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LARC Mocks: 2015 Chapter Books

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

Starred Reviews

Please alpha by author. If title is already on the list, please add abbreviation and date to it. (PW = Publishers Weekly, SLJ = School Library Journal, HB = Horn Book, Kirkus = K, Booklist = BL The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books = BCCB (feel free to add other journal titles and abbreviations)


Alexander, William  Nomad  K 8/15/15

Almond, David. The Great War: Stories Inspired by Items from the First World War. PW 2/9/15

Anderson, Jodi Lynn.  My Diary form the Edge of the World.  SLJ 8/15, PW 9/14/15

Anderson, John David. The Dungeoneers. PW 4/20/15

Anderson, R.J. A Pocket Full of Murder. BL 7/15/15

Arnold, Elana K. The Question of Miracles. PW 12/8/14

Arntson, Steven. The Trap. PW 2/23/15, K 1/15/15

Applefeld, Aharon  Adam and Thomas  K 8/1/15

Applegate, Katherine. Crenshaw. PW 6/22/15 SLJ 8/15

Avi. Catch You Later, Traitor. PW 1/19/15, SLJ 3/15

Bailey, Linda  Seven Dead Pirates K 5/15/15 SLJ 9/15

Banks, Angelica. Finding Serendipity. PW 12/22/14

Barnhill, Kelly. The Witch's Boy. BCCB 1/15

Barry, Dave. The Worst Class Trip Ever. PW 3/9/15

Bastedo, Jamie  Cut Off  K 8/15/15

Beasley, Cassie  Circus Mirandus  K 3/15/15, PW 4/20/15

Benjamin, Ali. The Thing About Jellyfish. PW 6/8/15, K 5/15/15, BL 8/15/15 SLJ 8/15

Benwell, Sarah. The Last Leaves Falling.  HB 5-6/2015

Bertman, Jennifer ChamblissBook Scavenger. PW 4/13/15

Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks in Spring. PW 1/12/15

Bond, Gwenda  Fallout  K 3/1/15

Boyce, Frank Cottrell. The Astounding Broccoli Boy. BL 7/15/15 SLJ 7/15

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life.  HB 1-2/15, K 10/15/14

Bradford, Michael  Button Hill  K 1/1/15

Brailler, MAx. The Last Kids on Earth. PW 8/3/15, K 8/15/15 SLJ 9/15

Breslin, Theresa  An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures  K 9/1/15

Britt, Paige. The Lost Track of Time. PW 1/5/15

Brown, Moica Lola Levine Is Not Mean!  K 9/1/15

Bueno, Carlos  Lauren Ipsum A Story About Computer Science and Other Improbable Things  K 2/1/15

Camper, Cathy. Lowriders in Space. BCCB 1/1/15

Carey, Edward  Foulsham  K 4/15/15

Cheaney, J.B.  I Don't Know How This Story Ends  K 9/1/15

Chester, H.C & Oliver, Lauren. Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head. BL 7/15/15

Choldenko, Gennifer. Chasing Secrets. BL 6/1/15

Cohen-Janca, Irene  Mister Doctor: Janusz Korczak and the Orphans of the Warsaw Ghetto  K 5/1/15

Cornwell, Betsy  Mechanica  K 5/15/15

Coville, Bruce. Diary of a Mad Brownie. BL 5/1/15

Coville, Katherine.  The Cottage in the Woods. SLJ 1/15

Crowder, Melanie. A Nearer Moon. PW 6/22/15, K 6/15/15 SLJ 7/15

Cuevas, Michelle. Confessions of an Imaginary Friend. PW 6/1/15

Darvis, Eleanor  Flop to the Top!  K 7/15/15

DeFelice, Cynthia  Fort  K 2/1/15

Dicamillo, Kate. Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Racoon. BL 7/15/15

