From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

Dead End in Norvelt
by
Start date
January 23, 2012
Finish date
May 30, 2012
Discussion
Newbery 2012
Why we're reading this
2012 Newbery Medal Winner

With Honors:
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eu…more

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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 10 topics — 306 comments total
+ Newbery 2012
* Newbery 2012 Awards
By Kristen · 26 posts · 346 views
last updated Mar 16, 2012 01:16PM
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What Members Thought

Krystal
Mar 24, 2012 rated it really liked it
The Newbery Winner for 2012, so obviously I expected a lot. And I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It's not as unsettling as Okay For Now, and for that I believe it's a better book for children, but I didn't enjoy it as much. I also couldn't stand the "fake cussing." That bothered me tremendously. My 9-year old son is reading it now. I'm curious to see what he thinks of it. ...more
Megan
Mar 25, 2012 rated it it was ok
Maybe I am too judgmental but I had high hopes since it was the Newbery winner but I was not a big fan. I liked the history blurbs in it and I thought the main character was a good kid but nothing exciting really happened in the book . . . frustrated because I had high hopes :(
Lorna
I was put off somewhat by the humor. I didn't think an accidental shooting of a loaded rifle was funny even if nobody got hurt. I also got tired of the constant nose bleeds and the obits were not that interesting to me. I did like the writing stlye. Quite a crazy book. ...more
Lou Hunley
Apr 06, 2012 rated it really liked it
The author can defintely tell an amusing story and creates some interesting characters. I didn't think it was in the same class as Inside Out and Back Again. It was good just not exceptional enough to win the Newbery. ...more
Mary Klepper
It was funny, but it took me 2 weeks to read which almost never happens. Didn't do much for me, however I could see some of my sixth grade boys getting into it because of the humor!
...more
Diane
Feb 04, 2012 rated it liked it
I did read it. My first impression was that it was kind of a crude Richard Peck. Good to see a boy book in the top spot though.
Morgan
Feb 11, 2012 rated it liked it
I'd give this 3.5 stars. I loved the beginning of this book. I think the author has the more clever descriptions. It got pretty predictable during the second half, and I'm terrible at predicting books. I probably would have liked it better if I wasn't judging it as a Newbery winner. It's a fun book, and I'm glad I read it. ...more
Tracey
Feb 19, 2012 added it
Shelves: read-in-2012
Great, quick read. Loved all of the characters, but figured out the ending pretty quickly due to all of the foreshadowing.
Amanda
Mar 15, 2012 rated it really liked it
Hilarious and heartwarming. I loved the characters of Norvelt!
Brandy
Jan 23, 2012 rated it it was ok
Shelves: read-someday
I started reading this and just could not get into it. A few parts were funny, but all that blah blah blah from the lady next door just made me want to skim. I mean, I don't mind history when it is real history but when it is history of a made up town I just want to stab my eyes out.

Knowing that this book didn't get rave reviews I decided to put it down. I have too many books on my to read list to waste my time on a book I don't like.
...more
Kristen Jorgensen
May 06, 2012 rated it liked it
Not my absolute favorite Newbery, but a good read.
Elisabeth
Jan 23, 2012 rated it liked it
Funny funny and a *little* like David Sedaris.
Pippa
Jan 19, 2012 rated it liked it
Jeanette
Jan 20, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Amy
Jan 26, 2012 marked it as to-read
Jayanne
Feb 01, 2012 rated it really liked it
Sarah
Feb 02, 2012 rated it liked it
Shelves: read-2012
Jessica
Feb 16, 2012 rated it really liked it
JoAnn
Feb 17, 2012 marked it as wish-list
Leesa
Feb 28, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Wendy Garland
Mar 04, 2012 rated it liked it
Carol Coutts
Mar 27, 2012 rated it really liked it
Cori  Grady
Apr 14, 2012 marked it as to-read
Michelle
May 14, 2012 rated it really liked it
April Moody
Jun 08, 2012 marked it as to-read
Buettner
Jul 01, 2012 rated it really liked it
Julie
Apr 10, 2013 rated it really liked it
Jan
Apr 29, 2013 rated it really liked it
Amy
Dec 06, 2013 marked it as to-read