Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

We are kicking off the new Mock Newbery reading year with From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks.

So... is it distinguished?

http://richiespicks.pbworks.com/FROM-...

I found this novel to be a quick read. The flow was excellent and the author did a nice job of weaving the murder mystery, a strained relationship between friends, conflict with parents, and an internship at a bakery into a well-crafted plot.

I am very sensitive to the ethic and moral fiber that we present to the next generation. In my opinion, this novel contains some concerning thread. Zoe has dangerous levels of disrespect and verbal abuse aimed at several characters within the story. Zoe rationalizes her deceptive schemes on situational ethics – “maybe it was okay to do something wrong if you were doing it for the right reason.” After her web of lies leads to tensions and, the positive resolution leaves her “feeling proud of me.” Even the promotional material for the book states the problem that I have with the overall message of this novel: “The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.”

I liked the concept of the book and just wished that redemption could have been sought with honesty, family communication, cooperation.

This is our first Mock Newbery book for the 2020 award season. We’ve started out with a book that is going to be tough to beat. The book opens with Zoe celebrating her 12th birthday. While looking through the day’s mail delivery for birthday cards, she finds a letter and the adventure begins. So much to talk about, kid issues, societal issues.

I started the book and couldn’t put it down until I finished it. My only complaint is that it was just too good to be true. But then, I like reading books with happy endings. There is a lot of really sad middle school and YA novels.

I thought this was a great Read Woke title. The new MG trope seems to be tweens solving crimes (Chirp has elements of this too) and while it requires a suspension of disbelief for adults, I think it was highly readable and kids would like it. Also a good title for foodies.

I think this was an excellent first 2021 Mock Newbery read. I think it would make a great read aloud and/or literature response group book. So much for tweens to discuss.

I love promoting new authors and their debut titles. Sadly, I am not on board with this one. I will say it may open up some discussions about incarceration, guilt and innocence. Baking and Zoe's desire to be on the baking show took up a great deal of the book. Children reading this will be expecting Zoe to participate on the show. The whole storyline fizzles out at the end. It was a let down. I found it hard to believe that Zoe's mom and grandmother would discontinue a relationship with Zoe's biological father completely. They seemed to really know the guy and he clearly wasn't a killer. Too much of it seemed inauthentic and heavy handed.

FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON by Janae Marks is an introduction to the meaningful work of the Innocence Project. The descriptions of the phone call from an inmate and the visit to a prison are realistic for someone who has experienced these interactions.
I was disappointed that Zoe was conditional on her acceptance of her father. Only if he was innocent would she want a relationship with him. Many inmates are guilty, but family members continue to communicate with them.
I agree with David Rough about the questionable morality of the disrespect and deceptive behavior Zoe exhibits toward adults in her life. Zoe would not accept her father if he was a liar, but is willing to engage in that behavior herself.
There are few juvenile books for children of incarcerated parents. This is an important addition despite the notes weaknesses.

My public libraries are closed as of today- the book did not come in on time. I look forward to hearing more from those of you that have the book. For those of you that are teaching in school closures- how is your district handling closed school and public libraries? I’m especially concerned for students that are in homes that are book deserts with no way to check out online books. I know there are more pressing concerns overall right now- but posing this particular concern to this group of readers.

I have some ARCs I’m planning to take to the public school lunch and dinner grab and go at a local elementary school.

I use my library Overdrive to get my books online. Library closed just for a couple of days.. we'll see what happens next Monday. Just received this title.

Yes- have Overdrive- with 1100 students-not sure how many choices there will be.

I have been pushing my 6th graders to access eBooks and Audiobooks through Overdrive and I know my district is also regularly restocking two little free libraries around town as well. I have a GIANT classroom library so it's such a bummer that the kids can't take advantage of it right now. My students didn't find out they weren't coming back to school for the next 3 weeks until they had already left school for the day, so many of them hadn't even brought home the books they were currently reading from my library. :(

Schoolbuses here are delivering school work, books and meals at the students bus stops. Might suggest that. Maybe?

I mostly enjoyed this book, but my only issue was that I felt like it wasn't long enough to fully explore the situation and characters. So, because of that I would give it the Newbery Honor instead of the Medal.

