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LARC Mocks: 2025 Chapter Books

Working list of starred reviews to be considered for the Mock Caldecott and Newbery Award

2025 Chapter Books

Adler, Dahlia.  Come As You Are.  BL 4/1-15/25

Aden, Askel.  Love, Misha.  BL 6/1-15/25

Ahn, Angela.  The Big Splash.  SLJ 1/25

Alexander, Kwame.  How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America.  BL 11/1-15/24

Alexander, Kwame. J vs. K. PW 3/3/25, BL 3/1-15/25

Algarmi, Wahab. Almost Sunset.  SLJ 2/25

Ancrum, K.  The Corruption of Hollis Brown.  BL 2/1-15/25

Anderson, Laurie Halse.  Rebellion 1776.  BL 2/1-15/25

Angleberger, Tom.  Dino Poet.  SLJ 2/25

Annable, Graham.  Hide & Seek With Clyde & Monique: Clyde in Plain Sight.  K 4/1/25

Arango, Andrea Beatriz.  It's All or Nothing, Vale. K12/1/24, BL 1/1-15/25

Aung Than, Gavin.  Creature Clinic.  K 3/15/25

Bailey, Jenn.  Henry's PIcture-Perfect Day.  SLJ 2/25

Bakes, Jules.  Sea Legs. K 12/15/24, SLJ 1/25, BL 1/1-15/25

Barnes, Derrick. The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze. PW 6/16/25

Baron, Chris.  Spark.  6/1-15/25

Beckett-King, Alasdair. Murder at the Museum. PW 11/11/24

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Library of Unruly Treasures. PW 5/19/25

Blakewell, Catherine. Where Shadows Bloom. PW 11/4/24

Blankman, Anne.  The Enemy's Daughter.  SLJ 12/24

Booher, David M.  Canto, v.5: A Place like Home.  BL 5/1-15/25

Braun-Arnold, Lily. The Last Bookstore on Earth. PW 10/14/24

Bouwman, H.M.  Scattergood.   K 11/1/24

Broach, Elise.  Bulldozer's Big Rescue.  K 11/1/14

Brosgol, Vera. Return to Sender. PW 2/10/25.

Brown, Waka T.  Rick Kotani's 400 Million Dollar Summer.  K 12/15/24

Browne, Mahogany L. A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. PW 1/6/25, BL 2/1-15/25

Burgess, Tamika. Danilo Was Here. PW 10/14/24

Burns, Peter. The School for Thieves. PW 6/2/25

Bussing, Kim. Cinderella and the Beast. PW 10/14/24

Button, Lana. Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day. PW 10/28/24, K 2/15/25

Bybee, Veeda and Joy McCullough. Jojo vs. Middle School. PW 11/11/24

Callans, Jess.  Ollie in Between.  BL 1/1-15/25

Calonita, Jen. Isle of Ever. PW 1/6/25, SLJ 3/25

Cartaya, Pablo. A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation. P 3/3/25, BL 4/1-15/25

Cavalancia, Kaitlyn. Mystery Royale. PW 9/30/24

Cherrywell, Steph.  Unboxing Libby.  BL 1/1-15/25

Chewins, Hayley. I am the Swarm. PW 12/2/24, BL 2/1-15/25

Cho, Kat.  Wish upon a Star.  BL 3/1-15/25

Chu, Kyle Casey.  The Queen Bees of Tybee County.  BL 4/1-15/25

Chung, Arree.  Don't Cause Trouble.  BL 3/1-15/25

Close, Helena.  The Close Book.  BL 3/1-15/25

Cook, Elora.  In the Company of Killers.  BL 3/1-15/25

Colbert, Brandy. Let's Get Together. PW 6/9/25

Colossal, Eric.  Ghost Town.  SLJ 3/25

Cotter, Charis. The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall. PW 3/17/2025, K 4/1/25

Crilley, Mark.  The Mighty Onion and Guinea Pig Girl!  K 5/1/25

Cuevas, Adrianna. What Fell from the Sky.  SLJ 2/25

Currie, Lindsay.  It's Watching.  SLJ 1/25

Cushman, Karen.  When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea.  BL 3/1-15/25

