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December 21, 2022 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Meet the 2023 Mock Newbery Heavy Medal Award Committee

December 21, 2022 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci   7 comments

We are happy to introduce this year’s Heavy Medal Award Committee (HMAC). Our 17 members will introduce and discuss the 16 titles on our Heavy Medal Book List (HMBL) here on Heavy Medal, beginning January 2nd (with a practice discussion on Monday December 26th).

In addition, most committee members will also participate in a live Mock Newbery Zoom discussion on Friday, January 27th 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.

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With a mix of experienced HMAC committee members and new participants from 14 different states, Washington D.C., and even Singapore, public librarians, school librarians, an administrator, state library consultant, and bookseller- we are lucky to have this group!

We encourage everyone to participate in discussions though, even if you are not on the HMAC.

Jenny Arch

Library Media Specialist, Granby, MA

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The View from Saturday, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Bridge to Terabithia, A Wrinkle in Time, The Westing Game, The Giver (did you seriously want me to pick just one?)) Least Favorite (Island of the Blue Dolphins, Jacob Have I Loved)

“I would love to participate in in-depth discussions with other readers and critical thinkers, and have a voice in predicting the next Newbery.”

Maura Bayliss

Elementary School Librarian, Canton, MA

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (A Wrinkle in Time) Least Favorite (Last Stop on Market Street)

“Currently in my 9th year as librarian, I have opinions!”

Amanda Bishop

School Librarian, Oklahoma City

Previous HMAC Member (2020, 21, 22)

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Last Cuentista) Least Favorite (Dead End in Norvelt)

“I have loved being on this committee in the past and being able to discuss all of these wonderful books with amazing people.”

Peter Blenski

Children’s Librarian, Bridges Library System (WI)

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Last Cuentista) Least Favorite (Maniac McGee)

“I was on the 100th Newbery last year and participated in local Mocks for the past decade.”

Colleen Cadiz

Social Media Marketer, Book Inc. Campbell, CA

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (The One and Only Ivan) Least Favorite (Dicey’s Song)

“I would love to read & review new children’s books with your particular award committee, both for added experience as a children’s bookseller, as well as for the experience of learning different approaches to reviewing authors and their craft.”

Aryssa Damron

Children’s Librarian, Washington DC

Previous HMAC Member (2022)

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Westing Game) Least Favorite (Dead End in Norvelt)

“It’s my dream to be on the real Newbery committee, and while I read a ton of kid lit, most of my award experience has been with adult books, and I love building my experience evaluating.”

Angela Erickson

Secondary Librarian, United World College of Southeast Asia

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Graveyard Book) Least Favorite (Hero and the Crown)

“I want to have a bigger network of professional readers to interact with!”

Janee Jackson-Doering

Youth Services Consultant, State Library of Iowa

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner ( New Kid, The Graveyard Book, and Maniac Magee) Least Favorite: “I just have favorites.”

“I currently conduct a Check It Out book talk series for the State Library of Iowa where I promote different kinds of books for ages 0-18. I’m two months into my new position and I’d like to see what this process is like.”

Courtney Hague

Youth Librarian, St. Louis Suburbs

Previous HMAC Member (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)

Favorite Newbery Winner (A Wrinkle in Time or When You Reach Me) Least Favorite (Jacob Have I Loved)

“Being a part of the HMAC challenges me to read more widely in Children’s literature and allows me to engage with other people who are as enthusiastic as I am about it.”

Tally Klinefelter

Elementary School Librarian, Atlanta

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler) Least Favorite (Daniel Boone)

“I read over 300 books every year (almost exclusively middle grade).”

Louie Lauer

Library Media Specialist, Fargo Public Schools

Previous HMAC Member (2022)

Favorite Newbery Winner (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) Least Favorite (Criss Cross)

“I love talking books with other professionals have a passion for and knowledge of children’s literature.”

Kerrie Lattari

Library Media Specialist, Maine

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (New Kid) Least Favorite (Strawberry Girl)

Michelle Lettus

School Librarian, Upstate New York

Previous HMAC Member (2022)

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Giver) Least Favorite (The Tale of Despereaux)

“Following the posts has helped be even more aware of books to show my students.”

Kate McCarron

Library/Tech Integration, Wilmington, DE

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (Number the Stars) Least Favorite (Thimble Summer)

“I would love to create a Mock Newbery here with our students so this would be great practice!”

Amanda Sealey

Title I Facilitator, Warm Springs Intermediate School, Berkeley Springs, WV

Previous HMAC Member (2018)

Favorite Newbery Winner (The Crossover) Least Favorite (Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!)

“Book award season is the best season!”

Gabrielle Stoller

Youth Services Librarian, Meridian, Idaho

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (The One and Only Ivan and New Kid) Least Favorite (Shiloh)

“I feel there is often not representation from Western states on a national level and I would like to represent my state of Idaho.”

Jennifer Whitten

Elementary School Principal, Beaverton, Oregon

First Time HMAC Member

Favorite Newbery Winner (A Year Down Yonder) Least Favorite (Hello Universe)

“I love my role as principal of an elementary school and hope to share my experience with my school community.”

Filed under: Heavy Medal Mock, Process

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2023 NewberyAmanda BishopAmanda SealeyAryssa DamronGabrielle StollerHeavy MedalHeavy Medal Award CommitteeJennifer WhittenLouie LauerMaura BaylissMichelle LettusMock NewberyNewbery 2023Newbery AwardPeter BlenskiTally Klinefelter

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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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aryssa says

    December 21, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    Yay! So excited!

  2. Gabrielle says

    December 21, 2022 at 5:57 pm

    I am SO excited to talk all things books with everyone! There was a lot of awesome texts published this year!!

  3. Dest says

    December 21, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    It’s so interesting to see everyone’s favorite and least favorite winners. I wonder if we substituted the word “deserving” for “favorite” if it would make a difference. Like, I personally love Jack Gantos and enjoyed DEAD END IN NORVELT, but I don’t think it deserved the medal compared to INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN. On the flip side, I can’t say I enjoyed GOOD MASTERS SWEET LADIES all that much, but I can see how it deserved the medal because it’s technically excellent.

    • Tally Klinefelter says

      December 22, 2022 at 11:21 pm

      Agreed. By the scale of “deserved,” Last Stop on Market Street would be my least favorite, because I love Echo, El Deafo, and The War That Saved My Life so much more. But I went with Daniel Boone, because it’s almost unreadable with how racist it is.

      • Maura Bayliss says

        December 27, 2022 at 2:31 pm

        I agree. I agonized over my responses quite a bit. Last Stop on Market Street has so much value to it, and I love it every time I read it to my students, but it didn’t (and doesn’t) seem like a Newbery award winner to me.

  4. Amanda Sealey says

    December 22, 2022 at 10:38 am

    I’m really looking forward to all the discussions. What a great group of people to work with!

  5. Kate McCarron says

    January 1, 2023 at 7:30 am

    Hello everyone! I’m so excited to be part of this group! I’m a newbie but so excited to learn and interact with everyone. The choices are all good this year so it is going to be challenging! I’m looking forward to the posts and discussions!

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