The Wednesday Wars

I read an article not too long ago about the Newbery Awards. I follow "The Unquiet Library" on Twitter and read this article from their blog: "Has the Newbery Lost Its Way?" The article was written by Anita Silvey and was published in School Library Journal, Oct 2, 2008. Here's a link if you want to read the article: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6601546.html?nid=3242. In the article, that author starts with two examples of people who seemingly believe the Newbery Award has lost some of its luster. In case you don't know, the Newbery Award is given every year for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." During the summers, I work on reading through the Newbery books, all of them. I'm about 1/3 of the way through. Every year the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children, part of the ALA) chooses the Newbery Medal winner and several Newbery Honor books. The Medal winner gets a gold seal, and the honor books get a silver seal. There is a list of current and past winners here: http://tinyurl.com/6cr7xy

I haven't read this year's winner yet, but today I read the Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, which is a Newbery Honor book. I can't imagine how good the winner must be, for this to be an honor book. It is fabulous! I read a LOT of children's books and this is the best one I've read in a long time. It's so good; I read it all in one sitting. We got back from my niece's soccer game at about 1:45 and I was going to read a little bit and take a nap. I had no nap, but I've finished the entire book already. It made me laugh and cry, all at the same time. It is just a wonderful, wonderful story of growing up, realizing the people we most expect to do the right thing don't always do it, but that sometimes unexpectedly, we find what we need in others. It's about being wrong, admitting it, and loving each other in spite of ourselves, and in spite of them. It's just a great book.

Sorry, ten minutes later. We just had some excitement in our neighborhood. The police, deputies, and state troopers are chasing some guy in a truck, and he chose to drive down my street. He cut through an alley, and hit two parked cars, right across from my street. The Sheriff's department helicopter just flew over, and all my neighbors are out in the street. One guy, in a truck, running from six or eight law enforcement people. Does he really think they won't catch him??? I just hope he doesn't hurt anybody else. . . Whew.

 

 

Is it wrong to wonder why?

    I heard some distressing news on Friday. A lady at our church unexpectedly passed away. This same family lost a daughter to leukemia, a son had a terrible car accident, nearly died, went through months of rehab, and now this. It just doesn't seem fair or right at all. I don't get it.

    Then, yesterday on Saturday, I went to my niece's birthday party. Ten years ago, my sister had to have a C-section to deliver this tiny little four and a half pound, seven-week early baby. (She ended up being born two days before my birthday – what a great gift I got that year!) We thought she was the prettiest thing we'd ever seen, but looking at the pictures now, maybe not so much. She was a skinny baby, and we're more used to babies with fat little thighs and round cheeks just made for kissing. She did turn in to one of those babies, but at first, she wasn't. The tip of my forefinger covered the entire palm of her hand, her foot – the length of my pinkie finger. She was tiny, like holding a breath of air. It was possible to hold her literally, in one hand. Now, she is such a great kid – and I don't just say that because I'm her aunt. She's smart, (only missed four questions total on her FCAT test last year) she just started playing soccer, which she loves, she loves her dance class, she's so pretty, and she's a sweet girl. She loves her teacher at school, and loves to help her, she is nice to new kids at church and school, and she loves to bake goodies for Mr. Harvey, one of her favorite men at church. Yesterday, after being hit with the astounding news about the death of our friend, I watched her and her friends at her birthday party. I watched the big girls, especially Abby; take care of the two little girls. I watched girls from church make new friends and talk to girls from school. I watched them all play together; some dressed up in their Pixie Princess party attire. It was good. It was good for my heavy heart.

    Then, I left the party, to attend the wedding of a former student who is also the daughter of a friend from work. I watch Maggie and David dance, watched Randy, Maggie's dad dance with her in her wedding dress, watched David dance with his mom. I watched my friend try not to cry as she watched her baby get married and I thought where does the time go. It seems like just yesterday Maggie was 12 and in my class, struggling to learn new things, and going through the struggles and trials of most middle schoolers. Today, she is Mrs. Booth. I wondered, how quickly will this be my girl, my sweet little four and a half pound baby? I watched the celebration and thought, "This is good." It was good for my heavy heart.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the Bible says: 

    To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

     A time to be born, And a time to die;
    A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

     A time to kill, And a time to heal;
    A time to break down, And a time to build up;

     A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
    A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

Yesterday was both a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.