Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Please post the 2022 Newbery contenders here.

I appreciate the suggestions and use them in our monthly voting polls.

I also use the list on goodreads if you prefer to vote there.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

So... what are you reading?

I highly recommend Amari and the Night Brothers. A Sitting in St. James is much more Printz level, but is also excellent.

I recently finished Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm. Presumably will be a contender.

Also, Sea in Winter by Christine Day. She touches on Native American identity, but also really digs into grief and coping with depression.

I recommend The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, an action packed train adventure full of precarious uncomfortable predicaments for the passengers "talking well mannered wild animals" as well as 11 year-old Kate and her little brother. It's subtle message about saving our planet, and the living things in it, is deftly included.

Martha wrote: "I recommend The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, an action packed train adventure full of precarious uncomfortable predicaments for the passengers "talking well mannered wild animals" as well as 11 ye..."

I believe The Silver Arrow was released last fall.

Serenity wrote: "I recently finished Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm. Presumably will be a contender."

I agree with you! A very strong 2022 contender.

Martha wrote: "I recommend The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, an action packed train adventure full of precarious uncomfortable predicaments for the passengers "talking well mannered wild animals" as well as 11 ye..."

The Silver Arrow looks really good, and I will want to read it, but sadly, it was published in September of 2020, and is not eligible for this next year's Newbery.

Serenity wrote: "I recently finished Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm. Presumably will be a contender."

I am a big fan of science fiction, and this book looks very interesting. I plan on reading it when I get a chance.

Laura wrote: "Martha wrote: "I recommend The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, an action packed train adventure full of precarious uncomfortable predicaments for the passengers "talking well mannered wild animals" a..."

You're correct, it does have to be a 2021 copyright. I'll look for newer books. Thanks Laura

I can’t recommend Root Magic by Eden Royce enough! It was amazing! A good blend of fantasy, historical fiction and Gullah culture.

So far, Unplugged by Gordon Korman is my favorite of the 2021 books I've finished, but I'm currently in the middle of The In-Between by Rebecca Ansari and I'm really loving it! I'm also really excited about Clues to the Universe and Amari and the Night Brothers, both of which I checked out today but haven't had a chance to start reading yet.

Martha wrote: "Laura wrote: "Martha wrote: "I recommend The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, an action packed train adventure full of precarious uncomfortable predicaments for the passengers "talking well mannered w..."

You bet!

I am looking forward to The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park. It is a 72 page illustrated novel in verse. It has been getting great reviews. Also, Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame by Supriya Kelkar, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera and Bump by Matt Wallace. They all look like terrific 2021 titles.

I highly recommend Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca. My favorite 2021 book so far.

Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt brings together a young character from The Wednesday Wars, an old character from Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, and an unforgettable new boy character. This is going to be the book against which I measure all the others in 2021

Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz is a really unique novel coming out in March.

Amanda wrote: "Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz is a really unique novel coming out in March."

I consider this a 2022 Newbery contender for sure.

I am looking forward to The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo. It doesn't release until the fall. The cover art is by the Caldecott winner, Sophie Blackall. Be still my heart.

I am looking forward to the April release of
Billy Miller Makes a Wish by Kevin Henkes.
The Newbery Honor book, The Year of Billy Miller, is one of the favorite books of my grandson.

Will there be a poll for a book to read in March?

I just finished an e-arc of Not All Heroes by Josephine Cameron and it was excellent! Definitely should be a Newbery contender.

Just Like That by Gary D Schmidt is FABULOUS. The character development and story line are so wonderful...
If this book does not win an award I will be amazed. Definitely a must-read for 2021. You will not be disappointed.

Does anyone know if Just Like That by Gary Schmidt needs to be read after his other novels that contain the same characters?

just finished Alone by Megan Freeman. It was a lovely book reminisent of Hatchet but written in verse.

I read Just Like That without reading any other of his books with the same characters. I enjoyed it (a lot) without knowing the characters ahead of time.

I loved Amber and Clay! As Amanda and Laura wrote, it's definitely unique and should be a contender!

I'm reading Just Like That now. I've read a few of his previous books, but have such a vague memory of them. I recognize some names from other books without really remembering their stories. I don't think it's hampering my appreciation of this book at all, though readers familiar with the characters will appreciate the "Easter eggs".

