User:NostalgicIntrovert/sandbox2

Last Stop on Market Street is a children's picture book written by author Matt De La Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson, and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. It is a 2016 Newbery Medal winner, a 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree and a 2016 Caldecott Medal honoree. The book made Matt De La Peña the first latino author in history to win the Newbery Medal and is only the second time in history that a picture book won the Newbery Medal. The story follows a young boy named CJ on a bus ride through his city with his grandmother and his distinction between fabricated and authentic beauty based on material things.

Description
Last Stop on Market Street is told from a third person narrative. The story follows CJ and his grandmother's conversation with multiple people throughout the city on a journey to discover true beauty in life. In the book, phrases are consistently said in slang to give an authentic feel to CJ's character who comes from the city. CJ says, "How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this west?"/"Miguel and Colby never have to go nowhere." The book contains slang versions of "have to" and double negatives. Pictures in the book illustrate the journey CJ and his grandmother take on the bus. They have been praised for being colorful and exciting by many different critics.

Plot
A young boy named CJ, and his grandmother leave church one Sunday to go home. After leaving, it begins to rain prompting CJ to realize all of the things that his grandmother does not own. As they wait for the bus, he begins asking questions like ,"Why don't they own a car?" The bus arrives and as he gets on, he begins asking questions ranging from why a man is blind to why doesn't he own an Ipod for himself. Through all of these questions, his grandmother begins to explain to him that the beauty of life is not in material belongings but the experience of it all. CJ then finds himself realizing that life is really not about if you can see, or own a car or Ipod. He begins to see the beauty of riding the bus, a man without sight still enjoy sound, and the beauty of music from a guitar and not an Ipod. CJ then gets off the bus with a new affinity for life. He finally asks why is it always so dirty in the neighborhood they have adventured to. His grandmother gives a very poignant point by explaining when you are consistently surrounded by dirt, you are more aware of beauty when it is around you. CJ and his grandmother then go to volunteer at their normal soup kitchen and CJ appreciates life in a larger way than materialistic items.

Critical reception
Last Stop on Market Street was met with critical acclaim after being published. Many different critics highly praised the relationship between CJ and his Nana throughout the book. The New York Times wrote,"Last Stop on Market Street” provides a gentle twist, letting readers in on the secret Nana and CJ have known all along: They’re on the way to help others who have even less. But it’s also the warmth of their inter-generational relationship that will make this book so satisfying, for both young readers and the adults sharing it with them." The Wall Street Journal also wrote, "Matt de la Peña’s story of the relationship between a boy and his grandmother, of the bus ride they take after church on Sundays, and of the way we can choose to view the world with discontent or gratitude." Also praised by critics was the books message to teach children that it isn't about the material things you own such as in I-pod or car but just about the beauty of the world and life as a whole. "Nana’s gentle responses encourage C.J. to see that the amazing things he does have can’t be owned or bought", describes the Washington Post. Kirkus Reviews calls the book "a textual and artistic tour de force". They explain that "Through de la Peña’s brilliant text, readers can hear, feel and taste the city: its grit and beauty, its quiet moments of connectedness." Publisher's Weekly boasts, "It finds beauty in unexpected places, explores the difference between what’s fleeting and what lasts, acknowledges inequality, and testifies to the love shared by an African-American boy and his grandmother."