Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Natalie Lloyd thrilled readers in 2014 with A Snicker of Magic. Her latest work, The Key to Extraordinary, promises to be just as delightful, but is it distinguished?

I have been waiting to comment, but I don't like it when the first one in the thread is negative (kind of like how you give positive feedback first, and then tell someone what they need to work on). But then, I thought, maybe everyone feels the same way and is waiting for someone else to go first? Probably not, but I'll forge ahead anyway.

I have to say, I am not a fan of Lloyd's writing style. Back when Snicker was getting all that love, I just couldn't understand it! I even went back to read my comments on that thread, and I actually chimed in three times to remark on how much I did not like it!

Key has all the same issues for me. There are too many uninteresting adult characters. The kids don't act or talk like any kids I know (or want to know) in real life. It is a slog to wade through the plot and just finish. Someone commented on Snicker about an insincere quality of the writing, almost like she is ticking off some sort of "Elements to Include to Win an Award" List, and I do get that vibe a little bit. Like, Snicker, the idea of the book was the best part, and it seems a shame these good ideas get crowded out with hokey dialogue and two dimensional characters.

In the end, it does not appeal to me, and I would argue it is not distinguished. Also, I would not recommend it to a single student I know.

I LOVED The Key to Extraordinary! The spooky, small Southern town setting had me hooked right away. And my interest remained while exploring the Boneyard Cafe, the adjacent cemetery, and the secrets of the town. I find Natalie Llyod's writing to be filled with magic and wonder. I was so immersed in the characters and events, I could not put this book down! I just recommended this book to a student today! I am anticipating seeing what she thinks as a 5th grader. I give this book five shiny stars for filling me with wonderment & curiosity.

I couldn't get into Snicker, so I will skip The Key to Extraordinary this month.

I did read Paper Wishes and The Bitter Side of Sweet. Except for the slight preachiness of the ending, I enjoyed TBSoS. And I enjoyed the relationship of the MC to her brother in PW - just not especially the dog-makes-everything-ok ending.

What I like best about The Key to Extraordinary are the journal entries by previous generations of women. They demonstrate the different contributions that women have made to the history of our country. I also like the message that successful people are not just those who are rock stars.

Kate wrote: "What I like best about The Key to Extraordinary are the journal entries by previous generations of women. They demonstrate the different contributions that women have made to the history of our cou..."

Yes! This is part of the idea of the story I liked best. I think you make a good point about the variety of achievements that are highlighted.

I was actually dreading reading this book for I didn't care for Natalie Lloyd's first book, A Snicker of Magic, which had rave reviews. However, I had the book, so I read it. I actually liked it. The story was actually entertaining; however, it got much better at the end. My one criticism is that the friendship between Emma and Earl seemed a little forced. And what was the deal with tacking on Topher's romance at the end of the book?

There was so much going on in this book: strong female role models, bullying, ghosts, morality, grief, friendship, industrializing, music, magic, history, and more! I am sure that it could have been a much better book if some of the storylines were cut out. Where was the editor?

Shari wrote: "There was so much going on in this book: strong female role models, bullying, ghosts, morality, grief, friendship, industrializing, music, magic, history, and more! I am sure that it could have bee..."

I know what you mean about the editing. I don't mean just this title but throughout the children's middle grade book world at the very least. When the recession hit publishing houses let go of some pretty amazing seasoned editors. And it showed. Time to bring those guys back in. They are desperately needed.

Does this group have a list of criteria that you all refer to when reading? I'm aware of what the Newbery Committee uses and the standards I have set for my student MN group. I'll check back through the threads to see.

I enjoyed this book and I appreciate Lloyd's writing style. I had quite a few students in mind (while reading) that really enjoy these mysterious small town settings. I knew that my kids that enjoyed The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing and Three Times Lucky would enjoy this one. The text is very accessible to MG, so I think that is a plus. I often find that a lot of "award winners" are accessible for adults, but not necessarily the children they were written for.

I can see how some people love the magical nature of Natalie Lloyd's books, but I guess they are just not for me. I did not hate A Snicker of Magic or The Key to Extraordinary but I did not love them either. I actually had to make myself finish both books. Why is that? I'm not completely sure. The characters are strong but hardly sound like the kids they are supposed to be. The magic and mysticism gets to be way too much at times for me. I am glad I read them because it helps me recommend them to the right reader. I do like the message at the end of The Key, but not one I will have about to kids and colleagues.

Shari wrote: "There was so much going on in this book: strong female role models, bullying, ghosts, morality, grief, friendship, industrializing, music, magic, history, and more! I am sure that it could have bee..."

You put your finger on it! I was frustrated by what felt to me like a lack of focus plot-wise, and it was a struggle for me to finish. I never did finish Snicker of Magic (though I tried!! Several times!)

