Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

There was a tie this month between A Monster Calls and Words in the Dust. These two books are very different, but the question of "distinctiveness" remains. Could either of these books have a medal in their future?

I haven't read Words in the Dust yet, but A Monster Calls is probably the best book I've read this year.

This has been a topic of debate. It seems that A Monster Calls has a very slim chance of being eligible but still remains on many mock Newbery lists. I think Jonathon Hunt put it best on the Heavy Medal blog:

http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/...

It's probably good that we are reading two this month.

He does live in the UK but he is a US citizen (born in Virginia) I don't think it's the citizenship question that's at issue, I believe the problem is that the book was not edited in the U.S. (even though it was published here by Candlewick) It was edited by his British publisher. I've asked this question in other forums and not gotten a clear answer -- do the rules really disqualify a book not edited in the US? I don't ever remember seeing that. However, I have asked the question of somebody at Candlewick and, perhaps not surprisingly, they are of the opinion that the book is eligible.

I liked A Monster Calls, but I did n't find it terribly distinctive. I can think a few other books that tackle this same subject that I liked just as well. One, in particular, I liked a lot better Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze, but it unfortunately won nothing. I did n't find A Monster Calls to feel much different than the Graveyard Book. I would certainly recommend it, but I it's not my choice for the Newbery.

I asked and ALSC says A Monster Calls as well as Wonderstruck are both eligible this year.

Woo-hoo!

Martha wrote: "I asked and ALSC says A Monster Calls as well as Wonderstruck are both eligible this year."

Really? I wonder how they made that work?
From what I can tell, A Monster Calls was published in Britain first so it shouldn't be eligible. And Wonderstruck the words and pictures work together to make the story, so the words don't stand alone, so it shouldn't be eligible either... Hm...

Actually, A Monster Calls had two editors. In addition to the UK editor, Ness worked with Kaylan Adair at Candlewick, who was the US editor. Shelf Awareness had an interesting article about how this process worked: http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue....

As to the fact that it was published first in the UK, that could also be acceptable. The guidelines say an eligible book can be published simultaneously in another country, but do not define what that means. In the past, some Newbery books have been released first in other countries, but usually it was a matter of weeks. In the case of A Monster Calls, it was four months, I believe. Even so, the fact that it was published within the same calendar year is one possible definition for "simultaneous".

On a personal note, I'm happy to learn it is being considered for the award. It's such an incredible book!

About that link I posted above, you have to scroll down to "The Making of a Monster" to get to the part that describes the editorial process.

Here's the link again, just for fun:

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue....

Finished it last night, and I was absolutely blown away. I'm not sure if kids would like it, but is that an issue we need to discuss? It's a beautiful brilliant moving book, and every word is perfect.

If it's eligible, for my money this is the Newbery, with Breadcrumbs a close second.

Which book?

Monster Calls.

I just finished Monster Calls last night and have mixed feelings on it. Like Laurel, I wonder if this is one of those titles more appreciated by adults than kids. I think it definitely qualifies as distinctive in its "interpretation of the theme or concept," although clearly, coping with a parent's illness/death is certainly not uncommon in children's literature, especially in Newbery winners.

Heather wrote: " although clearly, coping with a parent's illness/death is certainly not uncommon in children's literature, especially in Newbery winners. ."

I disagree that the Newbery canon has more than the average books about the death of a parent. That's not to say that there aren't any, or that there aren't a lot of books about death in general. But I can easily think of twice as many books about the death of a sibling/friend than I can about the death of a parent, and I think the impact of someone your own age dying is very different from the impact of your parent dying. And even then the impact of a parent dying of a long illness is different from a sudden death. I can't think of any books about a parent's death from long illness. Anyone care to help me out?

Walk Two Moons comes immediately to mind. Though, oops, I think that is a spoiler.

I agree I don't remember any about coping with a parent's chronic illness . . . but the origional poster mentioned coping with a parent's death being common in newbery winners. Although many of these the deaths occur before the narration begins:

Missing May - Aunt May (her parental figure)
Higher Power of Lucky - mother's death
Sarah Plain & Tall - mother's death, new step mother
bud not buddy - mother's death
call it courage - mother's death
etc

and then there's the section of orphans/abandoned, which doesn't necessarily focus on the actual death of the parent

avi
midwife's apprentice
moon over manifest
graveyard book
etc.

in my mind parental death is a reccuring theme amongst newbery winners . . .

I stand corrected...the theme of coping with a parent with terminal illness is not a major theme in Newbery winners, though I can think of several non-winners that do address it (Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg comes to mind), but the topic of death is certainly well visited in Newbery titles.

That said, I will repeat my initial post, which is that I think that though the theme itself may be fairly common, Ness's delivery of it in A Monster Calls is powerful and distinctive.

I haven't had a chance to pick up Words in the Dust, but A Monster Calls is near the top of my list. I think it's strong enough to get either Newbery recognition or Printz recognition (or both?) What set it apart for me wasn't necessarily the depiction of grief (although that was powerful) but the way the mythological elements and storytelling tied in with the rest of the book.

I really loved Words in the Dust. I think it is a much more important and thought provoking book than a Monster Calls, which I also enjoyed. The author is very good at making the reader understand the position these young girls are in, without making the story preachy or giving the characters perspectives they likely would not have, in order to placate the audience. I hope this book at least get an honor.

The author is an American-born U.S. citizen who now resides in London. He is definitely eligible and so is hs book.

Well, based on this, I would not decree that the book is not a contender. This is Jonathan's interpretation of the Newbery criteria. He is not even on the committee (obviously) this year. The last time I had a conversation with someone at the publisher about this book, they firmly believed it was eligible. Deeming it ineligible because of the simultaneous publication issue would be a travesty.

According to the ALSC, A Monster Calls is eligible for the Newbery. We've discussed this earlier in this thread. It's a little complicated, but it does meet the eligibility requirements.

Laurel wrote: "Monster Calls."

I agree that it is a title that would be more appreciated by adults. I am a children's librarian and I can't imagine who I would recommend this to, although I thought it was excellent.

I found Monster Calls to be an emotionally packed book that will touch the readers most who have already had losses in their lives. I think that it is great for upper elementary and middle school students. Ness did a fabulous job.

I loved A Monster Calls as well. I think, Crystal, it addresses loss, but even more than that... the FEAR of loss which I think anyone can relate to.