Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper - 2014

Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper
Margaret K. McElderry
336p.

Summary:On the winter day Little Hawk is sent into the woods alone, he can take only a bow and arrows, his handcrafted tomahawk, and the amazing metal knife his father traded for with the new white settlers. If Little Hawk survives three moons by himself, he will be a man. John Wakely is only ten when his father dies, but he has already experienced the warmth and friendship of the nearby tribes. Yet his fellow colonists aren’t as accepting of the native people. When he is apprenticed to a barrel-maker, John sees how quickly the relationships between settlers and natives are deteriorating. His friendship with Little Hawk will put both boys in grave danger. - from the publisher

Al Capone Does my Homework by Gennifer Choldenko - 2014

Al Capone Does my Homework by Gennifer Choldenko
Dial Books for Young Readers
212p.


Summary: "Moose Flanagan, who lives on Alcatraz along with his family and the families of the other prison guards, faces new challenges when his father is promoted to Associate Warden"-- Provided by publisher.

Salt by Helen Frost - 2014

Salt by Helen Frost
Frances Foster Books
138p.


Summary: Twelve-year-olds Anikwa, of the Miami village of Kekionga, and James, of the trading post outside Fort Wayne, find their friendship threatened by the rising fear and tension brought by the War of 1812.

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata - 2014

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
269p.


Summary: Just when twelve-year-old Summer thinks nothing else can possibly go wrong in a year of bad luck, an emergency takes her parents to Japan, leaving Summer to care for her little brother while helping her grandmother cook and do laundry for harvest workers.

True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt - 2014

True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
326p.


Summary: Twelve-year-old Chap Brayburn, ancient Sugar Man, and his raccoon-brother Swamp Scouts Bingo and J'miah try to save Bayou Tourterelle from feral pigs Clydine and Buzzie, greedy Sunny Boy Beaucoup, and world-class alligator wrestler and would-be land developer Jaeger Stitch.

Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck - 2014

Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck
Dial Books for Young Readers
223p.


Summary: A very small mouse of unknown origins runs away from school in the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace shortly before the celebration of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, celebrating her sixty years on the British throne.

Doll Bones by Holly Black - 2014

Doll Bones by Holly Black
Margaret K. McElderry
244p.


Summary: Zach, Alice, and Poppy, friends from a Pennsylvania middle school who have long enjoyed acting out imaginary adventures with dolls and action figures, embark on a real-life quest to Ohio to bury a doll made from the ashes of a dead girl.

Courage Has No Color by Tanya Lee Stone - 2014

Courage Has No Color, The True Story of the Triple Nickels: America's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone
Candlewick
147p.

Paperboy by Vince Vawter - 2014

Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Delacorte
224p.


Summary: When an eleven-year-old boy takes over a friend's newspaper route in July, 1959, in Memphis, his debilitating stutter makes for a memorable month.

Center of Everything, The by Linda Urban - 2014

The Center of Everything by Linda Urban

Harcourt
197p.

 Summary:  For Ruby Pepperdine, the center of everything is on the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors, stargazing from the circle of her grandmother Gigi's hug. That's how everything is supposed to be--until it goes spinning out of control. Now Ruby's best friend, Lucy, is mad at her. Her new friendship with Nero is pretty bumpy too. Worst of all, Ruby regrets what happened with Gigi. How Ruby didn't listen. And now it's too late to make things right. But Ruby has one last hope. It all depends on what happens on Bunning Day, when the entire town will hear her read her winning essay. And it all depends on her twelfth birthday wish-- unless she messes that up too.

PS Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia - 2014

P.S. Be Eleven
Rita Williams-Garcia
Amistad
274p.


Summary: "Eleven-year-old Brooklyn girl Delphine feels overwhelmed with worries and responsibilities. She's just started sixth grade and is self-conscious about being the tallest girl in the class, and nervous about her first school dance. She's supposed to be watching her sisters, but Fern and Vonetta are hard to control. Her uncle Darnell is home from Vietnam and seems different. And her pa has a girlfriend. At least Delphine can write to her mother in Oakland, California, for advice. But why does her mother tell her to 'be eleven' when Delphine is now twelve?" -- from publisher's web site.

