Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin has been called the Chinese Wizard of Oz. I loved its simplicity. Children of all ages can learn from this one. Though it was one of the last books I read from the mock Newbery lists, it quickly became one of my favorites. Do you think this one has a shot for a Newbery?

Yes, I definitely think it has a shot! I read it much earlier in the year, loved it, and continued to do so even though it hadn't been talked about much. I'm so glad it got voted in for the December Read. Now, I have to go re-read it so that I can comment meaningfully! By the way, thanks to whomever recommended the Heavy Medal blog from SLJ. The eight books they will be discussing at their mock newbery meeting are:
Almost Astronauts by Tanya Stone
Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman
Claudette Colvin by Philip Hoose
Marching for Freedom by Elizabeth Partridge
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Keep in mind, they are limiting their list to contenders which would make for a good discussion. It's a very diverse list. Happy Reading everyone!

I just finished Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and though I didn't love it as much as Kristen and Judy, I did like the simple telling of the stories and the illustrations. Most important, I loved the way Lin tied up the threads of all the individual tales in the end. However, I'm not convinced it's Newbery material. The language just didn't sing to me.

Of the list above that Judy included, I've only read the Claudette Colvin, the Dunderheads, Calpurnia, and When You Reach Me. I think, for me, that I'd have to go with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate or possibly, Claudette Colvin. I'm actually still reading the Colvin book so I can't make a fully informed decision. On the other hand, When You Reach Me was really clever. I should probably go back and re-read all of them.

I'm not sure what the fuss is about this one. Yes it's good. I did like how she made things tie together. I could see it being considered "distinguished" but I'm not convinced of it's Medal merits. An honor book maybe... I'll have to think on it a little and find some discussion.

For me, I really liked the purity of the story. The theme of happiness as a choice was so true to life. I was particularly moved by the king, and the mother. They both made me take a look at myself and see room to change for the better. There are a lot of things you can talk about with children in this story. Match that with the culture and it seems stronger for an award.

I know this is one of my personal favorites and IMO it's one of the most distinguished books this year, but I still haven't gotten to take a good look at the Newbery Criteria to see if it would meet the qualifications.
To be honest, I was totally surprised at how much I liked this book- I think I had been a little turned off by the cover. The author's notes at the end also gave me a greater appreciation for the book as well. I agree with Kristen that the purity of the story is one of the strong points of the book. I also like that this is a book that could appeal to a wide variety of ages. I definitely plan on reading this aloud to my kids once they're old enough for chapter books.

I was really surprised by the book, too. Folktales within a folktale, plucky and clever heroine whose heart is pure--when I closed the pages, I found myself thinking that it was a good book, but not a Newbery. The message is too clear.
That's what my head thought.
I found I had to disagree with myself. I kept thinking about the story for days. It lives outside the pages, evidence of a truly magical book. Maybe it's a Newbery, maybe it's better than a Newbery. It's a wonderful story to read aloud, the stories within the stories are good, it's beautifully illustrated--and it lives outside the pages, in the heart. There is more than one message where the mountain meets the moon.
I changed my review from 4 stars to 5. In spite of some awkwardness in the language, I think someone else pointed that out, the images of the prose as well as the great illustrations stayed with me. I think it could live on like The Little Prince, an enduring classic. I hope it does, anyway.

Thank you for putting it so eloquently Maurynne! I agree that the story stays with you and I was also thinking that it could become a classic.

I have to say, I feel like I'm really missing something about this book. I was really struggling to get through it and bummed out about not liking it more because I really like Grace Lin! I just wasn't ever excited to get back to it. I think the biggest problem I had with the book is that problems were solved too easily (like the whole string and kite thing...) and I just didn't believe in the magic of the story overall. That being said, I really enjoyed the stories within the story and the beautiful pictures. I also think that kids will like this a lot more than I did, and that it would be a great read aloud.

Hilary wrote: "I have to say, I feel like I'm really missing something about this book.

I agree Hilary. There are a couple of books making the rounds that I can't see what the big deal is. Sometimes I feel I must be overly critical...

I finished this book and thought, "I hope this wins the Newbery!". I thought it was beautiful, both in language and art. I also loved the feel of a classic Chinese folktale, but with the notable exception of a heroine as well as a variety of other special touching details. I'm reading it to some students now, and they love it so far.