1987 Newbery Honor Award

Bauer, M.D. (1987). On my honor. New York: Clarion Books, Ticknor & Fields, a Houghton Mifflin Company

Genre: Realistic “dramatic” Fiction novel

Grades: Grades 4-6

This tragic novel describes the story of two young teenage boys, Joel and Tony, whose originally innocent bike trip to a local park turns into a fatal catastrophe. Midway through their trip, Tony proposes swimming in the impure, unsafe waters of the Vermillion River. Much to Joel’s dismay, he is pressured into swimming with his friend. A friendly competition to the water’s sandbar soon highlights Tony’s inadequate swimming skills and ends in his very drowning. The story progresses as Joel is faced with the hardships of admitting he failed to keep his honor to his father and learning to deal with the grief and acceptance of his beloved friend’s death. On My Honor capitalizes on universal themes of honesty, friendship, and trust – essential qualities of life that all young readers can relate to. The cycle of life is ingeniously displayed through the lens of a young child who hasn’t quite learned the unsettling truths of life. The text is simple to read yet contains lively descriptions and emotional content. This book will solemnly introduce readers to the harsh yet realistic elements of life’s hardships.

Author: Marion Dane Bauer

Marion Dane Bauer’s first piece of literature was a poem dedicated to her teddy bear written when she was a little girl. Bauer was an English school teacher prior to writing children’s books. On My Honor was her best-selling novel among the other notable books she has written. Aside from her career as an author, Bauer enjoys the company of cats and dogs and loves any activity in the outdoors from walking and camping to biking.

Marion Dane Bauer Website!

Sources:

• Book Cover Photo
• Author Photo/Information