Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

We had a tie for this months book. Do you think either of these could be the next Newbery?

I am currently reading Mockingbird and Out of My Mind is not available yet from my library. I'll go with the majority and hope I can get Draper's book when it's available.

I really don't think so. My problem with these books is the author's first person narration. They both seem to make a lot of assumptions about what people with these conditions think. Personally, I think books like Rules work so well because it's told from the perspective of someone trying to understand (but also because the author has a son with autism.)
Not that authors can't attempt this, but I just did n't think either of these books seemed terribly well researched.

do most of your libraries already have these books? I'm just wondering if I'm the only one that goes in asking them to buy them every month :-)

Usually my library has all the new books or gets them pretty quickly. It is rare that they don't have them ever. I can always request a book for purchase but I don't know the criteria necessary to qualify for purchase. I haven't ever had to do that.

I've got both on hold. I'm lucky enough to get to do the juvenile fiction ordering for my library, and they both had good reviews. I like to order close to the pub date if they cross my radar in time - but then I'm also lucky enough to work at a library with good staffing and a respectable budget. Without those two things, I'd never stay on top of ordering.

The question of whether or not books like these accurately reflect reality is a good question - I'm in no position to judge, and I'm sure individual experiences vary a lot, too. I thought I read that Draper was writing from personal experiences with her daughter, much like Cynthia Lord and Rules.

I'm a school librarian and I had both of these before school was out. I'm a Junior Library Guild customer, and I believe Mockingbird was a selection and I pre-ordered Out of My Mind. I'll have to move them both up on my to-read list. I was a fan of Rules, so I have high hopes.

Kristen wrote: "We had a tie for this months book. Do you think either of these could be the next Newbery?"
Read them both and really enjoyed them. Even though i agree that it may be a stretch to assume what a person in either of these situations would be thinking or feeling, they both raise the issue that perhaps it is more than we outsiders assume. That possibility is intriguing at the very least. I think they were both very well written, and will make young people think and view children that are different with a more sensitive eye. Newbery honors would not surprise me, and perhaps Out of My Mind a contender for the Newbery?

Jess wrote: The question of whether or not books like these accurately reflect reality is a good question - I'm in no position to judge, and I'm sure individual experiences vary a lot, too. I thought I read that Draper was writing from personal experiences with her daughter, much like Cynthia Lord and Rules."

I had this question too, so I did a little digging- there's a great interview on her site, as well as a tab containing reviews for the book. http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail.as...

As much as I enjoyed the book, and I was really emotionally affected by it, something about her writing seemed a little trite at times to me. It's not anything I can put my finger on, but something about the execution of the story didn't feel "distinguished" to me.

Jennifer wrote: "Jess wrote: The question of whether or not books like these accurately reflect reality is a good question - I'm in no position to judge, and I'm sure individual experiences vary a lot, too. I thoug..."

I think that's how I felt too. I especially thought the way the adults were portrayed was too simple.

Out of My Mind is the best I've read yet this year...I thought it went a little deeper than Rules and I think it resonated for me because it WASN'T from an adult perspective...and it wasn't fair which experiences aren't at that age unfortunately. I thought it was genuine and I think kids would read it.

I really liked Mockingbird, but I was disappointed in Out of My Mind. In Mockingbird, Caitlin and her dad -- and the grief they experienced -- seemed realistic to me. I also loved that Erskine deftly blended humor into her story in a way that didn't belittle the grief that her characters felt. In contrast, the adults in Out of My Mind didn't seem believable. As a middle-school teacher and parent of a child with an IEP, I could not accept that Melody's smart, savvy parents would not have insisted much sooner that she be fully included in a general education classroom and that she receive technology modifications.

With that said, I know that I will put Out of My Mind in my classroom library because I think many of my girls who love realistic fiction will appreciate Melody's story. On the other hand, although I thought Mockingbird was beautifully written with well-developed characters, I am a bit worried about some parents' possible reaction to the school shooting back story. I am curious how other parents and teachers feel about this.

