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September 28, 2022 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

#Readmore #Readsmarter How are we doing? What are we missing?

September 28, 2022 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci   16 comments

Heavy Medal suggestions are officially closed, but nominations start up next week. Before we go into nominations, I wanted to take a look at our suggested titles by the numbers. There are 85 books suggested so far, which seems a little crazy considering there were only 59 suggestions last year.

The genre breakup is below, feel free to dispute any genres in the comments. I will say I was feeling like EVERYTHING was realistic fiction, middle grade but once we got to the one suggestion titles, it varied more! I’m wondering if some of my fantasy groupings should actually be magical realism? OSMO UNKNOWN or HEALER AND WITCH or even THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTER?

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I also need more information on THE PASSPORT PROJECT. This book is suddenly creeping up everywhere, leads the Goodreads Mock Newbery list, but I just can’t get a hold of it (literally no libraries by me have it, which NEVER HAPPENS). What’s the story behind this book? It was published in March but is gaining traction now?

There’s also been a lot of recent love for SWIM TEAM, which isn’t in our suggestion list and I’m seeing buzz about MESSY ROOTS: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese-American by Laura Gao and ZIA ERASES THE WORLD by Bree Barton. Is there anything else we’re missing?

I also wonder, where are the sports books? and the mysteries? and HUMOR (I need a laugh), and in general I feel low on non fiction, but that may be just me? Also last year seemed big for thriller and ghost stories, but not this year?

AIN’T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHTReynoldsVerse, Middle Grade
I MUST BETRAY YOUSepetysHistorical Fiction, Young Adult
THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANSBarnhillFantasy, Mystery, Middle Grade
THOSE KIDS FROM FAWN CREEKKellyRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
THE LAST MAPMAKERSoontornvatFantasy, Middle Grade
JENNIFER CHAN IS NOT ALONEKellerRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
ANYBODY HERE SEEN FRENCHIEConnorRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
NEW FROM HEREYangRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
LOUISA JUNE AND THE NAZIS IN THE WAVEElliottHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
LOVE IN THE LIBRARYTokuda-HallHistorical Fiction, Picture Book
ALIAS ANNA: A TRUE STORY ABOUT OUTWITTING THE NAZISHoodNonfiction, Middle Grade
AND WE RISEMartinPoetry, Young Adult
MY OWN LIGHTNINGWolkHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
SOLIMARRyanFantasy, Middle Grade
CRESS, WATERCRESSMaguireFantasy, Animal, Middle Grade
DREAM, ANNIE, DREAMBrownRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
FALLING SHORTCisnerosRealistic Fiction, Sports, Middle Grade
HOW TO BUILD A HUMANTurnerNonfiction, Middle Grade
LITTLE MONARCHSCaseGraphic Novel, Science Fiction, Middle Grade
MAIZY CHEN’S LAST CHANCEYeeRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
NORTHWINDPaulsenAction and Adventure, Middle Grade
OMAR RISINGSaeedRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
A DUET FOR HOMEVan GlaserRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
AFRICAN TOWNLatham and WatersHistorical Fiction, Young Adult
COMB OF WISHESStringfellowFantasy, Middle Grade
DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUITLukoffRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
HEALER AND WITCHWerlinHistorical Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade
THE PASSPORT PROJECT McIntyreRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
THE PATRON THIEF OF BREADEagerHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
THE WOMAN WHO SPLIT THE ATOMMossNonfiction, Middle Grade
WHEN WINTER ROBESON CAMEWoodsRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Verse
AVIVA VS. THE DYBBUKLoweFantasy, Middle Grade
FREEWATERLuqman-DawsonHistorical Fiction, Action and Adventure, Middle Grade
IN THE KEY OF USLockingtonRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
MARSHMALLOW CLOUDSKooser and WanekNonfiction, Poetry
MOONWALKINGElliotRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
TURTLE OF MICHIGANNyeRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
WISHING UPON THE SAME STARSFeldmanRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
YONDERStandishHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
A SONG CALLED HOMEZarrRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
AIRRoeRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE GinoRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
ALL MY RAGETahirRealistic Fiction, Young Adult
ANSWERS IN THE PAGES LevithanRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
AT THE END OF EVERYTHINGNijkampAction and Adventure, Young Adult
AUGUSTA SAVAGE NelsonNonfiction, Verse
AWAY WITH WORDSHobermanNonfiction, Biography
BARE TREE AND LITTLE WINDPerkinsPicture Book, Fable
BEAUTY WOKERamosPicture Book
BERRY SONG GoadePicture Book, Fable
BIG AND SMALL AND IN-BETWEENHigginsEarly Reader
BIG RIG HawesRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
CORNBREAD & POPPYCordellEasy Reader
DREW LECLAIR GETS A CLUEBuryRealistic Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade
EACH OF US A UNIVERSEFerruoloRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
ELLEN OUTSIDE THE LINESSassRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
GARDENER OF ALCATRAZSmithNonfiction, Picture Book
GIBBERISHVoPicture Book
GOLDEN GIRL FaruqiRealistic Fiction, Verse, Middle Grade
HUMMINGBIRDLloydRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
IN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYKuoVerse, Middle Grade
INVISIBLE GonzalezGraphic Novel, Middle Grade
THE LAST BEEKEEPER CartayaScience Fiction, Middle Grade
LAWLESS SPACESHayduRealistic Fiction, Young Adult
THE LEGEND OF GRAVITYPalmerPicture Book, Fable
LITTLE HOUSES HenkesPicture Book
LOYALTYAviHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
THE LUCKY ONESJacksonHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
THE MIDNIGHT CHILDREN GemeinhartMystery, Middle Grade
MY LIFE BEGINS MaclachlanRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
OSMO UNKNOWN AND THE EIGHTPENNY WOODSValenteAction and Adventure, Fantasy, Middle Grade
OUT OF RANGELangRealistic Fiction, Action and Adventure, Middle Grade
QUEER DUCKS (AND OTHER ANIMALS) SchreferNonfiction, Young Adult
RED SCAREWalshGraphic Novel, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade
THE SECRET BATTLE OF EVAN PAOShangRealistic Fiction, Middle Grade
THE SHEEP, THE ROOSTER, AND THE DUCK PhelanEarly Reader, Action and Adventure
SINGING WITH ELEPHANTSEngleRealistic Fiction, Verse, Middle Grade
STAR CHILDZoboiNonfiction, Biography
THE STAR THAT ALWAYS STAYS JohnsonHistorical Fiction, Middle Grade
TINY DINOFreedmanPicture Book
TO THE FRONTFriddellNonfiction, Biography
THE UNFORGETTABLE LOGAN FOSTERPetersAction and Adventure, Middle Grade
VINYL MOONBrowneVerse, Young Adult
WAYWARD CREATURESLorentzRealistic Fiction, Animals, Middle Grade