Cypess, Leah.  The Truth About the Tooth Fairy.  SLJ 2/25

Davis, DeAndra.  All the Noise at Once.  BL 4/1-15/25

Dee, Barbara. Tear This Down. PW 10/28/24

Diaz, Dani. Dreamover. PW 10/14/24

DiCamillo, Kate.  Orris and Timble: Lost and Found.  K 1/1/25

Doktorski, Jen. Finding Normal. PW 10/14/24

Drake, Julia.  Lovesick Falls.  6/1-15/25

Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia.  The Summer of Bone Horses.  K 5/15/25

Dugan, Jennifer.  Summer Girls.  BL 4/1-15/25

Eagle, Judith.  The Accidental Stowaway.  K 5/1/25

Edgmon, H.E. Defanged. PW 6/16/25

Edgmon, H.E.  We Can Never Leave.  BL 5/1-15/25

Emberley, Michael.  Night Light.  K 2/1/25, SLJ 2/25

Evans, Victoria.  The History of Everything.  BL 2/1-15/25

Faruqi, Reem. Zarina Divided. PW 3/10/25

Faruqi, Saadia.  The Strongest Heart.  PW 1/13/25, K 1/15/25, BL 3/1-15/25, SLJ 3/25

Florence, Debbi Michiko. A Study in Secrets. PW 12/2/24

Fodor, Kate.  The Rehearsal Club.  K 2/1/25

Foley, Jessie Ann.  Severe and Unusual Weather.  5/1-15/25

Fusco, Kimberly Newton.  The Secret of Honeycake.  K 11/15/24

Galligan, Gale.  Fresh Start.  K 11/1/24, SLJ 12/24, BL 1/1-15/25

Gao, Laura. Kirby's Lessons for Falling (In Love). PW 12/16-23/24, BL 3/1-15/25

Garcia, Kami.  Mixed-Up.  BL 1/1-15/25

Gidwitz, Adam.  Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II.  K 1/1/25, BL 2/1-15/25

Go, Jung-soon.  Okchundang Candy.  BL 2/1-15/25

Godwin, Tate. Operation: Cover-Up. PW 10/14/24, K 12/15/24

Gonzales, Sophie.  Nobody in Particular.  6/1-15/25

Grant, Allison Sweet.  I Am the Cage.  BL 2/1-15/25

Grant, Vicki.  Death by Whoopee Cushion.  SLJ 5/25

Guillory, Sarah. Gus and Glory.  K 3/15/24

Guojing. Oasis. PW 11/11/24, BL 2/1-15/25

Gupta, Ruchira. The Freedom Seeker. PW 5/19/25, K 6/1/25

Gutman, Dan. The Picasso Curse. PW 6/16/25

Hale, Shannon.  Dream On.  BL 6/1-15/25, K 6/15/25

Haley, Erin Moonyeen. Miss Liberty. PW 2/17/25

Hardinge, Frances. The Forest of a Thousand Eyes. PW 5/19/25, K 6/15/25

Hartman, Aubrey.  The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest.  K 12/1/24, BL 1/1-15/25

Haydu Corey Ann.  Zoomi and Zoe and the Sibling Situation.  SLJ 5/25

He, Cindy R.X.  This Is Where We Die.  6/1-15/25

Healy, Kay. The Mysterious New Girl. PW 11/11/24, SLJ 2/25

Heilig, Heidi.  Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker.  K 2/1/25, BL 3/1-15/25

Herrman, Heather M.  Lady or the Tiger.  5/1-15/25

Hsieh, Angela.  Lu and Ren's Guide to Genealogy.  BL 5/1-15/25

Jackson, Tiffany D. Blood in the Water. PW 4/21/25, 5/1-15/25

Jensen, Cordelia.  Lila and the Switchback.  6/1-15/25

Kantorovitz, Sylvie. Pickle on Wheels.  K 4/1/25

Kashiwaba, Sachiko.  The Village Beyond the Mist.  K 4/15/24

Kemmerer, Brigid.  Carving Shadows into Gold.  BL 1/1-15/25

Kim, Graci.  Dreamslinger.  BL 1/1-15/25

Kimmel, Eric A. & Sarah Green.  Days of Awe: Stories for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  6/1-15/25

