Pick Your Long Shot: Which book that missed our final list might win the Newbery?
We’ve announced the 15 titles that comprise the Heavy Medal Book List (HMBL), and I’m really looking forward to the online discussions of these, which start in a couple weeks. After we’ve examined all of these thoroughly in daily online posts and then in a live Zoom conversation (register here to watch the SLJ webcast), we’ll choose winners in two ways: The Heavy Medal Award Committee (HMAC) will do one ballot; and all Heavy Medal readers will cast votes in a separate tally.
Picking the actual Newbery winner isn’t really our main goal of most elections. There’s all kinds of reasons to do this, including:
- An opportunity to engage in some serious, insightful, and high-level book discussion
- An attempt to replicate, to the degree that we can, the Newbery Committee process
- A chance to share appreciation for the artistic excellence in the best of children’s literature
At the same time, it’s pretty cool when the winner of a mock awards election does match the eventual real winner. When that doesn’t happen, it can still be fascinating when the real winner is on the list, but is not chosen. That demonstrates how the unique discussions that emerge from different groups of readers can lead to different results.
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I never mind if the Heavy Medal winner isn’t the real Newbery winner. In the past four years, we hit the winner just once: NEW KID was the choice of the HMAC for 2020. But I do hope that it the Medal books at least turns out to be on our list of finalists. That has been the case for three of the past four years. We missed on MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS (sorry Emily, I know that was your Committee).
Is the eventual winner on this year’s Heavy Medal Book List? We won’t know for sure until the Youth Media Awards event on January 24th. But it’s fun to speculate. After we finalized this list, I decided to go down the list of titles that we did not choose, and pick one single book that I think might still have the strongest chances of actually winning the Medal.
My pick: THE RACONTEUR’S COMMONPLACE BOOK. I know I wasn’t the only one impressed by this book, but it never really got enough support on Heavy Medal for me to push for it to appear in the top 15 (though I was tempted). And HM readers expressed some legitimate concerns:
- “jumped around too much”
- “it sagged for me in the middle”
- “the weakest section was the very end”
- “it may be difficult for children to engage with this book”
I can see some merit in some of those comments, but was just so impressed by the combination of sentence level writing and intricately plot development. Also world-building and characterizations. And I believe that 15 people who have read this carefully, at least twice, just might have to give this one a Medal, because it’s that well-written. Well, I’m trying to convince myself to believe that, anyway….
So what do you think? What’s the one book that didn’t make the HMBL that you think has the best chance to emerge as the Newbery Winner on January 24th?
Filed under: Book Discussion
About Steven Engelfried
Steven Engelfried was the Library Services Manager at the Wilsonville Public Library in Oregon until he retired in 2022 after 35 years as a full-time librarian. 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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My long shot for the Newbery this year is the sentimental selection, Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulson. Non-fiction seldom wins and some content is at the high end of the Newbery age target. This is not even the last chance to give Paulson a posthumous Newbery, since his final book is being published in January.
But Gone to the Woods is written in a straight forward style and the theme of surviving a life in isolation is resonant in our time. Additionally, the important role of librarians is recognized.
I absolutely concur with Gone to the Woods!! It is striking in its rough-hewn language and keen-eyed honesty. In Paulsen’s skilled hands, the third-person narration reveals layer upon layer of emotional power and integrity, the kind of thing you have to live to be able to write about. Gary Paulsen writes with an unquestioned, unique style about a life that seems impossible, but is brought into sharp reality by living it through his vivid memory and compelling storytelling. This book is distinguished in every possible way.
Sorry, autocorrect strikes again. I know it is spelled Paulsen.
Maybe FRANKIE AND BUG? I can’t really speak to it, because I am not that far into it yet, but it seems to me that it didn’t get so many nominations because comparatively fewer HM readers have read it (as opposed to being a book that many people read and chose to nominate something else), but those who have seem to think it’s really great. I wish BEING CLEM would also be a possibility for similar reasons, but there have been a few reservations expressed about it here.
I finished FRANKIE AND BUG, and I liked it, but I am not sure it wins a head-to-head comparison with FLIGHT OF THE PUFFIN, which has some of the same themes, and which I responded to even more (and nominated last round.)
