Dead End at Norvelt by Jack Gantos

I guess I can see why this book won the Newbery this year.  The committee was probably made up of mostly older women, and this is a book that would appeal to older women.  The most interesting character in the book is an elderly lady, crippled with severe arthritis, but still spunky of spirit.  Much of the book is the older lady going off on these long riffs about the importance of history.  Another thing that might appeal to older ladies is that the main character, Jack, is punished for mowing down his mother's corn field, (even though he did it at his father's urging) and his punishment is an entire summer of being grounded and doing hard labor (digging a large hole in the back yard).  This punishment he takes with very little complaint.  I can imagine the old ladies thinking, "Those were the good old days, when children respected their elders, and knew how to work. None of this mamsy, pamsy taking away computer games for a punishment.  When I was  a kid when you were punished, you knew you were punished!"

The question is, would the same book that appeals so much to old ladies appeal to kids.  This is, after all, supposed to be an award for the most distinguished children's book.  There are a few things that would be interesting to kids.  There are a couple of scenes that are pretty funny, and the main character seems to be a nice kid.  There are, however, some major problems with pacing.  After the story gets started--i.e. Jack gets grounded for mowing down the corn field--not much else happens for a long time.  Old ladies die, and Jack helps his elderly neighbor write their obituaries, over and over again.  Then near the end of the book, it is as if the author thought, "Oh, I guess I better add some kind of plot," so he abruptly has the older lady suspected of murder.  Rather quickly and easily she is acquitted of wrong doing and the story is over. I just don't see a kid loving it but if you are over 60, this is the book for you. (341 p.)