Highly recommend Linda Sue Park’s THE ONE THING YOU’D SAVE, as well as Rebecca Caprara’s WORST-CASE COLLIN, both poignantly written in verse. Supriya Kelkar's STRONG AS FIRE, FIERCE AS FLAME could also be a contender. Eager to read Jasmine Warga’s THE SHAPE OF THUNDER too!

MrsHughesReads wrote: "Highly recommend Linda Sue Park’s THE ONE THING YOU’D SAVE, as well as Rebecca Caprara’s WORST-CASE COLLIN, both poignantly written in verse. Supriya Kelkar's STRONG AS FIRE, FIERCE AS FLAME could ..."

I can't wait to get a copy of The One Thing You'd Save. The buzz for it has been phenomenal.

I read ARC of The One Thing You’d Save and was quite impressed. It is illustrated with lively black and white pictures. Another interesting thing is she wrote the discussion in sijo syllabic structure which is a Korean form of poetry.

Josephine wrote: "I read ARC of The One Thing You’d Save and was quite impressed. It is illustrated with lively black and white pictures. Another interesting thing is she wrote the discussion in sijo syllabic struct..."

Fascinating about the poetic structure!

Agree with others who have posted about “Just Like That” by Gary Schmidt. My favorite so far this year and will be hard to beat. I just started “One Thing You’d Save.” Looking forward to it based on comments.

I was distressed by the vivid descriptions of violence and graphic details of dissection in JUST LIKE THAT. Although the characters are in 8th grade, I would be reluctant to give it to many middle grade students.

I really, really enjoyed Alone by Megan Freeman, written in verse. Fast paced and intense... I couldn't put it down. Basically read it in one sitting.

Starfish by Lisa Fipps was excellent! A book everyone needs to read!

I thought Starfish was amazing. A great book to have in a classroom library, a book that will be one for kids to talk about. I loved the verse format and the beautiful writing by Fipps. This is a book for ALL kids!

Anyone have any suggestions for some good, humorous 2021 books? I follow the Mock Newbery 2022 and try to read many of those but the list is lacking humor for the most part. I need some funny right about now! :-)

Last year Millionaires for the Month and Hit the Road were humorous.

Theresa wrote: "Anyone have any suggestions for some good, humorous 2021 books? I follow the Mock Newbery 2022 and try to read many of those but the list is lacking humor for the most part. I need some funny right..."

Try Pity Party by Kathleen Lane.

I absolutely loved Red, White and Whole by Rajani LaRocca. Beautiful writing. One of my favorites so far this year

Red, White and Whole has really lingered in my mind, such accessible and lovely writing. A wonderfully strong narrative voice and reflects how life can change so slowly, or in an instant. I hope to read a sequel; that's how much I'd like to know what might happen to the heroine. What a contender LaRocca is becoming, so prolific in several genres and consistently good!

I also just finished Red, White and Whole and loved it! Great character with a relatable problem (American daughter of immigrant parents who want her to stay connected with their culture), and I loved the interweaving of the Indian mythology. Very satisfying story.

My holds just came in- picked up Amari and the Night Brothers and The Lion of Mars today!!

Theresa wrote: "Anyone have any suggestions for some good, humorous 2021 books? I follow the Mock Newbery 2022 and try to read many of those but the list is lacking humor for the most part. I need some funny right..."

I read THE BOY WHO FAILED SHOW AND TELL. It was humorous in a satisfying way. I think many middle grade books add humor with a lot of “shenanigans” and end up over doing it. But since this book is based on the author’s life and was written by the author, the humor was very genuine. I really enjoyed it.

Has Ground Zero by Alan Gratz been added? Just finished it and it is very good.

I agree, Lisa. Two close and personal perspectives from very different sides are eye-opening.

Magdalena wrote: " I'm also really excited about Clues to the Universe ..."

I recently read aloud CLUES TO THE UNIVERSE to my 8 y.o. grandson and it was very well-liked by both of us.

I just finished reading A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus. I absolutely loved it!!!! It is her debut novel and so beautifully written. Definitely in the top two of my favorites this year so far, tied with Red, White, and Whole.

Also Amber and Clay is one of my favorites as well. My son got it for Easter and is eating it up!