RACONTEUR was one of my favorite books of the year, but here is my thought about it: Obviously I’ve never been on the committee, but in my imagination I can envision two scenarios. In the first and more likely scenario, the committee has some members who mostly share my tastes, but we are in the minority. In that case, maybe we can coalesce enough to get one of “our” books an Honor. In the second scenario, most of the committee members are luckily like-minded to me, and we get to award many of “our” books, while the “opposition party” has to muster enough support to get one of their books an Honor. How often does that happen? Well I remember 2015 and 2017 as years where I really agreed with most of the selections except one (i.e., the second scenario). The other years, most of the selections were not among my favorites except one (i.e.,the first scenario.) What I am saying is, I think for RACONTEUR to have a chance, the committee will have to have a majority of Stevens. For fun, I looked at Steven’s Heavy Medal nominations for the 4 years he’s been leading the blog, and it’s really been more the first scenario: one of his seven nominations in each of the last three years won an actual Honor. (The year before that, none of his nominations won anything, but he did say he would’ve nominated Long Way Down, under different strategical circumstances.)
Interesting thoughts, Leonard. If the Newbery process works perfectly, members personal tastes should have nothing to do with the results. It should all be objective evaluation of literary quality. And I do think the Criteria, the Chair, and the discussions about process that happen within the Committee leading up to the balloting all will push in that direction. But that’s the ideal, and it’s hard to say how close to it (or how far from it) we get.
We can’t remake our reading history. It’s probably fair to say that my past enjoyment of creative fantasy makes it more likely that I will “objectively” see perceived strengths in a book like RACONTEUR, and others might miss those. At the same time, I’m less experienced and less articulate about graphic novels, so likely would have farther to go to appreciate THE LEGEND OF AUNTIE PO than others who are more comfortable in the genre.
That’s where it’s so important to enter discussion with an open mind, recognition of your own biases and habits, and a willingness to listen to the insights of others.
Book I want to get recognition: THE PEOPLE REMEMBER
Book I feel obligated to say is: MERCI SUAREZ CAN’T DANCE! I love you Meg Medina
Book I felt most badly about leaving off the list: FINDING JUNIE KIM
Other possible sleeper: DAVINCIS CAT
Wait did you say one book? #lolol
I say YES to THE PEOPLE REMEMBER!
Da Vinci’s Cat
I am torn between two books:
1. Frankie & Bug, by Gayle Forman. THee plot is solid, characterization very well done, and themes addressed are not done so in a didactic way. Also, the third person point of view keeps the reader in Bugs’s head and holds your interest.
2. One Jar of Magic, by COrrey Ann Haydu. THe presentation of theme is great as is the plot structure. Use of flashbacks clue the reader into Rose Alice’s true feelings, and the characterization is multi-layered.
I suppose if I have to choose just one book, though, I’ll say Frankie & Bug.
I’m with you, Meredith! I think One Jar of Magic is a serious contender. I found it so compelling how you as a reader realize, before Rose Alice admits it to herself, that there’s a gap between what she’s saying and what she’s truly feeling. I also think the way it discusses abuse is gentle enough to be age appropriate while still eliciting an appropriately strong emotional response.
Though perhaps it has a few too many loose echoes to When You a Trap a Tiger to win this year?
Finally, in One Jar of Magic’s favor, I adored it…but my students didn’t have a strong reaction…so maybe that’s exactly what could make it win, lol!
While I haven’t read it yet (it just arrived today!), Stuntboy by Jason Reynolds was released two weeks ago and I haven’t seen it mentioned on here yet. Reynolds is a genius, in my opinion, and it’s getting overall great reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I look forward to reading with the Newbery criteria in mind.
Frankie & Bug
Plot and characterization were very strong. The pieces of the plot all fit together very well, especially in regards to Bug’s brother Daniel. The only negative for me would spoil some
of the plot.
The Shape of Thunder
It wasn’t as perfectly plotted as Frankie & Bug, especially the ending. However, I really liked the presentation of the two families sharing the same tragic event, but reacting so differently. You could really see the perspectives of both girls and how their families shaped their responses and their struggles.
