Mock Newbery 2026 discussion
Newbery 2015
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On to 2015!
I loved When Audrey met Alice it is a sweet story and very cleverly done to tie the two girls stories together without it being too contrived - it was especially interesting as being outside of the USA I don't know as much about US politics and history as the average US MG reader - most of what we know of the White House comes from a TV/Movie diet. I was so intrigued after reading it I had to go and research Alice Roosevelt. I think the book is good - but don't think it would make the cut for the Newbery. Off to add Nightingale's nest to my latest book order.
OK, so The Night Gardner is wonderful. It will be discussed heavily by the 2015 committee, I believe.
Circa Now by Amber McRee Turner (Sway) gets high recommendations from Colby Sharp and Mr. Schu. Excellent Middle Grade with manipulated photos throughout. Terrific boy and girl main characters. Release date is May 27.
Just finished Secret Hum of a Daisy and really appreciated it. There were a lot of elements that I connected to personally, and I'd love to see how other people feel about this book.
I also just finished reading Secret Hum of a Daisy. It's a favorite of 2014 for me. I usually knock off a book pretty quickly but I just slowed down and savored this one. Great voice, strong setting and characters, nice pacing. It's one for the reread pile.
I just read Secret Hum of a Daisy too! It is my absolute FAVORITE of 2014. LOVED everything about it, especially the many characters with depth.
I vote that we read Kenneth Oppel's Boundless. I just finished it and it is wonderful. Great mystery, mythical beasts and a terrific adventure!
I agree, I just started it and am hooked!
I liked the Riverman too. I wish that it was a little more Middle grade than YA so I could get my elementary students to read it.
yes, it's definitely a Middle School/Jr High + book, but so deliciously mysterious and creepy. I couldn't put it down.
Agreed. I can't wait to read the next book in the Riverman trilogy. Does anyone else think the cover doesn't match the age group? I thought the cover seemed younger but the book is more for middle school/YA.
Jenni wrote: "Just finished Secret Hum of a Daisy and really appreciated it. There were a lot of elements that I connected to personally, and I'd love to see how other people feel about this book."I really liked this as well. It was surprising for me to learn this was her debut novel. She writes beautifully. I will be especially interested to see what my students think as at times Graces's sorrow felt so strong. Part of the strength of this book, but wonder how kids will feel reading it? So far my top three for this year are this one and Half A Chance, and a The Fourteenth Goldfish.
Kim wrote: "I vote that we read Kenneth Oppel's Boundless. I just finished it and it is wonderful. Great mystery, mythical beasts and a terrific adventure!"Oppel is Canadian & lives there, so that makes it ineligible.
I really need to start reading! I've bought most of these for my library, but haven't read many yet myself.
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Oh darn- I forgot! I still think you all would enjoy it even if it is not Newbery bound. Thanks for keeping me honest!
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Jess wrote: "Kim wrote: "I vote that we read Kenneth Oppel's Boundless. I just finished it and it is wonderful. Great mystery, mythical beasts and a terrific adventure!"Oppel is Canadian & lives there, so t..."
I'm reading Boundless right now, and it's wonderful! Lot's of action, great writing, and the cover art is the best I've seen this year. Even if it's not Newbery eligible, it's a book worth reading.
I think Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana is absolutely fabulous. It will appeal to avid and reluctant readers alike. I hope it will be one of our upcoming monthly choices.
Agree with so many recommendations here! Boys of Blur by N.D. Wilson, A Snicker of Magic, Circa Now, 14th Goldfish, The Riverman, and The Night Gardener top my list, but I have a staggering pile of books to read after school ends.
I've got West of the Moon, The Riverman, and The Night Gardener up to read next... Probably going to look at Riverman first because it's been on my list longest.Anyone into West of the Moon? It's got 5 starred reviews, I think it'll be getting a lot of discussion...
Did anyone read What the Moon Said? I loved it. Why couldn't this book not be considered for Newbery?
I'm reading West of the Moon now and it is wonderful. Great writing; lots of folktale/fairy tale themes built in. If you want to know more about it, I recommend reading this review, written by Elizabeth Bird:http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production...
Hmmm..I thought I got tipped off about Hope is a Ferris Wheel from this thread, but now I don't see a comment about it. Anyhoo, I really liked this book, and think it would make a great class read for 5th or 6th grade. There is a nice assortment of characters that would appeal to a variety of students. This is another debut author that I think has a shot at an Honor.
I'm finding that more and more incidents, experiences, language, etc. that used to be found in YA books are making it into the books considered " middle grades". I think there are many reasons for this-- the greatest being that children are exposed to so many more things at earlier ages now. If books help kids to make sense of the world around them, and to learn about things vicariously-- without actually having to experience them, and to become more empathetic, I'm good with that. The problem comes when parents don't see it this way. I have some books recommended for 9-12 or 10-12 year-olds in my 5th grade classroom library that some parents complain about (the two most recent are Doll Bones and Drama). What is your experience with this? I wonder especially because some of the Newbery "contenders" are considered by many of us to be more M.S. than middle-grades....
