Early Mock Newbery Titles: It’s time for April Suggestions
A month ago we collected our first batch of suggestions of Newbery-eligible books that just might be considered for the 2025 Medal. That first list of eleven titles can be found here. We’ll keep building this list at the beginning of every month, so now it’s time for April suggestions. Emily posted the guidelines for suggestions in early March, and I’ve also copied that list below for your convenience. Please add your April suggestions in the comments section from now through Saturday, April 6th. We’ll total things up and share an updated list a couple days after that.
- Suggestions are books that might have a chance to contend for the Newbery. They don’t have to be perfect, best-book-of-year type titles, but can include books that could possibly be in that discussion.
- Suggestions must be eligible books. Eligibility is addressed in the Newbery Terms and Criteria. If you’re not sure if a book is eligible, go ahead and include it. We’ll make our best guess at eligibility later.
- For Suggestions, please include title and author. If you want to add a comment, great, but we’ll save critical discussions for the Fall.
- You can suggest up to 5 titles per month. Less is fine. The real Committee typically doesn’t have a Suggestions limit, but we’ll use one to make sure our list doesn’t get too long.
- Suggest only books that you’ve read or listened to. Sometimes you hear that a book is great or you know from the author that it’s something we should all read…but you still can’t suggest it until you’ve read it yourself.
- Suggestions should be books that are already published. If you read an advance copy, please hold off on suggesting until it’s actual release date. That keeps us roughly on the same time line.
- If a book you’ve read is already on the list, go ahead and include it. We’ll post an update every month listing titles and numbers of Suggestions. Early favorites tend to lead the suggestions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll win it all.
- If you missed a suggestion deadline, it’s ok. Just go ahead and post next month!
As always, we’re looking forward to learning what everyone’s been reading!
Filed under: Suggestions
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.
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Julie Ann Corsaro says
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming
Not Quite a Ghost by Ann Ursu
Michelle Lettus says
Kyra, Just for Today Sara Zarr
Ms. Abel says
Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
Emily Mroczek says
Here’s my six because I didn’t suggest last month (maybe I’ll have more by the end of the week, maybe not haha)…
The House Before Falling Into the Sea- Ann Suk Wang
Ferris- Kate DiCamillo
Amil and the After- Veera Hiranandani
The Girl Who Sang- Estelle Nadel with Bethany Strout;
Louder Than Hunger- John Schu
Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
Jennifer Costa says
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
Kate Todd says
FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly
Jenny says
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler
The Girl Who Sang by Nadel/Savos/Strout
Leonard Kim says
Ferris, Kate DiCamillo
Angie says
First State of Being–Kelly
Louder Than Hunger–Schu
Sona and the Golden Beasts–LaRocca
Ellen Peterson says
I would also like to suggest Ferris by Kate Dicamillo. Just finished it on Saturday what a lovely book. I would also like to suggest The Girl who Sang. It is a true story graphic novel about the authors experience during the holocost.
Dave Richardson says
Didn’t post last month, but here’s what I am liking so far:
Max in the House of Spies— honestly, Adam Gidwitz’s writing style is like putting on a pair of comfortable shoes.
Louder Than Hunger. Wasn’t a fan of John Schu’s picture book, but this one, I read in one sitting. Powerful.
Ferris. This is classic Kate DiCamillo. Great story. Amazing voice. Certainly one to watch.
Dave Richardson says
Oops..
Forgot
FIRST STATE OF BEING. Absolutely stunning piece of writing.
Quade Kelley says
April Suggestions:
1. Olivetti by Allie Millington
2. Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
3. Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson
MG books I recommend but didn’t quite make my Newbery list:
* Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani. I read the Night Diary and then this book. It’s under my category of empathy portal.
* One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Free verse poetry. I did an in-depth book review of Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park in 7th grade, and I liked the migration story from a new perspective. It was hard for me to get into. The free verse poetry is in the authors distinct style, but it took awhile to get into the plot. Around page 100 I was hooked.
To read in April:
The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelley
Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
I see some themes in books this year. Ghosts. WWII. Color. (synesthesia and the word Violet.)
Rebecca says
Mac in the House of Spies
Kelly Mueller says
I didn’t get to read this month as much as I wanted. I am also a serial book starter – you all recommend all these amazing books and I start them and then can’t finish them all. So this month I just have:
FERRIS by Kate DiCamillo
Timeless.
Steven Engelfried says
Almost forgot to add my own:
FERRIS by Kate DiCamillo
THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly
NOT QUITE A GHOST by Anne Ursu
ONE BIG OPEN SKY by Lesa Cline-Ransome
WALKIN’ THE DOG by Chris Lynch
Steven Engelfried says
April suggestions are now closed. We’ll post the totals on Monday and open up suggestions again in early May…