King, Wesley. Benny on the Case. PW 1/13/25, BL 3/1-15/25

Korman, Gordon. Old School. PW 10/14/24

Lai, Remy.  Chickenpox.  K 11/15/24

Larson, Hope.  Very Bad at Math.  SLJ 1/25

LaReau, Kara. Sweet Magic (Witchycakes #1). PW 5/26/25

Lawrence, Lorien.  The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family.  BL 2/1-15/25

Leathley, Philippa. Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo. PW 10/14/24

Leavitt, Lindsey.  The Garden Just Beyond.  K 4/1/25

Lee, Sophia.  Eliza, from Scratch.  BL 5/1-15/25

Lees, Jordan.  The Impossible Trials of Benjamiah Creek.  5/1-15/25

Lewis, Jessica.  Nav's Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love.  BL 4/1-15/25

Liang, Ann.  Never Thought I'd End Up Here.  6/1-15/25

Lin, Grace. The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon. PW 2/24/25

Lipsyte, Robert.  Rhino's Run.  BL 1/1-15/25

Lispector, Clarice.  Almost True.  K 6/15/25

Lobb, M. K. To Steal From Thieves. PW 12/9/24

Lord, Emma.  The Rival.  BL 1/1-15/25

Lovett, Sawyer.  Shampoo Unicorn.  BL 3/1-15/25

Lukoff, Kyle.  A World Worth Saving.  PW 10/28/24, K 11/1/24, SLJ 12/24, BL 1/1-15/25

Ma, Diana.  Rainbow Fair.  K 2/1/25

Madden-Lunsford, Kerry.  Werewolf Hamlet.  BL 1/1-15/25

Magaziner, Lauren.  The Incorruptibles.  K 4/15/25

Mandanna, Sangu.  Vanya and the Wild Hunt.  SLJ 1/25

Mansour, Vivian.  Pilgrim Codex.  BL 1/1-15/25

Marchesini, Irene.  Rebis: Born and Reborn.  BL 3/1-15/25

Marianayagam, Maria.  No Purchase Necessary.  K 11/1/24, SLJ 12/24, BL 1/1-15/25

Matsuda, Mai.  Hikaru in the Light!  BL 2/1-15/25

McClaren, Meredith.  Crumble.  K 12/1/24

McCullough, Joy. Everything is Poison. PW 10/14/24

McDonald, Megan.  Flower Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies.  BL 11/1-15/24

McGhee, Alison.  Weird Sad and Silent.  K 5/15/25

Medina, Juana.  Elena Camps.  K 4/15/25

Medina, Meg. Graciela in the Abyss. PW 4/14/25, 5/1-15/25

Mendez, Yamile Saied. The Reel Wish. PW 1/27/25, K 3/15/25

Mendez, Yamile Saied. The Trouble with Sunshine. PW 12/16-23/24

Menton, Kel.  A Fix of Light.  BL 4/1-15/25

Messner, Kate. The Trouble with Heroes. PW 1/20/25, BL 4/1-15/25

Moldavsky, Goldy. The Case of the Contraband Closet (Bubblegum Shoes #1). PW 4/14/25

Monsef, Kiyash.  Bird of a Thousand Stories.  K 12/1/24

Mullarky, Alex.  The Edge of the Silver Sea.  K 12/15/24, SLJ 2/25

Munoz, Gloria.  This Is the Year.  BL 11/1-15/24

Murphy, Julie.  Catty Corner Pounces Into Action.  SLJ 3/25

Nadatani, Wataru.  Cat + Crazy, v.1.  BL 6/1-15/25

Nayeri, Daniel.  The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story.  SLJ 5/25, PW 5/5/25, K 6/15/25

Netto, J.D.  The Other Side of the Ocean.  6/1-15/25

Ochieng, Patrick.  Displaced.  K 6/15/25

Ogle, Rex. When We Ride. PW 12/16-23/24

O'Neill, K. A Song for You and I. PW 12/16-23/24, SLJ 3/25

Park, Barbara.  Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel.  K 5/15/25

Paulino, Jasmine.  The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez.  SLJ 5/25, BL 5/1-15/25

Persico, Zoe.  How to Talk to Your Succulent.  SLJ 3/25

Pimienta, Jose.  Halfway to Somewhere.  BL 1/1-15/25

Pineiro, Victor.  The Island of Forgotten Gods.  K 6/15/25

Pinkney, Andea Davis.  And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison's Life in Stories.  BL 11/1-15/24