Da Vinci’s Cat is my longshot/sleeper pick! Reminded me of the kind of Newbery books I read growing up–not that it felt old, but it felt…esteemed, already, on the page. Like it took the readers seriously and explored the past but also the present and A CAT, come on!
Yes, what you said!!
I think (although maybe this is more of a wistful hope?) that Root Magic could have a chance! I loved it so much – read it in January and I’m still thinking about it. It has the historical fiction element we see with so many Newbery winners, but it’s also legitimately scary, which I love. I definitely expect to see it recognized for a CSK!
The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna. My two favorites are already in the 15, Starfish and Ophie’s Ghosts, but Petra Luna gave me all the feels – and I love a less-commonly explored era of history like this one.
Granted, I haven’t read most of the books people have listed here so far (Fie! Slow shipping situation!), but from what I got to read It’s for sure
BEING CLEM.
And to quote Betsy Bird:
” I came into Being Clem cold and I can tell you for sure and for certain that it stands entirely on its own. There isn’t so much of a whiff or a hint that there are other books out there. And this book may be one of the best written, most enjoyable of this year. Seriously. You other authors out there need to read this to get a sense of how to write with the least amount of fat. There’s not an excess sentence or superfluous scene in this book….. I certainly hope the Newbery committee puts aside the whole this-is-a-companion-novel nonsense and judges this book on its own merits because it is far and away high time Ms. Cline-Ransome got herself some shiny gold. This book would completely deserve it.”
I’m a huge fan of Too Small Tola by Atinuke. For such a small book, the setting of Lagos was so well defined, and the theme of having much to offer the world in spite of age, size, and status was written perfectly for the intended audience.
I fear that TOO SMALL TOLA is not eligible for the 2022 Newbery. From what I can tell, the author is from Nigeria and lives in Wales, and the Criteria state that “The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the United States.” And the book was first published in the UK in 2020 (“books originally published in other countries are not eligible”). Thanks for the recommendation though Erin. I passed on reading it because of the eligibility, but it sounds like one I should definitely read anyway.
I agree, Too Small Tola is fantastic! I wanted to nominate it last round, but those darn eligibility rules!
Just finished THE LOST LANGUAGE by Claudia Mills (which happens to be advertised on this page right now.) I had greatly admired some of her chapter books and thought that perhaps as an author she was underrated, maybe because she is quite prolific and, well, chapter books. If another of the many eligible verse novels takes a prize ahead of this one, I would disagree, just on literary merits. Perhaps it isn’t as topical as some others (though I feel depressed moms have been frequently written in recent years). And certainly the whole problems-with-your-longtime-bestie is a timeworn staple of middle grade novels, but these shouldn’t be factors, one hopes. I’d probably have nominated this one had I read it earlier.
I agree that Claudia Mills is underrated. Her books kind of fit into standard categories, but the ones I’ve read have always been quietly excellent: Chapter books like OLIVER OLSON and 7 X 9 = TROUBLE, and also (going back a ways) the DINAH series from the 90’s for upper elementary. Thanks for alerting us to her latest, Leonard!
Maybe it was clear, but maybe I wasn’t — THE LOST LANGUAGE is not a chapter book, but a verse novel. It’s a very fast read, so I hope the HM Committee is able to have it as another point of reference when discussing STARFISH and RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE.
Leonard’s comment about reading a book like THE LOST LANGUAGE, even though it’s not on the final discussion list, is excellent. On HM, we have 15 finalists. The real Committee has a much bigger list: Every book nominated by Committee members could be discussed, so with 7 nominations and 15 members there will be somewhere between 15 and 105 titles, depending on how many titles receive multiple nominations. The actual number is confidential, but it seems safe to guess it might be in the 40 – 70 range.
It’s tempting for Committee members (and HM participants) to focus solely on the nominated titles, since others don’t have a chance to win. But the discussion is stronger when we bring in other titles as well.
Another good example from our list of 15 is THE LEGEND OF AUNTIE PO. It’s the only graphic novel on our list, so it will be helpful to be familiar with FRIENDS FOREVER, BAD SISTER, and other excellent gn’s from the year. At the same time, you might want to compare AUNTIE PO with other books that integrate characters from folklore and mythology like WE BELONG and THE YEAR I FLEW AWAY, even though those didn’t make the final list…