Domingo, Jose  Pablo & Jane and the Hot Air Contraption  K 8/15/15

Doodler, Todd  Super Fly, The World's Smallest Superhero! K 2/1/15

Draper, Sharon  Stella by Starlight K 11/15/14, PW 11/24/14, SLJ 1/15

Duffy, Chris, ed. Fable Comics. PW 6/22/15, K 7/1/15

Durham, Paul. The Luck Uglies: Fork-Tongue Charmers. BL 2/15/15

Durst, Sarah  The Girl Who Could Not Dream  K 8/1/15 SLJ 7 /15

Easton, T.S.  Boys Don't Knit  K 1/1/15

Foreman, Michael  The Tortoise and the Soldier  K 9/15/15

Gaiman, Neil  The Sleeper and The Spindle  K 7/15/15

Gannon, Nicholas  The Doldrums  K 5/15/15, PW 6/15/15

Gay, Marie-Louise  Princess Pistachio and the Pest  K 6/15/15

Gino, Alex. George. PW 5/11/15, K 5/15/15, BL 8/15/15 SLJ 7/15

Goldblatt, Mark  Finding the Worm  K 12/15/14

Graff, Lisa   Lost in the Sun  K 3/1/15, BL 3/15/15, PW 6/8/15

Hanlon, Abby. Dory and the Real True Friend. PW 6/15/15

Hanlon, Abby. Dory Fantasmagory. BCCB 2/15

Hannigan, Kate. The Detective's Assistant BCCB 7- 8/15

Hardinge, Frances  Cuckoo Song  K 2/15/15, PW 3/30/15, SLJ 1/15

Harrold. A.F.  The Imaginary. SLJ 2/15, K 1/15/15

Hatfield, Ruth  The Book of Storms  K 10/15/14

Hatke, Ben  Little Robot  K 6/15/15

Haydu, Corey Ann.  Rules for Stealing Cars SLJ 7/15, BL 9/1/15

Hayes, Christine  Mothman's Curse  K 4/1/15

Helget, Nicole. Wonder at the Edge of the World. BL 4/15/15

Hellisen, Cat  Beastkeeper  K 11/15/14, BCCB 3/15

Hilton, Marilyn  Full Cicada Moon  K 6/15/15 SLJ 8/15, BL 9/1/15

Holm, Jennifer  Sunny Side Up  K 7/1/15

Holt, Kimberly Willis.  Dear Hank Williams.  SLJ 3/15

Howland, Leila. The Forget-Me-Not Summer. BL 4/15/15

Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. Fish in a tree.  SLJ 1/15

Iserles, Inbali  The Taken K 7/1/15

Jacobson, Jennifer.  Paper Things.  SLJ 1/15

Jamieson, Victoria  Roller Girl  K 12/15/14, PW 1/26/15, BCCB 4/15

Johnson, Hal  Fearsome Creature of the Lumberwoods: 20 Chilling Tales from the Wilderness  K 5/15/15, PW 7/13/15 SLJ 8/15, BL 9/15/15

Jonell, Lynne  The Sign of the Cat  K 3/15/15

Jones, Kelly. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer. SLJ 2/15, K 2/1/15

Kay, Jim  The Great War: Stories Inspired by Items From the First World War  K 1/1/15

Keating, Jess  How To Outfox Your Friends When You Don't Have a Clue  K 8/15/15

Kelley, Jane  The Book of Dares for Lost Friends  K 4/15/15

Kelly, Erin Entrada  Blackbird Fly  K 1/1/15

Kelly, Jacqueline. The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate. PW 5/4/15, BL 4/15/15, SLJ 3/15, K 4/15/15

Kidd, Ronald  Night on Fire K 7/15/15, BL 9/1/15

Kirby, Matthew. The Arctic Code. BL 3/15/15

Kreller, Susan., You Can't See the Elephants. PW 7/27/15

Lackey, Mercedes  Hunter K 7/15/15

Lai, Thannha. Listen Slowly. PW 12/1/14, SLJ 1/15

Lawson, Jessica. Nooks & Crannies. PW 4/27/15

Lewis, John  March Book Two  K 1/15/15

Liniers  Written and Drawn by Henrietta  K 5/15/15, PW 6/22/15

Liss, David. Randoms. BL 7/15/15

Lloyd Jones, Rob  Wild Boy and the Black Terror  K 2/15/15

Lord, Cynthia. A Handful of Stars. BCCB 9/15

Lotfin, Nikki  Wish Girl  K 1/11/14

Lucke, Deb. The Lunch Witch. PW 1/26/15

Mabbitt, Will. The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones. PW 4/27/15

