Steven Engelfried

Posts by Steven Engelfried

February 3, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

With the announcement of FREEWATER as the 2023 Newbery Medal winner, our Mock Newbery season is complete. Help us plan next year with our Readers' Feedback Poll and take a look at our early list of possible contenders for the 2024 Newbery Award.

January 28, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Readers’ Poll Results

Nearly 150 participants weighed in on our annual Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Readers' Poll. In a very close race, Kelly Barnhill's THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHAN is our winner. See the full list of results here.

January 23, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Cast Your Vote in the Heavy Medal Reader’s Poll

The Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Reader's Poll is now open! Choose your top 3 titles from the 16 books on our Heavy Medal Book List. Submit your picks by January 27th at noon EST; results will be annouced on January 28th.

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE LAST MAPMAKER by Christina Soontornvat

January 19, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

In 2021 Chirstina Soontornvat won Newbery Honor for two different books. Her latest novel, THE LAST MAPMAKER, could be a contender for the 2023 award. Join our discussion of the last of the 16 titles on our Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Book List.

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: BERRY SONG by Michaela Goade

January 18, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

BERRY SONG, the newest picture book from Michaela Goade, is "a symphony of words," according to Heavy Medal Award Committee member Gabrielle Stoller. Does the winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal have a chance to win the 2023 Newbery?

Mock Newbery Finalist: ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King

January 17, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Young adult author A. S. King won the 2020 Printz Medal. Could ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES make her a Newbery Medalist as well? Join the discussion on our Heavy Medal Mock Newbery blog.

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: AVIVA VS. THE DYBBUK by Mari Lowe

January 14, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Mari Lowe explores themes of family, friendship, and grief in her debut novel, AVIVA VS. THE DYBBUK. Could she be one of the rare first-time authors to win a Newbery Medal?

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE DOOR OF NO RETURN by Kwame Alexander

January 12, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Kwame Alexander won the 2015 Newbery Medal and a Newbery Honor in 2020. Today we discuss the Newbery potential of his powerful new book, THE DOOR OF NO RETURN,

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS by Kelly Barnhill

January 10, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Kelly Barnhill's THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS is a "delightful and thought-provoking read," says Heavy Medal Award Committee member Kerrie Lattari in her introduction. Barnhill won the 2017 Newbery Medal; will her latest book match that accomplishment?

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN by Pamela S. Turner

January 7, 2023 by Steven Engelfried

Will the 2023 Newbery winner be a science book? Pamela S. Turner's HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN is "an outstanding work of narrative nonfiction," according to Heavy Medal Award Committee member Amanda Bishop. How will it measure up to the rest of our Mock Newbery titles?

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