Match the Newbery Plot: Part 3 Quiz

Answer: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Scott O'Dell's 1960 book is loosely based on the story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island, who was named Juana Maria after she was found. She died several weeks after she was taken to the mainland. Her age at death is unknown. In the book, her name is Karana, and she and her brother are left behind when their people leave the island.

He's quickly killed by dogs, but she survives for years, having to get over her tribe's strict rules against women making weapons so that she can make new ones to hunt.

This is one of my favorite Newbery Medal books.

Answer: Julie of the Wolves

Julie, or Miyax, is an Inuit girl whose life becomes worse after her mother dies and she's sent to live with her aunt. After a violent act against her by the boy she's been married to, she leaves her village and goes into the wild. She watches wolves and eventually learns to communicate with them. Jean Craighead George wrote two sequels to this 1972 book: "Julie" and "Julie's Wolf Pack".

Answer: Call It Courage

Armstrong Sperry's 1940 novel is about Mafatu, the son of a chief, and takes place on Pacific islands. Ever since his mother died in the ocean, Mafatu's been afraid of the sea, which makes his father deeply ashamed of him. To prove he's not a coward, Mafatu sets out in a small boat, and faces various sea trials. This book is called "The Boy Who Was Afraid" in the UK.

Answer: The Midwife's Apprentice

Karen Cushman's 1991 book follows an orphan, first named Brat, then Beetle, then Alyce, who apprentices herself to Jane, the midwife. Jane isn't very nice and charges too much for her services, but Alyce stays with her to learn midwifery.

Answer: A Single Shard

Tree-ear lives under a bridge with a homeless man. After accidentally breaking a piece of pottery, Tree-ear works for the potter for several days to pay him back. After this, he wants to stay as an apprentice, even though the man can't pay him. Linda Sue Park won the Medal for her 2001 book.

Answer: The View from Saturday

A teacher, who goes back to teaching after becoming paralyzed in an accident, picks four students to be the quiz bowl team. The students help her regain her confidence. The plotlines include being in a school play, participating at a wedding, studying sea turtles, and getting revenge on bullies. E. L. Konigsburg wrote this 1996 book.

Answer: Hello, Universe

Taking place over the course of a day, Erin Entrada Kelly's 2017 novel follows several children. Valencia is deaf and loves nature, Kaori is a psychic who only does consultations for kids, and Chet is a bully who throws Virgil's backpack (containing a guinea pig) down a hole. Virgil gets stuck down there trying to rescue his pet, and all the plotlines converge as the other kids try to find Virgil.

Answer: Criss Cross

A 2005 book by Lynne Rae Perkins, "Criss Cross" tells the interconnecting stories of several kids (but mostly two, Debbie and Hector) through Debbie's lost necklace. Debbie wants "something good" to happen and develops a crush, while Hector learns guitar.

Answer: Tales from Silver Lands

Charles Finger's 1925 winner is a collection of legends and folk tales the author heard from people in South and Central America. Apparently, one of them cost a dollar to acquire. Many of them are origin stories, like explanations of how animals got certain characteristics.

Answer: Shen of the Sea

The stories in "Shen of the Sea" are not authentic Chinese stories, but told in a similar style. Arthur Bowie Chrisman's 1925 book has stories about peasants, kings, princesses, warriors, and dragons. Some of them are origin stories for things like tea, printing, pies, and kites.