I very much agree with Christina. I'm not sure I understand why Out of My Mind is getting such rave reviews. The first few chapters were very good, but then it began to reek of melodrama. I will be disappointed if it snags a Newbery nod (and at this point in the game it seem like it has a chance).

I thought Mockingbird was written with a little more restraint, though the sheer number of tragedies in that book stretch believability, too. Both of these books just heap troubles on their young heroines. The difference is that Mockingbird doesn't employ a bunch of one-dimensional villains to do the dirty work.

In regards to the school shooting back story in Mockingbird, I think it's unfortunate but true that violence of that nature is part of our cultural landscape now. So as much as we may want to shelter kids from exposure to it, many of them are probably already aware and might get something out of exploring the aftermath through fiction. I didn't think the portrayal of the shooting in Mockingbird was overly frightening or graphic.

My library is pretty good, and carries quite a bit, but I just picked up Mockingbird and will be starting it shortly.

Christina wrote: "I really liked Mockingbird, but I was disappointed in Out of My Mind. In Mockingbird, Caitlin and her dad -- and the grief they experienced -- seemed realistic to me. I also loved that Erskine de..."

Christina - I am not a parent with a children with Special Needs, but I have worked with children with severe cerebral palsy and other disabilities for a significant portion of my career. Even though I am in California and we have parents who advocate strongly on behalf of their children for inclusion, and services, I know that from District to District you have a wide-range of services and inclusive type programs. I have also seen ebbs and flows with inclusion over the past 19 years (everyone wanting it and then everyone wanting smaller programming and then back).

I am not certain that any person can fully convey what it would be like to be a child who cognitively is very much intact but who physically is trapped in his/her body nor what it is like to be the parent of that child (I think everyone responds to their circumstances differently). However, as I have been reading Out of My Mind (I am almost done), there is a lot that rings emotionally and experientially true for me. I will be reading Mockingbird soon and will be able to compare, but I would still highly recommend Out Of My Mind.

I just finished Mockingbird and I must say it was interesting. I read Out of My Mind a long time ago and now I can compare the two. Both of these books can be useful to children. For me the bigger lessons are learned in compassion and kindness. This could help children with their peers in so many ways. Perspective can go a long way when two people do not get along.

I enjoyed Mocking Bird. I agree that violence in schools is not going to go away. Here children can see the grieving and healing process. I loved the three children (Caitlin, Michael, and Josh) who were all in some way a victim of the shootings, and that they learned to get along together. I also liked her school counselor. I thought it was a good representation of a caring professional in her school but I thought the other teachers were poorly portrayed, realistically I think they would have been better informed.

Out of My Mind.- I think there is a lot to discuss with kids in this one. It's one that you reflect and ponder. For me the value in this one is relationships and choices. You can ask kids things like "Do you think she did the right thing at the end with the trophy?" "What would you have done if it were you?" "How do you think you could treat people that are different from you?" It was interesting, enjoyable, and… a bit of a tear jerker.

Both books are well written. Newberys? I just can’t tell.

Kristen wrote: "I just finished Mockingbird and I must say it was interesting. I read Out of My Mind a long time ago and now I can compare the two. Both of these books can be useful..."

Maybe not a Newbery for Out of My Mind but what about a Scheider Family Award for MG with a character with a disability? I think it would be in the running.

Alyson wrote: "Kristen wrote: "I just finished Mockingbird and I must say it was interesting. I read Out of My Mind a long time ago and now I can compare the two. Both of these boo..."

Yes, I agree.

Jennifer wrote: "Jess wrote: The question of whether or not books like these accurately reflect reality is a good question - I'm in no position to judge, and I'm sure individual experiences vary a lot, too. I thoug..."

Jennifer, thanks for putting the link up to Sharon Draper's website. I agree with what you said about the book striking a chord, and Melody is certainly a memorable character, but from a "distinguished" standpoint, there's something that falls a little flat. But I greatly enjoyed reading Draper's interview, and kids will definitely come away questioning their assumptions about students with disabilities.

Just finished Mockingbird... a well-written and poignant story, but distinguished? I think it falls short.

