Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

Dragonswood
Janet Lee Carey
Dial Books
2012
403 pgs

In 1192 A.D. on Wilde Island, Tess, the daughter of a cruel blacksmith, is accused of witchcraft and must flee, but when she meets a handsome and enigmatic warden of Dragonswood who offers her shelter, she does not realize that he too harbors a secret that may finally bring about peace among the races of dragon, human, and fairy.

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg by Louise Borden

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue and Mystery during World War II
Louise Borden
Houghton Mifflin
2012
135 pgs

An amazing and inspirational World War II story about how one man saved the lives of many.

One and Only Ivan, The by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan
Katherine Applegate
Harper Collins Children's
2012
305  pgs.

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

The SJCPL Mock Newbery Club for Children picked...

Oh, you think I'm just going to come right out and put it here, without any kind of intro?!

Our Mock Newbery Club met for 2 hours on Thurs., 1/19 and for 2 hours on Fri., 1/20, and at the end, after 2 ballots, we chose:

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt as the SJCPL Mock Newbery Club Medal.

Following close behind were our 2 honor books:

Holm, Jennifer.  The Trouble with May Amelia.
Sepetys, Ruta.  Between Shades of Gray.


Many thanks to all of our club members and to their families for staying with the club from September through January.  I hope you'll all be able to watch the live webcast on Monday morning, starting at approximately 8:30 a.m. (EST) here:  www.ala.org/yma 

And the winner is...

The SJCPL Adult Mock Newbery Club met and talked about the Newbery Medal and books from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., despite heavy snow the night before and 1 member getting stuck in 2 separate snowbanks on the way to the meeting!  The eight of us talked and talked and laughed and discussed and in the end, after 1 ballot, our Mock Newbery Medal was awarded to:



Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

We also awarded 3 honor books:

Ness, Patrick.  A Monster Calls.
Schmidt, Gary.  Okay for Now.
Yelchin, Eugene.  Breaking Stalin's Nose.

What a terrific and rewarding experience.  Thanks to everyone who participated, and I can't wait for Monday morning to arrive! 

Adult Shortlist - Part 2 The Final Final

Here they are folks! These are the 20 titles we are bringing to the table January 21, 2012!  Please read and respond to as many as you can!  In addition to reading like a maniac, check out Kris' directions at the bottom and decide which books you want to champion!

1. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
2. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
3. Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
4. Hidden by Helen Frost
5. True...Sort of by Katherine Hannigan
6. Junonia by Kevin Henkes
7. Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer Holm
8. Small as An Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
9. Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
10. Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger
11. Inside Out And Back Again by Thannha Lai
12. Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack
13. Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
14. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (the experts aren't sure whether this book will be eligible or not, so it's staying on the list)
15. Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy
16. Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
17. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
18. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
19. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
20. Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

TO DO LIST
BY JANUARY 6 - email Kris your top 5 titles! Use the Note Taking Guide that was emailed to you to help firm up your thoughts!  Please email if you need another copy!

BY JANUARY 6 - email Kris the 3 books you believe are distinguished.  You will discuss the merits of each, briefly (2min or less),  listing strengths and how each particular book compares to other titles on the list.

Happy Reading!

Adult Shortlist - Part 1

Sydney Morning Herald

We are down to the wire!
This shortlist comprises the books readers felt strongly about, one way or another! Click on the links to tell us what YOU thought of each book!

 In alphabetical order:

1. Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
2. Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
3. Hidden by Helen Frost
4. True...Sort of by Katherine Hannigan
5. Junonia by Kevin Henkes
6. Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer Holm
7. Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger
8. Inside Out And Back Again by Thannha Lai
9. Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack
10. Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson
11. Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
12. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (the experts aren't sure whether this book will be eligible or not, so it's staying on the list)
13. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
14. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
15. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

NEXT STEPS

Read as many of the books as you can! A second list will be sent out in Late December of any late releasing titles to add to the list.

January 6 - email Kris your top 5 titles! Use the Note Taking Guide (avail 12/3) to help firm up your thoughts!  

January 6 - Kris will also need to know which 3 books you would be williing to champion.  You'll give a brief (2min or less) testimony listing the books strengths and how it compares to other titles on the list.

Adult Mock Newbery 2012 List #3

Here are your November Top Ten!  

