Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

I just finished The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg. I thought it was great. I don't know if it is a Newbery, but I do think it will hold well with time.

I just finished reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. I thought it was very well written. This is the best book that I have read this year. If anyone else gets a chance, give it a read and let me know what you think.

All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg was excellent. It's a quick easy read, so check it out.

I agree about Homer P. Figg. It is among my favorites of 2010. I'm not sure about its Newbery potential either, but I'm definitely recommending to everyone!

I am my library's waiting list for Calpurnia Tate and I am really excited about reading that one.

I also am on the waiting list for Calpurnia Tate. I have Homer P. Figg. Will let you know what I think soon.

Has anyone read Dessert First by Hallie Durand? It caught my eye at the bookstore, but I didn't have the chance to pick it up.

Katie wrote: "Has anyone read Dessert First by Hallie Durand? It caught my eye at the bookstore, but I didn't have the chance to pick it up. "

No, I don't know anything about that one. I think I might have seen it on the Eva Perry Mock Newbery website. It looked kind of cute but I have not researched it yet.

I just finished Kate DiCamillo's new book and think it is worth a read

I have heard good things about this one. Unfortunatly I have to wait until September when it comes out to read it. It has had really good reviews so I am looking forward to it.

I'm looking forward to Magician's Elephant too! I am also excited to read Gennifer Choldenko's sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts.

I just finished The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and thoroughly enjoyed it. It brought back so many childhood memories for me doing experiments with my dad and collecting bugs and butterflies. I loved the hopeful ending and the idea that all things are possible. There is humor and wonder and joy. I loved the humor and innocence of the time. Nice figurative language. I may use it for a read aloud this year. Just began Homer P. Figg. Enjoying it so far.

What grade would you read it to? I'm just curious. My daughter is 9 and I'm positive she would enjoy it but I'm not sure she would catch the Darwin and Naturalist elements of the book.

I'm glad you liked it.

I love Homer P. Figg - I keep raving about it to anyone who will listen! I'm curious why everyone thinks it doesn't have Newbery potential?
Also, how have kids been reacting to it? At my library is disappeared shortly after it arrived, and only recently showed up again, so I've only had the chance to give it to one patron.

I just finished the Locked Gate by Gloria Whelan and I thought it was solid historical fiction. The 2 main characters are girls and I would say it is pretty squarely a girls book, but it was certainly a good book and worth a read. Not sure what the Newbery committee will think, but I'm keeping in on my list for now.

I just passed The Girl Who Threw Butterflies on to a co-worker, and I have to say that this is hands down my favorite book that I have read so far this year. The language was beautiful, and the sports bits were very evocative without being too bogged down in describing every moment of the practice or game. I hate baseball, but seeing how passionate the main character can be about the game and the way that it connects her to the people around her was just awesome. The mother/daughter relationship also struck me as very believable, and I really enjoyed seeing how these 2 characters changed over the course of the story. I can definitely see this as a Newbery, and I think that the baseball aspect will pull in sports fans, while the relationship aspect will work for everyone else.

Kristen wrote: "I have heard good things about this one. Unfortunatly I have to wait until September when it comes out to read it. It has had really good reviews so I am looking forward to it."
I have an ARC you can have if you send me your address.

Melsmith wrote: "Kristen wrote: "I have heard good things about this one. Unfortunatly I have to wait until September when it comes out to read it. It has had really good reviews so I am looking forward to it."
I ..."

You are so nice, thank you.

Also I created a Newbery 2010 list on listopia. Vote and add books to a growing list.

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/18...

Calpurnia Tate was pretty good, even the scientific aspects are written at a children's level (in my opinion - my kids are too young for this still). What I don't like is the overt feminist agenda.

Hoer P. Figg was very entertaining, but still informative in the broader historical sense.

All the Broken Pieces was a great, quick read. I like books that help kids step outside their situation and learn greater empathy through characters likely very different from themselves.

I really loved When You Reach Me - good sci-fi story, good morals, suitable for children.

I haven't had a chance to read the Magician's Elephant or even heard of the other books mentioned.

Thirteenth Child was also very good!

Of what I've read so far, here are my thoughts. Homer P. Figg: cutesy juxtaposed with child abuse, climaxing with the Battle of Gettysburg. All I thought of was PTSD. This won't make my list of Newbery hopefuls.
Marcelo: Printz candidate
Anything But Typical: reminded me of Joey Pigza.It is fascinating to be in the head of an autistic character and Baskin's writing was lovely.
Calpurnia Tate: Liked a lot, particularly the male/female double standard of the time

Katharine wrote: "Thirteenth Child was also very good!"

I agree, I love historical fiction and wasn't sure how I would take to the blend of historical fiction and fantasy - but it really worked well. I loved the characters and thinking about our founding fathers as 7th sons and magicians. I've read many books this summer and this is in my top 3!

I loved the beginning of Thirteenth Child. I was really excited about the original premise, but I felt it got very slow towards the middle of the book. I have to confess, I didn't finish reading it to the end.

Has anyone read Alan Armstrong's new book, Looking for Marco Polo? It's not perfect, but it might be a contender.

Bookwink wrote: "I'm looking forward to Magician's Elephant too! I am also excited to read Gennifer Choldenko's sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts."

I read Choldenko's sequel and liked it almost more than the first one!

