Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Bob by Wendy Mass is our book this month. Is it distinguished enough to win a Newbery?

It is a wonderful book. I can't remember the last Newbery winner that was co-authored (Rebecca Stread is the other author), but it is indeed possible.

I loved this book. So creative. Love the alternative perspectives--Livy's and Bob's. Loved the surprise ending!

It was a sweet, odd little story. I didn’t expect anything like this from either author. Not sure it is Newbery gold, but maybe an honor book?

Fantastic story! Set in the Australian bush near Melbourne, a 10 year old American girl rediscovers the magic of her grandmother's farm which she last visited when she was 5. Like the movie E.T., this book has lovable characters (both human and otherwise), and leaves the reader smiling, happy, and satisfied. A solid Newbery contender!

Kristen wrote: " Bob by Wendy Mass is our book this month. Is it distinguished enough to win a Newbery?"

The cover says it's by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead. Does anyone have details on that collaboration?

Here is an interview where they talk about the collaboration:
https://www.hbook.com/2018/04/authors...

BOB, co-authored by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, is a unique fantasy. The setting is Australia, although like many parts of the US, it is suffering from drought. The magic is somewhat different from common fairy tales, since it causes characters to sometimes be invisible and sometimes be completely forgotten. The magic also has an ecological impact. The themes of remembering and the endurance of friendship are classic.

I was a bit disappointed in the story. It didn't have as much depth to it as I wished. It was a cute, fun story, but that was it, for me.

I agree Laura! I think some students might be a bit bored by it as well. I will probably be selective about who I recommend it to.

Kate wrote: "Here is an interview where they talk about the collaboration:
https://www.hbook.com/2018/04/authors......"

Thanks, Kate! Rebecca Stead is a personal favorite of mine, and her thought process fascinates me.

I don't think that Stead and Mass were trying for any awards on this one. It has the feeling of a fun project they did in between more serious efforts. I know from Stead's blog that the creative process has been slow since she put out Goodbye Stranger in 2015.

I enjoyed this book for what it was- a magical puzzle with a vein of humanity injected into it. It lacked the emotional urgency of Stead's other work, but it was still enjoyable.

Rebecca Stead is really good at puzzles and mysteries that have some suspense to them and feel satisfying when they're solved. I really wish Varian Johnson had worked with her on The Parker Inheritance.

As far as the Newbery and other awards go- no. I don't see Bob winning anything. It is nowhere near Harbor Me, and there are some other strong contenders that I still haven't read yet.

Phil wrote: "Kate wrote: "Here is an interview where they talk about the collaboration:
https://www.hbook.com/2018/04/authors......"

Phil: A great summation; this is how I felt, but you said it better than I would have!

Thanks, Susie!

Brenda wrote: “I think some students might be a bit bored by it”

Since I no longer work with children, I am interested in any reports about how kids respond to this book.

I loved the story Bob. I love that we are looking at a book for the younger readers considering the 2018 Newbery winners wrote for the older side of the audience. My favorite thing about this story is the way the writers show the difference six years can make for a child. I reflected on my earliest memories when I was about four or five. I love how we are brought into the mind of a five year old. This book is not my favorite but the writing was amazing and I think it serves a a strong contender.

I am always interested when someone says, "the writing was amazing". What, in particular, do people find "amazing" about this example of writing?

This book is charming and entertaining, I wouldn't describe it as "distinguished." I enjoyed the literary references, delightful characters, and the big reveal of the secret. There were still some unanswered questions like "Why wouldn't Livy stay at sleepovers?" I think it would make a great movie. Pixar, are you listening?

Looks like I'm with most everyone else here. Cute book, nice mystery but not really distinguished enough for Newbery.

The appeal of Bob, besides quality writing and storytelling, is that it's accessible to a younger audience. Many Newbery winners are too difficult to read for 8-10 year olds. I recommend Bob to 4th-5th graders that are on the cusp of being a "reluctant reader." The short chapters, fast pace, plot twists and theme of family/loyalty shrouded in the mystery of this adorable little creature, Bob are irresistible. I want it to win for all these reasons, but I doubt that it will. I think it is a good reminder though that the award is for children up to and including age 14. How many winners really match the reading skill for the average reader in the lower ages?

I agree with you, Linda. I would like to see that age range adjusted down, maybe to 12. How many Newbery winners are inaccessible and inappropriate for 8-10 year olds?

