Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog – A School Library Journal Blog

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A mix of fantasy, realistic fiction, a graphic novel, historical fiction.</p> <p class="read_more" style="margin-top: 15px;"><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/">READ FULL POST »</a></p> </div> <div class="post_wrapper"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/max.jpeg"></a>  <h3><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/">First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders</a></h3> <p class="excerpt">We're 10 months away from the 2026 Newbery Medal announcement, but it's never too early to start reading. If you've read any early 2025 publications that might have a chance at the Medal, add your suggestions to our monthly list between now and March 8th.</p> <p class="read_more" style="margin-top: 15px;"><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/">READ FULL POST »</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="right_col"> <div class="ad_div"> <p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>  <div id = "SLJHalfpage300x600"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('SLJHalfpage300x600'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="hard_rule"></div> <section class="home_trending"> <div class="left_col"> <h2>Trending Posts</h2> <style> .wtpsw-post-carousel.design-1 .wtpsw-post-image-bg img { object-position: center center !important; } </style> <div id="wtpsw-carousel-1" class="wtpsw-post-carousel wtpsw-post-slider-init wtpsw-post-carousel-1 design-1" data-conf="{"dots":"true","arrows":"true","autoplay":"true","autoplayinterval":3000,"speed":300,"slides_to_show":3,"slides_to_scroll":1}"> <div class="wtpsw-post-carousel-slides"> <div class="wtpsw-medium-12 wtpswcolumns"> <div class="wtpsw-post-image-bg"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/"><img width="331" height="500" src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/allthebluesinthesky.jpg" class="attachment-500x500 size-500x500 wp-image-46148 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/allthebluesinthesky.jpg 346w, https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/allthebluesinthesky-199x300.jpg 199w, https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/allthebluesinthesky-331x500.jpg 331w" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" data-mwl-img-id="46148" /></a> </div> <h4 class="wtpsw-post-title"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/">Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders</a> </h4> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: none;" class="carousel"> <div class="arrow" style="margin-right: 3px;"> <i class="fas fa-chevron-left fa-2x"></i> </div> <div class="post" id="tp1"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/31/goodbye-for-now-2/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Blog-Logo-Heavy-Medal-261x143-1.png"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/31/goodbye-for-now-2/">Goodbye for now</a></h4> </div> <div class="post" id="tp2"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/29/looking-ahead-early-thoughts-about-2026-newbery-contenders/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/j-vs-k.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/29/looking-ahead-early-thoughts-about-2026-newbery-contenders/">Looking Ahead: Early Thoughts about 2026 Newbery Contenders</a></h4> </div> <div class="post" id="tp3"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/27/and-the-newbery-winner-is/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/first-state-of-being.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/27/and-the-newbery-winner-is/">And the Newbery winner is….</a></h4> </div> <div class="arrow"> <i class="fas fa-chevron-right fa-2x"></i> </div> </div> </div> <div class="right_col boxad_col"> <div class="ad_div"> <p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>  <div id = "SLJRectangle300x250"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('SLJRectangle300x250'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </section>                                                            <section class="slj_related" id="slj_related"> <h2>Related Articles on SLJ</h2> <div class="article" id="slj"> <a href="https://www.slj.com/story/Why-my-Last-Cuentista-Protagonist-Is-Visually-Impaired-Donna-Barba-Higuera-Newbery-Childrens-Books" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.slj.com/binaries/content/gallery/donna-barba-higuera-295pix-1.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://www.slj.com/story/Why-my-Last-Cuentista-Protagonist-Is-Visually-Impaired-Donna-Barba-Higuera-Newbery-Childrens-Books" target="_blank">Why My 'Last Cuentista' Protagonist Is Visually Impaired</a></h4> </div> <div class="article" id="slj"> <a href="https://www.slj.com/story/susan-cooper-writing-fantasy-is-a-voyage-fed-by-my-unconscious-the-newbery-at-100" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.slj.com/binaries/content/gallery/Jlibrary/2022/01/susan-cooper-featimg-rev-2covs.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://www.slj.com/story/susan-cooper-writing-fantasy-is-a-voyage-fed-by-my-unconscious-the-newbery-at-100" target="_blank">Susan Cooper on her Wartime Childhood and How Writing Is "Fed by My Unconscious" | The Newbery at 100</a></h4> </div> <div class="article" id="slj"> <a href="https://www.slj.com/story/childrens-publishing-world-reacts-reacts-to-michaela-goades-history-making-caldecott-medal-rest-of-the-YMA-winners" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.slj.com/binaries/content/gallery/Jlibrary/2021/01/yma/yma-2021-winners-800x600-f1b.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://www.slj.com/story/childrens-publishing-world-reacts-reacts-to-michaela-goades-history-making-caldecott-medal-rest-of-the-YMA-winners" target="_blank">Children’s Publishing World Reacts to Michaela Goade's History-Making Caldecott Medal, Rest of the YMA Winners</a></h4> </div> <div class="article" id="slj"> <a href="https://www.slj.com/story/linda-sue-park-children-love-books-with-fierce-adoration-the-newbery-at-100" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.slj.com/binaries/content/gallery/Jlibrary/2022/01/linda-sue-park-feat-img-2-800px.