And here we go.  It’s nice to start with a title that’s likely already got a lot of readers, a lot of buzz, and plenty to discuss.  That’d be Katherine Applegate’s THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN…which I know many of you’d read in ARC even before last year’s results were in. Strong early spring titles [...]

It’s a great year for nonfiction!  I know I say that every year, but this year I really mean it!  And to illustrate my point I combed back through my starred review lists for the past five years looking for longer works of nonfiction (more than 64 pages) which earned three or more starred reviews.  [...]

This is the tenth year that I’ve led a Mock Newbery. Mock, not as: “being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials” or “lacking in natural or spontaneous quality”, but rather think of a Mock Jury: “a group of participants who are required to imagine and act as members of [...]

Welcome back for another season of Heavy Medal!  With such a strong field of books, it promises to be more exciting–and contentious–than ever.  WONDER by R.J. Palacio emerged as a popular favorite from the spring season while LIAR & SPY by Rebecca Stead and SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS by Laura Amy Schlitz have dominated the buzz [...]