Virginia Hamilton was the first African-American to receive this honor in 1975 for her book "M.C. Higgins, the Great.
M.C. Higgins, the Great is the story of Mayo Cornelius and his family. Mayo loves his home in Sarah's Mountain. Before him are the rolling hills and shady valleys. Behind him lie the wounds of strip mining, a spoil heap oozing downward, endangering his home. M.C. dreams about escape for himself and his family.
M.C. discovers two strangers who have entered the hills and are making their way towards Sarah's Mountain. One is the dude, who M.C. imagines will make his mother a singing star and help them all get away from the menacing spoil heap. The other is Lurhetta, a young wanderer, whose example teaches M.C. that both choice and action lie within his power.
In this book, Virginia Hamilton has created a world that is strange haunting and utterly believable. She has created characters that are memorable as well.
In 1977, Mildred Taylor's book, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was awarded the Newbery Medal.
This book is the unforgettable saga of racial tensions in the turbulent South that has become a modern classic. Last year was its twentieth anniversary of its winning the Newbery Medal. Set in Mississippi, at the height of the Depression, it is a story of physical survival and the survival of the human spirit. Cassie Logan, the main character, watches as her family faces the challenge of holding on to their land.
Also in 1976, the book The Hundred Penny Box, by Sharon Bell Mathis, was selected as a Newbery Honor book.
This book is the story of a boy named Michael and his family, that included his great-great-aunt Dew. Aunt Dew was 100 years old. She kept a box filled with pennies, one for each birthday. Michael loved to sit at her feet and count out the pennies while Aunt Dew told the story behind each one. Michael's mother wanted to throw out the old box and buy a new one for Aunt Dew. Michael knew he had to try and save the hundred penny box that contained all the stories of her life.
In 1989, Walter Dean Myers' book Scorpions was selected as a Newbery Honor Book.
Scorpions is the story of Jamal Hicks. Jamal is having a hard time in school, what with Dwayne always pushing him to fight and the principal, Mr. Davidson, always on his case. He also has a tough time at home too, worrying about how hard Mama works and trying to get money for an appeal for Randy, his older brother, who is in jail for holding up a deli. He also has a hard time on the street with the Scorpions.
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