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

January 31, 2012 by Jonathan Hunt

2013 Newbery Reading List

January 31, 2012 by Jonathan Hunt   52 comments

Here are some of the more promising candidates for the 2013 Newbery Medal.  Some of the starred review information may quickly become outdated–if it isn’t already.

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate (three stars) is a novel in prose poems with rich themes.

DRAGONSWOOD by Janet Lee Carey (two stars) is a sequel to the author’s earlier fantasy book.

THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE by Christopher Paul Curtis (two stars) is a sequel to Newbery Medal winner BUD, NOT BUDDY.

STEP GENTLY OUT by Helen Frost (two stars) is a single poem with striking photographic illustrations.

PENNY AND HER SONG by Kevin Henkes (three stars) is an easy reader.

PRINCESS ACADEMY 2 by Shannon Hale is coming in the fall.  I can’t wait!

TITANIC: VOICES FROM THE DISASTER by Deborah Hopkinson (two stars) is a nonfiction account on the 100th year anniversary of the disaster.

THE LIONS OF LITTLE ROCK by Kristin Levine (three stars) is historical fiction about the year after the Little Rock Nine.

WE’VE GOT A JOB by Cynthia Levinson (three stars) is a nonfiction book about the 1963 Birmingham Children’s March.

SON by Lois Lowry, the final book in the Giver quartet, publishes in the fall.

NO CRYSTAL STAIR by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (two stars) a documentary novel about the life of a Harlem bookseller.

THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer Nielsen is a fantasy adventure.  Great pageturner.  Should be a big hit with readers.

MILES TO GO FOR FREEDOM by Linda Barrett Osborne (three stars) is a lavishly illustrated nonfiction book about Jim Crow.

WONDER by R.J. Palacio (three stars) is about a kid with a deformed face about to start school for the first time.

MAY B by Caroline Starr Rose (two stars) is a historical novel in verse.

WHAT CAME FROM THE STARS by Gary Schmidt is an epic high fantasy with a contemporary setting.  This one also comes in the fall.

LITTLE ROCK GIRL 1957 by Shelley Tougas (two stars) is a nonfiction book about the iconic photograph.

CROW by Barbara Wright (four stars) is a historical fiction set during the Reconstruction.

Please feel free to add your own recommendations here, now and throughout the spring and summer.  See you in the fall.  Signing off for now.

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt is the Coordinator of Library Media Services at the San Diego County Office of Education. He served on the 2006 Newbery committee, and has also judged the Caldecott Medal, the Printz Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. You can reach him at hunt_yellow@yahoo.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Webcast Results

by Jonathan Hunt

December 2022

Calling all Mock Newbery Enthusiasts: Join the 2023 Heavy Medal Award Committee

by Jonathan Hunt

October 2022

Two More Titles: November Nomination Time

by Jonathan Hunt

September 2022

85 Books to Consider: Mock Newbery Suggestions Updated

by Jonathan Hunt

June 2022

Mock Newbery Update - Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Jonathan Hunt

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#181)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Monkey Prince Vol. 1: Enter the Monkey | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Readers’ Poll Results

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

The Value of Innocence for BIPOC Students, a guest post by David Mura

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

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

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

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. Monica Edinger says

    January 31, 2012 at 8:25 am

    Signing off here and heading over to SLJ’s Battle of the Kids’ Books (http://battleofthebooks.slj.com/) where the contenders are to be announced tomorrow. See which of the ALA Award winners, your overlooked favorites, and a few surprises perhaps are among them.

  2. Jennifer Schultz says

    January 31, 2012 at 9:34 am

    Aww…..I haven’t commented much, but I’ve been eagerly following the discussions. Thanks again for a marvelous blog. I have The Lions of Little Rock checked out. I’ll be rooting for Kristin Levine–she’s a northern Virginia writer. Of course, she’s a great writer, and The Lions of Little Rock has already earned fantastic reviews, so it’s not purely based on geography.

    There’s a nonfiction book (out in March) that I’m keenly interested in. It’s called The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure, and it’s about the fairy photographs faked by two little British girls at the turn of the last century. Kirkus reviewed it very favorably.

