Match the Newbery Plot: Part 8 Quiz

Answer: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

In this 1967 book, Claudia and Jamie decide to run away from home and live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While not letting their presence be known to the museum staff, they stumble into a mystery involving a strange angel statue and get help from the elusive Mrs. Frankweiler. For the longest time, I kept reading her name as Frankenweiler. E.L. Konigsberg is one of few authors to win more than one Newbery Medal.

Answer: Onion John

The book starts very slowly by detailing small happenings in the life of Andy, a 12-year-old who's befriended Onion John and can understand his strange way of speaking. A little over halfway through, the main conflict kicks in as we see what happens when well-intentioned people try to help someone when their help is not needed or wanted. Joseph Krumgold won his second Newbery Medal for his 1959 book.

Answer: Maniac Magee

Jeffrey Magee, or Maniac, is a fast-running, knot-untying orphan who goes anywhere he wants in his otherwise racially-divided town. He becomes a legend for his baseball playing, running, and untying of a large knot. I didn't like Jerry Spinelli's 1990 book when I first read it, but it was better the second time.

Answer: Shadow of a Bull

Manolo's father was a bullfighter who was killed when Manolo was three. Everyone expects him to become a bullfighter, but he has other ideas: he wants to be a doctor, who can treat those wounded in bullfights. Maia Wojciechowska published this book in 1964.

Answer: Last Stop on Market Street

"Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peņa is the first picture book to win the Newbery Medal. The story is very short and simple: a boy rides a bus with his grandma on the way to help at a soup kitchen. He asks her basic questions about why things are different, and she gives simple answers.

In my opinion, this book had nothing special in it, and a picture book should be very impressive to win the Newbery Medal. Christian Robinson illustrated this 2015 book.

Answer: Rabbit Hill

When the animals of Rabbit Hill hear that "new folks" are coming to live there, they hope they'll get nice neighbors instead of trap-setting farmers. They've had a hard time lately, since they're used to eating from the garden, which hasn't been tended since the last family moved. There's practically no conflict in this 1944 book by Robert Lawson.

Answer: Strawberry Girl

The girl of the title is Birdie Boyer, whose family moves to Florida to grow strawberries. They get into a feud with a cattle-farming family after one of the animals destroys the strawberry crop. Lois Lenski based many of the 1945 book's episodes on real stories she heard.

Answer: Miracles on Maple Hill

This is a pretty calm book. A family moves to the country after the father returns home after WWII. He has PTSD, and the calm country atmosphere helps him recover. As the title suggests, the family learns how maple sugaring works. Virginia Sorensen based her 1956 book on real people she knew.

Answer: Waterless Mountain

Younger Brother wants to be a medicine man. The book is told as a series of episodes in his life. In his culture, true names are rarely spoken, so he's always called Younger Brother. His mother once tells him his true name: Dawn Boy. This is Laura Adams Armer's first book, from 1931.

Answer: Jacob Have I Loved

Sara Louise has a twin sister, Caroline, whom everyone adores, while Louise is virtually ignored. Even her name is practically taken away, with her sister always calling her Wheeze. Louise resents being overshadowed by her sister and wants to assert her own identity. The book gives a good portrait of island and fishing life. This 1980 book gave Katherine Paterson her second Medal.