The finalists for the National Book Award were announced this morning.
GOBLIN SECRETS by William Alexander
OUT OF REACH by Carrie Arcos
NEVER FALL DOWN by Patricia McCormick
ENDANGERED by Eliot Schrefer
BOMB by Steve Sheinkin
While they once again skew to an older audience, I think we will probably end up discussing several of them here.  BOMB is the only [...]

The finalists for the National Book Award were announced this morning.
GOBLIN SECRETS by William Alexander
OUT OF REACH by Carrie Arcos
NEVER FALL DOWN by Patricia McCormick
ENDANGERED by Eliot Schrefer
BOMB by Steve Sheinkin
While they once again skew to an older audience, I think we will probably end up discussing several of them here.  BOMB is the only [...]

We’ve had a running conversation in the comments about whether nonfiction books appeal more to our emotions or our intellect. We’ve discussed four titles in some depth, and if I had to place them on a spectrum from most emotional appeal to most intellectual appeal, then I would rank them thus: WE’VE GOT A JOB, [...]

Civil rights elicit a wide range of deeply felt emotions–horror, outrage, disgust, sadness, admiration, and conviction–especially in relation to black holes and shore birds. Generally speaking, we care more because we’re talking about people. Not surprisingly, these books often get their just due, especially when they are well written. Indeed, half of the nonfiction Newbery books in [...]

Quick!  Name all the science-themed nonfiction books in the Newbery canon.  VOLCANO by Patricia Lauber.  One?  Yes, you read that right: there is only one science book in the entire canon.  Perhaps that will change as there are several excellent science books this year.
We could spend quite a bit of time with THE MIGHTY MARS ROVERS [...]

Interpretation of the theme or concept?  Check.
Presentation of information?  Check.
Development of a plot?  Check.
Delineation of characters?  Check.
Delineation of a setting?  Check.
Appropriateness of style?  Check.
Boring?  Check.
Oh, wait!  That’s not part of the critiera.  Nevertheless, that is my reaction to this book on a first read (and if you don’t feel the same about this particular book, [...]

WHAT IS A DOCUMENTARY NOVEL, ANYWAY?
I’m only familiar with two children’s novels billed as such.  Avi’s NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, an older Newbery Honor book, is told in completely fictional documents.  No resemblance there.  Deborah Wiles’s more recent book, COUNTDOWN, however, liberally uses period photographs and quotes to document the 60s setting of the book, [...]

One of the quirks of this publishing year is the prevalence of so many sequels (and companion novels) to previous Newbery books.  In addition to THE MIGHTY MISS MALONE, I count five more: APPLEWHITES AT WIT’S END by Stephanie Tolan, PALACE OF STONE by Shannon Hale, ONE YEAR IN COAL HARBOR by Polly Horvath, STARRY RIVER [...]

It’s easy to see why this book has so many fans.  What’s less apparent is why so many people believe it’s the frontrunner.  That’s not an easy position to hold as we found out last year with OKAY FOR NOW: first the excessive praise followed by the nasty backlash and the obsessive scrutiny that comes [...]

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.  [...]

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 [...]

Here are some of the more promising candidates for the 2013 Newbery Medal.  Some of the starred review information may quickly become outdated–if it isn’t already.
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate (three stars) is a novel in prose poems with rich themes.
DRAGONSWOOD by Janet Lee Carey (two stars) is a sequel to the author’s earlier [...]

Is there a Newbery book that you’re ashamed to admit that you haven’t read yet?  Perhaps one that is considered a classic?  That everyone else seems to have read but you?  Don’t we all have these books on our own personal shelf of shame?  Now some of you are more ambitious about your goals, like Colby Sharp [...]

I don’t have very many vivid recollections from my childhood, but I do remember being in the sixth grade, going to the school library, browsing the shelves, and pulling THE GREY KING off–I remember all of that very vividly with precise sensory details.  By then, I had developed the knack for sniffing out fantasy without asking [...]

While DEAD END IN NORVELT wasn’t on our shortlist, the book earned three starred reviews, made three best of the year lists, and won the Scott O’Dell Award.  We had a running conversation about the book here and here and here.  Similarly, we did not include INSIDE OUT & BACK AGAIN despite the fact that it [...]