The Newbery Medal , identify after English publisher John Newbery , is given to author of the yr ’s best children’sliterature . First lend by the American Library Association in 1922 , the prestigious Newbery Medal was the mankind ’s first award for children’sbooks , and over the last century it has honor many beloved classic . Here are eight book that have won the medal through the yr .
1.The Twenty-One Balloons// William Pène du Bois
This 1947 fantasy novel conform to the adventures of a retired schoolteacher on a charge to move around the world in a elephantine hot atmosphere balloon . When a foot race - in with a sea gull forces him to terra firma inKrakatoa , he divulge interesting residents and their ways of life . Up against some strong challenger — likeMisty of Chincoteagueby Marguerite Henry ( who would win the following year pitchfork of the Wind ) andThe Quaint and Curious Quest of Johnny Longfootby Catherine Besterman — The Twenty - One Balloonswon theNewbery medalin 1948 .
2.Holes// Louis Sachar
Holes(1998 ) is the narration of Stanley Yelnats , a male child unjustly accused of stealing shoes . Stanley is institutionalise to a boy ’s detention camp where he ’s forced to dig holes in the hot sun every day . Through interlacing narration line , Stanley soon learns the truth behind his family ’s condemnation and the dark history that brood over Camp Green Lake . Holeswon theNational Book Awardfor Young People ’s Literature and the 1999Newbery Medal . The novel is required reading at many middle school , and Disney turn a movie version of the record in 2003 that earned$71.4 millionglobally .
3.Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH// Robert C. O’Brien
When her married man drop dead , a mamma computer mouse with four children must calculate out a path to move to their summer home plate , which becomes progressively hard when one of her kids get pneumonia . A secret society of intelligent research laboratory rats decides to aid her , and she learns more than she ever have it off about the married man she mislay . Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHwent on to win theNewbery Medalin 1972 and was adapted into ananimated filmin 1982 . The Russo blood brother ( Avengers : Endgame ) are reportedly gain the book intoa hot activeness movie .
4.Up A Road Slowly// Irene Hunt
This 1966 coming - of - age story follows Julie , a girl who is forced to live with her aunt in the country after her mother dies . Over the form of 11 yr , Julie must maneuver through the delight and pains that do with friendships , dear , and growing up . Up a Road Slowlywas Irene Hunt ’s second Scripture ; her first novel , Across Five Aprils , was a Newbery Medal runner - up in 1965 .
5.Walk Two Moons// Sharon Creech
Published in 1994,Walk Two Moonsis the story of 13 - year - erstwhile Sal and her journeying with her grandparents from Ohio to Idaho . During the head trip , she regale them with fantastical story of her protagonist , Phoebe Winterbottom , while also longing to reunify with her mother again . Creech ’s book won the 1995Newbery Medalin addition to the UK ’s Reading Association Award and Children ’s Book Award .
6.Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry// Mildred D. Taylor
Taylor ’s 1976 book is the sombre story of a youthful girl , Cassie Logan , and her family during a long , dark twelvemonth in southern Mississippi during the Jim Crow epoch . The Logans are a bleak family that must survive in a town take with Nox rider , burnings , and unbridled racism . The novel win the 1977Newbery Medaland theCoretta Scott King Award , an purity given to Black source of children ’s lit that reverberate the African American experience .
7.Bud, Not Buddy// Christopher Paul Curtis
During the Great Depression , a 10 - year - old boy named Bud is get off to a surrogate family in Flint , Michigan , after the death of his mother . But Bud conk out to get along with his new home and decide to set out to look for his daddy , whom he believe to be a far-famed jazz instrumentalist . Bud , Not Buddywonthe Newbery Medal , the International Reading Association ’s Children ’s Book Award , and the Coretta Scott King Award in 2000 .
8.The Girl Who Drank The Moon// Kelly Barnhill
In this phantasy novel , the people of the Protectorate are cowardly of a witch who lives in a forest . Since they deem her to be evil , they impart her a baby as an annual heartsease offering . But Xan , the witch , is a loving woman who give those baby to grateful family each class . Xan incidentally gives one of the infants — whom she names Luna — the power of moonshine , and the daughter must learn how to wield her deception . All the while , the people of the Protectorate secretly project to get disembarrass of the witch for practiced . Barnhill ’s record book won theNewbery Medalin 2017 , a fact that surprised the source . She toldThe Washington Postthat she thought it was too weird for people to understand .
