Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

I finished One Crazy Summer and it was very good. The Newbery Committee is sure to take a good look at it.

I created a list on goodreads listopia.

Vote and watch others vote for the books that may win a Newbery in 2011.

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/45...

I really liked A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home. I loved the art throughout the book, the Newbery committee won't really look at the art, but it was a pretty good story. It's one I think the committee will want to take a look at.

I finished The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas. It was interesting but am undecided if it is a future Newbery. I am leaning toward "no" but you never know what the Newbery committee will say. Still it was entertaining. Has anyone else read it?

I liked The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz not sure that it is a future Newbery. Although I liked the writing style. It had a little Miss Hickory feel to it.

I love Miss Hickory!I will look for The Night Fairy.

I just finished One Crazy Summer and I think it will definitely be a contender. Well written, great characters, an original take on the race troubles of the late 60's. (Although I never did figure out the exact year of the setting.)

I am not a Gary Paulsen fan but I LOVED Woods Runner. Loved it.

Kathy wrote: "I am not a Gary Paulsen fan but I LOVED Woods Runner. Loved it."

I liked Woods Runner, too. I could hardly put it down.

I have heard a lot about Woods Runner. I can't wait to read it.

I just read Woods Runner it is very compelling. I liked the nonfiction parts sprinkled throughout. I thought they made the story more interesting but they were not so long as to bog the story down.

Spoiler Alert! Stop reading now if you don't want to know what happens . . .

I have to say I was disappointed at how easily he found his parents once he got to the city. I was expecting him to struggle a bit more, being out of his element and not knowing how to proceed. But that's just me.

I did love the story and it seems to be a Newbery contender.

I too really enjoyed the Woods Runner, and especially liked that he did not gloss over some of the terrible parts of war. I also liked that he alternated each chapter with some non-fiction that helped to bring the story alive, a unique style. I agree it may be a book that could be considered a Newberry contender.

I'm reading Woods Runner now and I'm hooked. I like the historical bits too, but in some ways I find them distracting.

I just finished this book too. I like that the historical notes are before each chapter. I think it will make it easier for some kids to read and understand. Sometimes kids don't bother reading the historical notes at the end of a book.

Did anyone else have trouble figuring out who One Crazy Summer was written for? It's one of those books that I know a lot of adults I could hand it to who would probably really get into it, but I can't think of any younger patrons I would recommend it to. Definitely interesting, and there was some really lovely language, but I felt it might be one of those books that adults love and kids don't really know what to do with, if that makes sense.

I just finished Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. I really liked it. It was well written and thought provoking. Has anyone else read it?

I just read A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home I loved the pictures, and the character of Celeste. But I found the message of preservation too overwhelming. I just don't think it rings true for a story that takes place 200 years ago.

I have. What an amazing book! http://blogs.katyisd.org/talfonsin/20...

Kristen wrote: "I finished The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas. It was interesting but am undecided if it is a future Newbery. I am leaning toward "no" but you never know what the New..."
I just finished the Wish Stealers today and really liked it. I too am undecided if it may be a future Newbery, but think it could be a contender? Surprised it is her first novel, a great start, and I really liked the quotes at the end of each chapter.

I just finished One Crazy Summer.I really liked this book. I thought the author did a great job of showing different perspectives within an ethnic group.

Dana wrote: "I just finished One Crazy Summer.I really liked this book. I thought the author did a great job of showing different perspectives within an ethnic group."

Well said.

In my opinion at this point, One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper are definite contenders.

I finished Woods Runner and I liked it. I think it is more suited for 5th and 6th grades, as it is a little violent but a great representation of war.

Kristen wrote: "I just finished Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. I really liked it. It was well written and thought provoking. Has anyone else read it?"
kristen,i just finished this and absolutely loved it. It reads beautifully and makes the topic of being a disabled child not only approachable, but raises issues that will resonate with any young adult. I think definite Newbery contender.

Kristin,
Out of My Mindhas been one of my favorites this year. What a fabulous book that will surely spur a lot of discussion if read aloud.

Has anyone read Willowood? We just recieved our library's copy and it looks promising.

Karen wrote: "Has anyone read Willowood? We just recieved our library's copy and it looks promising."

How was Willowood Karen?

I read Star in the Forest by Laura Resau and it was charming. I didn't know what to expect with such a difficult topic but I felt it was written very well.

I really liked Willowood. I like Star in the Forest too, but I objected to the end notes.