Our public libraries have closed down. And their book drops are closed. Can a book carry the virus? We talked that books could be placed like in a free library and then other kids could take them home. Concerned that the books could be carring the virus inside and out. Outside of my zone with this.

It can live on hard surfaces. The amount of time varies on the item. I don't know how long it lives on books. I will do some research and see if I can find any data. Online reading may be the way to go for now. There are children's authors all over the country doing podcasts and readings on every social media outlet available.

No one seems to know for sure how long the virus can last on paper. It has been detected up to 24 hours on cardboard. I couldn't find out anything more concrete.

Laura wrote: "No one seems to know for sure how long the virus can last on paper. It has been detected up to 24 hours on cardboard. I couldn't find out anything more concrete."

That's what we are finding also. Overdrive is going to be over working!!! Thanks and stay safe everyone. See you on the other end.

I enjoyed this shorter MG title. I felt the storyline was very believable in the aspect that the family wanted to protect Zoey from being hurt by her father. I think there are many kids out there they may not know the whole story about a particular family member, but as they age they begin to grow curious and with technology today they are able to begin their own research. This book is a strong start to the 2021 reading season.

David wrote: "I found this novel to be a quick read. The flow was excellent and the author did a nice job of weaving the murder mystery, a strained relationship between friends, conflict with parents, and an int..."

Rated this 3 stars. Grandmother enabling Zoe to write and talk to her father in spite of the mother's wishes...yikes. Wrong on so many levels.

I agree. Combined with the attitude and back talking towards the mom and others- it just made me uncomfortable? I liked the idea and even the story but I just couldn’t like the main character. I don’t mind a flawed character, but these weren’t seen as flaws and the lying was almost shown as a strength.

Jeane wrote: "David wrote: "I found this novel to be a quick read. The flow was excellent and the author did a nice job of weaving the murder mystery, a strained relationship between friends, conflict with paren..."

I didn’t like that the dad was given up on by Zoey’s mom and grandmother since his court trial. He swore he was innocent but he was completely abandoned and kept from his child. The dad didn’t come close to fitting the profile of a murderer. No motive, personality or temperament. Also the chance that Zoey didn’t intercept a letter from him in all the years he had been writing is pretty unlikely. The adults were portrayed as pretty unreasonable. Zoey didn’t trust her mom hence all the lying and secrecy.

I read about 50 pages. The parts with the dad were the most interesting.

I had trouble getting excited about the baking plot because I don't bake. There are books that make me care about things like coin collecting or roller derby in spite of a lack of interest, but this book couldn't pull it off.

I look forward to seeing the other books that 2020 has to offer. I'm also interested in seeing how the books of 2021 will reflect on the COVID experience.

Fantastic cover and will be an easy one to use for Reader's Advisory for middle grade readers. Great to have a read to recommend that features a middle class black girl who bakes cupcakes, has adventures in the real world, and fights with her best friend and mother. That is a diverse and much needed genre all in itself and juvenile readers need more books like this. There are many beautifully written and worthy titles about the pain and injustice for past and present African Americans but it's important to have fun, accessible reads for ALL tweens - let alone presenting positive reads for a white audience who need to see black characters who are center stage, and fun, smart and appealing.

Now did the plot have more holes than swiss cheese? Did Zoe's collusion with her grandmother to continually deceive her mother really push acceptable behavior for any child? Did things get tidied up so neatly it felt rushed on the huge subject of unfairly incarcerated black men in America, the toll it takes on families but most of all on the children who grow up not knowing their dads? And did Zoe possess super human powers to solve what was an open and shut case of wrongful conviction with no grey areas, and adults who could only sit by and marvel? Well, yes to all, and it keeps the story from that Newbery A level status. But it's an appetizing choice, thanks to Marks offering up a fast moving read with a slice of social realism on the side, and making it palatable for readers who will be craving Zoe's Fruit Loops cupcakes (recipe included.) Great title for book groups, activity included!

Just finished this book and think now, more than maybe even 3 months ago, this book has a good chance of getting a medal. It seems the committee would like a book representative of the year.

What do you mean a book representative? I am getting ready to read it next month.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am not sure if my link to Goodreads will work on here or not. I will copy and paste later if not. So glad that I finally got my hands on this title.