Lloyd's books will go over well with the Three Times Lucky crowd--there are a lot of similarities; Turnage writes a better mystery, in my opinion.

So far, my favorite Newbery contender is Land of the Forgotten Girls, My Life with the Liars, and Samurai Rising.

I loved A Snicker of Magic and I think Natalie has a way with words. I just started Key and will be adding my thoughts soon. There are plenty of books...including Newbery books that haven't been for me. But I can usually think of a student or students that will love them. That is the real pleasure of being a librarian. I know there is a book for each student....even if it isn't my cup of tea.

I really enjoyed Key & thought that Lloyd has a strong voice. Through song, whispering flowers & journal entries a magical story seemed to unfold. I couldn't put the book down & finished it in two days! I loved the Pancake Club & Granny Blue. I wanted to sip Boneyard Brew and stare out at the cemetery from the cafe.

Many of my 5th graders have also read this book and were totally engaged with the story & craft of this text. I thought this book would make a magical read aloud - a quality not all books share. The message may not be as profound as others like Paper Wishes. Although, historical fiction seems to tug at more heart strings because it's grounded in reality. This book is whimsical & fun and perfect for MG readers!

I do think this is a distinguished text because it has a unique story & voice. Whether you love it or it hate - Lloyd's writing style is her own!

Amanda wrote: "Through song, whispering flowers & journal entries a magical story seemed to unfold."
I did wish I could hear that bluegrass music that went with the songs in the book.

Listen to the audiobook.

I'm about halfway through and so far I am enjoying it. I love, love, love Snicker of Magic and although I am enjoying Key, I don't know that I'm quite as enamored. I adore the setting and characters, and there is something about Lloyd's writing style that just draws me in, but for some reason there are a few words here and there that are a bit jarring and kind of turn me off (BFF, 24/7, even the mention of cell phones) because they seem to detract from the lyrical nature of Lloyd's writing. I will probably reread it, though, and I will listen to the audiobook.

Shari wrote: "Listen to the audiobook." I am on the waitlist to borrow the audiobook from my library. I'm looking forward to it!

I did love the audiobook for Snicker, so I bet the same kind of voice will hold up here.

Stacey wrote: "Does this group have a list of criteria that you all refer to when reading? I'm aware of what the Newbery Committee uses and the standards I have set for my student MN group. I'll check back throug..."

Stacey,
Would you mind posting the criteria that you've used with your student mock Newbery group? I appreciate how different librarians/teachers word the criteria so that I can continue to tweak mine.

Stacey, I would love to see the criteria that you use with your students as well. It it sometimes hard to explain to 4th & 5th graders. It's also hard to explain to them why many adults think anything that students like couldn't possible be quality literature. That's why my school no longer participates in Battle of the Books. The book selection committee actually said, something to the effect, that if the students liked the book it wasn't quality literature. I've started A Key to Extraordinary and I'm really liking it so far. I've already got a list of students I think will enjoy it.

I finished Raymie Nightingale and loved it. The characters are interesting, quirky, and all connect to each other in some fashion. I found line after line that stood out and found myself rereading many of them. While I am not sure children will notice those lines I do think they will love this book! There were laugh out loud moments and moments of profound thinking. Kate DiCamillo has done it again! I am reading The Wild Robot right now and I so agree with Ana! It is such a great book and while it feels like a "quiet" book, it is sweet, a "different story", and is enhanced by classic Peter Brown illustrations. This would make a great read-aloud!

Pam, I also think The Wild Robot could be a great way to integrate science and literacy. There is so much that can be done around adaptations. I really enjoyed it.

Just finished The Key to Extraordinary and enjoyed it. Is it Newbery distinguished? One of the criteria for the Newbery is presentation. The journal entries that incorporated historical references were an interesting addition to the story. Do I consider it a Newbery contender? No. Would I buy it for my 4th grade Mock Newbery Book Club? Possibly. It depends on what else surfaces between now and September. Besides choosing quality literature, I seek a variety of genres, as well as stories that expand my students' world views. My current "definite maybes" include: Pax, Paper Wishes because of Japanese Internment Camp, Some Kind of Courage because of content connection to curriculum and voice, Hour of the Bees, and The Bitter Side of Sweet. I have read the ARC of Towers Falling and am conflicted about the appropriateness for 4th grade. Looking forward to reading Raymie Nightingale and The Wild Robot.

Did I miss the posting for our May read?

Denise, you may want to keep an eye on Scholastic because they had paperback copies of Key to Extraordinary and Some Kind of Courage. That is how I afford copies for my 5th grade Mock Newbery.

Nearly the end of the month but I'm going to tag on my comments for this book. I did enjoy Snicker, so I don't have anything against Lloyd's style...but this one really didn't do it for me. I echo the sentiments about needing a better editor; besides the crammed storyline, there were also a lot of gaps and jumps and errors. For instance (correct me if I'm wrong) didn't Peri say that the Telling Vines only worked for the intended recipient unless the gypsy roses were blowing? And yet Emma was able to hear the vine at the old chimney, no roses blowing. Little discrepancies like that throughout the book to move the plot bothered me.

