Dead Ends and Stalin's Nose: The 2012 Newbery Medal Winners

Dead End in Norvelt Wins the Medal

Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos, won the 2012 Newbery Medal, which was announced on January 23rd. The book, which blends fact and fiction, describes an adventurous two months in the life of a boy named Jack Gantos. Jack is loaned out by his parents to an elderly neighbor and expects nothing more than boring chores. Instead, he is pulled into a bizarre world of Hells Angels, Girl Scout cookies, Eleanor Roosevelt and, maybe, murder.

Gantos was previously a finalist for the National Book Award for Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. His memoir Hole in My Life won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert honors. He credits his interest in a writing career to reading his sister's diary when he was in sixth grade and believing he could writer better than her.

Inside Out & Back Again Honored

Inside Out & Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, was named as a runner up for the Newbery Medal. Based on the author's own experiences, this novel begins as the Vietnam War forces Ha's family to flee Saigon. They end up in Alabama, where the cultural differences are shocking to the girl. Over the course of a year, Ha struggles to find her way in the strange, new world.

Inside Out & Back Again also won the 2011 National Book Award. It's told in a series of short, free-verse poems that are highly accessible to young readers. Despite the harrowing aspects of the story, it contains unexpected humor that will entertain and captivate readers.

Breaking Stalin's Nose an Additional Honoree

Eugene Yelchin's Breaking Stalin's Nose is also a runner-up for the Newbery Medal. The story follows Sasha Zaichik, a loyal 10-year-old Communist in the Soviet Union during Stalin's reign. Sasha is excited to join the Soviet Young Pioneers, but the day he's eagerly waited for since age six goes horribly awry.

Sasha throws a snowball that breaks a classmate's glasses. Then he breaks a bust of Stalin at his school. Even worse, his father gets arrested despite being an exemplary Communist in Sasha's eyes.

The book, which includes black and white illustrations, is not Russian-born Yelchin's first award winner. In 2010, a picture book he illustrated, Rooster Prince of Breslov, won the National Jewish Book Award. Yelchin also received a Tomie de Paola award for his illustrations.