Newbery Award Winners

The two books I chose to read that were either Newbery Award winners or Newbery honor books are Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
                 

My favorite thing about Criss Cross is the title and how it so genuinely reflects the way the characters throughout the story are criss crossed throughout each other's lives. The book is a great way for young teens to connect and realize that the discoveries of life are often found in ordinary, everyday occurrences.  I also liked how the format of the chapters was varied throughout the novel. One chapter was even written in the form of haiku poems.
One thing I did not like is that there was nothing really exciting that happened to keep the reader interested. I did appreciate the honesty the author used to create the story, but at the same time it was not able to keep my attention at times. The main reason I enjoy reading is that it allows me to become interested in another world, but this world was even more uneventful than my own:)
I was able to relate to this book because it reminded me of my middle school days when girls and guys took turns having their time in the limelight; their time to "be discovered."

The Graveyard Book was almost entirely opposite in terms of being able to keep my interest. This book is based on fantasy and allows readers to connect with characters on a literal and figurative level. Nobody Owens' characteristics throughout the novel sort of remind me of my own as a child who grew up basically raising myself. I would often find myself searching for clues to my past as I was raised by people other than my parents for the last part of my childhood.
I loved how the writer was able to make the book come full circle as Nobody was able to come back to his old house where his entire family was killed when he was a baby and have a battle with Jack (the murderer) in order to seal his fate.
I have never been much of a fan of fantasy, but I have to say that I was able to get into this book because of it was relatively based on realities that children face. The fantastical nature added flair to the story line and in a way helped Nobody cope with the difficulties he faced of being a foster child who often felt unwanted and unloved.