One thing I did n't especially like about Mockingbird was Caitlin's miraculous development of empathy. Having a son with Asperger's, the one thing all counselors have told my husband and I is, Asberger's is with people for life, they need to find ways to adapt, but they can't be trained out of it. Meaning, the directional cues she was given by the school counselor rang true to me (Look at the Person), but not her overcoming one of the key components of Asperger's. It's like someone born with Down Syndrome suddenly overcomes it, and does n't have it anymore at the end. Just my two cents.

Although I enjoyed this book, I thought the voice was uneven. There were many places where I felt as is an adult was talking and it was jarring, pretty much reminding me I was reading a book.

I like the idea of telling the story from Caitlin's point of view and would be interested in hearing from parents to see if the story rings true...
Mockingbird

I just finished Mockingbird, which I really enjoyed. I feel like I got so caught up in the story, though, that I didn't really notice the flaws that others have mentioned, other then the LARGE amount of tragedy (when I started reading it I dubbed it "the most depressing book ever"). As I read through the posts here, though, I can see the flaws that have been pointed out. I appreciate your point of view, Dana, because as I was reading the book, I felt that the author had captured that matter of fact tone of a child with Asperger's really well, but I also realized that I have no experience with which to base it by.
Sooo, overall, the book gets major points from me for it's readability, character development, and the metaphor of the chest that was snuck in through Caitlin's voice, even though metaphor was something she wouldn't understand.

I finished Out of My Mind and really liked it better than Mockingbird. I know the issues are different, but OMM seemed more true to me. Recently I saw a video about a girl with autism who cannot speak and she was given a computer and now speaks her mind in an amazing way. She reminds me of Melody and now I know that Melody really rings true. http://www.wimp.com/autisticgirl/ Don't know if the url will work, but give it a try.

I just finished Mockingbird and read Out of My Mind last month. Really enjoyed OMM. It reads well and the pace is perfect while the story and character are engaging. I found it completely absorbing -- one of my criteria for a good children's book is its ability to absorb and make you forget where you are. It wasn't until I finished and started reflecting on it that I had one of those "now wait a minute moments." I'm having a hard time reconciling Melody who narrates with the Melody in the story. The narrator is a mature and sophisticated speaker. I don't always see her as an eleven-year-old who has never held a conversation. However, it is a wonderful story even with the two sad, unnecessary events at the end. (Why do authors feel the need to add superfluous sad to kids books so often?) It is perfect for children as illustrative example of why they need to treat everyone with empathy, kindness, and respect.

Mockingbird also has an interesting narrator. Erskine captures Catlin's voice so well and I thoroughly enjoyed her as a character; in fact much more than Ted's character in The London Eye Mystery. I was excited to see the reviews on the back cover from authors that I really respect and enjoy. However, I do not do despair well, and this book is filled with despair. Erskine really didn't need to add the whole dimension of a school shooting to the plot. As a result the book came across as a formulaic novel written as a masters thesis for a MFA degree. I keep thinking, "Is this even a kid's book?" I'm not saying it is inappropriate rather that it goes against what we are trying to do - have kids enjoy stories and read more books. This book really turned me off. Erskine could have easily made this book into something that kids would enjoy. I loved Caitlin and her relationship with Michael and Mrs. Brook. The connection with To Kill a Mockingbird was cute and a great way to pique some child's interest in that book. She had such great material, unfortunately the plot just was too over the top and too tragic. Erskine let the despair rule and overwhelm what could have been a great book. My guess is that it wins the Newbery. Sigh.

Pam, I appreciate your insights into both books. I really liked Mockingbird because of the well-developed relationships between Caitlin and her father and Caitlin and her classmates, but the school shooting makes me wonder whether I should put the book in my classroom library. Most of my sixth-graders can handle tragedy in books, but I would not be surprised to receive parent complaints. I know that we can't shelter kids from the realities of the world, but some parents don't share this view. I wonder if other teachers will share my concern. If so, this may limit the audience of the book a bit. As a result, this may be a book that is read by more adults than kids.

I came across this interview with Katherine Erskine and wanted to share it:
http://bit.ly/dCVe0R

I feel that "Out of my Mind" is a great exploration of discrimination without using ethnicity, religion or social class. Having a "working body" is a privilege most of us take for granted.