Maberry, Jonathan The Orphan Army  K 2/15/15

Marshall III, Joseph  In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse  K 9/1/15

Macfarlane, John  Stormstruck!  K 7/15/15

Magoon, Kekla. Shadows of Sherwood. SLJ 7/15

Marshall III, Joseph  In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse  K 8/15/15

McCoola, Marika  Baba Yaga's Assistant  K 6/15/15

McCullough, Kelly. School for Sidekicks. PW 5/18/15, K 4/15/15

McElligott, Matthew  Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster  K 4/1/15

McGhee, Alison. Firefly Hollow. PW 5/25/15, K  4/15/15, BL 5/15/15

McIntosh, Fiona  The Whisperer  K 2/1/15

McKay, Hilary  Binny in Secret  K 4/15/15 HB 7-8/15, BCCB 9/15

Mills, Claudia. The Trouble with Ants. PW 6/1/15

Mills, Emma  First & Then  K 8/1/15

Morpurgo, Michael  Listen to the Moon  K 7/15/15 SLJ 9/15

Morrison, Megan  Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel  K 2/1/15, BCCB 6/15

Naylor, Phyllis  A Shiloh Christmas  K 7/15/15, PW 9/14/15

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore. BL 10/1/15

Nelson, Marilyn  My Seneca Village  K 9/1/15

Nesbet, Anne.  The Wrinkled Crown. SLJ 8/15

Newman, Leslea. Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed. PW 8/10/15

Newman, Robin  The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake  K 2/15/15

Nielsen, Jennifer  Mark of the Thief  K 11/15/14

Nilsson, Ulf  The First Case  K 2/15/15

Norriss, Andrew. Friends for Life. PW 5/18/15

O'Connor, George  Ares: Bringer of War K 11/1/14

Oppel, Kenneth. The Nest. PW 7/20/15, K 8/1/15, BL 7/15/15 SLJ 8/15

Orchard, Eric. Maddy Kettle : The Adventure of the Thimblewitch. BCCB 1/15
 
Parr, Maria. Adventures with Waffles. BL 4/1/15
 
Patrick, Denise Lewis  Finding Someplace  K 5/1/15
 
Pearsall, Shelley  The Seventh Most Important Thing  K 7/1/15, BL  8/15/15 SLJ 7/15
 
Peot, Margaret  Crow Made a Friend  K 7/15/15

Perkins, Mitali. Tiger Boy.  SLJ 2/15

Peterfreund, Diana. Omega City. BL 3/1/15

Pierpoint, Eric  The Secret Mission of William Tuck  K 5/15/15

Potter, Ellen. Piper Green and the Fairy Tree. PW 6/15/15

Preus, Margi  The Bamboo Sword  K 5/15/15

Primavera, Elsie. Ms. Rapscott's Girls. BL 1/15/15

Quinlan, Nigel  The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox  K 5/15/15

Ravishankar, Anushka. Captain Coconut and the Case of the Missing Bananas. PW 4/20/15

