ACPL Mock Newbery

yeah ur just stupid

2012-02-21T17:45:01.905-05:00

yeah ur just stupid

What do you mean? I'm their age, and I do thin...

2012-02-21T17:43:56.634-05:00

What do you mean? I'm their age, and I do things like they do ALL the time!!! It was pretty easy to follow too.

This book was very slow and not very good AT ALL.

2012-02-09T20:27:47.991-05:00

This book was very slow and not very good AT ALL.

This was a part of history that has seldom been de...

2012-01-18T20:16:38.326-05:00

This was a part of history that has seldom been described and for that alone this author deserves praise. I felt so sad throughout most of it, however, and the ending left me feeling drained. It will be a hard sell for anyone trying to get teens to read it all the way through.

I too was not that impressed with the book. My ex...

2012-01-10T12:49:54.262-05:00

I too was not that impressed with the book. My expectations were fairly disappointed.

thanks for letting me come!

2012-01-09T17:38:27.571-05:00

thanks for letting me come!

Excellent choices! I'm sorry I missed the disc...

2012-01-08T15:09:10.476-05:00

Excellent choices! I'm sorry I missed the discussion and election, but I enjoyed the reading of the books and this blog.

Good question, Ellen! Part of the "official&...

2012-01-06T17:22:05.803-05:00

Good question, Ellen! Part of the "official" Newbery criteria states that the award is for a book for which children are the intended audience. It goes on to say: "Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen, and books for this entire age range are to be considered." So... I don't think it would be disqualified because it's intended for a younger reader. (Frog and Toad Together was a Newbery honor book in 1973.)

Does this really qualify for a Newbery? I see it a...

2012-01-03T18:32:38.775-05:00

Does this really qualify for a Newbery? I see it as only marginally 3rd grade; probably more for 1st and 2nd. One of my top nominees for Geisel, though.

I too loved this book, particularly the orignality...

2011-12-20T11:46:52.238-05:00

I too loved this book, particularly the orignality of Schmidt's storytelling, and his ability to use art as a vessel for meaning. However, I could not accept the dramatic turn-around of Doug's father. The scene felt forced and unbelievable which really damaged the book as a whole in my opinion. It is still one of my favorite contenders, but I think this particular glitch may hold it back.

2011-12-20T11:45:20.966-05:00

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I didn't feel the same about Velveeta. I felt...

2011-12-13T17:06:44.090-05:00

I didn't feel the same about Velveeta. I felt like she was believable. I felt the book was good, and had well developed characters. The setting is developed as we travel between school, the library, their homes, and the swamp. Overall a good book, but it did not scream "Newbery" to me.

I agree, the audio book was super! I can see the ...

2011-12-08T19:03:09.766-05:00

I agree, the audio book was super! I can see the comparisons with Narnia and Harry Potter but I was thinking more along the lines of Pullman's Golden Compass Trilogy. Maybe that's because a group of kids needs saved in the first one.

One point of distinction was that the book was told in third person but the narration mirrored the personalities of each of the characters. Most notably, the younger sister's actions were narrated in a way that evoked her 'voice'. The tone was dramatically different and the words used to describe her actions were different.

I haven't read the first May Amelia book and I...

2011-11-22T13:17:10.510-05:00

I haven't read the first May Amelia book and I have to admit that I felt a little lost at times. I was quite surprised at the gruff treatment she receives from her family, the cover art led me to believe this would be a sweet historical fiction story. Maybe reading the first book would shed some light.

I found it frustrating that in a book filled with ...

2011-11-21T14:39:10.696-05:00

I found it frustrating that in a book filled with three-dimensional, fully developed characters, one didn't ring true - and she was one of the two main players in the story. I understand what Schmatz was trying to do with Velveeta, but her voice was never truly believable to me. As such, I wasn't to enjoy this otherwise well-written book nearly as much as I otherwise would have.

I have mixed feelings on this one. The story itsel...

2011-11-17T16:21:13.873-05:00

I have mixed feelings on this one. The story itself quickly draws you in --and how many children's authors have tackled car jackings / kidnappings?-- and largely succeeds at holding it through the duration of the book. Beneath the immediate urgency of the plot were interesting explorations of relationships: between family, between peers, etc. And I applaud Frost's choice to tell the story from alternating POVs, as I set up a nice contrast between the two girls' experiences.

On the other hand, I'm not so sure about Frost's use of poetry / form in the novel. It wasn't until a note on the last page that she explains another way of reading the text (by reading the last word of the "long" sentences)--ostensibly as a way of revealing more of Darra's thoughts on the story. Yet when I went back and reread those sections, I felt the sentences covered nothing new. Rather, they felt somewhat trivial and contrived. I'm all for experimenting with form, but with a purpose; this particular device simply felt like an exercise in cleverness.

2011-11-17T16:19:18.543-05:00

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I just couldn't get through it.

2011-11-16T14:01:40.926-05:00

I just couldn't get through it.

I thought it was a fun and thoughtful book. Nothin...

2011-11-16T14:00:44.519-05:00

I thought it was a fun and thoughtful book. Nothing has topped her "Ida B" though.

This book touches me on many levels. Siobahn Dowd ...

2011-11-09T12:52:19.013-05:00

This book touches me on many levels. Siobahn Dowd left us too soon. That Patrick Ness was inspired by her adds to the strength of the narrative. Jim Kay's illustrations enrich a powerful story. Well done!

I really like the Penderwicks! Great story, charm...

2011-10-31T16:52:12.846-04:00

I really like the Penderwicks! Great story, charming setting and characters. Compared with other titles this year, I don't think I would consider it for the Newbery, but I would definitely recommend it to elementary and middle school students looking for a solid family story. It reminds me of a modern-day version of an old-time classic, like Little Women.

My eleven year old daughter and I both loved this ...

2011-10-27T14:05:02.019-04:00

My eleven year old daughter and I both loved this one. Not a Newbery contender but a really good book we recommend to others.

A well written memorable book. This one will stay...

2011-10-27T14:03:42.880-04:00

A well written memorable book. This one will stay with me for a long time. A harrowing story, but hope always looms in the background. If it doesn't win the Newbery, it should win something! Excellent!

Very well written book. Thought Jack traveling on...

2011-10-27T14:01:28.504-04:00

Very well written book. Thought Jack traveling on his own was a little unbelievable and that the Wyatt character was "strange." But, it is fiction. Anything can happen in fiction! I was happy with the resolution at the end. Overall, one of the best middle grade novels I've read this year.

Julie - Several other people suggested this title ...

2011-10-25T14:30:40.899-04:00

Julie - Several other people suggested this title as well... We were just waiting for our Library's copy to come in before we added it to the list. Thanks for your comment! We'll add it to the blog and make sure The Aviary is on the 3rd and final reading list.