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake - 2014

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake
Alfred Knopf
257p


Summary:  In 1871 Wisconsin, thirteen-year-old Georgia sets out to find her sister Agatha, presumed dead when remains are found wearing the dress she was last seen in, and before the end of the year gains fame as a sharpshooter and foiler of counterfeiters.

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool - 2014

Navigating Early
Clare Vanderpool
Delacorte Press
306p


Summary "Odyssey-like adventure of two boys' incredible quest on the Appalachian Trail where they deal with pirates, buried secrets, and extraordinary encounters"-- Provided by publisher.

We picked our winners today!

So proud of our 15 Adult Mock Newbery Club members.  After discussing 15 titles, we narrowed it down to 1 Mock Newbery Medal winner:  Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz.

2 Honor Books were chosen:

No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Nelson

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

There were so many terrific titles we read this year--we should thank the authors and publishers for sharing their talents with the readers, young and old.  Here's to the search for Newbery next year!

And if you'd like to see which title actually wins, watch the live podcast at http://cdnlive.webcastinc.com/ala/2013/live/

It begins at 8:00 a.m. PACIFIC TIME, so if you're in South Bend, the podcast begins at 11:00 a.m. (you might want to log on early to be sure you can watch--ALA limits the # of computers that can connect)--and then the Newbery will be announced last, around 11:30 a.m. (maybe later).

December Reads - Adult Mock Newbery

The December list is up! 4 more great reads you should not miss! We have 19 titles to read and discuss so far! Please check out the complete list here. 

Don't forget to click the links and add your thoughts!

Miles to Go for Freedom by Linda Barrett Osborne 

What Came from the Stars by Gary Schmidt 

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech

Son by Lois Lowry 

Son by Lois Lowry

Son (Giver Quarter, 4)
Lois Lowry
Houghton Mifflin
393p.


Unlike the other Birthmothers in her utopian community, teenaged Claire forms an attachment to her baby, feeling a great loss when he is taken to the Nurturing Center to be adopted by a family unit.

What Came From The Stars by Gary Schmidt

What Came From the Stars
Gary Schmidt
Clarion Books
294p.


In a desperate attempt for survival, a peaceful civilization on a faraway planet besieged by a dark lord sends its most precious gift across the cosmos into the lunchbox of Tommy Pepper, sixth grader, of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

November Reads - Adult Mock Newbery

Are you all caught up and well read for our January discussion?  Don't forget to stop by the SJCPL Mock Newbery page and grab a note taking form! Fill out one for each book before the meeting to help you remember all the little details!

Here are four new books to add to your TBR piles!

Moonbird by Philip Hoose

The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Michaeux Nelson








Click each title to add your comments! Don't forget to check out the other books we will discuss for our Adult Mock Newbery!

No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Nelson

No crystal stair : a documentary novel of the life and work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem bookseller
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Carolrhoda Press
188 pg.

In this work of historical fiction, Nelson tells the story of a man with a passion for knowledge and of a bookstore whose influence has become legendary.

October 2012 Meeting

Thursday was our first kid Mock Newbery meeting where we discussed three books:

Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis

(The order of discussion is determined by vote)

The conversation was lively and fast moving! I tweeted some of the student's comments:

Lions of Little Rock

"author showed emotions well"

"setting helped you see the insane reality of what was happening during those times"

"JT had different levels...and maybe he was just caught up in the situation"

The One and Only Ivan

"the book is short because it reflects Ivan and feels like he was really talking"

"alternates between funny and interesting"

"this book was surreal because the people and the animals were both sentient and real but not in a fantasy way"

The Mighty Miss Malone
"liked how Jimmy was helping the family"
"liked how it was about her feelings and her life"

"Didn't like Desa at first but liked her better as the story progressed"

Overall, all three books were well-received. Katherine Applegate's abitlity to make the story seem "real" was a huge part of our discussion on Ivan. They felt that she truly knew what Ivan was thinking and feeling.

We also had a big discussion about endings. Some thought the Lions of Little Rock ended too neatly while others thought no, because the friends still couldn't be together. They also disagreed on the appropriate ending for Miss Malone.  Some thought it left too much up in the air. One student wondered what others felt made a "good ending" since they had such opposite reactions to Levine's and Curtis' endings.

Great discussion!