The Twenty-One Balloons (1947)

Enjoyable children's adventure tale about a man discovering a secret society. A bit like 'The Beach' or 'The Village' but without the darkness.
The story starts off quite similar to the movie 'Up!'. A 66 year old man decides to spend a year ballooning to get away from things. He's a retired schoolteacher and therefore really dislikes children. Since he is going to be up there for so long he designs the basket of the balloon to resemble a small house complete with balustrade all around like a porch.
Its funny and interesting, however it loses some suspense since it's told in flashback so you already know the ending. ( )

My!, how Newberry Winners have changed. I feel like the more modern ones are more for adults than children. This book was very much aimed at children and very fantastical. Not my favorite but much better than the "stories about children for adults" that win these days. ( )

Charming and quaint. Lucinda's uncle reading plays to her reminded me of all the bowdlerized versions of Shakespeare intended for young kids. I see there is a second book about Lucinda, Jubilo. I'll have to try Interlibrary Loan. ( )

This book is so creative and vibrant that I have read it again as an adult. The details paint a picture so vivid that I had trouble not believing in it. ( )

A somewhat interesting but ultimately boring account of a professor who sets off to circumnavigate the world in a balloon but winds up on a tropical island inhabited by people who have created their own society. The premise was good, but the story dragged along, as each wonderful invention was thoroughly and exhaustingly described. ( )