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://www.slj.com/story/linda-sue-park-children-love-books-with-fierce-adoration-the-newbery-at-100" target="_blank">Linda Sue Park: Children Love Books with "Fierce Adoration" | The Newbery at 100</a></h4> </div> <div class="article" id="slj"> <a href="https://www.slj.com/story/ringing-in-the-newbery-medal-and-caldecott-medal-awards-trivia-smackdown" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.slj.com/binaries/content/gallery/Jlibrary/2021/01/slj-jan-2021-cover-highres.png"></a> <h4><a href="https://www.slj.com/story/ringing-in-the-newbery-medal-and-caldecott-medal-awards-trivia-smackdown" target="_blank">Ringing in the Newbery (and Caldecott): An awards-trivia smackdown with Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker</a></h4> </div> </section> <section class="recent_comments"> <div class="left_col"> <h2>Recent Comments</h2> <div class="waterfall"> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 31, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Dave on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/#comment-36277" target="_blank">Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"Judy, Finished both this month. I really did love Undead Foxof Deadwood Forest, and I wouldn't be upset if it won som ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 29, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Quade Kelley on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/#comment-36246" target="_blank">Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"I am curious about THE UNDEAD FOX OF DEADWOOD FOREST and like historical fiction so REBELLION 1776 (Laurie Halse Anderso ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 28, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Judy Weymouth on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/#comment-36242" target="_blank">Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"I finished listening to WILL'S RACE FOR HOME this morning and can definitely understand the 4 votes so far for Newbery ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 22, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Gabrielle Stoller on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/#comment-36195" target="_blank">Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"All the Blues was simply stunning. What a beautiful book about grief and self discovery ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 21, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Judy Weymouth on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/11/fifteen-early-mock-newbery-2026-contenders/#comment-36184" target="_blank">Fifteen early Mock Newbery 2026 Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"I have now read ALL THE BLUES and THE UNDEAD FOX and am wondering how anything else could possibly compare. It's only Ma ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 11, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Emily Mroczek-Bayci on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/#comment-36106" target="_blank">First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"Maria Marianayagam looks to be a Canadian born in India so her book is not eligible. https://www.marianayagam.com/about/ ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 10, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Emily Mroczek on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/#comment-36105" target="_blank">First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"Late but here's and will tally and post later today! ALL THE BLUES IN THE SKY Renée Watson THE LAST GREAT HEIR Cari ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 8, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Mrs. M. on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/#comment-36081" target="_blank">First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 8, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Meg on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/#comment-36079" target="_blank">First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"Away by: Megan E Freeman All the Blues in the Sky by: Renée Watson Tear This Down by: Barbara Dee A Wolf Called Fire ..."</p> </div> <div class="comment" id="comment"> <p class="date">Mar 8, 2025</p> <p class="nametitle">Steven Engelfried on <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/03/first-mock-newbery-2026-suggestion-call-early-contenders/#comment-36078" target="_blank">First Mock Newbery 2026 Suggestion Call: Early Contenders</a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.9em; color: #333;">"It's great to start a new year! 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View Steven and Emily's live thoughts here on the 2025 Youth Media Award announcements.</p> </div> <div class="review"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/22/predictions-for-the-ala-youth-media-awards/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/black-girl-you-are-atlas.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/22/predictions-for-the-ala-youth-media-awards/">Predictions for the ALA Youth Media Awards</a></h4> <p class="excerpt">STEVEN: It’s five days until the 2025 Newbery Medal will be announced, which means: Predictions! We do this every year, and the record shows that if you’re looking for accuracy, pay attention to Emily and ignore mine. EMILY: Uhh you’re really loading the pressure on here Steven… why? STEVEN: In [...]</p> </div> <div class="review"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/17/heavy-medal-update-its-newbery-week/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/heavymedal.png"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/17/heavy-medal-update-its-newbery-week/">Heavy Medal Update: It’s Newbery Week!</a></h4> <p class="excerpt">As we enter the final week of Heavy Medal discussions there are lots of dates and deadlines to keep an eye on!</p> </div> <div class="read_more"> <p class="read_more"><a href="/category/book-discussion/">See More Like This »</a></p> </div> </section> <div class="hard_rule"></div> <section class="blog_feed" id="more_recent"> <div class="feed_body"> <h2>More Recent Posts</h2> <div class="feed_post"> <div class="feed_thumb"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/31/goodbye-for-now-2/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Blog-Logo-Heavy-Medal-261x143-1.png"></a> </div> <div class="feed_text"> <h3><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/31/goodbye-for-now-2/">Goodbye for now</a></h3> <p class="byline">January 31, 2025 by <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/author/emilyrmroczek/">Emily Mroczek-Bayci</a></p> <p class="excerpt">Heavy Medal will return for monthly suggestion posts in March 2025 and the regular season begins in September.