Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Fifteen members, thank you all so much for having read all the long listed titles and for volunteering to take part in the Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Committee!  Your ballot will be emailed to you tonight.

When serving on the real Newbery committee, all members would know each other’s age/age range, skin color/ethnic background, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation (sometimes,) and professional background that led each one to the table since they are meeting face to face and also asked to introduce themselves.

To simulate that reality, we officially present the Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Fifteen with more details about each member below.  They will cast their votes and engage in more detailed discussion starting tomorrow. All other Heavy Medal Readers, expect to cast your votes on this blog, starting tomorrow, in a general poll, as well.

Adrian Zeck, age 35, is a white, straight male from Concord, NC.  Adrian is a Library Assistant in the Children’s Department of the Cabarrus County LibraryOne fun fact: “I worked for four years as a Park Ranger at the nation’s only national park dedicated to American Painting, Weir Farm National Historic Site in Wilton, CT.”

Cheryl Lynn Mann, age 52, is a white straight female from Elkhart, Indiana.  Cheryl Lynn has worked in a public library as a children’s programmer for the past 17 years.One Fun Fact: “I am an avid knitter and quilter.”

DaNae Carol Leu, age 54, is a white straight female from Utah.  DaNae has been an Elementary School librarian for fourteen years. No degree.One Fun Fact: “I listen to a continuous loop of the audios of Harry Potter like background music. They put me to sleep every night. A student this year thought he could stump me on HP trivia. He had no idea what he was up against.”

Evelyn Khoo Schwartz, age 36, is a Chinese straight female from Washington, D.C. Evelyn is a school librarian at Holton-Arms Lower School.One fun fact: “I was born and bred in Singapore, so had a steady diet of British children’s literature! Enid blyton, anyone??? (That’s why I always have a weird craving for treacle and midnight feasts….)”

Jennifer “Jenn” Potter, almost 40, is an Irish/Norwegian/Melting pot of other things straight female, and single.  As part of a career change Jenn went back to school now has an MLIS from the University of Rhode Island.  She works in an elementary school teaching about 500 students a week in grades 1-5.  Fun Facts: “I typically read a book a day, sometimes two, and most of them are middle grade chapter books… I love my job!  Plus I am a single mom of a 10 year old son and 8 year old daughter both of whom have stacks of books in their rooms as their bookcases are overflowing. I also love to travel and have been to all seven continents.  My most recent trip was backpacking in Italy with my kids.”

Jennifer P. Hartley, age 41, is a white, Appalachian Scots-Irish, bisexual genderfluid person from Raleigh, NC. Jennifer worked for 5 years as a Teen Services Librarian for Austin Public Library, 6 years head of Children’s Services for Danville (VA) Public Library, and 1 year youth services librarian Wake County (NC) Public Library. Jennifer served on the Texas Lone Star committee and the Great Graphic Novels for Teens committee and runs a Mock Newbery for 6-10 graders.One Fun Fact: “I love crazy socks and crochet character hats for fun in my spare time.”

Jordan Kyle Henrichs, age 36, is a white, straight male from Cedar Falls, Iowan. Jordan has been a 5th grade elementary teacher for 13 years.One Fun Fact: “I earned my Masters in Educational Leadership and am pursuing elementary principal positions.”

Kari Baumann, age 38, is a white straight female Greensboro, NC.  Kari has been a school librarian for 10 years and teaches children’s literature for a nearby university.One Fun Fact: “I have a son named Atticus and a cat named Neville.”

Katrina Tangen, age 38, is a white female from Costa Mesa, CA. Katrina is a reader, writer, former child who briefly majored in Folklore and Mythology.One Fun Fact: “My favorite book as a kid was A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (though I still have to look up how to spell her name—so many ways it could go wrong!)”

Leonard Kim, age 43, is a Korean American (2nd generation) straight male.  Leonard has 3 kids.One Fun Fact: “I donated the Little Free Library on my photo to my local nature preserve.”

Mary Zdrojewski (Mary Z), age 34, is a white American (Poland, Italy, Sicily, and Alsace-Lorraine) straight female from Wellsville, NY.  Mary Z has been a school librarian for a PK-12 school for 10 years.One Fun Fact: “I sing constantly without even noticing. My students can tell when I’m walking down the hall.”

Monica Edinger, age 65, is a white, first generation German-Jewish straight female from New York, NY.  Monica is a Teacher, Reviewer, Writer (of and about children’s literature). She contributes to a variety of publications including the New York Times Book Review, and the Horn Book Magazine. Along the way she has helped select several awards including the 2008 Newbery and the 2015 New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books; I also originated and co-ran School Library Journal’s Battle of the Kids’ Books. A lifelong educator, Monica teaches fourth grade in New York City and, after writing several books for teachers, wrote her first for children, Africa is My Home: A Child of the Amistad, and is hard at work on another. She blogs at educating alice.One Fun Fact: “I’m a lapsed illustrator. (You can some of my work here and here.)”

Samuel F Leopold, is a married male whose family came from Italy and Germany.  Samual has been a language arts teacher for 30 years. He started doing mock Newbery elections with his students in 1989. He has certification in Children’s literature and gifted education and tries to read about 200 novels a year. He loves books!!!One fun fact: “I am a complete Batman geek.”

Steven Engelfried, age 57, is a caucasian male from Wilsonville, OR.  He has an MLIS degree and is Youth Librarian for 30+ years.One Fun Fact: “I was on Jeopardy (but I didn’t win)”

Wendy Lavenda-Carroll, age 62, is a heterosexual caucasian female from Cummaquid, MA. Wendy has been a Librarian for 12 years and has one child.One Fun Fact: “I’m a huge reader, mostly children’s YA and fiction, LOVE Harry Potter, and love to shop.”