Resau, Laura  The Lightning Queen  K 8/15/15 SLJ 9/15

Revell, Mike. Stonebird. BL 6/1/15

Riley, James  Story Thieves  K 10/15/14

Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Bayou Magic. BL 3/15/15

Roberston, Robbie. Hiawath and the Peacemaker. BL 9/1/15

Rodkey, Geoff. The Tapper Twins Go To War (With Each Other). PW 2/2/15

Rosen, Michael  The Tale of Rescue  K 8/15/15

Ross, Joel  The Fog Diver  K 3/15/15

Rundell, Katherine. The Wolf Wilder. BL 9/15/15, BCCB 9/15

Ryan, Pam Munoz  Echo  K 12/15/14, PW 12/22/14, BCCB 3/15

Sachar, Louis. Fuzzy Mud. BL 5/15/15

Sands, Kevin. The Blackthorn Key. PW 6/29/15, K 7/15/15 SLJ 8/15, BL 9/15/15

Savage, J. Scott. Fires of Invention. PW 6/22/15

Scanlon, Liz Garton. The Great Good Summer.  PW 6/8/15

Schlitz, Laura  The Hired Girl  K 7/15/15

Schmidt, Gary  Orbiting Jupiter  K 7/15/15, PW 8/17/15

Searles, Rachel  The Stolen Moon  K 10/15/14

Seidler, Tor. Firstborn. PW 1/12/15

Selznick, Brian. The Marvels. PW 7/6/15,  K 7/1/15, BL 7/15/15 SLJ 8/15

Shang, Wendy Wan-Long. The Way Home Looks Now. PW 3/2/15, K 2/1/15

Shevah, Emma. Dream On, Amber. PW 8/10/150, K 8/15/15, BL 7/15/15

Shusterman, Neal. Edison's Alley. BCCB 5/15

Simpson, Dana. Unicorn On A Roll: Another Phoebe And Her Unicorn Adventure. BCCB 6/15

Smith, Lane  Return to Augio Hobble  K 2/1/15, BL 5/1/15, PW 6/8/15

Smith, Sherri L. The Toymaker's Apprentice. SLJ 9/15

Smith, Tamara Ellis  Another Kind of Hurricane  K 5/1/15

Sonnichsen, A.L. Red Butterfly. PW 12/1/14

Spiegelman, Nadja. Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure. BCCB 6/15 HB 7-8/15

Springstubb, Tricia. Moonpenny Island PW 12/8/14

Starmer, Aaron  The Whisper  K 12/15/14

Stead, Rebecca. Goodbye Stranger. PW 5/11/15, BL 5/15/15, K 5/15/15 HB 7-8/15, BCCB 9/15

Stevens, Robin. Murder is Bad Manners. PW 2/23/15, K 2/1/15

Stevenson, Noelle. Lumberjanes Vol. 1 Beware the Kitten Holy. SLJ 2/15

Tanner, Lian  Icebreaker  K 5/15/15

Thomas, Elizabeth  Certain Poor Shepherds: A Christmas Tale  K 7/1/15

Tolstikova, Dasha. A Year Without Mom. PW 8/17/15, K 9/1/15

Toten, Teresa  The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B  K 1/15/15

Tougas, Shelley. Finders Keepers. BL 9/1/15

Turnage, Sheila  The Odds of Getting Even  K 8/15/15, K 9/1/15, BL 9/1/15

Tyre, Lisa Lewis. Last in a Long Line of Rebels. PW 6/15/15

Valente, Catherynne  The Boy Who Lost Fairyland  K 1/15/15

Vaughn, M.M.  Six  K 2/15/15

Vernon, Ursula  Castle Hangover  K 2/1/15

Vernon, Ursula. Harriet the Invincible. K 5/1/15, PW 5/11/15, BL 7/15/15

White, J.A. The Thickety: The Whispering Trees. PW 1/26/15, BCCB 3/15

Wiechman, Katby Cannon  Like A River: A Civil War Novel  1/15/15

Willems, Mo. The Story of Diva and Flea SLJ 9/15

Williams-Garcia, Rita.  Gone Crazy in Alabama. SLJ 1/15, K 2/1/15

Winick, Judd  Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth  K 7/15/15

Yoon, Nicola  Everything, Everything  K 7/15/15

Young, Cybele  The Queen's Shadow: A Story About How Animals See  K 1/1/15

Zimmerman, Virginia. The Rosemary Spell. PW 9/28/15

 

Librarian Recommended

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:

  • 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.

Adopted by the ALSC Board, January 1978. Revised, Midwinter 1987. Revised, Annual 2008.