Comments on: Newbery Hodgepodge, Part Two

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:29:01 +0000

Well, unless Jon Sciesczka judges that bracket again–and decides to dump the Newbery Medal winner just for the sake of controversy. Ah, the only blemish on his legacy as Ambassador!

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:33:29 +0000

Can’t wait for this year’s BOB. Reading four outstanding authors commentary on WYRM will be a real treat. Plus maybe it will finally have some worthy competition when it faces off with non-ala eligible THE LOST CONSPIRACY. Hoping these two can start off on opposite ends of the brackets.

By: Jennifer Schultz

Jennifer Schultz — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:03:14 +0000

I lurked this time, but I checked in regularly. Sorry to see this end yet again, but looking forward to the 2011 discussion!

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:12:44 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Phillip!

Looking forward to the BOB, Monica!

By: Monica Edinger

Monica Edinger — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:38:29 +0000

Heavy Medal withdrawal can be eased some with the forthcoming Battle of the Kids Books 2010. Some familiar books and voices, e.g. Jonathan back as our Commentator. Coming soon!

By: Phillip Hoose

Phillip Hoose — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:52:10 +0000

I confess. I was peeking. I got hooked on “Heavy Medal” about a month ago, and it soon became a part of my day. I read it each morning after a night’s harvest of comments had come in. Of course I was eager to see how Claudette had fared overnight, but I also banked up the heat of the discussions to get me warm up here in Maine. I learned so much! I’ll miss you both, Jonathan and Nina. I’ll miss the quick-to-respond Wendy and all the others who wieghed in so frequently and so well. It is wonderful to be part of this passionate, literate,tradition-rich, caring community.
I wish you both, and all your readers, happy times until next season, when you can bet I’ll be right back at my post.
Happy winter! Phillip Hoose

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:04:10 +0000

Yes, I acknowledge the John Steptoe could be a factor in how they placed the books in their respective categories, but the Steptoe can go to someone who has published up to three books, so MARE’S WAR could have been a Steptoe possibility, too.

I tend to view the John Steptoe as not as prestigious as the Illustrator or Author Awards and Honors (and the wording from the CSK webpage reinforces my perception), but others may have a different perception.

By: Miriam

Miriam — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:41:29 +0000

“I also wonder how BAD NEWS FOR OUTLAWS can beat out THE ROCK AND THE RIVER and MARE’S WAR for the CSK Author Award.”

How do you think having the Steptoe award plays into this, since it’s given by the same committee to books that are eligible for the big one? Might there be some, “We want to recognize these two books in particular, one’s a debut and one isn’t, so one gets Steptoe and the other gets the medal”? Also, how do people look at the Steptoe award in comparison to Honor books? On par with? Less than? Greater than?

By: Brian Fahey

Brian Fahey — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:14:15 +0000

Jonathan, many thanks to both you and Nina. I really enjoyed this blog and I learned a lot from it. See you in September!

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:22:06 +0000

Louis Sachar has a new book out, THE CARDTURNER, but it appears to be YA. It’s 350 pages long. Main character is a high school age teen. Probably suitable for middle schoolers. We’ll have to see . . .