Meet the 2022 Heavy Medal Award Committee

We are very excited to introduce this year’s Heavy Medal Award Committee. Our thirteen readers will introduce and discuss the fifteen titles on our Heavy Medal Book List (HMBL) here on this blog, beginning December 27th.

In addition, most committee members will also participate in a live Mock Newbery Zoom discussion on Friday, January 21st from 1:00 – 2:30 pm EST. You can sign up here.

The group will discuss 5 of the books from the list of fifteen, then vote to decide our Heavy Medal Mock Award Winner. Registrants will also vote for a winner in a separate poll.

With a mix of experienced HMAC committee members and new participants from 13 different states, we are lucky to have this group!

Amanda Bishop

School Librarian, Oklahoma City

Heavy Medal Committee Member 2020, 2021

All-time favorite Newbery Winner: When You Reach Me

“I enjoy reading books that slip past my radar. There’s always at least one that catches me by complete surprise thanks to this blog.”

Christy Brennan

Middle School Library/Media Specialist, Philadelphia Suburbs

First Time Heavy Medal Committee Member

All-time favorite Newbery Winner: When You Reach Me

“I absolutely love discussing children’s literature.”

Aryssa Damron

Children’s Librarian, Washington, D.C.

First Time Heavy Medal Committee Member

All-time favorite Newbery Winner: The Westing Game

” I grew up loving the Newbery Award and memorizing the past winners for trivia contests, and now I spend all day thinking about books! “

Tamara DePasquale

Assistant Director & Department Head of Youth Services, Eldredge Public Library Chatham, MA

Heavy Medal Committee Member 2019 and 2020

All time favorite Newbery winner: The One and Only Ivan

“It was such a pleasure participating last year, especially during the pandemic. It would be a career and personal dream to serve on the actual committee — a highlight of any children’s literature professional — “

Courtney Hague

Youth Librarian, St. Louis Suburbs

Heavy Medal Committee Member 2019, 2020, 2021

All time favorite Newbery winner: A Wrinkle in Time (followed closely by When You Reach Me)

“Even when there wasn’t a Heavy Medal Committee I always made it a goal to read as many eligible books as possible with the goal of having read the book that wins the Newbery when it is announced. I feel like being involved in the discussion every year helps me hone my critical reading skills and challenges me to read more and more deeply than I would do on my own.”

Louie Lauer

Library Media Specialist, Fargo, ND

First Time Heavy Medal Committee Member

All-time Favorite Newbery Winner: The Inquisitor’s Tale (Newbery honor)

“One of my favorite days of the entire year (why is not a national holiday?) is the day that the Youth Media Awards are announced. I read widely, have lots of conversations and send out my predictions in the off chance I might be right. I still remember jumping out of my desk chair when The Graveyard Book took the prize and I called it!”

Lisa Levin

K-8 Librarian, Mt. Tamalpais School, Northern California

First-time Heavy Medal Committee Member

All-time Favorite Newbery Winner: The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Echo, The War That Saved My Life

“It is really a passion of mine to read lots of books and try and determine the winners each year. I love reading and sharing my passion of books with like minded people.”

Emily Joan Smith

Media Specialist, Greenwood Elementary, Minneapolis suburbs

First-time Heavy Medal Committee Member

All-time Favorite Newbery Winner: Number the Stars (childhood) The Girl Who Drank the Moon (adulthood)

Number the Stars, and as an adult, The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

“As I’ve worked with my Mock Newbery students, I’ve already read many of the titles that have appeared in this blog and I look forward to re-readings and discussion. Since I’ve already engaged in some speculation, this would be a fun way to channel it while connecting with other library professionals!”