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About Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Emily Mroczek (Bayci) is a freelance children’s librarian in the Chicago suburbs. She served on the 2019 Newbery committee. You can reach her at emilyrmroczek@gmail.com.

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Comments

  1. Lindsay Bass says

    September 29, 2022 at 9:00 am

    This book is SO great!! It’s technically narrative nonfiction but is also pretty funny! I am a middle school social studies teacher and I am incorporating it into my curriculum for Geography this year! I HIGHLY recommend this book!!

    • Lindsay Bass says

      September 29, 2022 at 9:01 am

      The Passport Project!

  2. Button Smith says

    September 29, 2022 at 9:24 am

    THE PASSPORT PROJECT is funny, entertaining and informative. It is a narrative that middle & high school students can relate to and an easy, fast read that they will like.

    • Tracy Peterson says

      October 2, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      I agree. I love that it’s a true story about parents trying to give their daughters a global perspective. It’s an important book and funny too!

  3. Kate Todd says

    September 29, 2022 at 10:56 am

    I think The Passport Project may be a self-published title:
    shamrockhousepublishing.com

    • Steven Engelfried says

      September 29, 2022 at 9:02 pm

      I think you’re probably right, Kate. I don’t see much about Shamrock House online, but they’re located in Birmingham (the author lives near there) and this is the only book listed on their website. Self-published books are certainly eligible for the Newbery Medal, and it would be pretty cool if one broke through. Could this be the one? I’m halfway through it, so don’t want to comment yet, but will in the next day or two…

      • Laura says

        September 30, 2022 at 12:25 pm

        I don’t want to be overly skeptical, but people in the comments over on Goodreads seem to think that The Passport Project jumping to the top of the list there is a scam, or at least that a number of people made accounts specifically to vote for it. I’m definitely at least a little suspicious.

