The Mock Newbery Contest - The results are in

This was my second year doing a Mock Newbery Award contest with my students. We were all very excited to read many fabulous books from 2017. I compiled a list of 20 books that not only did I feel were worthy of the Newbery Award but also many other bloggers and librarians felt so too. So for the past three months my 4th-6th graders were busy reading books. To participate in the contest they had to read at least three books. Many students read more! Some even read all 20! Quite an amazing feat! And they were motivated to do so. I only read 18 books on the list. 

There was so much emotion around picking the top three winners that many students were very conflicted, as was I. Each book was special. The awards were announced yesterday. Unfortunately we were all disappointed with the results. This year turned out to be a very political year for the children’s book awards, and I guess I should not have been surprised. Four books were picked that we didn’t have on our list. And we were not the only ones shocked with the award choices. 

The Newbery is an award for middle grade books, up to 14 years old. But two of the winning books are YA, and one book a picture book, therefore the awards didn’t really cater to the 4-6th grade reading crowd. But some years are like this.

Regardless, I'm so proud of the participation this year. Almost all of 4^th and 5^th graders participated along with 10 students from 6^th grade for a total of 57 MTS students. I couldn’t be more pleased! But most importantly, I feel that the students really did read some of the best of the best for 2017.

I hope they are not discouraged by the results this year and that they will continue to participate in our Mock Newbery next year.

Even though none of us won this year in choosing the right books, we all won in my eyes for reading some excellent literature and participating in the process. Thanks again! And Happy Reading!

Newbery Award Winner: Hello Universe

Told from four intertwining points of view—two boys and two girls—the novel celebrates bravery, being different, humor, and cross- generational relationships. (Grades 3-7)

Honor Books

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes- A high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.

(Easy Fiction- picture book)

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds – A novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Written in verse on the subject of gun violence

(YA – 8^th grade and above)

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson– A timely piece and powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her.

(YA – 6-8)