I thought the overwhelmed parents were portrayed well, and I thought that the reactions of the school & students was spot on. My 17 year old daughter goes through life with a prosthetic eye & limited vision in the seeing eye, and even though she looks mostly "normal", she has always had to face insensitive comments & prejudices & assumptions of her limitations from both her teachers (who have both coddled her or refused to make adaptations even though she's always had a 504/IEP) & her often cruel classmates. I know this is not nearly as extreme as how Melody would appear to her peers. So I feel that Draper's story rings true.

I liked Mockingbird too, but had a harder time connecting to Caitlin... which I suppose is the point of someone with her condition. Again, I thought that the Dad was well portrayed. I loved the relationship between Caitlin and the little boy, I can't remember his name...

Still wating for my hold on Out of My Mind to come through (and trying to not be out of my mind annoyed).
I'll review when I read it, eventually.... Not sure when I'll get around to Mockingbird, including ordering it.

David wrote: "Still wating for my hold on Out of My Mind to come through (and trying to not be out of my mind annoyed).
I'll review when I read it, eventually.... Not sure when I'll get around to Mockingbird, i..."

Please, don't feel obligated to purchase books that we read through this group. I am more then willing to read comments about any of the books we read, even if they are posted a year from now.

The one difficulty with a mock Newbery group is hoping that the libraries will have the books that we read in stock. I have realized that we started one month earlier then last year so... well, still working on that one.

I know that I have rambled, extensively, about just how GREAT I think Mockingbird is, but really, I have a love for that book that is almost unparalleled, and I read a lot of books. It really is the first book, in my mind, that makes a character with Asperger Syndrome seem very three-dimensional. Even her significant improvement towards the end rang true to me, as I've seen kids worse afflicted come much further in a shorter amount of time. When I read it, I finally felt as if an author out there got what I was feeling, and that this is the kind of book I would've wanted around me as a kid. That, I think, counts for something. Even if it doesn't win the Newbery or get an Honor, it should be made accessible to all kids with Asperger Syndrome (and indeed, my all-"aspie" school has ordered several copies, which have been passed around enthusiastically).

Still haven't gotten around to "Out of My Mind" yet, but I like Sharon M. Draper's writing very much, so I think I'll enjoy it. The concept of the book is interesting to me and I've never disliked a single book with a goldfish on the cover yet (see also: "Rules").

Finally read both, after getting them on loan - which is what I meant when I said ordering them :)

Mockingbird combines the story of a student with Asbergers being mainstreamed with the struggle of a family & a community coping with the aftermath of a school shooting with 4 fatalities. I agree that some parents may consider this potentially too upsetting for their children.

I really like Mockingbird for its look at empathy, tragedy, & children with learning differences. The look at Asbergers is useful for all, but especially students & teachers. Learning to empathize & listen to others & treat everyone with respect are lessons we all should learn.

I do worry that with the recent spate of problem & tragedy books, children's literature is moving too close to the YA norm of mostly problem novels most of the time. While the many literary connections to To Kill a Mockingbird will please teachers & librarians, I wonder if it will resonate with students.

I see Mockingbird as a possible Newbery contender, but it's not in my personal top 5.

Draper's descriptions, in Out Of My Mind, of Melody's physical reactions are wonderful, including the reactions of people around her & the intense frustrations of not being able to express herself or take care of herself. Draper's personal insight & her insider perspective are valuable. She captures the varied voices of students well. Draper tackles the often universal problem of not wanting to be different & fitting in. Draper challenges readers to question their assumptions about PWD, including nonverbal people.

Melody seems to be far more mature than age 11. The fluency of Melody's writing seems a bit too perfect. The concept of her mastering the Medi-Writer in a weekend seems overly optimistic. Wouldn't she have had access to physical therapy, or have a caseworker who could better advocate for her? In 2010 would she truly be that isolated in a classroom?

Out of My Mind is a vaulable book that should make children think about their assumptions of the disabled and the way they should be viewed & treated. It deserves to be considered for notable status and as a possible top Newbery Honor contender imo.