  3. Jennifer Schultz says

    January 31, 2012 at 9:56 am

    A slight correction (I’m going through your wonderful list and adding them to future orders and my neverending TBR list): looks like Helen Frost’s forthcoming book is titled Step Gently Out, according to Baker and Taylor. Of course, not unusual for titles to change so quickly!

    B&T has a 10/25/11 publication date for I Lay My Stitches Down; Publishers Weekly apparently reviewed in November, but the other review publications only recently reviewed it. (Looks great, so I’m glad that you included it anyway.)

    Several of these books were “surprises”-and some are already out…lucky me! (We route our review journals-I’m second in line, so I don’t see them right away)

  4. Jen B. says

    January 31, 2012 at 10:12 am

    The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone has 2 starred reviews already. Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan has 3 starred reviews (plus previous winner, so perhaps of note) and leans towards the younger novel end. Polly Horvath’s Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, Detectives Extraordinaire also has 2 stars and hits the chapter book range a bit. Finally Veera Hiranandani has 2 stars for The Whole Story of Half a Girl. So much to read already and as always, so little time!

    It’s been a pleasure following the blog this year – I came so close to getting the entire shortlist read in time this year (much closer than I got last year for sure!) and have high hopes that next year I’ll get all the way through. Looking forward to seeing how much reading I have to do for the Battle of the Books!

  5. Elle Librarian says

    January 31, 2012 at 10:47 am

    ASHES by Laurie Halse Anderson should be out in the fall as well (the conclusion to the Seeds of America triology, which began with CHAINS).

  6. Jonathan Hunt says

    January 31, 2012 at 11:39 am

    Jennifer, thanks for noting the corrections; I’ve changed them above. I think I just got the title of STEP GENTLY OUT confused with I LAY MY STITCHES DOWN. As for that latter title, I was sure it was a 2011 publication, but then Follett had the copyright date listed as 2012. And thanks also to Jen B for noting the additonal starred reviews. I actually knew about KINDRED SOULS, but just forgot to list it here. Keep those recs coming!

  7. Rebecca Donnelly says

    January 31, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    THE WILD BOOK by Margarita Engle is, like MAY B., a historical novel in verse with a dyslexic main character (although neither, I think, uses the word dyslexia). TWB is set in Cuba in 1912. I’ve read MAY B and loved it; looking forward to Engle’s.

  8. Kristin says

    January 31, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Another gentle correction: Christopher Paul Curtis’ THE MIGHTLY MISS MALONE is more of a companion novel to BUD, NOT BUDDY, not a sequel. The events in that book occur in parallel time to those in BNB. And it’s a fabulous read!

  9. Jennifer Schultz says

    January 31, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    And Fairy Ring got a star from The Horn Book! Just saw it on Roger Sutton’s blog. I swear I don’t know Mary Losure or have any affiliation with Candlewick. Just really looking forward to it.

  10. DaNae says

    January 31, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    Another Gary Schmidt! Get out of town!

    I just finished May B. and was underwhelmed.

    Any word on GLORY BE? I heard an interview with the author on NPR. We are reading it for our first bookclub book of the year.

    Have IVAN and MISS MALONE waiting in the other room.

    I’m sad when perfect books get encumbered by sequels – PRINCESS ACADEMY, Lois Lowry (whimper, whimper) Was LOVE STAR GIRL not enough of a cautionary tale?

  11. DaNae says

    January 31, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    And Monica, I can’t wait!

  12. Eric Carpenter says

    January 31, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    I’m looking forward to getting my hands on:
    Liar & Spy – Rebecca Stead
    Summer of the Gypsy Moths – Sara Pennypacker
    Fake Mustache – Tom Angleberger
    and of course the likely too old for newbery Bitterblue

  13. Genevieve says

    January 31, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Princess Academy 2 is called PALACE OF STONE.

  14. Genevieve says

    January 31, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    New books by Rebecca Stead and Gary Schmidt? Hurray!

    And Fake Mustache sounds great.

  15. Meghan says

    January 31, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    Omg omg omg PRINCESS ACADEMY 2?! thank you for making my day!! I cannot wait! Also- just got a copy of the MIGHTY MISS MALONE, and she is miiighty fabulous. Definitely keep your eye on her.

  16. Meghan says

    January 31, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    Also, a big thank you to Jonathan and Nina. As always, this blog was so much fun and so infromative. I already can’t wait till next years Newbery!