I think I may be the only who did not like the book Out of My Mind I thought the school and the psychologist were just too vilified. I also thought the mother's courageous moments were a little over the top.
Anyway, I just read Will Grayson, Will Grayson (speaking of over the top) and loved it. It's such a great "character" story. May not be to everyone's liking, and certainly more a Printz book than a Newbery.

This week's #kidlitchat on Twitter discussed many of the award worthy titles that authors, librarians, and teachers are reading. If you use Twitter, you can read the transcript of the chat by following the hashtag.

Some titles that I think are Newbery worthy (many of them already listed here)

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holt

Kristen wrote: "Karen wrote: "Has anyone read Willowood? We just recieved our library's copy and it looks promising."

How was Willowood Karen?

I read Star in the Forest by [auth..."

Well, the premise of [book:Willowood|6620464] is good and it's written to the right age-group- sweet story- but it wasn't particularly Newberry-worthy. I still think Leaving Gee's Bend has been my favorite so far. My issue with One Crazy Summer is that I think it is what adults feel is Newberry-worthy and not necessarily what appeals to kids.

I havent read

The Water Seeker yet but will move it up! I agree with the the other three titles, especially The Dreamer.

I am reading My Life with the Lincolns and The Red Umbrella. These are both historical books that take place in the 1960s. Red Umbrella deals with the 1959 Cuban Revolution and a family that decides to send two children, 14 and 7 to the United States alone.
Lincoln is a story about a girl who is convinced her family is the Lincolns reincarnated. Set in 1966, the civil rights movement plays a big role too.
I've only just started them, but they both are good so far.

Another book that takes place at that same time is COUNTDOWN by Deborah Wiles. It is a wonderful historical fiction book. Deborah deals with the Cuban Missle Crisis.

Hmmm. Looks like there is a lot of great historical fiction coming out this year. I just finished Leaving Gee's Bend and enjoyed it. I could see it being considered for the Newbery.

I've heard good things about Countdown and recently checked it out from the Library. It's slowly rising to the top of my TBR pile.

I've now finished The Red Umbrellaand think it is great. I hope more people read it. It provided a good perspective on what it must have been like for these kids who were uprooted from their homes (in Cuba) and sent to a foreign country (America).

Kristen wrote: "I just finished Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. I really liked it. It was well written and thought provoking. Has anyone else read it?"

I loved it and have been urging everyone to read it...

I absolutely totally agree. I read it aloud to my middle school academic camp. Now, it is going around the group being read. Others I like include One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and As Easy as Falling off the Face of the Earth.

I have to say I was pretty impressed with Countdown. I think the "documentary novel" format was a fascinating new way to present historical fiction. I imagine we'll see more of this kind of "hybrid" format in the future. I also envision many possibilities with historical fiction ebooks and documentary information.

However, I'm not sure if the writing itself is Newbery worthy. It's good, mind you, but is it great? If you take away the visual material added to the text, does the language and the theme and the character blow me away? Erm . . . no.

So I'm not sure on this one. Maybe an honor book?

June wrote: "I absolutely totally agree. I read it aloud to my middle school academic camp. Now, it is going around the group being read. Others I like include One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and As Ea..."

I've just started
As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earthit's reminding me of Holesa bit. I'm really enjoying it.

I just finished Deborah Wiles' Countdown and have got to say I think this could be the Newbery. There have been a few mentions of it on group's posts, but not a lot... what do the rest of you think?

Kim wrote: "I just finished Deborah Wiles' Countdown and have got to say I think this could be the Newbery. There have been a few mentions of it on group's posts, but not a lot... what do the r..."

I'm so excited it's next on my list.

I loved Countdown. It did a great job of showing the fear that children and adults felt at the time. I also think it is a great parallel for today's climate regarding the Middle East and Muslims.

Has anyone read Green? So far I like it. I'm not sure if it's Newbery material though.

Scumble the sequel to Savvy was (I think) just as good as the first one. Has anyone else read it?

I'm half way through Scumble. I like it, but it's just a fun read, not a contender.

I also enjoyed SCUMBLE, but I don't think it qualifies as a contender.

I thought The Dreamer was charming. I really liked it.

Kristen, I'm with you. I fell in love the The Dreamer. This is clearly a stand-out book.

I still need to read a number of possible contenders, including Mockingjay, The Wish Stealer, Woods Runner, Nest For Celeste, & many more.

Based on books I've read, my favorites so far are The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan, Countdown by Deborah Wiles, One Crazy Summer, A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner, The Boneshaker by Kate Milford, and Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, very roughly in that order.