Newbery Medal Winner
Call It Courage
by Armstrong Sperry
Summary
On a Polynesian island, a chief's son named Mafatu is paralyzed by a fear of the sea after his mother drowned, and he sets out alone in a canoe to confront that fear and prove his courage. Stranded on a deserted island, he survives by his own wits, facing sharks, a wild boar, and the elements. Armstrong Sperry drew on his travels in the South Pacific to craft a spare survival tale about overcoming fear.
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Historical Context & Significance
Armstrong Sperry based the story on a Polynesian legend he encountered during his own travels in the South Seas, and he illustrated the book himself.