The Newbery awards were recently announced. Below is a review of three of the honor award books for this year. (I already reviewed Princess Academy , by Shannon Hale, not too long ago.)

Let's begin with my favorite book of the bunch. Whittington , by Alan Armstrong, is a most amazing book that blends historical facts, the love of reading, strong character relationships and great storytelling. Whittington is a cat who comes to live in a barn. But this isn't just any barn. This barn houses an assortment of animals both large and small, including 2 horses, a dog and a duck. The duck, which the rest of the barn animals refer to as "the Lady", is in charge and therefore makes all of the decisions on behalf of the others. When Whittington comes to live in this old dilapidated building, she finds a home. She not only proves that she is valuable because she controls the rats, but she is a storyteller. She relates a lengthy story that is interwoven throughout the book about her great ancestor who helped out his owner, Dick Whittington, whom he was named after. When the cat relates this story, it takes on a life of its own. The story takes place back during medieval times when a young country boy sets out alone for London. He finds a caring gentleman who takes him in and teaches him about plants and spices. When Dick is given a coin to buy something he desires, he buys a cat. This cat turns out to help Dick make a fortune. As Whittington tells this story, the adventures of Dick and his cat will take you to the cloudy streets of London, the sun filled land of Lisbon and the breathtaking world of Constantinople.

However, the storytelling from the cat is only part of this book and it doesn't even begin (in the telling of it) until the 9th chapter. Mr. Armstrong builds the entire book around the animals and their relationship with each other and two young children who come to visit, feed the animals and listen to the stories from Whittington. Oh, this brings up another element of this book. Eight-year-old Ben doesn't know how to read because he suffers from dyslexia. So between his older sister and the barn animals, they all work together to help him.

The adventures in and around the barn, and the stories of Whittington, blend together so well that the reader is completely immersed in the book. Mr. Armstrong eloquently describes the surroundings and beautifully portrays the seasons. “The sun was gaining on winter. There was a new smell in the air. The pond boomed and cracked as the ice broke up. In the paddock bare places appeared with puddles of melt water the Lady found pleasant for bathing". There are wonderful illustrations, by S. D. Schindler, throughout the book as well as an endnote at the back of the book enlightening the reader to the massive historical research involved in writing this book. This is a great book for ages 8 through adult.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow , by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, is a frightening look into the hearts and souls of the children growing up during the Nazi regime just before the Second World War. This non-fiction book takes a harsh look at the 7 million girls and boys that were caught up in affiliating with the Nazi movement, which then took charge of condemning Jewish children that were the same ages and living in the same neighborhoods. This incredible account gives reference to the children who resisted these Nazi youth and tried so hard to overpower them. This is a story that needs to be told to the youth of our day so that nothing this terrible ever happens again! There are photographs and maps throughout, shedding more insight to these terrible events. This book is for ages 11 through adult.