@Bookwink: I read all of the book and liked it. I thought the plot was well constructed. Like you, I thought it bogged down a tad in the middle, but I think the original premise worked well.

Bookwink wrote: "I loved the beginning of Thirteenth Child. I was really excited about the original premise, but I felt it got very slow towards the middle of the book. I have to confess, I didn't finish reading it..."

I just finished Looking for Marco Polo a few days ago, and I liked it, but I don't think we will be including it on our list. The setting and the plot were just not quite strong enough to win my vote.
On the other hand, I also just finished Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and I thought it was so beautifully done. The way the different stories were woven together, and the little descriptions the author would give of a tree or a peach brought the story to life for me.

Katie wrote: "Bookwink wrote: "I loved the beginning of Thirteenth Child. I was really excited about the original premise, but I felt it got very slow towards the middle of the book. I have to confess, I didn't ..."

I just got Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. I am excited to read it.

I just finished The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon and was very impressed. It reminds me of the work of Christopher Paul Curtis. Set in 1968 in Chicago it explores the Civil Rights Movement: both the non-violent work of Dr. King and the Black Panthers. Like many Newbery books it leans toward the upper age range, 12-14. Definitely my favorite of what I've read so far.

Kather21 wrote: "I just finished The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon and was very impressed. It reminds me of the work of Christopher Paul Curtis. Set in 1968 in Chicago it explores the Civil Rights Movement: ..."

I just got this one from the library too. I will read it next.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan has explosive action and an unforgetable climax. I star it.

Reading Here's How I See It Here's How It Is.... Here's How I See It-The book is awesome. Here's How It Is-The book is awesome.

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis is a very good book and has terrific vocabulary words

I had not heard of The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis or Here's How I See It--Here's How It Is I will add both of them, along with The Last Olympian to our bookshelf. They sound interesting. I'm going to request them from the library so I can read them.

I am really enjoying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis is written by Barbara O'Connor who also wrote How to Steal a Dog among others. I'm looking forward reading it. When you Reach Me is an unusual book and one my class is really enjoying. They are trying to figure out the clues.

Just started reading The Book of the Maidservant this weekend and LOVE it! A hilarious, irreverent, and moving medieval servant story, it definitely seems to have Newbery potential.

Slob is a book that I read and I loved it! The main character is one point short of a genius, and all people see is his obeesity. The book has a few climaxes and the action rises slowly then gets to steep for you to climb!

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg was a very good book becuase its a family book.

The main character is an orphan entrusted to an abusive guardian, and is bacicly taken care of by his brother who is illeagly sold to the union army

Kristen wrote: "Kather21 wrote: "I just finished The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon and was very impressed. It reminds me of the work of Christopher Paul Curtis. Set in 1968 in Chicago it explores the Civil ..."

I second that. but I'm putting it down as possible Newbery anyway. I thought it was amazing. Loved the perspective and the issue of making your own choices.

When You Reach Me
Has a good chance at winning the newbery because it has many many gernres

If someone dosen't like one genre theres more to choose from. 
If you don't like this book you must be a very picky reader.

Crossing Stones was so good! It has to be at least an honor book. I know they passed on Diamond Willow last year so we'll see!

Heroes of the Valley was good but not as good as the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Did enjoy how Halli was "trying" to be a hero which is usually not the case in most hero's journey books!

Wild Things was amazing. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it. Has anyone else read it?

Kathy wrote: "Wild Things was amazing. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it. Has anyone else read it?"

Sounds like I need to read it!

I did read this one and loved it. It has been a hard sell at my library. I thought it was very well written and unique. VOYA gave it a horrible review which surprised me.
Kathy wrote: "Wild Things was amazing. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it. Has anyone else read it?"

Kristen wrote: "I just finished reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. I thought it was very well written. This is the best book that I have read this year. If anyone else gets a chance, give it a read and le..."

I just finished it, and I loved it too! I think that Callie Vee will really resonate with girls. The story really is about finding your place in the world, and not settling for a perscribed path.

Andrew wrote: "The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis is a very good book and has terrific vocabulary words"

I loved so much. It's one of my top selections! Just wish the cover art was more appealing...

Has anyone read Love, Aubrey? It was so sad. Loved the way the author wove in past with present and the letter writing too.

Katie wrote: "I just passed The Girl Who Threw Butterflies on to a co-worker, and I have to say that this is hands down my favorite book that I have read so far this year. The language was beauti..."

I have the teachers in my Mock club reading this over our break...I liked this one too but not sure about it's Newbery potential...

My 11 year old daughter read Love, Aubrey last weekend and loved it - she was totally drawn into the story and read it in just a few days. I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, but it sounds very moving. Kathy wrote: "Has anyone read Love, Aubrey? It was so sad. Loved the way the author wove in past with present and the letter writing too."

Kathy wrote: "Wild Things was amazing. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it. Has anyone else read it?"

Thanks to you, Kathy! I just read it, thanks to you, and loved it, too. It is beautifully written, heart-touching, and wise. I wonder why it's a hard sell at Jessica's library? Female protagonist, bad cover? To me, the cover makes sense after you read the book, but it doesn't make me want to pick up the book in the first place.
i could see this winning a Newbery. Street-wise book-loving self-raised orphan has to go live with her cranky artist uncle in a small town. Finds mysteries and solace in the woods, and finds her own place in the mesh of friendships, grudges, and acceptance that makes up "the real world," where sometimes wild things can find a place.