Friday Mock Newbery Exercise: One Sentence Persuasion
t’s time for our third Friday Feedback exercise! Most Friday’s this year our post will feature some kind of a prompt where we invite you to weigh in on a particular question related to the 2024 Newbery Medal.
Today it’s persuading people to read/ nominate your favorite title. In one sentence, write a justification for your top book.
You can write for one title, or all your nominated titles, or a title you are thinking about nominating. The rules are pretty chill here. I haven’t decided what I’m nominating yet and a reminder, the first round of nominations closes tomorrow!
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This is modeled off the justification statements that committee members need to write when they nominate books. The criteria is below, though ours are going to be one sentence or less- because I want people to actually do it!
Justification statements are usually no more than 100 words, and serve as preparation for oral
discussion by providing practice in how to succinctly state points that speak to the award
criteria.
Also from the Newbery manual “The written justifications serve as preparation for oral discussion at LLX and provide practice in stating clearly and succinctly your ideas about books that seem distinguished. And, they make each committee member aware of which books require their closest scrutiny. To avoid making commitments prior to the LLX discussions, ranked preferences are not given on the nominating ballots. Serious consideration is to be given to all nominated books, including those with minimal support.”
I decided to write about a Heavy Medal favorite- the LABORS OF HERCULES BEAL. I’m interested to see other people’s sentences of support and how they differ! I will add more books later (hopefully) and hope you do too!)
THE LABORS OF HERCULES BEAL by GARY SCHMIDT- This relatable title successfully weaves fantasy stories into a realistic tale that excels in all six criteria but particularly delineation of primary and secondary characters, development of plot and delineation of setting as readers are transported to Cape Cod.
See our past Friday Feedback exercises here:
Share a pair of books you think will win the Newbery
Filed under: Book Discussion
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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I’ve already written a bit about my first three nominations, so I’ll try a sentence on a book I’m strongly considering for November or December:
BUFFALO FLATS by Martine Leavitt
The writing style shines in this historical novel, with a fully realized setting, a well-paced plot with just enough surprises, and most of all, the distinct personality and viewpoint of Rebecca, a distinct and memorable character.
I mentioned this title before as one I came close to Suggesting. Not sure I will nominate it, but I’d love to tempt someone else into reading it and giving their opinion here.
Like a middle-school Veronica Mars, DREW LECLAIR CRUSHES THE CASE seasons its crime-solving with elements of rom-com and school and family drama, allowing its already engaging characters to show that many more sides of themselves.
(This was hard! At first I tried to write about the protagonist Drew but kept coming up with the same adjectives Steven used to describe Rebecca of BUFFALO FLATS, “distinct and memorable.”)
I decided to do my favorite book of the Year so far. A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat
A stellar graphic novel memoir about a trip to Europe that brings you back to your middle school days and makes you feel like you’re right there along with them for the trip.
OK low comments on this one and I did promise I’d be back with more, so here I am with the most recent book I read, which I don’t think I’m necessarily nominating but #seethegood
PATTERNS EVERYWHERE by Lisa Varchal Parron
Patterns are visual, patterns are spoken, patterns are bold, patterns are hidden- patterns are.
(see what I did there?)
I did not write about my three nominations so I’ll try some more ONE SENTENCE PERSUASION HERE!
THE LOST YEAR A deep and surprising historical fiction tale that combines engaging characters intense plot lines and rich setting to produce a riveting and memorable piece.
SUPERTEACHER PROJECT A realistic fiction novel with a touch of science fiction and mystery that will have students thinking after the last page.
MEXIKID Unique style, staggering from present to slight-future tense, and strong interepation of themes are what makes this road-trip memoir remarkable.