Which Way To Ye Olde Newbery Awardes?
Posted by alli on 01-17-2008
Gave Hugo the day off today. I wanted to spend today shouting out some props to Laura Amy Schlitz for taking the most distinguished medal for young adult literature, the John Newbery Award. Would you please look at her. It's a dream come true! Her book Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village was sort of a dark horse and although a lot of people are singing its praises now, many of us weren't aware of it until very recently. Again, the ALA surprised everyone, pushing the envelope and forcing us to look beyond the more traditional formats.
The book does feel different. It's not a play per se, nor a narrative, but interrelated monologues about youngsters living in a medieval village. It is beautifully illustrated and full of historic insight and information.
Originally written in the form of monologues to be performed by her students, the Baltimore librarian wanted to make sure every one could get a part in the production of this piece. And no one wanted a small part. There are 23 roles, a substantial piece for every single person in her fifth grade classes. She said in an interview that she wrote it with all of her students in mind. She remembered being so disappointed and sad when she would get a token tiny part in the school plays of her own childhood. If for only three minutes, she wanted everyone to be big, to be a star.
This brought tears to my eyes.
When I was in high school I was cut from the freshman field hockey team. Another student and I were the only ones to be cut from a group of 20 players. I was devastated. I had started playing a year later than everybody else in junior high, so I wasn't that good, but I really liked it. As an adult I am better able to articulate why it was so tragic. Not only did I pretty much give up on athletics, something that I was hard pressed to ever go back to, I was ashamed. Because there were only two of us, it felt personal. As an adult, I shake my head and say, "Really? You couldn't find room on the bench for one more girl?" (The other girl's influential mom complained and they put her back on the team.) If kids really want to do something, find a way to let them have it -whether it's writing them a play, or making room on a crowded team.
Sniff sniff. I digress.
All this is not to say that school librarian's have bigger hearts than sports coaches…well, maybe it is, but to illustrate what a wonderful and generous soul from which this book was created. All the better she won. I love this heartwarming story and think it says so much about people who really care about the kids that they work with. I could not be happier for my sister librarian.
Here are some related articles about and Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! and Laura Amy Schlitz:
'Park School librarian wins Newbery Medal for children's literature' (Baltimore Sun)
'Two innovative works take top awards' (Houston Chronicle)
'Baltimore librarian wins Newbery medal for best children's book' (Canadian Press)
'Drama of life in medieval village wins the Newbery Award' (CBC)
'Children's book award winners break the mold' (Washington Post)
