Comments on: Nominations

By: Erin M.

Erin M. — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:54:47 +0000

*Mountains

By: Erin M.

Erin M. — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:53:08 +0000

I’m still trying to catch up, but so far only two novels really stand out: The One and Only Ivan and Child of the Mountain. I’m hoping to get into the nonfiction picks after Starry River of the Sky.

By: Benji Martin

Benji Martin — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:12:58 +0000

Has anyone read The Seven Tales of Trinket? I would love to hear some discussion about this book.

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:33:25 +0000

Updating this compiled list (and including only top three votes) . . .

(13) LIAR AND SPY

(10) BOMB

(10) SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS

(10) THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

(6) NO CRYSTAL STAIR

(5) WONDER

(4) CROW

(4) THREE TIMES LUCKY

(4) THE LIONS OF LITTLE ROCK

(3) MOONBIRD

(3) THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE

(3) THE SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS

(2) WE’VE GOT A JOB

(2) THE GREAT UNEXPECTED

(2) STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY

(2) CHILD OF THE MOUNTAINS

(1) PALACE OF STONE

(1) DUMPLING DAYS

(1) WATER SINGS BLUE

(1) ABRAHAM LINCOLN & FREDERICK DOUGLASS

(1) EACH KINDNESS

(1) TEMPLE GRANDIN

(1) KATERINA’S WISH

(1) THE HUMMING ROOM

(1) JAKE & LILY

(1) KINDRED SOULS

(1) CAPTURE THE FLAG

(1) UNFORTUNATE SON

(1) SUMMER ON THE MOON

By: Sheila Welch

Sheila Welch — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:03:10 +0000

With lots more reading left to do, I now have two books I feel are worthy of Newbery consideration.

Thanks, Craig, for writing more about SUMMER ON THE MOON. Of course, a body of work isn’t to be judged for a Newbery Award, but this book alone is excellent. One of the many things I appreciate is Fogelin’s description of the setting. There’s something special that happens, in my opinion, when an artist is also a good writer. I gave my book to my daughter for her middle school library, so I can’t quote an example, but that un-populated moonscape of a suburban development is hauntingly real in Fogelin’s words. And while I have known Fogelin’s work for many years, I’ve never met her.

The other book that I really like is SUMMER OF THE GYPSY MOTHS. In reference to some other posts, even if “Angel” was not commonly used for girls in Brazil, these kids live in the USA. Sometimes Stella’s voice seems a bit too mature, but I’ve read the letters young readers send to Cricket magazine, and she sounds as if she were one of them. The characters are distinct, the plot well structured, the setting sparkling and clear . . . One problem is that it’s a “girl book,” but a “boy book” won last year. (I know, that’s not part of the Newbery committee’s consideration.)

By: Monica Edinger

Monica Edinger — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:52:48 +0000

I second THE BROKEN LANDS. Thought it was terrific and agree that it would be an interesting contrast to SPLENDORS AND GLOOMS.

By: Chelsea C.

Chelsea C. — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:52:36 +0000

I also want to mention Kate Milford’s The Broken Lands, a very impressive fantasy that I’m reading right now. Would be good to compare to Splendors and Glooms, and might be another dark horse.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:23:30 +0000

At the moment,
1. Crow
2. The Unfortunate Son
3. Three Times Lucky

By: Craig Reeder

Craig Reeder — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:22:53 +0000

Sheila Welch (above) mentioned “SUMMER ON THE MOON” by Adrian Fogelin. In full disclosure, the author is a personal friend of mine, but I would like to say this: Summer on the Moon is about families struggling with the challenges of a tough economic recession, and so it is strikingly relevant to what kids and adults are going through right now. Furthermore, the author, who is a woman, has an uncanny ability to express the thoughts and experiences of an adolescent boy with amazing realism. Having been one once, I can say that with authority. If you combine the relevance of this book with the nuanced social commentary of her previous books, I think some greater recognition of her work would be entirely appropriate at this point.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:11:57 +0000

I am so glad to see THREE TIMES LUCKY on so many lists. I loved this book, and it was such an awesome read-aloud! The character voices just seemed to come alive as I read the book, and I always enjoy a novel that can pack so much into one book: mystery, humor, drama… Most importantly, this is book kids will love!