Pixley, Marcella.  Neshama.  BL 4/1-15/25

Pizzoli, Greg.  Earl & Worm #1: The Bad Idea and Other Stories.  SLJ 2/25

Pizzoli, Greg.  Earl & Worm #2: The Bad Idea and Other Stories.  SLJ 5/25

Powars, Page.  And They Were Roommates.  BL 3/1-15/25

Power, Rory.  Kill Creatures.  5/1-15/25

Prendergast, Gabrielle. The Anxious Exile of Sara Salt.  SLJ 1/25

Pryron, Bobbie.  Octopus Moon.  SLJ 3/25

Ransaw, Rosalyn.  Smoke & Mirrors.  5/1-15/25

Raschka, Chris.  Peachaloo in Bloom.  6/1-15/25

Reardon, Joan. Dad Rock Dragon Quest. PW 4/7/2025

Reddeppa, Padma Prasad.  Flying in Colors.  SLJ 3/25

Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Will's Race for Home.  BL 1/1-15/25

Roberts, Barbara Carroll.  The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter.  6/1-15/25

Rodriguez, Oz. The Girl and the Robot.  SLJ 3/25

Rossell, Judith. The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls. PW 3/10/25, 5/1-15/25

Quinn, Sine.  The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland's Forgotten Folklore.  K 1/15/25

Rae, Elspeth and Rowena Rae.  Train Day!  BL 2/1-15/25

Rappaport, Doreen.  Beacon of Hope: The Life of Barack Obama.  BL 11/1-15/24

Reid, Ava.  Fable for the End of the World.  BL 2/1-15/25

Reiss, Rachel.  Out of Air.  BL 3/1-15/25

Rex, Adam.  The Story of Gumluck and the Heroes: Book Three.  K 2/1/25, SLJ 3/25

Reynolds, Aaron. Troubling Tonsils! (Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales!) PW 6/9/25

Rhodes, Jewell Parker.  Will's Race for Home.  PW 10/21/24, SLJ 11/24, K 12/15/24

Ries, Ariel Slamet. Strange Bedfellows. PW 12/2/24

Riordan, Rick.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess.  K 11/15/24

Ritter, Kacy. Elvira Vance and the Monster Mystery. PW 6/9/25

Robin, Taylor. Hunger's Bite. PW 10/28/24, BL 2/1-15/25

Rose, Caroline Starr.  The Burning Season.  K 3/15/25, BL 3/1-15/25

Rossell, Judith.  The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls.  K 3/15/25

Rubinstein, Elana.  The Secret of the Scent Map.  SLJ 12/24

Ruiz-Flores, Lupe. The Pecan Sheller. PW 1/20/25, BL 2/1-15/25

Rundberg, Johan.  The Lost Ones. K 12/1/24

Safadi, Shifa Saltagi. Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship. PW 3/3/25, K 4/1/25

Said, SF.  Tyger.  BL 4/1-15/25

Sain, Ginny Myers. When the Bones Sing. PW 12/9/24

Sanders, Lee.  Under the Light of the Fireflies.  BL 11/1-15/24

Sax, Sarah.  School Dance.  K 6/1/25

Selznick, Brian.  Run Away with Me.  BL 3/1-15/25

Shaw, Tucker.  Right beside You.  BL 4/1-15/25

Shusterman, Neal. All Better Now. PW 10/28/24

Silvera, Adam.  The Survivor Wants to Die at the End.  BL 5/1-15/25

Skrypuch, Marsha Forchuk.  Under Attack.  K 11/15/24

Smith, Linda Joan.  The Peach Thief.  BL 11/1-15/24, K 1/1/25, SLJ 2/25

Smith, Sasha Peyton. The Rose Bargain. PW 11/11/24, BL 2/1-15/25

Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk. The Summer of the Bone Horses. PW 2/17/25

Steinke, Aron Nels. Speechless. PW 12/16-23/24

Stuart, Dean. Cassi and the House of Memories. PW 11/4/24

Stevens, Laura.  Our Infinite Fates.  BL 1/1-15/25

Stewart, Erin.  The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner.  K 11/15/24

