Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Mock Newbery: Freak by Marcella Pixley

Freak by Marcella Pixley
Publisher: New York : Farrar, Straus Giroux, 2007
ISBN: 9780374324537
Annotation: Twelve-year-old Miriam, poetic, smart, and quirky, is considered a freak
by the popular girls at her middle school, and she eventually explodes in response
to their bullying, revealing an inner strength she did not know she had.

Heartbreakingly sad with flashes of humor. You want to shake the family and scream,
"Pay attention to this child!". Mean girl Jenny tortures intelligent, sensitive,
poetic Miriam. When the principal remarks that the two girls are quite alike, it
takes Miriam by suprise. Ignored by a distracted mother, left behind by a suddenly
cool and pretty older sister, betrayed by family friend (brother figure) Artie; poor
Miriam has no where to turn. The climax is original. This is the author's first
book. Impressive!

Reviewed by: Beth J., CLTR

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Early favorites for the Mock Newbery

1. The invention of Hugo Cabret : a novel in words and pictures / Brian Selznick
2. Emma-Jean Lazarus fell out of a tree / Lauren Tarshis
3. Reaching for sun / by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
4. Feathers / Jacqueline Woodson
5. The Wednesday wars / Gary D. Schmidt
6. The talented Clementine / Sara Pennypacker
7. The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World / E.L. Konigsburg
8. Call Me Hope / Gretchen Olson
9. Cracker! : the best dog in Vietnam / Cynthia Kadohata
10. How it happened in Peach Hill / Marthe Jocelyn

We still have lots to read, so this list is far from complete.
Great books are arriving continually!
Beth Jonus
Closter Public Library

These books aren't in any particular order and I just wanted to add some of my personal tops which aren't on this list because not enough of us had read them yet or I had not even read them when we made this list!

Schooled by Korman - In some ways it reminded me of Stargirl. I'm not convinced it will have the staying power to remain one of my top picks for this award, but I did like it and I will be recommending it as a must read to many adults and students I know.

Friskative Dog by Susan Straight - It's a quiet book, but it's stayed with me since I read it early in the year.

Faeries of Dreamdark - BlackBringer by Laini Taylor - Fresh from the last page of this book I was saying it was the next Harry Potter. I don't know if I still feel that strongly, but I do still love it and I'm still eagerly awaiting the next book.