Newberry Recap pt. 1

I decided I may as well write short reviews of the 20 or so Newberry Medal winners I've read so far, with summaries and comments and stuff. Some of them will be rather sketchy, because it was a long time ago.
The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo (2005)
This is the most recent one I've read, so far the only one since I started my list.
The book ties together the story of three inhabitants of the castle: a tiny mouse with huge ears named Despereaux, who loves the princess Pea and can read, to the chagrin of his family; Roscuro, a dungeon rat who loves the light; and Miggery Sow, a servant girl with "cauliflower ears" who wants nothing more than to be a princess.
The book was simple, and sweet, and gave me a sort of contented feeling when I finished it. It's written in a "Dear Reader" style. So far, I was thankful that it was one of the few Newberry books I've read that haven't made me cry.

Crispin, the Cross of Lead, by Avi (2004)
What is it with long titles?
A boy named Crispin lives in a medieval village. His mother dies, he receives a mysterious cross, and stuff happens. Hey, I'm not amazon. This one didn't really stick in my mind very much. But Avi is a pretty good writer. Read "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle". I can remember that one.
The book was decent, an interesting view of Medieval life and superstitions. It didn't make me cry.

Holes, by Louis Sacher (1999)
Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Greenlake, an alternative to juevenile detention, in the middle of the desert. Every day he and his fellow inmates must dig holes: 5 feet by 5 feet by 5 feet. However, Stanley becomes suspicious. Are they really digging the holes to build character, or is the Warden looking for something?
I bought this book in a used bookshop in Napa, California. It had always looked weird, but I was curious, so I read it, and surprise, surprise, it was worthy of the honours it received. The book is hilarious, well-written, and suspensful, with quirkily drawn and engaging characters. The end made me go, "ah-ha!" though maybe I just missed all the clues leading up to the twist at the end. I'm slow. :)

The View From Saturday, by E.L. Konisburg (1997)
This book is a collection of four short stories about 4 kids who end up on the school academic bowl team together. Every Saturday they get together and the Bed & Breakfast run by one boy's parents and drink tea and practice for the bowl.
This book was interesting and very well written. It gets points for not making me cry. It's a quick read, and it has good characterization. It's interesting to note that it's by the same author as "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler"...a book that was publishe more than 30 years earlier.