We've added 30 books to the Adult Mock Newbery list to date! If you haven't started reading, now is the time.  We need to know what you think of these titles!  Click on the title to add to the discussion!

1. Bootleg by Karen Blumenthal
2. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
3. Chime by Franny Billingsley
4. Drawing From Memory by Allen Say
5. Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger
6. Lunch Box Dream by Tony Abbott
7. Monster Calls, A by Patrick Ness
8. Pie by Sarah Weeks
9. Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck
10. Trapped by Marc Aronson

Don't forget to sign up for our in-person final discussion and vote!  The Adult Mock Newbery Club meeting will be held on January 21, 2012 from 10:00am - 5:00pm in the Children's Services Storytime Room at the Main Library. Register HERE, if you haven't already done so!

A Month of Sundays by Ruth White

A Month of Sundays by Ruth White
Farrar Strauss Giroux
2011
168p.

In the summer of 1956 while her mother is in Florida searching for a job, fourteen-year-old April Garnet Rose, who has never met her father, stays with her terminally ill aunt in Virginia and accompanies her as she visits different churches, looking for God.

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz
Candlewick Press
2011
226p.

Everything changes for thirteen-year-old Travis, a new student who is trying to hide his illiteracy, when he meets a sassy classmate with her own secrets and a remarkable teacher.

Money We'll Save, The by Brock Cole

The Money We'll Save by Brock Cole
Farrar Strauss Giroux
2011
unpaged

In nineteenth-century New York City, when Pa brings home a young turkey in hopes of saving money on their Christmas dinner, his family faces all sorts of trouble--and expense--in their tiny apartment.

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Henry Holt and Company
2011
140pgs

In the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union, ten-year-old Sasha idolizes his father, a devoted Communist, but when police take his father away and leave Sasha homeless, he is forced to examine his own perceptions, values, and beliefs.

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say
Scholastic Press
2011
63p.


"Caldecott Medalist Allen Say presents a stunning graphic novel chronicling his journey as an artist during WWII, when he apprenticed under Noro Shinpei, Japan's premier cartoonist. Drawing from memory is Allen Say's own story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today. Shunned by his father, who didn't understand his son's artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan's leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his "spiritual father." As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him. He worked hard in rigorous drawing classes, studied, trained--and ultimately came to understand who he really is. Part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history, DRAWING FROM MEMORY presents a complex look at the real-life relationship between a mentor and his student. With watercolor paintings, original cartoons, vintage photographs, and maps, Allen Say has created a book that will inspire the artist in all of us"-- Provided by publisher.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Candlewick Press
2011
204p.

Thirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to find a monster outside his bedroom window, but not the one from the recurring nightmare that began when his mother became ill--an ancient, wild creature that wants him to face truth and loss.

Pie by Sarah Weeks

Pie by Sarah Weeks
Scholastic Press
2011
183p.

After the death of Polly Portman, whose award-winning pies put the town of Ipswitch, Pennsylvania, on the map in the 1950s, her devoted niece Alice and Alice's friend Charlie investigate who is going to extremes to find Aunt Polly's secret pie crust recipe. Includes fourteen pie recipes.

Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, 2) by Rick Riordan
Disney * Hyperion
2011
521p.

Demigod Percy Jackson, still with no memory, and his new friends from Camp Jupiter, Hazel and Frank, go on a quest to free Death, but their bigger task is to unite the Greek and Roman camps so that the Prophecy of Seven can be fulfilled.

Desert Angel by Charlie Price

Desert Angel by Charlie Price
Farrar Strauss Giroux
2011
236p.s

In the California desert, fourteen-year-old Angel is on the run from the man who abused her, killed her mother, and intends to kill her too.

Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African-Americans by Kadir Nelson
Balzer and Bray
2011
108p.

An simple introduction to African-American history, from Revolutionary-era slavery up to the election of President Obama.

Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack

Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack
Schwartz and Wade
2011
Unpaged

In eighteenth-century West Africa, a boy raised by his blacksmith father and the Mother Elements--Wind, Fire, Water, and Earth--is captured and taken to America as a slave.

Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
2011
266p.

Eleven-year-old Dini loves movies, and so when she learns that her family is moving to India for two years, her devastation over leaving her best friend in Maryland is tempered by the possibility of meeting her favorite actress, Dolly Singh.