John Newbery Award

I always wondered what criteria some books had to possess to win awards the following year. I did a little research and found some answers. I'll be happy to pass these on to you!

The Medal is awarded to the person with the most distinguished contribution to literature in the United States the year previous. There are no limits to the book, but it is required that it be original work. Honor books are also named and those are also quite distinguished.

The award is solely given to American authors or residents of the United States.

The committee considers all types of writing: fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. However, reprints and compilations are not considered.

2009 Winner of the John Newbery Medal

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean, and published by HarperCollins Children's Books.

This book was produced as an illustrated young adult novel. It is 307 pages long and is sure to enthrall people of all ages.

Neil paints a fantastic point of view of a child growing up in a very unlikely place. Nobody Owens manages to escape the murderer and find refuge in the old graveyard. The spirits take on the responsibility of raising the child. The story possesses all the parts of a great book: humor, fantasy, human desire, and full of surprises.

I would recommend this book to anyone who desires a haunting new perspective.