Three Longshots?
I’m scanning my shelves for books we’ve not done justice to this season. Has anyone mentioned FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, NATE by Tim Federle, LORD AND LADY BUNNY by Polly Horvath, or THE UNSTOPPABLE OCTOBIA MAY by Sharon Flake? Barely a mention of Freedman’s ANGEL ISLAND, Nye’s THE TURTLE OF OMAN, Yelchin’s ARCADY’S GOAL or Pinkney’s THE RED PENCIL. And I’m surprised I didn’t hear from others more on NEST or GABRIEL FINLEY. But if I were hearing “last call” for books for Newbery discussion, and had time to re-read only three, I’d look again at:
UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE by Julie Lamana. While I recognize some plotting flaws and side character manipulation, I’ve noted the same level of flaws in the books we’ve been championing; and from a distance the voice and clarity of prose just stands out so strongly. I’d want to line this up a few more times against likely contenders before letting it go.
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CURIOSITY by Gary Blackwood. I read this once, and fast, but the plotting and prose seemed so seamless and solid, I’d want to give it a few more reads. This could be one of those sneaky books which doesn’t sing itself as something new and different, but whose craft reveals itself to those who look as above and beyond.
EGG & SPOON by Gregory Maguire. I don’t think this one is going unnoticed, but it remains one of the most unique in scope and tone among what I see as the field of contenders, and bears such interesting comparisons: to THE FAMILY ROMANOV, to WEST OF THE MOON, even to THE NIGHT GARDENER. I don’t think we see anything like Maguire’s writing being offered to a Newbery audience, and it reads with very little overt consciousness of audience, as seems to happen in others. The characters and story are strange and disturbing, struggling with who they are supposed to be, and therefore so very convincing. This comes along with plenty of flaws, but gives readers a lot along the way. It probably needs to be read three or four times to understand how it does what it does.
Which are your three?
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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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For another longshot, I’d call out GRACEFULLY GRAYSON by Ami Polonsky which is a pitch perfect middle school novel about a transgender student. One of my favorites of the year. I’m also surprised that Megan Fraser Blakemore didn’t get more buzz for THE SPY CATCHERS OF MAPLE HILL, and Karen Harrington is another author to watch. After SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY and this year’s COURAGE FOR BEGINNERS, I think she has a lot of potential to show up on a future list. I was glad to see Tracy Holczer’s THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY show up on at least one Mock list. It was one of the better realistic fiction titles I read this year. Finally, for a real dark horse, how about the amazingly inventive HEAP HOUSE by Edward Carey? None of these would necessarily be in my top 3, but if I were on this year’s committee, I think I’d be spending some time with them just to consider introducing something a bit different to the discussion.
Heap House? Huh. I loved it, but hadn’t thought it was eligible. Maybe? According to his website, Carey is British born, but lives in Austin, Texas. Have to get my mind around this one. Amazing world building, plotting, and just very unique. But I haven’t taken a good hard look in terms of Newbery criteria to see how it compares to everything else.
Heap House would be the top of my list, if it were eligible.
Hope is a Ferris Wheel, Meaning of Maggie, Half a Chance, and Secret Hum of a Daisy all stood out when I first read them. I only got to give Maggie a second read. The story mirrors a lot of aspects of my own life, and I tried to separate that from the writing the second time through. In the end I think it’s a really nice effort (pretty sure it’s a debut for the author) but it probably isn’t up for competing with so many strong contenders this year. My fifth grade daughter was drawn to Half a Chance from my stack and read it after I did. She liked it, but commented it was kind of slow. Wish I could have re-read others, but so many books, so little time!
I don’t have three long shots, because I feel like so many of the books I’ve read and enjoyed have been getting buzz on this blog. However, I do mourn the fact that I did not know more about The Red Pencil until this late in the game. I just finished it and adored it! If only I’d known earlier to get it in the hands of my Newbery club members. I loved the use of verse for a topic which would’ve been too graphic in prose, the imagery, especially of the Sudanese flowers and the birds, and what a powerful and timely story. It’s so wonderful, I wouldn’t call it a longshot by any means, but I would say it might surprise people because it hasn’t been winning in the mock elections. It has now zoomed to the top of my list, and I’ll admit I’m rooting for it!
Fleabrain Loves Franny!!!! The Meaning of Maggie and Under the Egg. Have had a number of my 5th graders read Fleabrain and they adore it as much as I do. Also they love Under the Egg.