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1974

Slave Dancer by Paula Fox ($13.56, Atheneum, fifth-grade level). ISBN: 0689845057.

The Medalist   A boy is press-ganged into service as a musician aboard a slave ship. Disaster strikes and the ship sinks on the return journey. This slim novel contains wonderful lessons about slavery as well as the lifestyles of the time. Fox, not one to underplay the emotional quotient of any situation, slips in a coming of age story notable for the horrid conditions that confound the boy's growth.

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper ($13.60, McElderry Books, seventh-grade level). ISBN: 0689303173.

Honor Book An 11-year-old boy in England learns for the first time that he is a member of an ancient race of beings whose job it is to fight the final battle with evil. This is an exciting, well-written fantasy set in modern times. It may be too sophisticated for the typical sword and sorcery reader - not enough blood and guts. The novel is also part of Cooper's fabulous The Dark is Rising series, one of my favorite fantasy sequences ever. A later book in the series, The Grey King, also was recognized by the Newbery Committee.

Copyright David Ross 2003