Horn Book Fanfare List

Best books of 2006

Nonfiction:

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman (Holiday)

Freedman demonstrates the rewards of focusing on specifics in this account of a pivotal event of the civil rights movement. Concentrating on the experiences of a few key participants in the boycott, the author gets readers on their side, prompting the kind of empathy that leads to greater understanding. Review 9/06. (Intermediate, Middle School)

The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus (Candlewick)

Wisdom, variety, and humor characterize these interviews full of incisive comments from thirteen fantasy writers, among them Lloyd Alexander, Susan Cooper, Nancy Farmer, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Philip Pullman. An unusual exposition of creativity and courage, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse ways imagination and fantasy work. Review 7/06. (Middle School, High School)