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November 26, 2013 by Nina Lindsay

Discussion Shortlist

November 26, 2013 by Nina Lindsay   5 comments

Thanksgiving is nigh, and that means it’s time for me and Jonathan to settle on and announce a shortlist for our live discussion.  The Oakland Mock discussion and voting will be held on Sunday, January 12th, in Oakland CA.  More details to come.

Our shortlist is designed to create a good Mock discussion, with a range of genres and possible Newbery “issues,” and including titles that should be widely available in your libraries, so that all participants can actually read the entire list.    We know the first responses to this post will be in regards to what’s not on it.  This was a challenging shortlist to bring together, with a lot of interesting non-typical-Newbery-fare hanging out there as possibilities, along with much strong middle-grade fiction.  You’ll note, in comparison to some of our previous shortlists, a lack of longer non-fiction, but that’s not for the lack of possibilities.  You also won’t find some of the top vote-getters in our last set of Nominations.  But each of these have been “mock nominated,” and we think they are all great. In alphabetical order by title:

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CLEMENTINE AND THE SPRING TRIP by Sara Pennypacker.  Amazing voice,  humor, and nuance for younger readers.

ERUPTION by Elizabeth Rusch.  Everything you want in a science narrative? Riveting and clear.

FAR FAR AWAY by Tom McNeal.  Certainly distinguished…but maybe in different ways for different audiences.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WHALE by Julie Fogliano. Still our favorite for picture book text, and one for the very young set.

P.S. BE ELEVEN by Rita Williams-Garcia.  Haven’t talked much about this one lately, but it still stands well above others for voice and character…flaws and all.

THE THING ABOUT LUCK by Cynthia Kadohata.  While the storyline fades over time, these characters are the clearest to me, of all, still.

THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP by Kathi Appelt.  Richness in language, world-building and story.

WHAT THE HEART KNOWS by Joyce Sidman.  Far more than others on this list, this book changes with its readers.  What book is it for its ideal Newbery reader?

 

Happy Thanksgiving–and happy reading!

 

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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

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Comments

  1. Jonathan Hunt says

    November 26, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    What a fabulous shortlist, eh? We’d love to compare our list with yours (if you’re running a mock Newbery). I’m pasting the Rachel Stein/Sam Eddington and Sam Bloom lists below. Please add yours to the mix. Thanks!

    Maryland Mock Newbery

    1. Doll Bones, by Holly Black
    2. Zebra Forest, by Adina Rishe Gewirtz
    3. The Center of Everything, by Linda Urban
    4. The Real Boy, by Anne Ursu
    5. P.S. Be Eleven, by Rita Williams-Garcia
    6. Penny and Her Marble, by Kevin Henkes

    Cincinnati Mock Newbery

    * True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp (Appelt)
    * Zebra Forest (Gewirtz)
    * Penny and her Marble (Henkes)
    * The Year of Billy Miller (Henkes)
    * Eruption (Rusch)
    * Navigating Early (Vanderpool)
    * P.S. Be Eleven (Williams-Garcia)

    • DaNae says

      November 26, 2013 at 5:38 pm

      We will have ours firmed up by the end of the break. Stay tuned.

    • Nancy Baumann says

      November 27, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      Columbia, MO Mock Newbery
      Jinx-Blackwood
      P.S. Be Eleven-Williams-Garcia
      Doll Bones-Black
      Eruption-Rusch
      The Thing About Luck-Kadohata
      What the Heart Knows-Sidwell
      We will vote on December 20, we are a group of 12 4th-7th graders.

    • Hannah says

      December 2, 2013 at 11:08 am

      Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, NY (decided on by a few dozen 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who started with close to 40 books):

      Beholding Bee (Fusco)
      Better Nate Than Ever (Federle)
      Counting by 7s (Sloan)
      Jinx (Blackwood)
      Rump (Shurtliff)
      A Song for Bijou (Farrar)
      The Water Castle (Blakemore)
      White Fur Flying (MacLachlan)

  2. DaNae says

    December 2, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Utah Mock Newbery to be held on January 18, location TBA, (someplace in Salt lake County early in the day.)

    Our List:
    TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP
    THE THING ABOUT LUCK
    FAR, FAR AWAY
    DOLL BONES
    COUNTING BY 7S
    BETTER NATE THAN EVER
    PS BE ELEVEN
    WHAT THE HEART KNOWS
    LOCOMOTIVE
    IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WHALE

    Contact me if you are interested in joining us: danaeleu@gmail.com

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