1946 Newbery Medal and Honor Books

Strawberry Girl

By: Lois Lenski

Medal Winner
NOT REVIEWED

Birdie Boyer was a Florida Cracker. She belonged to a large "strawberry family," who lived on a flatwoods farm in the lake section of the state. They raised strawberries for a living.

Through all the hazards of the uncertain crop—battling against dry weather and grass fires, the roving hogs and cattle of their neighbors—Birdie dreamed of an education that would include playing the organ. In the end she won not only the title of "strawberry girl," but book learning as well. 

This is a story full of enterprise and fun and the excitement of real life in this interesting part of America.

Lois Lenski has used again her gift for catching the flavor and drama of life in a remote corner of America. It is the second of a series of regional stories through which she promises to introduce other fascinating and little-known backgrounds to boys and girls. This story will take a place beside her popular Louisiana story Bayou Suzette in the affection of readers. 

The eighty-four illustrations are distinguished for their action and fascinating detail. They add greatly to this true picture of Florida life at a time when old Florida ways were changing to new.

Lois Lenski received the Newberry Medal in 1946 for her regional story, Strawberry Girl.

From the dust jacket of an early edition

Bhimsa: The Dancing Bear

By: Christine Weston
Illustrated by: Roger Duvoisin

Honor
NOT REVIEWED

It was evening in India and David should have been in bed. The sun, like a big red poppy, shone on the very edge of the plain. On the road there was a cloud of dust, colored pink by the sun, and there was the sound of a drum and cymbals. Then out of the pink dust cloud walked an Indian boy—and a big brown bear.

That was when David's adventures began. For Bhimsa was no ordinary bear. Stepping delicately on the border line between reality and fantasy, the story takes the boys and the bear through India and into many strange places, until they finally reach the great mountains.

A charming story by the author of the adult best-seller INDIGO. Roger Duvoisin's illustrations help to make this a beautiful book. 

From the dust jacket

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

By: Marguerite Henry
Illustrated by: Wesley Dennis

Honor

Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
Recommended age: 8-14
Also read and recommended by: Sandy Hall, Sherry Early

A masterful storyteller of equine tales, Marguerite Henry tells a fictionalized version (but based on factual events) of the origins of this dependable breed that powered America for over a century. Horses haven’t always been beloved pets as we often see them today, and this story shares the harsh conditions that many horses were placed under but with softened edges so that the story is accessible for younger readers. 

It’s a story of American history that is not to be missed. 

The Moved-Outers

By: Florence Crannell Means
Illustrated by: Helen Blair

Honor
NOT REVIEWED

Sue Ohara's weekend began on Friday in the usual way — in fun with her friend, Emily Andrews, and with her family — but Sunday was December 7, 1941, the day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Because the Oharas were Japanese-Americans living in California, Sue's life changed completely and swiftly. Her father was taken in custody by the F.B.I.; and Sue, her mother, and brother Kim were moved to a Relocation Camp.

Life in camp, away from home and their many high school friends, was a strange new experience for Sue and Kim, and was only partly counterbalanced for Sue by her falling in love with Jiro Ito. Just as the Oharas were beginning to adjust to the camp at Santa Anita, everything seemed to happen at once. They were moved to another camp in Arizona. Mr. Ohara was released by the F.B.I. Kim was shot at by a misunderstanding American, and their brother in the Army was reported killed in action in Italy. Yet somehow, even in crowded, unnatural living conditions, surrounded by humorous and tragic happenings, both Sue and Kim were able to fight for and regain their faith in America.

From the dust jacket

New Found World

By: Katherine Shippen
Illustrated by: C.B. Falls

Honor

Reviewed by: Sherry Early
Recommended age: 10+
Also read and recommended by: Sandy Hall

I found New Found World to be a fascinating and engrossing look at the history of Latin America from Texas in the north to the tip of Argentina in the south. Shippen writes about the Inca, Aztec, Maya, Carib, Arawak, and other groups of Native Americans, with respect and as much detailed information as would fit into an overview of the region. She does use the currently disused term “Indians” to refer to the entire haplogroup (got that word from my current binge-watch of Finding Your Roots) of Native Americans, but since the book was published mid-twentieth century, I don’t think we should hold that against her. When she is talking about distinct tribes or kingdoms, she uses the correct-for-that-time term to refer to them.

Some of the information in the book is dated, and I did find a few minor errors. However, overall New Found World is an excellent introduction to the history of Mexico, Central America, and South America, a subject area in which there is a dearth of good, living books.