I don't think I'm the only one who associates the Newbery Award with bawling my eyes out. I've had to stock up on the tissues for everything from A Wrinkle in Time to Moon Over Manifest, so I tend to  brace myself when picking up a new winner every year.

As much as I love a good cry, I couldn't be more pleased that a 'funny book'  was awarded the gold  this year. Never was a funny book more heartfelt or more deserving of the gold than Jack Gantos', Dead End in Norvelt.

Gantos is truly an unlikely children's book author, and if you haven't yet heard his brilliant segment on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! then head on over to their website and have a listen.

SAGAL: So I was reading your book and it's about a kid named - let me check - Jack Gantos.

GANTOS: Yes.

SAGAL: Who is growing up in a town called Norvelt.

GANTOS: Yes.

SAGAL: In Pennsylvania, which is a real town where you yourself grew up.

GANTOS: Yes.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

SAGAL: I mean, is this book autobiographical? We can only assume, since the character is named after you and growing up where you grew up and when you grew up there.

GANTOS: Yeah, yeah, all those three things point to autobiographical.


He also plays a chuckle-worthy round of Not My Job (on romance novels, of all things), so don't miss it!


*Andrea