2023 Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Book List

It was a long phone call, there was a lot of debate and changes and negogiations, Steven may have cried (just kidding he didn’t cry), but we made a 2023 Heavy Medal Book List!

A few points:

• Yes, there’s 16 titles, but we just couldn’t narrow it down and felt we needed these 16 to have robust, well-rounded discussion. Also seven of these titles are shorter (graphic novel, picture books, nonfiction) so hopefully won’t be too overwhelming.
• We are planning on having a “practice discussion,” with our runner-up title MAIZY CHEN’S LAST CHANCE.
• As always, I’d like to give a shout out to the 52 nominated titles that did not make our book list (and to all the stellar titles published this year)
• Without further ado, here is our list of 16 titles that will be discussed and voted on for our Heavy Medal 2023 Mock Newbery!!

AIN’T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT- Jason Reynolds

ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES- A.S. King

AVIVIA VS. THE DYBBUK– Mari Lowe

BERRY SONG- Michaela Goade

BLACK BIRD, BLUE ROAD– Sofiya Pasternack

BLUE: A HISTORY OF THE COLOR AS DEEP AS THE SEA AND AS WIDE AS THE SKY: Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

DOOR OF NO RETURN– Kwame Alexander

FARMHOUSE– Sophie Blackall

HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN: IN SEVEN EVOLUTIONARY STEPS– Pamela Turner

I MUST BETRAY YOU– Ruta Sepetys

THE LAST MAPMAKER- Christina Soontornvat

MARSHMALLOW CLOUDS- Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek

THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS– Kelly Barnhill

A ROVER’S STORY- Jasmine Warga

SWIM TEAM- Johnnie Christmas

VIOLET AND JOBIE IN THE WILD– Lynne Rae Perkins

Filed under: Book Discussion, Heavy Medal Mock