Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

It's a new year and that means an entire year of reading and discovery is ahead of us. What books have you read that are 2018 Newbery worthy?

Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson
One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes (poetry)
The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue

The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak

Just finished Dan Geimeinhart's Scar Island. Don't think it's Newbery worthy, but will be a consideration for 4th grade Mock Newbery book club. Page turner that will appeal to boys. Remniscent of Lord of the Flies.

Just finished Jerry Spinelli's The Warden's Daughter. Loved it. I think a serious contender. http://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2017/...

Denise wrote: "Just finished Dan Geimeinhart's Scar Island. Don't think it's Newbery worthy, but will be a consideration for 4th grade Mock Newbery book club. Page turner that will appeal to boys...."

I really liked Scar Island, too!

Reving wrote: "Just finished Jerry Spinelli's The Warden's Daughter. Loved it. I think a serious contender. http://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2017/..."

I just saw that advertised in Scholastic and thought it looked great. I was wondering if it would be. Glad to hear it is!

Denise wrote: "Just finished Dan Geimeinhart's Scar Island. Don't think it's Newbery worthy, but will be a consideration for 4th grade Mock Newbery book club. Page turner that will appeal to boys...."

One of my boys who hasn't checked out a book all year saw the cover and DEMANDED that I get it into my library circulation immediately so he could take it home that day. That's better than Newbery worthy to me!

The Spinelli is a 2017 copyright so I don't believe is eligible until next year,

This is the 2017/2018 thread? Or am I wrong?

Jo wrote: "This is the 2017/2018 thread? Or am I wrong?"

It is the 2017 thread. Featuring books that might be eligible for the 2018 Newbery.

Why are we reading The Inquisitor's Tale again? It was our October selection. (I did read it, did not comment because I had decidedly mixed feelings about it, was a little bit surprised it received an honor)

I am not finding a spot that states what we are reading this month. Is there a book chosen? Where can I find that information?

In the "Currently Reading" section of the main screen, it shows that the group will be reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Inquisitor's Tale and Freedom Over Me. I just don't see a thread started for the discussion of these books.

I'm a little lost as well. Do we have a book picked for February? Where is the link??

This is confusing since The Girl who Drank the Moon, the Inquisitor's Tale and Freedom over Me are all award winners this year, that, I presume, we've already read and discussed.

For February, I'd like to suggest we read Midnight without a Moon by Linda Jackson.

This sounds like a great book to start with!

Like many people, I didn't read Girl Who Drank The Moon, and wouldn't mind seeing a thread on it.

Susan wrote: "This is confusing since The Girl who Drank the Moon, the Inquisitor's Tale and Freedom over Me are all award winners this year, that, I presume, we've already read and discussed.

For February, I'..."
I agree! It looks like a fabulous title.

Ah...Sorry about the confusion everyone.

Sometimes it's nice to let the dust settle, take a deep breath and read the latest medal-winning books, if you happened to miss one. In the case of 2011 with Moon Over Manifest, a widely unheard of title at the time, many of us were scrambling to find and read it. Or when The Graveyard Book won, discussions about the popularity of the winning books and whether children would embrace them blossomed. Indeed last year was all abuzz about Last Stop on Market Street and debates on picture books and their place in the Newbery criteria ensued.

We can pat ourselves on the back for being so on-point this year and discussing many of these titles before they won the awards. Still we never truly discussed The Girl Who Drank the Moon so I have put it in the "what we are reading this month" folder.

Meanwhile the hunt for the next great book begins.

I like to wait just a bit so that the next book-of-the-month will be on the shelf of the local library with some healthy four-star reviews already in the news.

I will have a poll for the next book-of-the-month ready by February 12th and we will start having a book of the month March 1st!

In the meantime I could really use all your help in finding those superb titles that have already been published. Historically many Newberys are published in these beginning months, as was the case of The One and Only Ivan which was published in January.

Next year’s Newbery may already be out there!

Kristen wrote: "Ah...Sorry about the confusion everyone.

Sometimes it's nice to let the dust settle, take a deep breath and read the latest medal-winning books, if you happened to miss one. In the case of 2011 w..."

It might be hard to find a copy of The Girl Who Drank the Moon. This is definitely the case at most Barnes & Nobles.

Laura wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Ah...Sorry about the confusion everyone.

Sometimes it's nice to let the dust settle, take a deep breath and read the latest medal-winning books, if you happened to miss one. In th..."

Scholastic has it!

The girl who drank the moon is today's Audible deal of the day, you can get it for 3.95 https://www.audible.com/r?C=26NE5ZD13... (Saturday)

Kristen wrote: "Ah...Sorry about the confusion everyone.

Sometimes it's nice to let the dust settle, take a deep breath and read the latest medal-winning books, if you happened to miss one. In the case of 2011 w..."

Thanks, Kristen!

Would "Ashes" by Laurie Halse Anderson qualify? It is the last on a trilogy, and it is fantastic.

Ashes was published last year; to qualify, the book will need to be published in 2017.

Caravel by Stephanie Garbet

Caraval was wonderful but I would place that firmly in YA territory.

I'm looking forward to some middle grade debuts: Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King and Cyclone by Doreen Cronin.

Thanks for maintaining this great group!

I can't wait to read Me and Marvin Gardens. It looks fantastic!

Thank you for clarifying, Tamsy!

I got The Warden's Daughter by Jerry Spinelli in the mail today. On Wednesday, I'm getting One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance in the mail. I looking forward to both reads.

Czechgirl wrote: "I got The Warden's Daughter by Jerry Spinelli in the mail today. On Wednesday, I'm getting One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance in the mail. I looking forward to both reads."

One Last Word is phenomenal. I bet you will love it!

Carol wrote: "The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak"

What age audience would you recommend this for? Follett lists it as "adult."

K wrote: "Carol wrote: "The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak"

What age audience would you recommend this for? Follett lists it as "adult.""

It is an adult book but most young adults should love it. I am comfortable with 16 and up.

The link below is to a profile of Rekulak, owner of Quirk Books, published recently in the NYTimes. Quirk published Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,etc. the Ian Doescher Shakespearean parodies of Star Wars, and the Ransom Riggs books - all of which we have in our Young Adult section. Not that that answers your question about his newest book!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/bo...

I wish I had an ARC of Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Sea. It doesn't come out until May and sounds wonderful!

How about Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Lower end of middle grade and 2017. Not sure Newbery, but I think teachers will lov it to suggest for summer reads or use as read aloud.

Marcie wrote: "How about Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Lower end of middle grade and 2017. Not sure Newbery, but I think teachers will lov it to suggest for summer reads or use as read aloud."

I haven't read this yet but her best-seller Counting By 7's was amazing. I like the subject matter in Short even better.

I love Sloan's Counting by 7's so I was excited to see a new book. I liked Short but did not love it. I found the beginning slow but once it picked up I did think that children will enjoy it. There is a good amount of humor and I found myself laughing a number of times and can still quote a few of those lines! Because the subject matter is so different it would make a good read for this group!

Our first poll of the year is ready!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

January had some stellar publications so it's a tough decision. Don't worry if we don't choose your favorite. There will be more opportunities in future polls.

Kristen wrote: "Our first poll of the year is ready!

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

January had some stellar publications so it's a tough ..."

I know. I love all 4 choices!

Scar Island is a great book and should win!

Denise wrote: "Just finished Dan Geimeinhart's Scar Island. Don't think it's Newbery worthy, but will be a consideration for 4th grade Mock Newbery book club. Page turner that will appeal to boys...." Loved that book!

On my blog, I made a top 17 books I am most looking forward to reading in 2017. You can go here to look at my list: http://czechgirlreads.com/the-17-midd...

What a great list! I have many of those on my tbr list also. I am very excited for Orphan Island!

Orphan Island was incredible! Can't wait for you all to read it so we can talk about that ending....

Scar Island, Midnight Without a Moon, and now Me and Marvin Gardens ... what a great start to the year!

A little worried about content appropriateness of Midnight Without a Moon for 4th graders. The topic is SO relevant, but the pregnancy issue and death scene might be just a bit too much for 10-year-olds? Thoughts?

Love, love, love Me and Marvin Gardens - so many themes woven into the narrative, along with the environmental facts, not to mention the 100-years-ago flashbacks!

Denise wrote: "Scar Island, Midnight Without a Moon, and now Me and Marvin Gardens ... what a great start to the year!

A little worried about content appropriaten..." I am reading Midnight Without a Moon right now, and I'm thinking the same thing with my 5th graders. It's not a book I would feel comfortable reading aloud but so far (???) I'd still have it in my classroom library.

Laura wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Ah...Sorry about the confusion everyone.

Sometimes it's nice to let the dust settle, take a deep breath and read the latest medal-winning books, if you happened to miss one. In th..."

If you are having trouble finding "Girl Who Drank the Moon" they've had it at my Costco. It doesn't have the shiny Newbery sticker on it but it only costs 10.99.

Thoroughly enjoyed Me & Marvin Gardens, Short, Midnight Without a Moon, Scar Island, and now reading The Matchstick Castle, and loving it!