Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Book List 2025
We have 15! We have 15! Steven did not approve of my idea to put all 57 titles on our final booklist and after some passionate conversations and debates we came up with a list of 15 titles.
We did our best to create a well-rounded list, that both had titles Heavy Medal Readers are passionate about and also spark discussion and qualify as Newbery potentials. We ended up very heavy in middle grade fiction this year, surprise surprise! That being said- the perfect book list does not exist and please let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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These are the titles we will discuss in-depth on Heavy Medal Dec. 28- Jan. 14. We will then narrow it down to four titles for our webcast on Friday January 24th.
And now, (drumroll please) here in alphabetical order, are the 15 books on the 2025 Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Book List (HMBL).
| BLACK GIRL YOU ARE ATLAS- Renee Watson |
| THE COLOR OF SOUND- Emily Barth Isler |
| ENGIMA GIRLS-Candace Fleming |
| THE FIRST STATE OF BEING- Erin Entrada Kelly |
| KAREEM BETWEEN- Shifa Saltagi Safadi |
| LOUDER THAN HUNGER- John Schu |
| MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL- Chanel Miller |
| MALLORY IN FULL COLOR- Elisa Stone Leahy |
| MAX IN THE HOUSE OF SPIES- Adam Gidwitz |
| MID-AIR- Alicia Williams |
| NOT QUITE A GHOST- Anne Ursu |
| PLAIN JANE AND THE MERMAID- Vera Brosgol |
| QUAGMIRE TIARELLO COULDN’T BE BETTER- Mylisa Larsen |
| A STRANGE THING HAPPENED IN CHERRY HALL- Jasmine Warga |
| THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN- Gennifer Choldenko |
Filed under: Heavy Medal Mock
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’m in the middle of two and haven’t read four, but I’d say 9 out of 15 is pretty good! I really think FERRIS read like a Newbery, so though I’m not “bummed” that it’s not on the list, I’d say I think it has a good shot at the real Newbery. But I’d say this is a well-rounded list! Poetry, nonfiction, verse, a graphic novel. I’m wondering what other graphic novels this year have a shot.
I should have added, I kept refreshing the page this morning waiting for the list! It’s a very exciting thing in my mind!
I love the enthusiasm!!!
I am so thrilled that QUAGMIRE TIARELLO COULDN’T BE BETTER made the list! This is in my top 2 titles I have read all year!
I am also very excited to read more on this list. My bedside table is full of books!
Let’s Go! Off to read MALLORY IN FULL COLOR.
I’ve read half of these, but I’m excited to spend winter break digging into the other half!
Good list! I’ve read 11 (so far) and am excited to see MAGNOLIA WU on there, as well as my early favorite NOT QUITE A GHOST, and nonfiction THE ENIGMA GIRLS. Always interesting to follow/participate in the Heavy Medal discussions leading up to the Newbery!