Thursday, February 3, 2011

February Book Giveaway

The ALA awards loved historical fiction this year! I find it delightful and amazing that historical novels swept the Newbery category, and interestingly enough, more than one of the books feature kids leaving home to live with others during the tough times of the Depression and WWII.

The gold-medal winner, Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, is a debut novel about twelve-year-old Abilene Tucker. She's a rough-and-tumble Depression child, used to hopping trains, growing up without a mother. When her dad gets a job in a place he deems too rough for young ladies, he sends her to spend the summer with an old friend. She jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, her father's hometown, hoping to learn more about him by investigating his earlier life. The book features a full cast of colorful characters and a dual storyline that alternates between Manifest in the years 1939 and 1918 -- America's entry into WWI. An ambitious overview of US history in the early 1900s, and a lot of story, all in one package.

To be entered in the drawing:
  • Comment on this post anytime from now through Sunday, February 13.
  • For an additional entry, become a follower of this blog and mention that in the comment. Ditto if you already are a follower.
  • For additional entries, post links to this contest and give the URLs.
Winner will be announced Monday, February 14.

So, come one, come all--and meanwhile have a great day in the world of books.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Historical fiction featuring children is a favourite of mine, so count me in! I'm already a follower.

Bish Denham said...

Okay, you can throw my name in the pot. I love historical fiction, whether written for children or adults.

PoCoKat said...

Sounds delightful...please enter me.

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

PoCoKat said...

Posted to my blog:
http://mysteriesetc.blogspot.com/2011/02/marcia-hoehne-february-book-giveaway.html

littleone At shaw DOT ca

Akoss said...

Count me in and I'm a new follower.

Vijaya said...

You know I love historical fiction and I too was delighted to see HF represented so heavily in the award winners. But I'd not heard about this book at all until it was announced. Please enter me in this contest.

Jeff King said...

Thx... I am a follower, and would love this book.

keep up the good work.

Christine said...

I'd love to win this book!

Janet said...

thanks so much for the contest. I love historical fiction for kids. I would love to win this book. I am already a follower of your blog. Thanks

Marcia said...

Thank you all for entering.

I just finished the book last night, and it's MARVELOUS. Such a rich story. I just LOVE it when I love the Newbery winner. :)

Karin said...

Moon Over Manifest sounds like a wonderful book!! Thanks for sharing. I would love it if you could enter me, in addition I am a follower. Thanks a bunch.

sally said...

Sounds great. I'd like to win. And I'm a follower.

Mary Witzl said...

Oh, enter me too! I love the sound of this book and that cover pulls me right in. The fact that you like it is icing on the cake.

MaDonna Maurer said...

Sounds like a good read. Please count me in. Thanks!

Nora MacFarlane said...

Ohhh... I'm in, and I'm a follower!

Laura Pauling said...

I'm a follower.

Congrats to all the books that win. But I love even more when a book wins that people have actually heard of. It's upsetting to me to see such a great divide between award winning books and books that kids and people are actually reading. Some years there is a crossover, other times not. What do you think?

Marcia said...

Thanks to all for your enthusiasm. You are all duly entered. :)

Laura, I agree that sometimes there's more disconnect between the awards and what kids are reading, and sometimes more overlap. Sometimes the winners seem to have little kid appeal at all. But I'm glad literary merit rather than popularity rules. Much as I enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid and think it's loaded with kid appeal, I wouldn't want to see it win the Newbery. To me, the sticking point is "most distinguished contribution to literature." I want to see a Newbery winner that will transcend just being "book of the year." Some strike me as just nice stories, soon forgotten. I'd never heard of Moon Over Manifest before the announcements either. But it's definitely the best of any book I read in 2010, in both ambitious storytelling and emotional resonance. And I was so happy that the "spunky heroine" wasn't snarky and ill-mannered. I actually found her lovable.

LifeLongLearner said...

I'd love to enter your contest for the Newbery Award winning book for 2011.

I'm following your blog.

Marcia said...

Hi, LifeLongLearner! Thanks for entering. :)

Andrea Vlahakis said...

Count me in, Marcia! Thanks!

Marcia said...

You're in, Andrea! :)