Newbery Medal 1924: Complete list of winners

The American Library Association’s Newbery Medal has always celebrated the best in children’s literature, and the 1924 award proved no exception. That year’s honor went to The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes, a rousing maritime adventure that captured the imagination of young readers with its tales of danger, courage, and the open sea. The novel’s selection marked a recognition of Hawes’ ability to craft genuinely compelling storytelling for children—the kind that didn’t condescend to its audience but instead offered genuine thrills and moral complexity wrapped in swashbuckling adventure.

What makes Hawes’ win particularly interesting is how it reflects the Newbery Medal’s early priorities. In those formative years, the award—which had begun just two years prior in 1922—was still establishing itself as the gold standard for children’s literature. The judges were clearly drawn to stories with substance and excitement, works that respected young readers’ intelligence while entertaining them thoroughly. The Dark Frigate, set during the golden age of piracy, delivered exactly that combination, giving children both historical richness and page-turning narrative momentum.

Below, you’ll find the complete details about this landmark year for the Newbery Medal and the legacy Hawes left behind.

Children’s Literature

• The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes