Meet the 2024 Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Award Committee
Our 2024 Heavy Medal Award Committee (HMAC) is officially set! We have 16 members, just one more than the real Committee’s 15. Every one of them is committed to reading all 16 titles on hour Heavy Medal Book List, then discussing each one, following the Newbery Terms and Criteria. They’ll look at a new book nearly every single day for over two weeks, starting December 26th. The schedule with titles and dates is here. If you’re not an HMAC member, you can still participate in the discussion via the comments section.
Once the HMAC has finished looking at all 16 books, 5 finalists will be chosen for the Mock Newbery Live Zoom Discussion, which takes place on Friday, January 19th at 1:00 pm EST.. You can sign up to attend this free SLJ Webcast here.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Here’s an introduction to each of our wonderful HMAC volunteers:
Jenny Arch Children’s Services Librarian, South Hadley Public Library, South Hadley, MA Favorite Newbery Book: 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, and Number the Stars. Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “I like the way the process sifts through so many candidates and tries to find the one(s) that are elevated in some lasting way. (I always want the maximum number of Honor books as well!)” | |
Aryssa Damron Children’s Librarian, DC Public Library Favorite Newbery Book: The Westing Game Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “Discovering books that might have missed the best seller lists and getting lost in a new world!” | |
Elaine Fultz School Library Media Specialist, Smith Elementary, Oakwood City Schools, Dayton OH Favorite Newbery Book: The Girl who Drank the Moon Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “Sharing the books with my students and educator colleagues.” | |
Casey Grenier School Librarian, Beach Elementary, Chesapeake Beach, MD Favorite Newbery Book: Merci Suarez Changes Gears and New Kid. Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “I love the diversity of literature that the Newbery helps bring to our students; the nominees are diverse in subject, style, form, and characters.” | |
Janee Jackson-Doering Youth Services Consultant, State Library of Iowa Des Moines, IA Favorite Newbery Book: Holes, Maniac Magee, New Kid, The Graveyard Book, and The Girl Who Drank the Moon Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “I like that Newbery honors the best in literature – and it’s helpful as a youth librarian to offer quality book selections to caregivers looking for the best literature for their kids.” | |
Quade Kelley High School Student- Athlete, Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, CA Favorite Newbery Book: The Westing Game Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “It gives authors that write for young readers important recognition for their outstanding stories.” | |
Tally Klinefelter Librarian, Virginia Highland Elementary, Atlanta, GA Favorite Newbery Book: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “The fact that the winning books can create a sort of time capsule for their year in children’s literature.” | |
Michelle Lettus School Librarian, Abraham Wing, Glens Falls, NY Favorite Newbery Book: The Giver Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “I like that while there is a set of criteria for the books, the conversations that you can have about how a book meets those standards is endless.” | |
Kelly Mueller Youth Services Librarian, Itasca Community Library, Itasca, IL Favorite Newbery Book: Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “My favorite thing about the Newbery award is that it includes picture books and graphic novels.” | |
Kyra Nay Branch Services Librarian Supervisor – Children’s, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Maple Heights OH Favorite Newbery Book: The Girl Who Drank the Moon Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “The demanding but flexible criteria that allows committees to recognize and honor the excellence in the craft of a wide range of eligible titles, from picture books to novels to nonfiction.” | |
Sabrina Ponce Adult/Teen Services Librarian, West Hollywood Library (LA County Library), Los Angeles, CA Favorite Newbery Book: Kira-Kira Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “It celebrates books with themes that resonate universally with kids of diverse backgrounds.” | |
Jenn Potter K-5 Teacher Librarian Needham, MA Favorite Newbery Book: Ramona Quimby, Age 8. However I also adore The Night Diary, Other Words for Home, and The War that Saved My Life. Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “The variety of great kids literature and promoting great diverse new books.” | |
Alicia Rogers Branch Children’s Services Librarian, Worcester Public Library, Worcester, MA Favorite Newbery Book: Favorite read as a child: The Westing Game; favorite read as an adult: New Kid Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “Listening to author acceptance speeches!” | |
Julie Sigmund Librarian, Fishback Creek Public Academy, Indianapolis, IN Favorite Newbery Book: Walk Two Moons Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “It exposes readers to books that help them grow as both readers and people.” | |
Gabby Stoller Youth Services Librarian, Meridian Library District, Meridian, ID Favorite Newbery Book: The One and Only Ivan Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “I love seeing the range from year to year. I feel the Newbery is an indicator of the times in terms of interest, writing style, social constructs, etc.” | |
Sarah Threlkeld former elementary librarian Favorite Newbery Book: The Westing Game Favorite thing about the Newbery Award: “The award helps legitimize children’s literature, spotlights high-quality titles that may not be on a lot of people’s radars, and generates heated discussions amongst kidlit fans.” |
Filed under: Heavy Medal Mock
About Steven Engelfried
Steven Engelfried retired from full-time library work a couple years ago and now works as a part-time Youth Librarian at the West Linn Public Library in Oregon. He served on the 2010 Newbery committee, chaired the 2013 Newbery Committee, and also served on the 2002 Caldecott committee. You can reach him at sengelfried@yahoo.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SLJ Blog Network
Winter Light: An Aaron Becker Interview and Video Trailer Reveal!
Tegan and Sara: Crush | Review
The Seven Bills That Will Safeguard the Future of School Librarianship
Take Five: Dogs in Middle Grade Novels
Gayle Forman Visits The Yarn!
ADVERTISEMENT
Aryssa says
Love the Westing Game fandom representation!