Thanks for a great first discussion! We've narrowed down our list of considerations and added a few fall releases. Hope to see you at the next meeting on December 4!

Program registration: https://olis-ri.libcal.com/event/4268885

Mock Newbery webpage: http://www.olis.ri.gov/youth/newbery/index.php

Please read at least 4 of the “added” or * books for the second meeting. Books that have not been read by half the number of participants at the meeting will not be discussed and will be removed from subsequent lists.

1. The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin. (Candlewick, 2018) Added 10/2
2. Blended by Sharon Draper. (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2018) Added 10/2
3. Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead. (Feiwel & Friends, 2018)
4. The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. (Greenwillow, 2018)
5. Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018) *
6. Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard. (HarperCollins, 2018) *
7. The Lifters by Dave Eggers. (Alfred A. Knopf, 2018) Added 10/2
8. Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo. (Candlewick, 2018) Added 10/2
9. Out of the Wild Night by Blue Balliett. (Scholastic, 2018) *
10. A Possibility of Whales by Karen Rivers. (Algonquin Young Readers, 2018) Added 10/2
11. The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon. (Wendy Lamb, 2018) Added 10/2
12. Sunny by Jason Reynolds. (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2018)
13. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor. (Katherine Tegen Books, 2018)

These titles will not be eligible for voting in January. While many on this list were enjoyable and great additions to library collections, participants at the first meeting found that they missed elements of "excellence."

1. Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018)
2. Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol. (First Second, 2018)
3. Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge. (Penguin Young Readers, 2018)
4. Breakout by Kate Messner. (Bloomsbury, 2018)
5. Chasing King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassin by James L. Swanson. (Scholastic, 2018)
6. Checked by Cynthia Kadohata. (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2018)
7. Front Desk by Kelly Yang. (Scholastic, 2018)
8. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. (Little, Brown, 2018)
9. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. (Flatiron Books, 2018)
10. A House that Once Was by Julie Fogliano. (Roaring Book Press, 2018)
11. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. (Dial Books, 2018)
12. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang. (First Second, 2018)
13. Rebound by Kwame Alexander. (HMH Books, 2018)
14. You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly. (Greenwillow, 2018)

Keep track of the crème de la crème with Jen J.'s Booksheets. These helpful spreadsheets track starred reviews, award winners, and "best of" lists.

For Those About to Mock reviews current Newbery contenders and discusses past winners in the "Newbery Wayback Machine" feature.

School Library Journal's blog Heavy Medal is a go-to for in-depth reviews and Newbery discussion.

Fuse #8 does a quarterly round-up of Newbery & Caldecott predictions that often bring attention to outliers.

While not solely dedicated to Newbery topics, the following blogs often discuss Newbery contenders and the award process in the context of representation and diversity:

American Indians in Children's Literature

Disability in Kidlit

Reading While White

Can't get enough award talk? Check out Calling Caldecott, and Guessing Geisel.

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the United States during the preceding year. The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the United States.

Criteria:
1. In identifying "Distinguished Writing" in a book for children,

a. Committee members need to consider the following:

• Interpretation of the theme or concept

• Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization

• Development of a plot

• Delineation of characters

• Delineation of setting

• Appropriateness of style

Note: Because the literary qualities to be considered will vary depending on content, the committee need not expect to find excellence in each of the named elements. The book should, however, have distinguished qualities in all of the elements pertinent to it.

b. Committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience.

2. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to American literature. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other components of a book, such as illustrations, overall design of the book, etc., may be considered when they make the book less effective.

3. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media (i.e., sound or film equipment) for its enjoyment.

Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for literary quality and quality presentation for children. The award is not for didactic content or popularity.

Adopted by the ALSC Board, January 1978. Revised, Midwinter 1987. Revised, Annual 2008.

Email: danielle.margarida@olis.ri.gov
Website: http://www.olis.ri.gov/youth/newbery/index.php
Location: RI Office of Library and Information Services, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Phone: 401-574-5309
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olisri
Twitter: @olisri