Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Now that we have a winner and the runners up...
How many honor books would you choose? Where do we draw the final line?

In 1934 and 1931 the Newbery committee chose 8 honor titles while in 1927, 1924 and 1923 they chose none. The average is 4.

Here they are in order with points:

Ghost -89 Points
The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog -71 Points
Pax -58 Points
The Wild Robot -53 Points
Some Kind of Courage -48 Points
The Girl Who Drank the Moon -31 Points

Where would you draw the line?

I hope Jason Reynolds wins something - and I liked As Brave As You even better than Ghost

I absolutely adored Ghost and hope it is recognized in some way. I also felt like Inquisitor's Tale and Some Kind of Courage were wonderful. My 5th graders have been very excited about Wild Robot and Pax, as well as Ghost. I think it would be easy to have 4 or more honor books this year.

So many of the books I read this year were rated 5 stars from me. I'm hoping for at least 4 honor books. Most of my students want Pax to win. They are also hoping The Wild Robot wins a honor award.

Ghost and Inquisitor's Tale should get honors and that it is. I did not care for Pax or Wild Robot and my students are split 50/50 on them. Ghost and Inquisitor's Tale are getting rave reviews from everyone who has read them, students and teachers alike. I loved Some Kind of Courage and would love to include it if it could get bumped up higher on the list. I am currently reading Girl Who Drank the Moon and the jury is still out on it for me. There seems to be a lot of ambiguity in it so far.

I would go with 4 honors this year. I also am amazed that Raymie Nightingale didn't make it to the final seven!

Ellen wrote: "I would go with 4 honors this year. I also am amazed that Raymie Nightingale didn't make it to the final seven!"

It is sooooo good!

Some Kind of Courage
The Wild Robot

I honestly think "Pax" deserves to win the medal, and as a salute to the most beautifully written child's novel, and one that is actually being read by many students, it wouldn't bother me at all if they didn't choose any Honors.
After last years mess, I don't really have much faith in what these big city librarians and professors choose. They aren't around kids enough to really know what they like, and that is something that needs to be considered.
(I know not all are.)

Ellen wrote: "I would go with 4 honors this year. I also am amazed that Raymie Nightingale didn't make it to the final seven!"

I loved Raymie Nightingale too & I try and get kids to try it but it does not circulate much at my library. On the other hand our copy of Pax is missing & we've ordered another so . . .

So... what do we think??? :) Guess I've got to add that one to my to read list.

I just finished The Girl Who Drank the Moon Saturday night and I did love it. None of my students have read it yet and are now clamoring for it. It is a complex book full of many themes and plot lines which do pull together in the end. While it was very satisfying for me as an adult reader, I wonder, however, if it is going to be too sophisticated for younger kids - but I was not surprised when it was named this morning.

I was thrilled that Wolf Hollow was named as an honor along with Inquisitor's Tale. -- And Freedom Over Me - another picture book surprise! Did anyone have that one on their radar?

I was surprised but Kelly Barnhill is a great author. Freedom Over Me is terrific. I didn't expect a Newbery for it, though.

I was happy with the results of Newbery. Just a tiny disappointed that they felt another picture book needed to be included.

Czechgirl wrote: "I was happy with the results of Newbery. Just a tiny disappointed that they felt another picture book needed to be included."

Can you explain your displeasure with the inclusion of different types of books? It feels like you might be implying that the Newbery is only suitable for books written for a certain type of child, but I don't want to assume.

Trey wrote: "Czechgirl wrote: "I was happy with the results of Newbery. Just a tiny disappointed that they felt another picture book needed to be included."

Can you explain your displeasure with the inclusion ..."

No, you assume correctly. I am implying I prefer the Newbery to go to a chapter books/novels over a picture book. Nothing against picture books. I just wish the quality of the writing of picture books had its own award. I guess like movie awards separate shorts to a full-length featured film. However, I don't mind poetry (ie The Crossover) and graphic novels (ie El Deafo) being mixed in with the Newberys.

Way to go group! I think we did a pretty good job this year with our predictions and reading selections throughout the year. Bring on Newbery 2018!

At first, I was annoyed by the inclusion of another picture book, but after reading the description, I feel more optimistic about it. It's a 50+ page book of narrative poems based on a primary source, so it's more similar to Joyful Noise or William Blake's Inn than it is to Last Stop.

I'm interested to read it and see if it holds up. I have a soft spot for poetry collections.

I think in terms of a poetry collection, I would have preferred When Green Becomes Tomatoes for recognition, but Freedom Over Me is very well done. I loved The Girl Who Drank The Moon. It was never at the top of my list, but consisten
tly in my top five. I am not a huge fantasy reader. Overall, I think the choices are great, and I know plenty of kids who are going to love The Girl Who Drank the Moon! What a fantastic year of reading!

There is no book format or age appropriate limit for the Newbery Award:

"There are no limitations as to the character of the book considered except that it be original work."

"Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen, and books for this entire age range are to be considered."
(Both statements from Newbery Medal Terms and Criteria)

I for one, am glad that the past couple of committees have considered books in the lower age range of children. In fact, I wish (but it will never happen) that the Newbery age range would be lowered to 12, now that the Printz Award for young adult literature is firmly established.

Beverly wrote: " In fact, I wish (but it will never happen) that the Newbery age range would be lowered to 12, now that the Printz Award for young adult literature is firmly established."

