SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Book Discussion
  • Heavy Medal Mock
  • Process

September 29, 2008 by Nina Lindsay

Spring Fling?

September 29, 2008 by Nina Lindsay   9 comments

Savvy and Shooting the Moon are two titles that I heard a lot about this spring, and which some of you mentioned as soon as we said we were looking for titles.  Both of these books have engaging voices, and well-paced and compelling narratives. They are fun and well done. Are they distinguished? I’ve yet to have someone convince me, using the Newbery Terms and Criteria.  I find both titles suffer in endings that don’t quite deliver…or that just deliver a slightly shabbier version of what was promised–like getting the wrong bike for your birthday.  It’s true that they are strong spring titles…and it can be difficult sometimes to locate the measure of  a "distinguished" book among spring returns.

I’ve heard from some publishers that they hold their "best" books for fall, because this is when award committees notice them most. Is this true?  If so, isn’t it just a self-fulfilling prophecy? From my stints on award committees, I can promise you that committee members are "noticing" titles all year long (that is, reading their butts off, 24/7/365). Another version of this goes that a spring title has a longer time to sink in estimation with committee members. Hm. Actually, I’ve found award committee members to be amazingly rigorous in exposing all flaws in every title (there is NO flawless book) and weighing them judiciously against each book’s strengths. It’s just that this work gets more intense in the fall… perhaps because publishers are holding on to their strongest titles? In that view, a spring title could be considered to have more time to "recuperate."

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

So, a hint to publishers: Fall ARCs in the spring or summer whenever possible are greatly appreciated by award committees. Committee members will follow up by reading the final copy when you send it. The more time members have to work with a title, the better they can articulate their thoughts on it. No book with a Newbery Medal has gotten it without having gone through the wringer first. In fact, one measure of "distinguished" might be how well a book holds up after several rounds through it.  Maybe a thread starts to pull, a non-essential button loosens. But doesn’t the whole thing still glow, maybe even with a richer hue? 

(Okay–someone take me on regarding Savvy or Shooting the Moon, but be convincing…)

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Nina Lindsay

Nina Lindsay is the Children's Services Coordinator at the Oakland Public Library, CA. She chaired the 2008 Newbery Committee, and served on the 2004 and 1998 committees. You can reach her at ninalindsay@gmail.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

Mock Newbery Update - Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Nina Lindsay

January 2022

THE FINAL FIVE: Heavy Medal Mock Newbery 2022 Contenders

by Nina Lindsay

December 2021

Last hours to submit your opinions and applications!

by Nina Lindsay

January 2021

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: SHOW ME A SIGN by Ann Clare LeZotte

by Nina Lindsay

January 2021

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: PRAIRIE LOTUS by Linda Sue Park

by Nina Lindsay

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The Yarn LIVE at ALA 2022!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Publisher Preview: Ellen Myrick (Part Three!)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review | Red and Rover: Fun’s Never Over

by Mike Pawuk

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Mail: Dachshunds, monsters, magic, climate change, and more!

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Linda Sue Park: Children Love Books with "Fierce Adoration" | The Newbery at 100

Ringing in the Newbery (and Caldecott): An awards-trivia smackdown with Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker

Children’s Publishing World Reacts to Michaela Goade's History-Making Caldecott Medal, Rest of the YMA Winners

Susan Cooper on her Wartime Childhood and How Writing Is "Fed by My Unconscious" | The Newbery at 100

2021 Youth Media Awards Winners

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Franki says

    September 29, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    I LOVE Shooting the Moon and have Savvy on my pile because I keep hearing such great things about it. Not sure if either meets Newbery criteria but how about Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O’Connor? I’d like to throw that one in as a possibility. I think people have forgotten about it since it was out so early.

  2. Roger Sutton says

    September 30, 2008 at 10:00 am

    I think the weighting of big-buzz books into the fall has more to do with the opening of school and the November-December holidays, yes?

  3. Nina says

    September 30, 2008 at 11:03 am

    Roger, I would think that the school year and the holidays has more to do with fall releases too…but publishers have told me explicitly that ”

  4. Nina says

    September 30, 2008 at 11:06 am

    [sorry, flubbed by my own technology]. Roger, I would think that the school year and the holidays have more to do with fall releases too…but publishers have told me explicitly that since the Newbery winners tend to be fall releases, they hold their Newbery picks for the fall. The logic escapes me.

    Franki, thanks for the reminded about the Barbara O’Connor, which is on my pile!

  5. mia says

    September 30, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    I personally felt that one of the strengths of Savvy was that it had enough plot points to hook a reader initially, yet not spoil the outcome, as in those instances when you see the best parts of a movie in its trailer. I also thought that the language was humorous, rich in vocabulary, and sounded pleasant in my head (as I think it would out loud). The characters were dynamic. I thought that the book treated religion in an interesting way, in that strong beliefs and church community could co-exist with secret magical super powers, rather than being presented as mutually exclusive. I hope these thoughts are helpful!

  6. Priscilla says

    October 1, 2008 at 7:39 am

    I read Shooting the Moon and loved it, but I had a strong and lingering sense that another book could easily come along and overshadow it. I felt the ending gave the book its solidity. I just finished the Adoration of Jenna Fox and thought it was powerful and intriguing. Can it be considered for a Newbery? I would like to think so.

  7. Mary says

    October 1, 2008 at 11:24 am

    I enjoyed Savvy and Shooting the Moon, but I was much more impressed with Henkes’ Bird Lake Moon. It has powerful evocation of place, rich and complex characterization, and skillfully portrayed believable responses to difficult life situations.

  8. Amy says

    October 1, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    I think the publishers are wrong. I know for a fact that when I was on Newbery, the books I had time to re-read were the ones I got the earliest. They were also the ones I devoted the most time to, as I waited for those big boxes to arrive and force me to rush through later readings.

    As for Jenna Fox, well, I know Newbery goes up to age 14, but I would consider that a Printz contender rather than Newbery.

    I’ll keep my eye out for your ideas to put on my ever-increasing “to read” list.

  9. Nina says

    October 1, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    Jenna Fox can be considered as long as the author is a US Citizen or resident, which I believe she is. The committee would discuss whether they think this is a distinguished book for children through age 14. Newbery and Printz consideration are not mutually exclusive. Each committee is separate and each committee determines how well a book fits their criteria.

    Thanks Mia and others for the detailed comments about these books. It’s good to know which titles provide vigorous debate–which is one of the criteria for a good MOCK Newbery discussion title!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Other Mock Newbery Sites

    • Anderson’s Bookshops
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Reads Mock Newbery
    • Northport-East Northport PL
    • Rhode Island OLIS
  • Resources

    • Jen J's Starred Reviews Spreadsheet
    • Newbery Manual
    • Newbery Medal & Honor Books
    • Newbery Terms & Criteria
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2022


    COPYRIGHT © 2022