In Heavy Medal, which is active from September to January, librarians Jonathan Hunt and Nina Lindsay discuss all things Newbery Award, including its history and purpose—it’s given annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children—terms and criteria, possible contenders, and results of Mock Newbery discussions in classrooms and libraries around the country.

Hunt is a school librarian at Modesto City Schools, who served on the 2006 Newbery committee, and has also judged the Printz Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Lindsay is the Children’s Services Coordinator at the Oakland Public Library, CA. She chaired the 2008 Newbery Committee, and served on the 2004 and 1998 committees.

In Someday My Printz Will Come, librarians Karyn Silverman and Sarah Couri, along with Joy Piedmont and other contributors, enjoy speculating wildly  books they think are likely to be under consideration for the YALSA‘s Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, which is given annually to the best book written for teens based entirely on literary merit; the Printz Committee also can name up to four honor books. Which book will win the gold in 2014? Will there be honor books?

Silverman is the high school librarian and Educational Technology department chair at LREI, Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School. She has served on YALSA’s Quick Picks and Best Books committees and was a member of the 2009 Printz committee. Couri is a librarian at Grace Church School’s high school division, and has served on a number of YALSA committees, including Quick Picks, Great Graphic Novels, and the 2011 Printz Committee. Piedmont is a librarian and technology integrator at LREI. Prior to becoming a librarian, Joy reviewed and reported for Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch. Currently, she reviews for SLJ and serves as treasurer for the Hudson Valley Library Association.

There, bloggers Nina Lindsay, supervising librarian for children’s services at Oakland (CA) Public Library, California and Jonathan Hunt, library media teacher for Modesto (CA) City Schools, return to discuss and debate potential titles in the running for this year’s Newbery Award. Bestowed annually by the American Library Association (ALA), the Award honors “the most distinguished American children’s book” of the year.

While the actual Newbery Award selection committee is bound to secrecy, its criteria and procedures are open and well-known to many. Much like Oscar predictions, forecasting which book will rise to the top has become an annual fascination for “kidlit” fans. Even naming the Newbery Honors—the books selected as runners-up—is a welcome part of the fun.

Since 2008, Heavy Medal has deliberated and discussed possible contenders for the highest honor in children’s literature. As always, readers are encouraged to join the conversation. Discussion has addressed the Newbery criteria, obvious—and not so obvious—favorites to win the Award, and questions, such as: must a sequel stand alone? And where do graphic novels stand?

Lindsay says that the best part of the process is “experiencing the naturally chaotic way a discussion can take off, build up, circle round.“ The toughest part? “Trying to stay on top of all those circles, and give each discussion and title its due,” she says. The Heavy Medal duo has come up with fresh ideas for this year’s round, including guest posts, interviews, dialogues, and a greater focus on how libraries and schools can organize their own mock Newbery events.

Do they already have any predictions of which book might take the prize? Hunt believes that there are, indeed, some interesting candidates. “Everybody was talking about R. J Palacio’s Wonder (Random) in the spring season and Rebecca Stead’s Liar & Spy (Random) and Laura Amy Schlitz’s Splendors and Glooms (Candlewick) have people buzzing in the fall. But it’s also a very deep year for nonfiction.”