March Suggestions
Now that 2019 is two months old, we’re ready to start compiling “Suggestions” from readers for the 2020 Mock-Newbery that we’ll hold here on Heavy Medal. Actual discussion of possible Newbery books will start here on this blog in September, but between now and then, there’s a lot of reading to be done. We’ll follow a process similar to the real Newbery Committee. We’ll put out a call for Suggestions on this blog around the first of each month, from March through August. This will give us a steadily growing list of books, all recommended by other readers. Here’s how it works:
– Suggest books that might have a chance to contend for the Newbery. A Suggestion means: “this could be a contender, maybe…”, but doesn’t have to mean: “This is definitely a top Newbery possibility.”
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– Please only suggest eligible books. The Newbery Terms and Criteria cover this. If you’re not sure if a title’s eligible, suggest it anyway and we can confirm or deny later.
– We just need title and author for Suggestions. No descriptions or justifications….that’s what will start up in September.
– Suggest up to 5 titles per month. Less than 5 is fine. The real Committee typically does not limit Suggestions, but there’s only 15 members. We’ll limit so that our list doesn’t get too long.
– Suggest only books that you’ve read. Or listened to…audiobooks are okay for Suggestions.
– Suggest books that have been officially published. If you read a pre-publication copy, you’ll need to wait until its publication date before putting it forward as a Suggestion.
– If someone’s already suggested a book that you think is worthy, go ahead and include it. We’ll post an update every month listing titles and numbers of Suggestions. Those rankings aren’t necessarily that meaningful…they definitely favor early-year publications, for one thing. But it can be helpful to see what’s on the radar of multiple readers.
– You’ll have several days to submit Suggestions…we’ll give a deadline each month.
If you have questions about the process, just ask below. And if you have any Suggestions to start us off, post below (title and author only, remember). We’ll take suggestions through the end of the day on Friday, March 8th.
Filed under: Process

About Steven Engelfried
Steven Engelfried retired from full-time library work a couple years ago and now works as a part-time Youth Librarian at the West Linn Public Library in Oregon. He served on the 2010 Newbery committee, chaired the 2013 Newbery Committee, and also served on the 2002 Caldecott committee. You can reach him at sengelfried@yahoo.com.
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NEW KID by Jerry Craft
SONG FOR A WHALE by Lynn Kelly
I don’t know if the selection of its cover for this blog post’s graphic is intended to be a Suggestion itself, but I suggest (or second) THIS PROMISE OF CHANGE by Boyce and Levy.
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Lost Girl by Anne Ursu
THIS PROMISE OF CHANGE by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Dana Levy
EVENTOWN by Haydu
ON THE COME UP by Thomas (you know we are going to have to discuss it so I am going to start stirring that pot NOW hahaha)
Let ‘er Buck!: George Fletcher, the People’s Champion by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
The New Kid by Jerry Craft
The Promise of Change by by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Dana Levy
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
I just started this, and I am captivated by the voice.
NEW KID by Jerry Craft
THE LOST GIRL by Anne Ursu
We’re twins!
Ha! Only two I’ve really read and liked both enough.
PAY ATTENTION, CARTER JONES by Gary Schmidt
THIS PROMISE OF CHANGE by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Dana Levy
REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE by Dan Gemeinhart
This Promise of Change—Jo Ann Allen Boyce & Debbie Levy
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise—Dan Gemeinhart
Genesis Begins Again–Alicia Williams
New Kid—Jerry Craft
The Bridge Home—Padma Venkatraman
Pay Attention Carter Jones
Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia Williams
Pay Attention Carter Jones
Let ‘er Buck!
New Kid
Keep the suggestions coming! Duplications are totally fine.
Yay! I can comment on Heavy Medal again! I haven’t read many children’s books yet this year, since I’m cleansing my palate after my Newbery year. But let’s see, the one children’s book I have read that I’m going to suggest for the fun of it is:
HUNT FOR THE MAD WOLF’S DAUGHTER, by Diane Magras
Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu
The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu
I read these one after another, which was a little funny because both feature identical twins and their relationship with each other. Eventown is the stronger of the two, in my opinion, but I liked The Lost Girl a lot also.
THE BRIDGE HOME. P.VENKATRAMAN
RIGHT AS RAIN. L.STODDARD
RUBY IN THE SKY. J.FERRULO
THE LOST GIRL. A.URSU
THE ROOTS OF RAP. C.WEATHERFORD