Here are some of the more promising candidates for the 2013 Newbery Medal. Some of the starred review information may quickly become outdated–if it isn’t already.
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate (three stars) is a novel in prose poems with rich themes.
DRAGONSWOOD by Janet Lee Carey (two stars) is a sequel to the author’s earlier fantasy book.
THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE by Christopher Paul Curtis (two stars) is a sequel to Newbery Medal winner BUD, NOT BUDDY.
STEP GENTLY OUT by Helen Frost (two stars) is a single poem with striking photographic illustrations.
So: I’ve finally finished reading, and rereading, our medal and honor books. Jonathan has pointed out that no one should be that surprised to see DEAD END IN NORVELT and INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN “stickered,” since each had previously been so… Gantos winning the Scott O’Dell award, and Lai the National Book Award. But I think that those of us in the theater in Dallas where the Youth Media Awards were announced were surprised. We were prepared to be surprised… there were so many ways to call out what was distinguished in this year’s crop of writing for… Read More
Is there a Newbery book that you’re ashamed to admit that you haven’t read yet? Perhaps one that is considered a classic? That everyone else seems to have read but you? Don’t we all have these books on our own personal shelf of shame? Now some of you are more ambitious about your goals, like Colby Sharp and John Schu with their Newbery Challenge to read all the Medal winners, but for those of you with more modest ambitions here’s a smaller one. Pick one author and read all of their Newbery… Read More
Jonathan and I have a few more things to say this season (yes, including our thoughts on “Breaking Stalin’s Nose”)…but we’ll be wrapping up early next week. So if there’s anything else you’ve been too shy to ask all along, now’s the time!… Read More
I don’t have very many vivid recollections from my childhood, but I do remember being in the sixth grade, going to the school library, browsing the shelves, and pulling THE GREY KING off–I remember all of that very vividly with precise sensory details. By then, I had developed the knack for sniffing out fantasy without asking the librarian or consulting the card catalog: 1. Glance at the title, 2. Check out the cover, and 3. Read the jacket copy. THE GREY KING sounded kind of like THE HIGH KING (a book I had… Read More
The uncorrected version of the 2012 Notables list is now up here
The Notables list is considered a gathering of “the best of the best” of the year:
“”notable” is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways.”
I always look to this list to gather books that we’ve recognized stand out …often on… Read More
While DEAD END IN NORVELT wasn’t on our shortlist, the book earned three starred reviews, made three best of the year lists, and won the Scott O’Dell Award. We had a running conversation about the book here and here and here. Similarly, we did not include INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN despite the fact that it earned four starred reviews, made four best of the year lists, and won the National Book Award. It was discussed here and here and here. Both of these… Read More
You’ll get a more thoughtful post from Jonathan soon, but here’s something quick from the floor so you all can begin commenting. Remeber that your resource page for all the award winners is http://www.ala.org/yma
Sharon McKellar and I are here with Monica Edinger. We passed the closed Starbicks (7:30? come on, don’t they know what day it is?), the press office, where committees were still having photos taken after their phone calls:
…And into the theater. As the announcements proceed, there are shouts and yelps, recongition for each committee, and… Read More
I just breakfasted next to a Newbery committee member who was feeding and bolting to her 8am meeting. They met all day yesterday, and will again all day today, and by the end (“10pm” is often wishful thinking on Saturday) may have a winner. Sunday, if they’re on schedule, is for preparing press releases and staggering around in dazes… if they’re brave, maybe sitting in on the Notable Children’s Books discussion where we try to read their faces, and if not, perhaps to bed. They’ll be up early early Monday… Read More
Well, I’m here in Dallas now. Here are some final thoughts to mull over this weekend . . .
During our mock Newbery, I voted the same way on all three ballots: 1. AMELIA LOST 2. I BROKE MY TRUNK! 3. SIR GAWAIN. Since I clearly thought AMELIA LOST was the most distinguished that claimed my first place vote. I also knew I wanted I BROKE MY TRUNK on my ballot, and finally I opted for SIR GAWAIN despite a mixed discussion. I eschewed the novels entirely–since I still hadn’t made up my mind–and then, too, I wanted to keep SIR GAWAIN on… Read More
