We’re certainly not done talking about Spring and Summer titles, but as it’s now October, it’s time to get cracking: which are your fall release favorites? We’ve heard from fans of BROWN GIRL DREAMING, RAIN REIGN, EGG & SPOON….

This becomes the hard part of the season, as we try to read ahead and keep pace with the actual committee.  Our purpose on this blog is really two-fold: we’d like to talk about this year’s Newbery contenders in a deep way, measuring them against the Newbery criteria, and casting as wide a net as possible.  To this end, we try to start out the discussion with books we know you’ve probably got your hands on, but as we head into October we may start going all over the place.   See something you haven’t read?  Place a hold at your library, or buy a copy (donate it later to your library!)…and come back to that discussion thread when you’ve read it…we’re happy to have multiple threads going at once, and will try to pick up points for later discussion.

The second, and maybe primary purpose, is to give more people familiarity with the Newbery process, and to think and talk about it beyond just this year’s books.  To that end, we’ll be holding, as usual, in person Mock Newbery discussion in January (dates TBA) in Oakland and San Diego.  We’ll post a shortlist for those discussions by mid November, and will focus on contenders that we think are strong, and that we think you can get your hands on and read.

Curious about how the committee actually works? Though their actual title-level discussion remains confidential, their process is no secret.  You can read the whole manual right here.  Right now they are likely getting ready for their first set of formal nominations, which will build their own discussion list for their meeting at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Chicago.  This year’s meeting is nice and late, giving the committee some extra preparation time.  (When I was on the committee, we met the second weekend in January!)  This year’s winners will be announced on Monday, February 2nd, 2015.

So…what do you hope the Newbery Committee is thinking about for their October nominations? What are your fall favorites?