That's an interesting idea.

As a practical matter, many of the Printz winners and nominees are pushing the envelope for 7th graders. Even though the Printz is "14 and up," I have to be careful about which ones I give my students. (I teach grades 6-8.)

Agreed Phil. I'm a librarian for grades 5-8. I've put out Shusterman's Scythe (and not for my 5th graders!) but none of the others so far until I read them. I know I won't be putting out Asking for It.

I wish the Newbery could focus on Chapter Books and leave the Caldecott for the picture books. Perhaps the Caldecott could separate into 2 branches, author and illustrator, as the Coretta Scott King Award has.

Phil wrote: "As a practical matter, many of the Printz winners and nominees are pushing the envelope for 7th graders. Even though the Printz is "14 and up," I have to be careful about which ones I give my students. (I teach grades 6-8.)"

The Newbery and Printz actually overlap by a few years - the Printz criteria says, "To be eligible, a title must have been designated by its publisher as being either a young adult book or one published for the age range that YALSA defines as "young adult," i.e., 12 through 18." So they both potentially could give awards/honors to the same title that fits that 12-14 age range. I can see arguments in either direction, but 12-14 year olds have such a range of maturity, interests and understanding that I kind of like having the overlap.

Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obviously an adult novel; the author even openly admitted that she wrote it for adults. Not all books with a child protagonist are novels for children, though nowadays they will be marketed that way, regardless of content and reading level. But I really think the Newbery Committee needs to keep the target reading audience in mind when they make their selections.

Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obviously an adult novel; the aut..."

I agree with you 100%.

Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obviously an adult novel; the aut..."

I think your use of the word "admitted" is misleading. Rather she was always upfront that it was not targeted for kids, which BTW disqualifies it not at all IMO.

Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obviously an adult ..."

By "admitted" I refer to the fact that the author honestly stated her intention to write this book for adults, which is in direct contradiction to her publisher marketing this as a children's book. Clearly it does not disqualify the book, but my point is that it should. The Newbery is, after all, a children's book award. There are other awards for adult books.

Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obvi..."

Nancy, when I saw your post, I was curious about Wolk's intention in writing Wolf Hollow for adults, so I got on Twitter and asked her myself. Here is Wolk's response to my question if Wolf Hollow was originally written as an adult book:

"I think it would be more accurate to say that I didn't write it for a young audience. I just wrote it, without thinking about audience. But since I had already written one book for adults, I'd have to agree that I assumed that Wolf Hollow would also be for adults. It never occurred to me that it would be labeled as a kids' book. But I am thrilled at that development. Over the moon, in fact. And I was so very happy when my excellent editor did not ask me to make any significant age-related changes."

I just thought some of you would be interested in this.

Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obvi..."

I disagree that it is contradiction. I thought the book worked for both adults and children regardless of the marketing or the Newbury.

Czechgirl wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list...."

Thanks for going to the source. We like to put labels on art and labels by definition are artificial constructs. That said her next book is getting rave reviews and was written as part of her 2-book contract for Wolf Hollow so was likely written knowing that it will be marketing for kids and adults. I'm excited to read it. Beyond the Bright Sea will be released on May 2nd.

Czechgirl wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list...."

That's a similar response to the interview I read. Though the interview was a bit less carefully worded, and in it she said she was surprised that her book was marketed for children.

Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list...."

Very rarely does any book work for both children and adults. The populations don't think at all alike and appreciate very different things.

I don't see much in Wolf Hollow that kids can grab onto, let alone enjoy. It will be required reading for school, given the Newbery honor, but I doubt many kids will get all the way through it. On the other hand, the prose is beautiful and it works well as an adult novel.

Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow..."

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I can think of many books that work for all ages. Maybe it's my bias, as a kid I hated it when adults treated me like a kid, so I vowed never to do that as an adult.

Nancy wrote: "Czechgirl wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hol..."

Nancy, you really seem to have an axe to burn. How is "It never occurred to me that it would be labeled as a kids' book." more carefully worded than "she was surprised that her book was marketed for children". Now your bias is starting to show.

Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Czechgirl wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed t..."

Travis, we all have our biases, given that we are human and formulate beliefs and opinions. Though I'm not sure my belief that children's books should be for children can actually count as a bias.

Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Czechgirl wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm..."

No I was referring to your pejorative use of "admitted" and "carefully worded" to describe Ms. Wolk's statements about Wolf Hollow's origin.

Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Travis wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow..."

Uh, I can't keep this book on the shelf I have a waiting list for this book a mile long. My students love this book. Maybe they don't know they are suppose to be bored with it.

Nancy wrote: "Freedom Over Me is stupendous - I'm so happy to see it receive the recognition it deserves. Conversely, I'm disappointed to see Wolf Hollow make the list. It is so obviously an adult novel; the aut..."

I agree about Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan. It's a great book. Here's my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have no issue with its appropriateness for the age range. I would be perfectly comfortable using this in a middle school environment.

My students love Wolf Hollow too. I have bought multiple copies and still have a waiting list a mile long.

At our school, we read Wolf Hollow for our faculty book club a few months ago. We found it very interesting that students and faculty read the novel differently because of our more extensive life experiences. Some faculty members found parts of the novel disturbing in ways that the students wouldn't because they read those parts just as story. It led to quite a lively discussion for us.