Book Discussion

January 27, 2025 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

And the Newbery winner is….

Another year, another surprising Newbery winner. View Steven and Emily's live thoughts here on the 2025 Youth Media Award announcements.

January 22, 2025 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Predictions for the ALA Youth Media Awards

STEVEN: It’s five days until the 2025 Newbery Medal will be announced, which means: Predictions! We do this every year, and the record shows that if you’re looking for accuracy, pay attention to Emily and ignore mine. EMILY: Uhh you’re really loading the pressure on here Steven… why? STEVEN: In seven years of predictions on […]

January 17, 2025 by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Heavy Medal Update: It’s Newbery Week!

As we enter the final week of Heavy Medal discussions there are lots of dates and deadlines to keep an eye on!

More Recent Posts

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPEERMAN by Gennifer Choldenko

January 16, 2025 by Steven Engelfried

The last book we'll discuss in our Mock Newbery is THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN by Gennifer Choldenko. It's been a favorite all year long of many Heavy Medal readers and now it's time to explore why.

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: A STRANGE THING HAPPENED IN CHERRY HALL by Jasmine Warga

January 15, 2025 by Steven Engelfried

Jasmine Warga's A STRANGE THING HAPPENED IN CHERRY HILL "excels at great characters, a keep-you-guessing plot and felt very appropriately interpreted for its intended audience," writes Heavy Medal Award Committee member Lauren Taylor. Join the Mock Newbery discussion and see how this middle grade mystery holds up among other contenders for the 2025 Medal.

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: QUAGMIRE TIARELLO COULDN’T BE BETTER by Mylisa Larsen

January 14, 2025 by Steven Engelfried

Now up for discussion in our Heavy Medal Mock Newbery: QUAGMIRE TIARELLO COULDN'T BE BETTER by Mylisa Larsen. Heavy Medal Award Committee Member Janeé Jackson-Doering notes that "this book tackles themes of growing up, anger, first love, mental illness and anxiety through wry humor."