Meet the 2023 Mock Newbery Heavy Medal Award Committee
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
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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Yay! So excited!
I am SO excited to talk all things books with everyone! There was a lot of awesome texts published this year!!
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.
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.
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.
I’m really looking forward to all the discussions. What a great group of people to work with!
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!