        • Steven Engelfried says

          September 30, 2022 at 12:51 pm

          It is possible to promote a book by deliberately calling attention to it in settings like Goodreads and Heavy Medal. In the case of HM, we won’t try to verify or deny the reasons for the support; we’ll just do what we usually do: evaluate and discuss a title through the Newbery lens and see how it holds up. I’ll weigh in on THE PASSPORT PROJECT in the comments here tomorrow when I’ve finished it, and hope others who have read it will join in…

          • Steven Engelfried says

            October 3, 2022 at 6:48 pm

            I just finished THE PASSPORT PROJECT. It’s a travel book written (by the mother) from the point of view of her two daughters as they and their father take a “global family field trip.” The kids’ viewpoints work pretty well: They share facts about the places they visit, but focus on specific personal experiences, including many mishaps, some of which are funny. They don’t love everything (Stonehenge is a “pile of rocks”) and readers get a feel for real-life travel logistics: getting lost on a dangerous street, for example, or finding out the hotel does not match the guidebook description. The girls’ perspectives change some through their experiences, in ways that are believable.
            I think it will be a useful book, and fills a collection gap: I can’t think of any other books that approach travel for kids this way. It could be an excellent resource for classroom activities or homeschoolers. Presentation of information is creative and I think mostly effective. But I don’t see the distinguished quality of the overall book. Though distinct from each other, the girls’ voices became a little predictable after a while. Some elements like the regular “dad jokes” and the “Riley Reinvention Project” wear a little thin. Insights learned by the family mostly come through naturally from the girls’ point of view, but occasionally they seem a little forced. I’ll be glad to have this book in my library’s collection, but am not convinced it’s at the Newbery level.
            If you look at Amazon and GoodReads, though, it seems like I might be the only one who doesn’t think this is a perfect book. From the comments above, it looks like there’s been some skepticism around the rave ratings and reviews, but we can ignore that here. Instead, I’d love to hear from others about how this book may or may not stand up under the Newbery Terms and Criteria…

      • Jenni Walton says

        September 30, 2022 at 3:11 pm

        I’m here to shed a little more light on the Passport Project. I’m an elementary school librarian in Vestavia Hills, AL (which is a suberb of Birmigham) and the author’s two daughters both attended my school before embarking on this journey across the globe (which was many years ago, but not so many to give away how long I’ve been at the same school). Though it’s categorized in the blog as realistic fiction, it might fit better into narrative nonfiction since it chronicles their journey.

        I really enjoyed following the blog when the family was traveling and was thrilled when the author reached out to me when the book was published. Our school, surrounding neighborhood, and larger community has really embraced the Passport Project, which might explain all the sudden reviews on Goodreads… maybe now that all these people have accounts they’ll start using Goodreads more?!!!

        • Steven Engelfried says

          September 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm

          Thanks for the background, Jenni. And thanks for the correction about the category: It’s definitely written as narrative nonfiction. The author writes that “events have been recorded as truthfully as recollection permits…”

        • Laura says

          October 3, 2022 at 1:07 pm

          That totally makes sense! And sorry for my skepticism!

  4. Meredith says

    September 29, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    Ms. Betsy BIrd had some interesting titles on her Newbery prediction list I have not yet encountered, so I am excited for those.

    If You Read THis.
    Black Bird, Blue Road, by Sofiya Pasternack.

  5. Laura says

    September 30, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    We put Zia Erases the World on our Mock Newbery Club reading list (inspired by the RI OLIS Mock Newbery list and Betsy Bird’s review)! I’m excited but haven’t read it yet. We also included The Aquanat, which has a few votes over on the Goodreads list but I guess hasn’t been suggested here — I don’t think it’ll win necessarily but we always like to include at least one graphic novel and I do think it’s pretty strong.

    I agree about the lack of mystery/thrillers and humor! I put Falling Short on our list partly because I think (hope) it’s at least a little funny. I thought about including Yonder too just to have one mystery. It also feels like there’s a lot of nonfiction this year.

    • Steven Engelfried says

      September 30, 2022 at 12:56 pm

      Glad to see FALLING SHORT get a mention. It is funny, as well as engaging and thought-provoking. The alternating points of view work so well in this book, and that doesn’t always happen. And, though we have a lot of strong realistic fiction this year, most of the titles mentioned feature girl protagonists…that’s not a consideration in Newbery deliberations, but it’s just nice to see variety as we read…

      • Laura says

        October 3, 2022 at 1:04 pm

        I’m excited to hear that about Falling Short! And I totally agree — I always try to include at least a couple of boy protagonists. It’s surprisingly difficult!

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