_A Gathering of Days_ by Joan W. Blos

This is a Newberry one. It's subtitle is "A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32." The front cover clarifies this by telling us it is "a novel by Joan W. Blos." That's good to know.

Anyway, to be honest, it's kind of hokey. I really doubt that even in 1830 a 14-year-old girl would write this formally in a journal. Then again, maybe she would, but it's a bit difficult at first to "bond" with Catharine Cabot Hall, the main character. Later, I tried to pretend I wasn't reading a "journal," and that helped me enjoy the story without dwelling on what a lame journal it was.

The issues of slavery, adapting to a step-parent, and death of a loved one are prominent in this novel. As a plus, nothing jumped out at me as majorly offensive or inappropriate. I guess I would recommend A Gathering of Days, but I do wish a Newberry Medal meant that it was completely delightful literature. 

And really, I guess it's not as bad as I make it out to be. When I was younger, I probably would have enjoyed reading it more than I do now.

_The Secret School_ by Avi

Ida wants to teach school when she grows up. She studies hard and works hard on the farm at home in Colorado. Unfortunately, circumstances beyond her control threaten her chance to be promoted in school. They say, "Where there's a will, there's a way," and Ida has a will.

This story, while no great literary masterpiece, is a good read with nothing I found objectionable. Ida and the other characters are good role models with several desirable character traits. While the main character is a 14-year-old girl, my 8-year-old boy enjoyed reading it, too.