Newbery Medal 1965: Complete list of winners

The 1965 Newbery Medal went to Maia Wojciechowska for Shadow of a Bull, a novel that brought something distinctly different to the award’s legacy. Wojciechowska’s story follows a young Spanish boy grappling with the weight of his father’s legacy as a famous bullfighter, exploring themes of identity, family pressure, and the courage it takes to forge your own path. The novel resonated with judges for its unflinching look at a child’s inner conflict and its richly drawn setting in the world of Spanish bullfighting—a subject rarely tackled in American children’s literature at the time.

What makes Wojciechowska’s win particularly noteworthy is that it came at a moment when the Newbery Medal was increasingly recognizing works with international scope and cultural specificity. Rather than settling for safe, universally accessible stories, the 1965 award acknowledged a book that trusted young readers to understand nuance, sacrifice, and moral complexity. Shadow of a Bull stands as a testament to the Newbery’s commitment to honoring literature that challenges and expands children’s perspectives, even when the subject matter ventures into morally complicated territory.

Below, you’ll find the complete details of this year’s honoree and what made her work stand out among that year’s distinguished contenders.

Children’s Literature

• Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska