Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Amber and Clay has been requested as a book of the month all year.

Do you think Laura Amy Schlitz has an opportunity for another Newbery award with Amber and Clay?

I believe this title has a great chance at winning a 2022 Newbery. I’m hoping The Beatryce Prophecy wins the gold. It is my favorite middle grade reader of 2021.

Being honest, I have no interest in reading this book. And I don't think kids will either.

I tried reading Amber and Clay two different tines a d could not get interested.

AMBER AND CLAY by Laura Amy Schlitz had 2 elements that appealed to me:
1. The archaeological artifacts add texture to the stories of life in Ancient Greece.
2. I was interested in reading about slavery in a context that does not include race, skin color or links to Africa.
There is a lot going on in this book: multiple locations, multiple points of view, different types of poetry, links to real historical people as well as Greek gods.
I am not the type of reader who wants to prepare a spreadsheet in order to keep track of the storylines of a book. But I do recognize the quality of the writing and the detailed background research done by the author.

I struggled to read this one. I finally abandoned it half way through. It's just not that interesting. I have passed it to a few of my strongest readers and none have liked it so far.

Jeane wrote: "Being honest, I have no interest in reading this book. And I don't think kids will either."
I'm so relieved someone else said this. I read the flap and couldn't muster any interest. To be fair, one of my 7th graders did check it out from our library - I don't know if she read it or enjoyed it, but at least it got checked out.

I’ve checked this book out twice from the library… somehow, i simply can’t get into it. It’s good to know I’m not alone.

This is not a personal favorite for me, but I do think the author’s craft is distinguished and not very many author’s could pull off all these moving parts. For that reason I would say it is in Newbery territory. I highly recommend trying out the audio version. it really brought the story to life. I think students will need some historical background to get the most out of the book.

I actually really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and makes the historical context of Ancient Greece accessible to a younger audience. I do agree it probably is best for a more sophisticated reader, but it may open up that world for further exploration.

I loved this book, though I recognize that it has a lot going on and may be challenging for a reader to follow. That said, I have had middles school students who read and enjoyed it. I love the archeological artifacts and how they were woven into the text, enjoyed learning about the life of a slave in that time and place, and was fascinated by the little bears, which was new to me. I liked how she wove art, history, mythology and philosophy together with a little magic and made them accessible to a younger audience.

This book is way too long and I felt like the author was trying to do too many things at once. I’m not a fan of books that jump between points of view to begin with and then the constant change of style was jarring. As a fan of Greek mythology I felt like the gods were misrepresented (overly simplified). And to be honest, I didn’t connect with any of the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. I did listen to the audio version and I thought the narrator did a great job. There is definitely a lot going on. I was interested to see how the plot lines would all intersect. I thought the information about the artifacts woven into the story was well done. I enjoyed the historical context and the information about Socrates and others.

I finally finished this and did not enjoy it. I recognize that it was well written and researched, but the only part I actually liked was Melisto and her bear journey. Rhaskos’s life with Phaistos and talks with Socrates went on far too long for me. I also would consider this YA, rather than middle grade, even if the characters are children.

I'm aware that Newbery Award winner Laura Amy Schlitz writes beautifully. In Amber & Clay she presents a combination of exhibit pieces matching the story's place and time, a variety of characters telling their stories from their own viewpoints, and then of course Hermes and Socrates, but it is all too much. Reading the preface "Hernes Speaks" the reader is promised that the story reads quickly even though it's such a thick book. This proved incorrect for me. I tried to read it 3 times and couldn't finish, which is rare for me.