Shari wrote: "I agree with you, Linda. I would like to see that age range adjusted down, maybe to 12. How many Newbery winners are inaccessible and inappropriate for 8-10 year olds?"

I absolutely agree. Maybe a new award for an older age category.

Linda wrote: "Many Newbery winners are too difficult to read for 8-10 year olds. I recommend Bob to 4th..."

I also would like to see more true MG books win the Newbery.

If you have read Front Desk, how do you feel it measures up on accessibility?

I bought this book for my library last spring because of the buzz and the authors' big names. I was surprised by the premise at the beginning, the imaginary friend Bob that the 10-year old main character Livy has forgotten for five years in the closet of her bedroom at her grandmother's house. The little guy is desperate to get home, but he doesn't remember anything about home. He's green and invisible to almost everyone, and Livy made him a costume to disguise him from everyone -- a child's handmade chicken costume with feathers glued on.

I kept thinking, "This is going to be hard to book talk." "Where are the authors going with this?" "The chicken costume annoys me. What's the point?" Yet, I kept going back to read more. I was hooked.

The ending had so many important life lessons that I reread it. I think the book would make a good book club book. There are a lot of themes to discuss about family, friendship, trust, anger, and as others have mentioned, even the environment and extreme weather.

The writing is concise and to-the-point. No time is lost on getting from point A to point B plot-wise. Will young readers like it? I think they will. Newbery contender? Definitely within the realm.

One more thought: Would the Newbery committee find the well motif too similar to aspects of last year's winner _Hello, Universe_?

I absolutely agree. Maybe a new award for an older age category ..."

There is--the Printz Award for teen books. I also wish that the ALSC would lower the age range to 12 for the Newbery Award. The 2 awards overlap in their age range which I think is ridiculous.

I completely disagree that the age for the Newbery award should be lowered. I think 8-14 is perfect. To me for a book to be Newbery worthy I need to be able to give the book to my 16 year old son, my 9 year old niece, and my mom, all of whom are avid readers, and say, "You have to read this book!!!" and they would all get something out of reading it. It needs to have a thoughtful message, something that I am still thinking about weeks or even years later, and open my eyes to someone else's life.

Bob was a cute book, but not Newbery for me. If ALA changes anything they should have a new award for chapter books for new/ reluctant readers.

My favorites so far for the Newbery Award are:
Just Like Jackie,
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle,
Escape from Aleppo, and Front Desk

I agree. The Printz books and YA books in general are getting a bit too dark for me. I think Newbery books need to retain a bit of light and hope (before the teen and world angst comes crashing down) (haha...kind of). I actually like the upper end of the Newbery age group for that reason. Too much evil is depressing to me.

But I agree about new chapter book readers. That is not my favorite age group to read for, but there is a definite difference in what is expected and what works for them.

From this nerdy book club blog post about the Newbery that I wrote a few years ago and still applies:

6. All Ages
The criteria state that “Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen, and books for this entire age range are to be considered.” What this means is that while the committee is looking at books for different ages they are not charged to find a book that the largest range of ages can read. And so they may select a book that is perfect for an almost-fifteen-year-old, but not at all for a-just-turned-ten-year-old. While middle grade readers seem to be a significant audience for Newbery winners the award is not specifically for them.

The full criteria are here:

https://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardssc...

Monica wrote: "From this nerdy book club blog post about the Newbery that I wrote a few years ago and still applies:

6. All Ages
The criteria state that “Children are defined as persons of ages up to and includ..."

Thank you for the link to that amazing post.

I enjoyed this quick read, but I don’t believe it is Newbery material. I absolutely loved the beginning but the story seemed to lose its momentum in the end.

I was expecting a lot from this book since both Stead and Mass are two of my favorite authors, but I felt like Bob fell short. While it is a cute story and one I would recommend, I don't think that it's a Newberry Contender.

Windy wrote: "I completely disagree that the age for the Newbery award should be lowered. I think 8-14 is perfect. To me for a book to be Newbery worthy I need to be able to give the book to my 16 year old son, ..."

Actually, the Newbery is for children from infancy through 14, not just age 8 and up.

Thanks Beverly. I never knew that it was birth to 14.
The criteria says children ages up to and including 14.

I really enjoyed this but I don't think it is a Newbery...but I will recommend it. https://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2018...

I recently joined this group so have been reading the books on your monthly list. I expected more from this book. The ending was very disappointing. The story kept building up and then to find out Bob's origins fell flat. I would recommend the book, however, I think is is not a contender.