  17. Brandy says

    January 31, 2012 at 7:06 pm

    Gary Schmidt wrote a fantasy novel???? I don’t know whether to be excited or nervous.

    The 2012 book I’m looking forward to the most is Peaceweaver by Rebecca Barnhouse. I loved her 2010 novel The Coming of the Dragon, which I thought was good enough to garner more attention and talk than it did.

    Thanks for the wonderful year everyone! Especially Jonathan and Nina for all your hard work.

  18. Elizabeth Bird says

    February 1, 2012 at 12:01 am

    TWELVE KINDS OF ICE by Ellen Obed and there’s a Grace Lin book due out in the fall that’s already getting buzz. FYI.

  19. Jonathan Hunt says

    February 1, 2012 at 11:32 am

    SLJ has just given NO CRYSTAL STAIR by Nelson, TITANIC by Hopkinson, and BENEATH A METH MOON by Woodson (too old?) their third starred reviews, while COLD CEREAL by Rex earns its second. And, looking back through my list, I also forgot to mention that PROMISE THE NIGHT by Michaela MacColl has two starred reviews. Also, Phillip Hoose has a new nonfiction book called MOONBIRD that looks really interesting . . .

  20. DaNae says

    February 1, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Grace Lin too!!!!!!!

    And Eric I can’t believe I forgot the Pennypacker. I’d just put it on my wish list.

  21. Elle Librarian says

    February 1, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    Carl Hiaasen has another new one coming out in March as well (CHOMP). Any reviews on that one yet?

  22. Julie says

    February 1, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Printed out the list…hope to read these and have a better start at the discussions next fall and winter.

  23. Sondy says

    February 1, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    I actually read Gary Schmidt’s older book, Straw Into Gold, before any of the Newbery-Honored ones. It’s fantasy, a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, and very good. So I’m excited about this one!

  24. Allison says

    February 6, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    I’m listening to THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE on audio, and my gut reaction is: instant Newbery! I haven’t finished it, so of course I should reserve judgement, but it’s just SO good, I can’t help but get a little enthusiastic.

    Ahem.

    Can’t wait for PALACE OF STONE!

    And as others have mentioned, we have another Grace Lin book to look forward to this Fall- THE STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY, a companion to her Newbery Honor winning WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON. And that’s in addition to DUMPLING DAYS, published in January of this year. The strongest volume of the charming “Year of” series yet, in my opinion!

  25. Sam Eddington says

    February 16, 2012 at 11:09 am

    JAKE AND LILY by Jerry Spinelli, and APPLEWHITES AT WIT’S END by Stephanie Tolan are both excellent books by excellent authors. I’ve also been hearing some buzz about REMARKABLE by Lizzie K. Foley.

  26. DaNae says

    February 18, 2012 at 11:18 am

    Another APPLEWHITES, where do I sign up. I’m not sure why some sequels send me into raptures and some fill me with dread.

  27. Jen B. says

    February 20, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    Just finished The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Hiranandani (2 stars from PW and Kirkus). I thought it was good (I think it will be a good one to recommend to middle grade girls who like realistic fiction), but I don’t think it’s going to be one of the best of the year. I could see myself being possibly swayed by a good argument, but it felt like it was trying to cover an awful lot of ground and ended up spread a little thin.

  28. Jonathan Hunt says

    February 24, 2012 at 12:40 am

    The PW Spring Announcements are out, but unfortunately not available for free online anymore. But the Fall Sneaks are here—

    http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/50717-fall-2012-sneak-previews.html

    –with all kinds of goodies. New books by Laura Amy Schlitz, Karen Cushman, Sharon Creech, and Adam Gidwitz to name a few. Have a look.

  29. Marybeth says

    March 16, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    Hello, DaNae
    Did we take the same ALSC Online Newbery Class last spring? Nice to see your name.

    I just finished CROW and overall think its great HistFic. It will take a patient child reader to get through the first 100+ pages until the plot takes off. Jacket art doesn’t help sell it to children, either. That being said, the last 1/3 of the book is very tensely written, the sense of impending doom is palatable. Memorable characters, imagery, parallel themes converge. Schoolkids know about the US Civil Rights movments but will appreciate learning how segregation became law. At least I did!