There are two levels of complaints."I don't want my child to read this book." - You have to respect their wishes as a parent. The child should as well. If you are using the book in class, provide an alternate assignment.
"This book should be removed from the classroom." - Do you have a school librarian? If so, there should be an official process for handling complaints about books. It requires that the parent actually read the book they have an issue with and complete a form. Then a school committee, headed by the librarian, who is professionally trained to handle censorship cases, will discuss the complaint and make a decision.
I agree that this line is getting blurrier and blurrier. While I do feel some responsibility falls on a teacher or librarian when building a library, at the end of the day, books are another form of media and parents need to help their kids wade through those choices. When in doubt about a book's age appropriate placement, I usually look at the age of the main characters, and only go one grade below them, since kids like to read about kids who are a little older. Using Doll Bones and Drama specifically, I'd say Doll Bones is okay for 11 year olds since the main characters are 12, and Drama is appropriate for young middle schoolers since the characters are older middle schoolers.
You really can't please all the parents all the time. My favorite was when I had complaints about Captain Underpants and H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man in the same week. Each thought the other parent was crazy for complaining about a harmless comic/a classic respectively.
You could always make a parent permission only section - which might simultaneously appease likely complainers and heighten the popularity of certain books.
I have a parent permission section in my 6th grade classroom library. Any book that has more mature themes, for instance- Doll Bones and Drama- go on those shelves. I also have some books that I keep separate from that-Eleanor and Park, Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the Universe, for example. Those books I loan out on an individual basis.
I just finished Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere and really enjoyed it. Debut author wrote a great story for middle grade readers about hope and resilience and family. I don't know if it's Newbery material, but hopefully it shows up on a few lists out there.
I just finished Spirit's Key and it's definitely one of the three books I've read so far that I think are medal worthy. The other two are The Night Gardener and The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing.
This recent thread reminds me that Newbery includes books appropriate to age 14.
It is too bad there is an overlap, since Printz is 12 to 18. I wonder why the cutoff for Newbery is 14 and not 12?
I think they like to view the awards as two separate things that have nothing to do with each other. The committees don't compare notes I believe, and occasionally some awesomeness happens like House of Scorpion winning a a Newbery and a Printz honor.
I appreciate how the last couple of years have had a good variety of books for different ages as medal/honor books. In 2014, we have Flora & Ulysses and The Year of Billy Miller on the 2nd-3rd grade end and Doll Bones, Paperboy and One Came Home on the upper middle grade end. This year's committee did a wonderful job!
I think the Newbery's age range has always been, and when YALSA started Printz decided to include all teens. So, overlap. I wish ALSC would adjust their age range down.
I agree with Sara....it would be great if every year was like the recent committee and had books win that covered different age groups!
I don't see why ALSC would adjust down. The Newbery has nothing to do with Priintz. If a book for fourteen year olds was a the most distinguished book of the year, it would be a shame if the author missed out on the Newbery, the most prestigious award in children's lit. There's no reason why a book can't win both.Like I said yesterday, House of Scorpions got a Newbery and a Printz honor.
I agree Benji,and as the last two years have proven, a book for younger MG readers can definitely complete with a book for older readers.
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I'm so excited about Revolution! Countdown is on my top 10 MG books of all time.
I just listened to Countdown on audio book and loved it! So I am excited to read Revolution!
Niki you must read the hard copy of the book! the text and graphics and newspaper headlines that are interspersed truly immerse you in the setting.
Thanks Kristine! I do have the hard copy...so I will check it out. :) The audio book is also excellent with the different voices for the news, songs, etc.
I just finished I Kill the Mockingbird, and love it!
I read Saving Kabul Corner, and really like the relationships there. When Audrey Met Alice is a really great story, and got my curiosity in the real Alice peaked. What the Moon Says seems to be more of a folk story that older kids may appreciate. I am waiting to read Bird soon. I just read Crossover, which has wonderful writing in verse and I appreciate the characters so much. Kenny wrote: "Anyone read:
The Sultan's Tiger
Chasing Kabul Corner
When Aubrey Met Alice
What the Moon Says
Bird
My teen librarian recommended these."
I read What the Moon Said and thought it was a great coming of age story about a girl who moves to a farm from the city when her dad looses his job. The mom is very superstitious and some of the drama with trying to keep her mother happy got a bit too much for me. Still, I liked it, my students have liked it too, just don't see it as Newbery material.
Mock Newbery 2026
Books mentioned in this topic
Saving Lucas Biggs (other topics)Half a Chance (other topics)
Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere (other topics)
Buddy (other topics)
Buddy (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Margi Preus (other topics)Raina Telgemeier (other topics)
I have a chance to see Natalie Lloyd tomorrow at a local event. Looking forward to hearing more about A Snicker of Magic.