It's a cute little story and good for fans of Tupelo Landing books. But it's not a Newbery contender in my book at all.

I ended up really liking The Key to Extraordinary. It's a whimsical, magical read, just as delightful as it sounded. The vivid detail and imagery made the slightly eerie and rustic setting irresistible to me. I found Lloyd's writing to be a more refined than in "A Snicker of Magic", and it felt like she really settled into her unique voice as an author, with this book.

I found the characters well developed and I would absolutely love to hear this story as audio production, particularly with music composed to the bluegrass sounding songs that Lloyd has written lyrics for!!

Is it Newbery noteworthy? Hard to say... I think it has a lot of competition this year and I still have a lot of reading to do. While I find the author to have an incredibly unique voice and lyrical, beautiful writing, I don't know that it will be a contender. Even if it's not, I think it's a wonderful new addition to children's lit! :)

Christine wrote: "Denise, you may want to keep an eye on Scholastic because they had paperback copies of Key to Extraordinary and Some Kind of Courage. That is how I afford copies for my 5th grade Mock Newbery."

Christine, Thanks for the "heads up!"

I enjoyed The Key To Extraordinary. Even though there was an underlying sadness to the story, I did find it a light read. There's lots of detail, whimsy, and imagination. I wouldn't award it the Newbery, but I have purchased it for my library. And I plan to have my Book Detectives read it. I want them to experience books that are good and are also eligible, but not necessarily Newbery worthy. In other words, I want them to have books to compare - if that makes sense.

Since I didn't enjoy Snicker of Magic I wasn't sure how I would like The Key to Extraordinary. It turns out that I really enjoyed it. I think part of that was that I was listening to the audio version, which was beautiful. I highly recommend listening to it. The narrator had a lovely singing voice for all the music in the story (I'm still singing Darlin' Daisy, lace your boots up...) and with Lloyd's descriptions the story really came to life. I also liked the magical, historical, multi-generational aspect. It was nice to read a book that had a uplifting ending.
Scholastic did a beautiful job with the endpapers and first page of each chapter. All and all a quick, fun read.

I listened to the audio of Key to Extraordinary and it was so enjoyable. I loved the story

Just finished Key to Extraordinary and enjoyed it even more than Snicker of Magic. I agree that KE reminded me alot of the Three Times Lucky series. The story does seem to have alot of the elements that Newbery books have in common. (Historical, orphan, mystery, unique voice)

I just couldn't get into this book and didn't finish it. The setting and characters did not hook me, and I was annoyed that this is yet another middle grade novel in which the main character is mourning the death of a beloved family member. Therefore, I do not consider it distinguished. Why aren't there more middle grade novels about divorce? Isn't that more common than death of a parent? (There probably are, but I just haven't read them. Or heard of them.)

Read Raymie Nightingale.

I am definitely in the camp of people who were irritated by Snicker of Magic, so I kind of dreaded reading this book. Turns out that I loved it! As other posters have said, there were quite a few elements that could have been cut, but I think it was a solid MG novel. Newbery winner? Maybe not, but definitely an enjoyable read that I will recommend (again) in the library.

I have not read Snicker of Magic, but I really enjoyed A Key to Extraordinary. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I used it as a read aloud with my 5th grade class. They really enjoyed it and were sad when it was over. While I do not feel it was distinguished enough to win the Newbery, I do feel like it is a great middle grade novel that I will continue to recommend to my students.

Sara wrote: "Read Raymie Nightingale."

I'm reading it right now, and to be honest I'm not that impressed. But, it does at least score a point for not being another grief book!

I just finished Key to Extraordinary and I was not impressed. There was a lot going on in the book (strong female, friendship, grief, magic, music, history...) and maybe that was part of the problem for me. I kept going back to reread because I had the feeling I missed something important. I put the book down several times, but decided to finish it. I liked the ending (strong friendships) but I do not think that Key is on my list of possible Newbery contenders.

I just couldn't get into this book at all...
http://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2016/...

I liked this one better than Snicker and the kids in Colorado liked it enough to nominate it for Colorado Children's Book Award. It reminded me slightly of Each Little Bird That Sings, but the writing was not as compelling to me. The fifth grade girls where I volunteer are begging for it to be a read aloud and more than a few have read it themselves.

I'm not a fan of these "folksy" books, and didn't like Lloyd's first one much. Not enamored with this one either. Too many characters, with extraneous world-setting offered instead of character development. A reader has to get somewhat invested in the characters to want to keep turning the pages, and Lloyd makes it difficult to do so. Some of the more important aspects of the plot (such as it is) are completely buried in diffuse detail. Not a contender.