Curveball by Jordan Sonnenblick

Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick
Scholastic Press
285 pg.


After an injury ends former star pitcher Peter Friedman's athletic dreams, he concentrates on photography which leads him to a girlfriend, new fame as a high school sports photographer, and a deeper relationship with the beloved grandfather who, when he realizes he is becoming senile, gives Pete all of his professional camera gear.

Same Sun Here by Silas House

Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Viswani
Candlewick
297 pgs


A twelve-year-old Indian immigrant in New York City and a Kentucky coal miner's son become pen pals, and eventually best friends, through a series of revealing letters exploring such topics as environmental activism, immigration, and racism.

One and Only Ivan, The by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan
Katherine Applegate
Harper Collins Children's
2012
305  pgs.

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

Lions of Little Rock
Kristin Levine
GP Putnam and Sons
298 pgs.

In 1958 Little Rock, Arkansas, painfully shy twelve-year-old Marlee sees her city and family divided over school integration, but her friendship with Liz, a new student, helps her find her voice and fight against racism. 

Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Mighty Miss Malone
Christopher Paul Curtis
Wendy Lamb Books
307 pg.


With love and determination befitting the "world's greatest family," twelve-year-old Deza Malone, her older brother Jimmie, and their parents endure tough times in Gary, Indiana, and later Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression.

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood

Glory Be
Augusta Scattergood
Scholastic Press
202 pg.


In the summer of 1964 as she is about to turn twelve, Glory's town of Hanging Moss, Mississippi, is beset by racial tension when town leaders close her beloved public pool rather than desegregating it.

Crow by Barbara Wright

Crow
Barbara Wright
Random House
297 pg.


In 1898, Moses Thomas's summer vacation does not go exactly as planned as he contends with family problems and the ever-changing alliances among his friends at the same time as he is exposed to the escalating tension between the African-American and white communities of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler

Princess of the Wild Swans
Diane Zahler
Harper Collins Children's Books
212 pg


Twelve-year-old Princess Meriel must sew shirts from stinging nettles in order to rescue her five older brothers from their evil stepmother's spell lest they remain swans forever. Inspired by the Andersen fairy tale, "The Wild Swans."

May B by Caroline Starr Rose

May B.
Caroline Starr Rose
Schwartz and Wade
231 pg


When a failed wheat crop nearly bankrupts the Betterly family, Pa pulls twelve-year-old May from school and hires her out to a couple new to the Kansas frontier.

Miles to Go For Freedom by Linda Osborne

Miles to Go For Freedom: Segregation and Civil Rights in the Jim Crow Years
Linda Osborne
Abrams Books for Young Readers
118 pg.

Black Gold by Albert Marrin

Black Gold: The Story of Oil in Our Lives
Albert Marrin
Alfred Knopf
181 pg.

A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson

A Boy Called Dickens
Deborah Hopkinson, ill by John Hendrix
Schwartz and Wade
Unpaged


Narrates the tale of twelve-year-old Charles Dickens who, despite poverty and long hours of factory work, still has time to discover and share the stories of other residents of 1824 London. Includes author's note about Dickens' life and some of the books he wrote.

Dumpling Days by Grace Lin

Dumpling Days
Grace Lin
Little, Brown
261 pgs.

When Pacy, her two sisters, and their parents go to Taiwan to celebrate Grandma's sixtieth birthday, the girls learn a great deal about their heritage.

Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani
Veera Hiranandani
Delacorte Press
211 pgs.


When Sonia's father loses his job and she must move from her small, supportive private school to a public middle school, the half-Jewish half-Indian sixth-grader experiences culture shock as she tries to navigate the school's unfamiliar social scene, and after her father is diagnosed with clinical depression, she finds herself becoming even more confused about herself and her family.

Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

Dragonswood
Janet Lee Carey
Dial Books
2012
403 pgs

In 1192 A.D. on Wilde Island, Tess, the daughter of a cruel blacksmith, is accused of witchcraft and must flee, but when she meets a handsome and enigmatic warden of Dragonswood who offers her shelter, she does not realize that he too harbors a secret that may finally bring about peace among the races of dragon, human, and fairy.

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg by Louise Borden

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue and Mystery during World War II
Louise Borden
Houghton Mifflin
2012
135 pgs

An amazing and inspirational World War II story about how one man saved the lives of many.

The SJCPL Mock Newbery Club for Children picked...

Oh, you think I'm just going to come right out and put it here, without any kind of intro?!

Our Mock Newbery Club met for 2 hours on Thurs., 1/19 and for 2 hours on Fri., 1/20, and at the end, after 2 ballots, we chose:

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt as the SJCPL Mock Newbery Club Medal.

Following close behind were our 2 honor books:

Holm, Jennifer.  The Trouble with May Amelia.
Sepetys, Ruta.  Between Shades of Gray.


Many thanks to all of our club members and to their families for staying with the club from September through January.  I hope you'll all be able to watch the live webcast on Monday morning, starting at approximately 8:30 a.m. (EST) here:  www.ala.org/yma 

And the winner is...

The SJCPL Adult Mock Newbery Club met and talked about the Newbery Medal and books from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., despite heavy snow the night before and 1 member getting stuck in 2 separate snowbanks on the way to the meeting!  The eight of us talked and talked and laughed and discussed and in the end, after 1 ballot, our Mock Newbery Medal was awarded to:



Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

We also awarded 3 honor books:

Ness, Patrick.  A Monster Calls.
Schmidt, Gary.  Okay for Now.
Yelchin, Eugene.  Breaking Stalin's Nose.

What a terrific and rewarding experience.  Thanks to everyone who participated, and I can't wait for Monday morning to arrive! 

Adult Shortlist - Part 2 The Final Final

Here they are folks! These are the 20 titles we are bringing to the table January 21, 2012!  Please read and respond to as many as you can!  In addition to reading like a maniac, check out Kris' directions at the bottom and decide which books you want to champion!

1. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
2. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
3. Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
4. Hidden by Helen Frost
5. True...Sort of by Katherine Hannigan
6. Junonia by Kevin Henkes
7. Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer Holm
8. Small as An Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
9. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
10. Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger
11. Inside Out And Back Again by Thannha Lai
12. Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack
13. Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
14. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (the experts aren't sure whether this book will be eligible or not, so it's staying on the list)
15. Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy
16. Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
17. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
18. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
19. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
20. Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

TO DO LIST
BY JANUARY 6 - email Kris your top 5 titles! Use the Note Taking Guide that was emailed to you to help firm up your thoughts!  Please email if you need another copy!

BY JANUARY 6 - email Kris the 3 books you believe are distinguished.  You will discuss the merits of each, briefly (2min or less),  listing strengths and how each particular book compares to other titles on the list.

Happy Reading!

Adult Shortlist - Part 1

Sydney Morning Herald

We are down to the wire!
This shortlist comprises the books readers felt strongly about, one way or another! Click on the links to tell us what YOU thought of each book!

 In alphabetical order:

1. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
2. Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
3. Hidden by Helen Frost
4. True...Sort of by Katherine Hannigan
5. Junonia by Kevin Henkes
6. Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer Holm
7. Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger
8. Inside Out And Back Again by Thannha Lai
9. Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack
10. Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
11. Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
12. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (the experts aren't sure whether this book will be eligible or not, so it's staying on the list)
13. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
14. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
15. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

NEXT STEPS

Read as many of the books as you can! A second list will be sent out in Late December of any late releasing titles to add to the list.

January 6 - email Kris your top 5 titles! Use the Note Taking Guide (avail 12/3) to help firm up your thoughts!  

January 6 - Kris will also need to know which 3 books you would be williing to champion.  You'll give a brief (2min or less) testimony listing the books strengths and how it compares to other titles on the list.