</p> </div> </div> <div class="feed_post"> <div class="feed_thumb"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/29/looking-ahead-early-thoughts-about-2026-newbery-contenders/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/j-vs-k.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="feed_text"> <h3><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/29/looking-ahead-early-thoughts-about-2026-newbery-contenders/">Looking Ahead: Early Thoughts about 2026 Newbery Contenders</a></h3> <p class="byline">January 29, 2025 by <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/author/sengelfried/">Steven Engelfried</a></p> <p class="excerpt">The 2025 Newbery winner has finally been announced, so we take a short look ahead at possible contenders for the 2026 Medal.</p> </div> </div> <div class="feed_post"> <div class="feed_thumb"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/27/and-the-newbery-winner-is/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/first-state-of-being.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="feed_text"> <h3><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/27/and-the-newbery-winner-is/">And the Newbery winner is….</a></h3> <p class="byline">January 27, 2025 by <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/author/emilyrmroczek/">Emily Mroczek-Bayci</a></p> <p class="excerpt">Another year, another surprising Newbery winner. 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We do this every year, and the record shows that if you’re looking for accuracy, pay attention to Emily and ignore mine. EMILY: Uhh you’re really loading the pressure on here Steven… why? STEVEN: In seven years of predictions on […]</p> </div> </div> <div class="feed_post"> <div class="feed_thumb"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/21/heavy-medal-mock-newbery-readers-poll-2/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/heavymedalpoll.jpeg"></a> </div> <div class="feed_text"> <h3><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/21/heavy-medal-mock-newbery-readers-poll-2/">Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Reader’s Poll</a></h3> <p class="byline">January 21, 2025 by <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/author/emilyrmroczek/">Emily Mroczek-Bayci</a></p> <p class="excerpt">Our Heavy Medal Reader's Poll starts today! In this one, we invite all Heavy Medal Readers to submit a ballot.</p> </div> </div> <p class="read_more"><a href="/more-posts/">Read More Posts »</a></p> </div> <div class="feed_side"> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="right_col skyscraper_ad"> <div class="ad_div"> <p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>   <div id = "SLJHalfpage300x600_3"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('SLJHalfpage300x600_3'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <h2>Archives</h2> <select style="width: 90%; margin-bottom: 30px;" name="archive-dropdown" onchange="document.location.href=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;">Select Month <option value='https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/04/'> April 2025  (1)</option> <option value='https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/03/'> March 2025  (2)</option> <option value='https://heavymedal.slj.com/2025/01/'> January 2025  (22)</option> <option value='https://heavymedal.slj.com/2024/12/'> December 2024  (12)</option> <option 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"SLJRectangle300x250_2"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('SLJRectangle300x250_2'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> <h2></h2> <div class="blog_list"> <li id="linkcat-242" class="linkcat"><h2>Other Mock Newbery Sites</h2> <ul class='xoxo blogroll'> <li><a href="https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/mock-newbery" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Anderson’s Bookshops</a></li> <li><a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/mock-newbery-list-2025">Bookshops.org Mock Newbery List</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/197288.2025_Mock_Newbery_List" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Good Reads Mock Newbery</a></li> <li><a href="https://olis.ri.gov/programs-and-support/youth-services/mock-newbery" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Rhode Island OLIS</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="linkcat-241" class="linkcat"><h2>Resources</h2> <ul class='xoxo blogroll'> <li><a href="https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/alsc/content/JOHN%20NEWBERY%20AWARD%20MANUAL%2C%20Revised%20March%202023.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Newbery Manual, 2023 update</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/newbery-medals-honors-1922-present.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Newbery Medal & Honor Books</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newbery" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Newbery Terms & Criteria (scroll down to open)</a></li> </ul> </li> </div> </div> </div></section> <div class="hard_rule" id="more_recent"></div> <section class="home_archives"> <h2>From the Archives (2018)</h2> <div class="carousel"> <div class="post" id="ap1"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2024/01/14/heavy-medal-mock-newbery-readers-poll/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/heavymedal.png"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2024/01/14/heavy-medal-mock-newbery-readers-poll/">Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Reader’s Poll</a></h4> </div> <div class="post" id="ap2"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2024/01/05/heavy-medal-mock-newbery-finalist-the-many-assassinations-of-samir-the-seller-of-drems/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/many-assassinations.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2024/01/05/heavy-medal-mock-newbery-finalist-the-many-assassinations-of-samir-the-seller-of-drems/">Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, THE SELLER OF DREAMS</a></h4> </div> <div class="post" id="ap3"> <a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2023/10/30/add-two-for-round-two-heavy-medal-mock-newbery-nominations/"><img src="https://heavymedal.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/chinese-menu.jpg"></a> <h4><a href="https://heavymedal.slj.com/2023/10/30/add-two-for-round-two-heavy-medal-mock-newbery-nominations/">Add two for round two: Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Nominations</a></h4> </div> <div class="post" id="ap4"> <a 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