Stone, Nic.  Dear Manny.  BL 2/1-15/25

Stuart, Dean.  Cassi and the House of Memories.  K 12/1/24, SLJ 2/25

Sumner, Jamie. Please Pay Attention. PW 2/10/25

Tang, Betty C.  Outsider Kids: A Parachute Kids Graphic Novel.  SLJ 3/25

Targosz, Shana.  River of Spirits.  BL 2/1-15/25

Taylor, Emily J. The Otherwhere Post. PW 10/28/24

Telgemeier, Raina. The Cartoonists Club.  SLJ 2/25, BL 3/1-15/25

Terese, Ali. Vote for the G.O.A.T. PW 5/19/25

Tew, Jill. Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement. PW 1/13/25

Thakrar, Shveta.  Divining the Leaves.  BL 2/1-15/25

Thomas, Kiah.  Lone Wolf Goes to the Library.  K 4/15/25

Toney, Kelsey B.  The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday.  BL 5/1-15/25

Torres, Vanessa L. On the Wings of La Noche. PW 9/30/24

Tran, Trang Thanh.  They Bloom at Night.  BL 3/1-15/25

Underhill, Edward.  In Case You Read This.  BL 5/1-15/25

Upperman, Katy.  Everything I Promised You.  BL 1/1-15/25

Uzuki, Coco.  Fall in Love, You False Angels v.1.  BL 3/1-15/25

Vacharat, A.A.  This Moth Saw Brightness.  BL 4/1-15/25

Van De Car, Nikki.  The Invisible Wind.  BL 4/1-15/25

van Lieshout, Maria.  Song of a Blackbird.  BL 1/1-15/25

Venkatraman, Padma.  Safe Harbor.  SLJ 11/24

Vinesse, Cecilia.  All-Nighter.  BL 5/1-15/25

von Lieshout, Maria. Song of a Blackbird. PW 10/14/24

Voris, Jenna.  Say a Little Prayer.  BL 2/1-15/25

Walther, K.L.  While We're Young.  BL 2/1-15/25

Walz, Jason.  The Flip Side.  BL 2/1-15/25

Watkins, Lala.  Hello, Sun!  SLJ 11/24

Watson, Renee.  All the Blues in the Sky.  K 1/1/25, BL 1/1-15/25, SLJ 2/25

Weissman, Elissa Brent.  So Over Sharing.  BL 4/1-15/25

Wilkinson, Lili. Unhallowed Halls. PW 11/11/24

Williams-Garcia, Rita.  One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel.  K 3/15/25

Winans, Justine Pucella. A Little Too Haunted. PW 6/9/25

Witherspoon, Sujin.  Bingsu for Two.  BL 11/1-15/24

Wolf, Allan.  Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom.  5/1-15/25

Wolf, Ryan. Darkness at Dreamer Mountain. PW 1/27/25

Wolk, Lauren.  Candle Island.  BL 1/1-15/25, PW 2/17/25

Wood, Maryrose.  Bad Badger: A Love Story.  K 12/1/24, BL 1/1-15/25

Youngdahl, Shana.  A Catalog of Burnt Objects.  BL 2/1-15/25

Yukimura, Makoto.  Planetes Deluxe Edition, v.1.  BL 6/1-15/25

Zambrano, Juan E.  Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain.  BL 6/1-15/25

Zeller, Victoria.  One of the Boys.  BL 5/1-15/25

Zoboi, Ibi.  (S)Kin.  BL 1/1-15/25

Newbery Criteria

1. In identifying “distinguished contribution to American literature,” defined as text, in a book for children,

a. Committee members need to consider the following: Instructions for Paste and Spellcheck

  • Interpretation of the theme or concept
  • Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization
  • Development of a plot
  • Delineation of characters
  • Delineation of a setting
  • Appropriateness of style.

Note: Because the literary qualities to be considered will vary depending on content, the committee need not expect to find excellence in each of the named elements. The book should, however, have distinguished qualities in all of the elements pertinent to it.

b.Committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience.

2. Each book is to be considered as a contribution to American literature. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other components of a book, such as illustrations, overall design of the book, etc., may be considered when they make the book less effective.

3. The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media (i.e., sound or film equipment) for its enjoyment.
 
Note: The committee should keep in mind that the award is for literary quality and quality presentation for children. The award is not for didactic content or popularity.