Choose Three: October Mock Newbery 2024 Nominations
At Heavy Medal, we try to follow the processes of the real Newbery Committee when we can, one of those is nominations. On the real Committee, each of the 15 members nominate 7 Newbery deserving titles with written justifications over the next three months. Nominated titles are the only ones on the final Newbery table.
The Newbery Manual notes that the nominations “ serve as a focus for all suggestions made during the year” “make each committee member aware of which books require their closest scrutiny and which they need to re-read.” and “The written justifications serve as preparation for oral discussion at Midwinter and provide practice in stating clearly and succinctly your ideas about books that seem distinguished.”
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Here’s how nominations work on Heavy Medal:
Nominate three titles in the comments below. Like the real Committee, we’ll require three exactly. Your grand total is seven, so choose wisely.
Titles do not need to be suggested to be nominated.
All we need is the three titles and authors, but if you would like to share a bit about why any of them made your list, or any strategic rationale, that would be great!
The first nomination period runs through the end of Saturday, October 7th. We’ll post the totals on the 9th.The nominations list helps Steven and I decide which books to feature in future posts. It also helps us us create the Heavy Medal Book List, which we announce in early December.
As always let us know any questions! Happy nominating!
Filed under: Nominations
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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EB & FLOW by Kelly Baptist
STATELESS by Elizabeth Wein
MY HEAD HAS A BELLYACHE by Chris Harris
1. A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi–The Secret Garden retold for modern times with a Pakistani Muslim main character. I was impressed with how the stories paralleled and how the beliefs of this little girl were expressed.
2. Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow–Simon was scared and untrusting at the beginning of the book, and learns a lot about friendship and trust by the end. I really thought the character development in this book worked well.
3. When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhha Lai–The poetry is spare, but extremely expressive and beautiful.
MEXIKID by Pedro Martín
THE MONA LISA VANISHES by Nicholas Day
MY HEAD HAS A BELLYACHE by Chris Harris
My hardest choice was in nonfiction, where I’m so torn between MONA LISA and IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE. I’ll pick MONA LISA this month and likely add IMPOSSIBLE next month. Which would leave me only three! And there’s a Jacqueline Woodson out next week! This is going to be hard…
No regular novels on my first batch. I’ve read a lot of very good novels this year, but just didn’t identify one for my top three yet. I strongly considered THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR…, thinking it might not get nominated by others. But I’ll save that part of the strategy for round 2 or 3. Although that can be risky, because who knows what else we’ll all read in the next month?
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
My Head Has a Bellyache – Chris Harris
Good Different – Meg Eden Kuyatt
The Labors of Hercules Beale – Gary D. Schmidt
The Labors of Hercules Beale – Gary D. Schmidt
Simon Sort of Says – Erin Bow
The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams – Daniel Nayeri
1. Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
2. Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri
3. Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary Schmidt
A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat
THE LOST YEAR by Katherine Marsh
THE LABORS OF HERCULES BEAL by Gary D. Schmidt
These been my top choices since July. I think they fit the Newbery rubric but they are also books that I think kids will actually be excited about reading.
4-7
THE SONG OF US by Kate Fussner
THE EYES AND THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers
THE MONA LISA VANISHES by Nicholas Day
MY HEAD HAS A BELLYACHE by Chris Harris
Books on my list to reading this month:
-IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE by Steve Sheinkin
-THE RED EAR BLOWS ITS NOSE by Robert Schechter
I am a fan of Sheinkin’s BOMB and THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD. They are a few of my all-time favorites, so this book may rocket to a top position.
My Tier One picks. If in January, these three were recognized, I don’t think I’d have a problem with “woulda, coulda, shoulda.”
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
For me, this the the front runner all the way. Well written (and let’s be honest, humor is VERY difficult to write and have it come across well, especially when set against such a serious topic). Characters are interesting and well-developed, and reminiscent of Richard Peck.
Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
This one too balances humor and serious subjects, along with writing that is (as always) superb. This one was a joy and a heartache to read. Poignant and wonderful.
Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe by Steve Sheinken
He never writes a bad book, but taking non-fiction and turning it into a plot-driven book as he has is pure skill. Building the suspense on a pre-determined outcome is also skill and brilliance. I have to admit is afterword, as it often does, got me.
THE RED EAR BLOWS ITS NOSE: Poems for Children and Others, by Robert Schechter (Word Galaxy 2023). This book is from an independent press and a debut author. It’s the best book of children’s poems I have read in many years, a genuine classic. It has received three STARRED reviews (SLJ, Kirkus, Booklist), is a Bank Street Children’s Book Committee Selection, and a Common Sense Media Selection. Critics have compared Schechter to Jack Prelutsky, Mr. Rogers, John Ciardi, and J. Patrick Lewis, and Jane Yolen is among the enthusiastic blurbers. SLJ says these are poems “to grow up with,” Kirkus calls it “masterful,: #1 in the Goodreads Mock Newbery You can read an ARC here: https://issuu.com/red__ear/docs/_the_red_ear_blows_its_nose_–_schechter–_arc
PATTERNS EVERYWHERE, by Lisa Varchol Perron. Perron makes this non-fiction subject into a book that feels lyrical and literary even as it teaches about patterns and how they are found everywhere in nature.
MERMAID DAY, by Diana Murray. You probably know her book “Unicorn Day,” which everyone loved. Diana has a great ear for rhyme and uses it to tell a tight, simple story that kids will enjoy tremendous.
We’ll post a “Poetry Round-Up” tomorrow, and THE RED EAR is one of the titles we’ll highlight…
Thanks for nominating “Mermaid Day”! I second “The Red Ear Blows Its Nose” and “Patterns Everywhere”!!! Love both of those!
1. A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat
I think the theme is well-developed in this one.
2. SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow
The humor against the backdrop of a serious topic is so well done. As far as characters, Agate is a great representation of autism; no surprise that Lyn Miller-Lachmann was used as a beta reader.
3. PARACHUTE KIDS by Betty C. Tang
The style of how they show the difference in languages they speak was a great idea.
Has anyone mentioned ANIMALS IN PANTS by Suzy Levinson? It’s a really clever, kid-friendly poetry collection.
Agree with ANIMALS IN PANTS. We have a Poetry Round-Up post tomorrow and that one’s on my list of top collections.
Love that one!
Both “Simon Sort of Says” and “The Labors of Hercules Beal” made me laugh out loud and ripped my heart out–I loved both of them!
Dust by Dusti Bowling is another rip your heart out story. It’s difficult to portray this kind of child abuse in a middle school book, and give an authentic representation of a kid suffering this abomination. This made me think of Fighting Words by Bradley.
1. The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
2. The Labors of Hercules Beal
3 Simon Sort of Says
Still on my TBR are Mexikid, A First Time for Everything, My Head Has A Bellyache, Rez Ball and several others that have made other people’s top 3’s so I offer my top three with an open mind, though The Lost Year really rocked me; it’s hard to imagine it falling out of my top three. I am still thinking about it. I have a student named Mila and every time someone calls her name I am back in the story with Nadia and Helen and Mila. I am also still thinking about Hercules and his year of labors–and I especially think about his teacher Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer. So these three books are very dear to me. I will love them and recommend them to my readers–even if they are eventually replaced by other worthy books.
It’s so very hard to choose from many brilliant titles. I don’t envy the Committee members. I’m all in on SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow and THE LABORS OF HERCULES BEAL by Gary D. Schmidt for many of the reasons already stated. I laughed. I cried. I’ll remember those books long after the final pages were turned. I also loved MEXIKID by Pedro Martin.
First Time for Everything
Leeva at Last
The Labors of Hercules Beal
1. Eb & Flo by Kelly Baptist- The characters were so complex, even some of the side characters. The story is so well done.
2. The Red Ear Blows its Nose by Robert Schechter- fun poetry that kids will enjoy. The poems definitely have a flavor of past children’s poets, but are also very unique.
3. The Skull Jon Klassen- I know this is a long shot… but it’s so unique and really fills in the need for a spooky story that’s not too spooky.
Simon Sort of Says
The Labors of Hercules Beale
The Skull
1. The Red Ear Blows Its Nose by Robert Schechter: a tour de force that’s both lyrical and funny, has a strong voice, can appeal to a large age range, and encourages deep thinking.