  30. Mr. H says

    March 21, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    Barnhill, of THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK fame, has a new novel coming out too . . . IRON HEARTED VIOLET.

    Sometimes, with debut authors, it takes a while to find their footing. I liked THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK and like many others, saw TONS of writing potential. This new one looks to be fantasy.

  31. Steffaney Smith says

    March 23, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Lots of good writing to look forward to reading, but the one book I can’t wait to get my hands on will be Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Ashes.” I’ve been stalking her website trying to get a pub. date!

  32. Jen B. says

    April 12, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Read the newest of The Knights’ Tales by Gerald Morris and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t think it was anywhere near as good as Sir Gawain. Our book club just read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin and now I can’t wait for Starry River of the Sky in October!

  33. HammockReader says

    April 12, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    Just finished CROW and agree with DaNae above, except I thought it was more interesting to get into than she did. Liked it enough that I suggested my 6th grade teacher add it to his 3 books of required -reading-over-the-summer. Thought MIGHTY MALONE was OK, but not great, but that WONDER was great, but can’t tell if kids will stay with it. CHOMP was fun, but not another HOOT.

  34. Erin M. says

    April 14, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    I just finished The One and only Ivan, and I loved it! I instantly added the book to my list of favorites. It was funny, thought provoking, and the characters are heartwarming. Just a beautiful book!

  35. Kim B. says

    May 10, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    If you’re reading these comments and you haven’t read WONDER yet, do so immediately. It’s incredible and deserves many awards in the coming months.

    • Linda myrick says

      December 31, 2012 at 1:11 pm

      I agree. Just finished it. Haven’t read all of the others, but Wonder feels like the winner to me!

  36. KellyI says

    June 6, 2012 at 9:07 am

    According to amazon, Ashes doesn’t come out until February 2013. 🙁

  37. Elle Librarian says

    June 11, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    KellyI – the audio version of Ashes doesn’t come out until February, but I believe the book version comes out in October.

  38. Pat says

    June 16, 2012 at 6:13 am

    Sway by debut author Amber McRee Turner oublished by Disney Hyperion is getting great reviews and some Newbery buzz. Story told in the authentic Southern voice of 10-year-old Cass as she lives through the heartbreak of a parent abandoning the family. Full of magical realism with original word play. Brings to mind the movies, Big Fish and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

  39. Julie Corsaro says

    August 19, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    How about Sy Montgomery’s Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World?

  40. Eric says

    August 20, 2012 at 7:42 pm

    Has anyone gotten their hands on SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN by 2011 newbery honoree Margi Preus?
    Hearing some good things but it doesn’t hit the shelves until September.

  41. DaNae says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:17 am

    Eric, Amazon has it in stock

  42. Ms. Martha says

    August 29, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    I love Son by Lois Lowry, and “my kids” are loving Splendors and Glooms, by Laura Amy Schlitz. Sophia’s War, by Avi, is good, too. Precious Bones, by Mika Ashley-Hollinger, has a wonderful community of characters. Has anyone yet read Laugh with the Moon, by Shana Burg?

  43. Ms. Martha says

    August 29, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Oh! And I can’t forget Liar & Spy by Stead!!!

  44. KH says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:00 am

    THE SPINDLERS just got its third starred review (it was book of the day at SLJ).

Trackbacks

  1. We’ve Got A Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson | Biblio Links says:
    February 2, 2012 at 6:05 pm

    […] […]

  2. Want to start reading for next year’s Newberys? | Children's Desk says:
    February 8, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    […] 2013 Reading List from SLJ […]

  3. It’s Never Too Early to Think About the Newbery Award « literacious says:
    May 29, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    […] […]

  4. Newbury 2013 Reading List | the small librarian says:
    June 18, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    […] […]

  5. Newbery Contenders | AES Elementary Library says:
    July 25, 2012 at 6:34 pm

    […] School Library Journal Picks […]

  6. Newbery and Caldecott Possible Winners for 2013 | says:
    September 14, 2012 at 7:24 am

    […] Heavy Medal […]

  7. Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead | Hope Is the Word says:
    November 7, 2012 at 5:01 am

    […] […]

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 © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023