Mountains Are Free - Julia Davis Adams, Theodore Nadejen
Although I've been doing this Newbery reading challenge for a couple of years now, I'm still ridiculously delighted and surprised when I come across a selection that is genuinely enjoyable! This novel tells the story of the Swiss struggle against Austrian rule - a topic I knew next to nothing about. I'm embarrassed to admit that I wasn't even really aware that William Tell was a Swiss patriot. So, obviously this book was very illuminating in that regard, but also very enjoyable. I was surprised to discover that Adams also wrote Vaino: A Boy of New Finland (another Newbery honor book) because the styles were quite different and although I give them the same rating, I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit more. Adams builds an extremely realistic and absorbing little world for the reader to discover here. I found that I cared intensely for the unique and vibrant characters - particularly Kyo and Zelina. I think Adams made a wise choice in making William Tell a relatively minor character. In this way we are able to understand the bigger picture and therefore better understand the significance of his role. Definitely recommended for lovers of historical fiction.