Chains

How about Laurie Halse Anderson’s Chains?  

The novel contains quite a few characteristics that I won’t be considering when I think about it in terms of a Mock Newbery contendor.  For example, the cover is striking and beautiful and the book design is old-fashioned and evocative of the time period during which the story takes place while still remaining readable for young people.  But when we look back at the Newbery Terms and Criteria (and yes, we will keep reminding you to look at that page) we see that:

2. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to literature. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other aspects of a book are to be considered only if they distract from the text. Such other aspects might include illustrations, overall design of the book, etc.

So positive feelings about a book’s design is not taken into consideration.  

I also wonder about the audience for this book.  I do think it’ll end up being more of a teacher assigned book than a picked-up and read for fun kind of book.  I think there are a limited number of children who will ever look at it, and who will love it.  But this has nothing to do with whether or not I find its writing distinguished.  

The story looks at the time period (the start of the Revolutionary War) from a perspective that is new in children’s lit.  Told from the point of view of a young slave trying to decide if her own loyalties should reside with the Patriots or the Loyalists, it’s a rare combination of a look at the Revolutionary War and at the history of slavery in this country.  And there are some ways that some of this can be considered.  But the book can not be compared to any books that were published in any year other than the eligible year, so the newness of the topic is not really relevant.  In fact, the topic of the story is not relevant at all outside of these things:

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