2. Animals in Pants by Suzy Levinson: funny, clever, beautifully executed, whimsical and unique, and makes poetry fun.
3. Patterns Everywhere by Lisa Varchol Perron: Unique, both educational and beautifully poetic, encourages thoughtful observation and love of the natural world.
4. Whatever Comes Tomorrow by Rebecca Gardyn Levington: Both beautiful and comforting and addresses rising anxiety in kids.
Sorry, I know I cheated by including 4!
It really is hard to limit to three, I know. We do total up the nominations each time, though, so that purpose, we’ll count your first three in our October totals, Diana. Feel free to re-nominate #4 when we open up November nominations on October 30th….
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
The Lost Year
The Labors of Hercules Beal
The Eyes and the Impossible
Even though I am retire and in complete control of how I spend my time, there are still TOO MANY BOOKS AND TOO LITTLE TIME. I just wanted to thank everyone for these titles. Your choices help guide me to my reading choices every year. Hercules and Simon were two that I enjoyed listening to so very, very much. The committee will be considering so many wonderful books published this year.
My current top three:
THE SONG OF US by Kate Fussner
MEXIKID by Pedro Martin
THE SKULL by Jon Klassen
THE SKULL Jon Klassen
THE DREAMATICS Michelle Cuevas
THE LOST LIBRARY Rebecca Stead and Wendy Maas
THE LABORS OF HERCULES BEALE – Gary D. Schmidt
THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, THE SELLER OF DREAMS – Daniel Nayeri
A WALK IN THE WOODS – Nikki Grimes
After much thought I have finally decided on three books to nominate for October.
1. A First time for Every thing by Dan Santat. This has been my top pick ever since I read it. I was really drawn in and felt like I was right along with them on their trip. Wen the book finished I wanted to read it all over again and relive the trip.
2. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers. This was a fantastic animal story with great characters and setting. I think this is well written with nuance and a bittersweet ending.
3. Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca. A very good novel in verse about a set of twin sisters. I think the sisters relationship is very well done. You really feel thir emotions.
A Stone Is a Story by Leslie Barnard Booth, illustrated by Marc Martin – fascinating, lyrical nonfiction picture book about the rock cycle
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby – YA, but definitely works for young end. Science Fiction with space travel and interesting stuff about identify/selfhood.
CHINESE MENU: The History, Myths and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin (extensively well-researched retelling of old stories and myths about Chinese food adapted through Grace Lin’s own Asian American lens.)
HOW DO YOU SPELL UNFAIR?: MACNOLIA COX AND THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE by Carole Boston Weatherford (Nonfiction picture book about the first African American to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.)
EB & FLOW by Kelly J. Baptist (a very engaging plot told in verse)
Simon Sort of Says
Eb and Flow
The Lost Year
The Song of Us – Kate Fussner
Good Different – Meg Eden Kurata
Simon Sort of Says – Erin Bow
All three tackle difficult subjects with grace and they all made me cry.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far! If you haven’t submitted your top 3 yet, there’s still time (but not much). Nominations close at the end of Saturday, October 7th. We’ll share result on Monday October 9th…
If you haven’t read the books below, make sure you do. They were all very well-received by my students. I will add some of the “kid quotes” beside each book.
IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY by Sydney Dunlap — one student comment: “Un-put-downable!” This is a timely, important story that middle schoolers need to read. It deals with online safety and human trafficking in a developmentally appropriate and sensitive way.
GOOD DIFFERENT by Meg Eden Kuyatt — one student comment: “Relatable and it’s in verse!” When looking for books that are a mirror or a window for your readers, make sure to add this book. Told from the perspective of a neurodivergent middle schooler.
The 3rd book on my list is DOGTOWN by Gennifer Choldenko and Katherine Applegate. This book co-written by two powerhouse authors captures perfectly the voices and emotions of the animals at DOGTOWN, a shelter for stray dogs and rejected robot dogs. A heartwarming tale of dogs (and people) searching for their forever families.
1/ Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
2/ The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D Schmidt
3/ The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day
This was a tough one for me but I settled on three
THE LOST YEAR, superteacher project, mexikid
Thanks everyone for the excellent nominations. October nominations are now closed. We’ll open up November nominations on October 30th.