies moments and connects them to the larger historical narrative. Her elegant and evocative standalone poems weave a story about her development from a struggling reader and dreamer into a confident young woman and writer. Our Catalog |
 | Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures 2014 Winner DiCamillo, Kate Comic book fan and natural-born cynic Flora Belle Buckman and Ulysses, a flying, superhero, poetry-writing squirrel, join forces to overcome Ulysses’ arch-nemesis, Flora’s mother and encounter a quirky cast of characters. Through poignant, laugh-out-loud episodes, this homage to comic books is a testament to the power of love. Our Catalog |
 | Doll Bones 2014 Honor Book Black, Holly In this distinctive coming-of-age tale, best friends Zach, Poppy and Alice set out on a life-altering quest driven by the presence of a sinister bone china doll who haunts their dreams and waking hours. Black explores complex questions of sto-rytelling, imagination and changing friendships in this superbly haunting narrative. Our Catalog |
 | The Year of Billy Miller 2014 Honor Book Henkes, Kevin Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but during the year he develops better relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents, and celebrates a quiet triumph of his own. Our Catalog |
 | One Came Home 2014 Honor Book Timberlake, Amy In 1871 Wisconsin, love, betrayal, grief and violence spur 13-year-old Georgie on a gripping adventure full of hardship, heartbreak and terror. As she tries to solve the mystery of her sister’s disappearance, Georgie and her brash, humorous voice pull readers along on her journey of self-discovery. Our Catalog |
 | Paperboy 2014 Honor Book Vawter, Vince Little Man, a sensitive and resilient 11-year-old boy who stutters, ventures beyond the familiar and finds his voice while taking over his best friend’s paper route. Set in the summer heat of 1959 Memphis, “Paperboy” is a moving coming-of-age novel. Our Catalog |
 | The One and Only Ivan 2013 Winner Applegate, Katherine Ivan’s transformative emergence from the “Ape at Exit 8” to “The One and Only Ivan, Mighty Silverback,” comes to life through the gorilla’s own distinct narrative voice, which is filled with wry humor, deep emotion and thought-provoking insights into the nature of friendship, hope and humanity. Our Catalog |
 | Splendors and Glooms 2013 Honor Book Schlitz, Laura Amy Lizzie Rose, Parsefall and Clara are caught in the clutches of a wicked puppeteer and a powerful witch in this deliciously dark and complex tale set in Dickensian England, where adventure and suspense are interwoven into nuanced explorations of good versus evil. Our Catalog |
 | Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon 2013 Honor Book Sheinkin, Steve Balancing intersecting threads of scientific discovery, political intrigue and military strategy, “Bomb” is a riveting historical nonfiction drama. Sheinkin’s engaging narrative explores the complex series of events that led to the creation of the ultimate weapon and introduces many memorable personalities involved in the pursuit. Our Catalog |
 | Three Times Lucky 2013 Honor Book Turnage, Sheila In the rich tradition of Southern storytelling, rising sixth-grader Mo LoBeau leads the eccentric residents of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, on a rollicking journey of mystery, adventure and small-town intrigue as she investigates a murder and searches for her long-lost mother. Our Catalog |
 | Dead End in Norvelt 2012 Winner Gantos, Jack The importance of history and reading (so you don’t do the same “stupid stuff” again) is at the heart of this achingly funny romp through a dying New Deal town. While mopping up epic nose bleeds, Jack narrates this screw-ball mystery in an endearing and believable voice. Our Catalog |
 | Inside Out & Back Again 2012 Honor Book Lai, Thanhha Hà and her family flee war-torn Vietnam for the American South. In spare yet vivid verse, she chronicles her year-long struggle to find her place in a new and shifting world. Our Catalog |
 | Breaking Stalin's Nose 2012 Honor Book Yelchin, Eugene On the eve of his induction into the Young Pioneers, Sasha’s world is overturned when his father is arrested by Stalin’s guard. Yelchin deftly crafts a stark and compelling story of a child’s lost idealism. Our Catalog |