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2021 Mock Newbery Winning Selections
By Kristen · 14 posts · 266 views
By Kristen · 14 posts · 266 views
last updated Feb 16, 2021 02:44PM
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What Members Thought
Zoe Washington is pretty naive about the criminal justice system. She believes everyone in prison is guilty, including her father. He was incarcerated before Zoe was born so she has never interacted with him at all. Her life is full and happy; she likes baking and hanging out with friends. It’s not until she unexpectedly comes into contact with him that she starts to feel the absence of her biological dad.
This story will be very approachable for most kids, even though it’s about a heavy topic, ...more
This story will be very approachable for most kids, even though it’s about a heavy topic, ...more
This is the first book that my Mock Newbery group is reading for the 2020 award season. We’ve started out with a book that is going to be tough to beat. The book opens with Zoe celebrating her 12th birthday. While looking through the day’s mail delivery for birthday cards, she finds a letter and the adventure begins. So much to talk about, kid issues, societal issues.
I loved the way the story begins. I liked the baking/cupcake backstory. I thought the dad in prison was an interesting story to pursue. A few unbelievable parts--an eyewitness from 12 years ago?
Everything wrapped up too quickly and too neatly.
Everything wrapped up too quickly and too neatly.
Book balances cozy topics like baking with harder ones like wrongful incarceration and racism in an engaging, gentle way.
Loved this. An easy, emotional read.
Mar 03, 2020
Robynn
marked it as to-read
March Read for Mock Newbery 2021.
3.5 - read by Bahni Turpin, so it gets that extra 1/2 star.
4.5 stars, rounded up because Janae Marks is a debut author, one which I hope will bring us more stories as satisfying as Zoe's. I enjoyed both storylines -- discovering her father and her cooking aspirations -- as well as her friendship with Trevor and the portrayal of responsible caring adults in her life. Though the resolution may not be strictly real-life, I would like to think that it could have worked out that way.
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Sep 01, 2019
Sara
marked it as to-read
Mar 01, 2020
Alison
marked it as to-read
Mar 05, 2020
alisonwonderland (Alison)
marked it as to-read
Apr 25, 2020
Leslie
marked it as to-read
Nov 05, 2020
Travis
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-realistic,
middle-grade
