Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Newbery Honor author Christina Soontornvat has received very good ratings on her latest publication, The Last Mapmaker, but is it distinguished?

I read this last month. It's definitely a top pick from me! I felt it was an enjoyable and fast read and still very distinguished without feeling too much like it was for adults, if that makes sense. Interested to hear what others think!

Personally I really enjoyed this book it was one the most anticipated of the the year for me and it didn't disappoint. So far this is my second favorite 2022 book and top contender for the Newbery. I thought it was a great seafaring adventure that kept me engaged right from the beginning. Just when I felt it was getting predictable there was a surprise that I didn't expect. Overall I think this is another great Thi inspired fantasy from Christina Soontornvant that appeals to booth kids and adults.

I absolutely loved this book and have already been giving it out to readers at my library. My kudos to the author that has beautifully woven so many details into this story and it was an absolutely joy to read that had me at the edge of my seat the whole time. It is very distinguished and I believe will receive many awards this year.

I have a question I hope someone can answer. When I look up this title in Goodreads I see it listed twice, each book with a different author. Is Serena Pellham another name for the same author? Perhaps the cover illustrator? Thank you!

I especially loved the strong female characters—both good and bad—a nice balance. I agree, a strong Newbery contender.

Ellen wrote: "I have a question I hope someone can answer. When I look up this title in Goodreads I see it listed twice, each book with a different author. Is Serena Pellham another name for the same author? Per..."

I think someone made a mistake and put the wrong author name on the book. Something maybe the Goodreads Librarians need to look into.

The title was entered correctly by the publisher and incorrectly by someone else.

I didn't love this one. For me, there wasn't enough world building at the beginning. There was far too much detail while they were on the ship. Then everything wrapped up way too quickly. I did enjoy the setting and the commentary on colonization.

Thank you, Beverly and Laura.

I enjoyed this tale. It was exciting and had lots of action. I enjoyed the female characters. Some parts seemed too detailed and slowed down the plot a bit too much. But overall, it is a good book that kids will enjoy. I see it having Newbery potential as well.

I really liked this. I was iffy in the beginning but once I got into it and had an idea of the world we were dealing with I enjoyed the action and heartfelt story. Can’t wait to recommend.

Readers who have grown up in the era of GPS and Google Maps may not realize the importance of people who created and interpreted maps and charts in the past. In THE LAST MAPMAKER, a young girl named Sai is apprenticed to an aging cartographer and travels on a voyage of discovery with him.

Soontornvat has incorporated myths from her Thai heritage into the storytelling including a Slake or dragon and the undiscovered continent known as Sunderland.

Sai hopes the journey will win her acceptance into the hierarchy of her culture. However, as she develops expertise as a mapmaker, her self confidence grows and external recognition becomes less important.

I was somewhat distracted in my reading by the similarities to The Mapmakers Trilogy series by S.E. Grove. I am not quite sure how two authors with such different backgrounds used the same themes and similar characters in their books.

I thought it was a good read, but not sure how much kids will love it. Bo was my favorite character by far and his humor is what kept me reading otherwise I would have abandoned it.

Definitely a Newbery contender, I see it as a possible film in future. Not sure I liked the way it ended, a little rushed.

Dawn wrote: "I didn't love this one. For me, there wasn't enough world building at the beginning. There was far too much detail while they were on the ship. Then everything wrapped up way too quickly. I did enj..."

I agree with Dawn. This was a fun read, but I felt that both the beginning and end were rushed and, at the beginning, a little disorienting. I wanted a bit more information about the ruling family before the ship. I did appreciate that the book exposed the problems of colonialism which could spark good conversations with students.

This could be a Newberry winner, but to me it isn't as strong as A Wish in the Dark, which I really loved.

An enjoyable read, creative plot - something fresh and new. Sai’s adventures were unique and engaging.

This wondrous sea adventure led by strong female characters, as well as some dangerous crafty schemers, and mysterious creatures, keep the pages flying. There are few middle grade books about female mapmakers and ship captains from long ago, which makes it refreshing. I enjoyed this unique tale but I don't feel its Newbery quite worthy.

I know it is probably wrong to compare this book to her Newbery honor books. I did not expect to like Wish in the Dark at all and loved it. The characters were multi- dimensional and the writing really painted a picture in my mind. Mapmaker was good, but not great. The premise was very interesting, but the world building needed more. I was disappointed with the ending, it seemed rushed. The pacing seemed off. I would still recommend it, but I don’t consider it a Newbery contender.

There are several Wish in the Dark books, could you share the author?

Same author as Last Mapmaker - 2021 Newbery honor winner

Kathy wrote: "There are several Wish in the Dark books, could you share the author?"

Christina Soontornvat

Christina Soontornvat has been having a moment. Many moments in fact. The Last Mapmaker is remarkable and quite the pleasure to read. I believe it has the potential of scoring another Newbery win for the author. The imagery Soontornvat creates with her words is extraordinary. I just love this title!

Great narrative and a complex heroine, with a good story and snappy writing that pulls the reader from chapter to chapter, steeped in Thai legend and some Saturday morning serial cliffhangers. Soontornvat clearly felt it was time for a rip-snorting adventure in her career, and she provides it here with some nifty action sequences and the underlying pain of a girl fighting against prejudice, social bias, exploitation and a bleak future to forge her own path to a better life. And so nice to have calligraphy and graphic skills venerated as worthy, even-life saving accomplishments in this digital age! I do think it is well done but not quite the Newbery this year.

This book was excellent. Just like her book, A Wish in the Dark, it is fantasy, but reads so much like a historical fiction book. Really, the only clues that reveal it is fantasy are the names of the places, a female captain (knowing historically there would have never been a female captain when discovering new lands) and Slake, the sea dragon. Excellent read. I love how Soontorknvat writes making a fantasy book read like a historical fiction book.