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1965

Editor's Note: Many of the books are out of print. The header information will be as complete as I can make it.

Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska (Atheneum, $16, fifth-grade level). ISBN: 0689300425.

The Medalist A young Spanish boy chafes at following in the footsteps of his glorious father, the greatest matador in Spanish history. NIcely written with tons of information about bullfighting. More importantly, it shows the tremendous burden placed on children of successful parents. The boy shows great courage by rejecting the life everyone is forcing upon him. Vaguely like the theme in her other book, Dreams of Golf. If you want to get fancy with sophisticated students, pair it with Hemingway's books.

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (Econo-Clad, $12.40, fifth-grade level). ISBN: 0881030023.

Honor Book A boy grows up and quickly becomes a man while his brothers are away fighting in the Civil War. Hunt has produced one of the best historical novels I've read. Tons of emotion. Solid amount of historical data. Hunt does a wonderful job of personalizing the conflict and making real the generals who call the shots. The best Newbery pairing for this novel is Swords of Steel: The Story of a Gettysburg Boy, a 1934 Honor Book by Elsie Singmaster.

Copyright David Ross 2003