tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post6456104209114876259..comments2024-01-22T08:32:58.608-05:00Comments on For Those About to Mock: Literary Prizes, the Newbery, and Counting MistakesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-60167769264226386072012-09-05T10:18:33.318-04:002012-09-05T10:18:33.318-04:00Aw, thanks for the kind words! And I'm totally...Aw, thanks for the kind words! And I'm totally with you on the idea that discussion is the best friend of evaluation.Sam Eddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008209097162183766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-29345265354371492182012-08-31T16:18:49.791-04:002012-08-31T16:18:49.791-04:00Thank you for the list, Sam. While it is a bit cri...Thank you for the list, Sam. While it is a bit critical, it is eye opening. I have a goal to be overprepared for the MD Mock Newbery this year, and in doing that, I have turned on a new and deeper critical eye that I was unaware I even owned. <br /><br />For starters, I never stopped to realize Apprentice and Watsons were published the same year. I love both books, and was impacted by both stories...but to decide which one should have the medal? Well, this is a whole new thinking cap to wear. (And it's daunting.)<br /><br />So far, I'm enjoying searching for 2012 titles with 2013 Newbery potential, but I want the process to be more meaningful than a pile of books and a folder filled with notes. Without discussion, without reviews to rebuttle, without another's thoughts to absorb, then the process doesn't make the person grow.<br /><br />So, thanks again.<br /> morganmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17531751754809359556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-69409210480082061202012-07-31T10:52:50.206-04:002012-07-31T10:52:50.206-04:00That sounds great to me! I don't yet know if I...That sounds great to me! I don't yet know if I'll be in Seattle -- it depends on committee appointments -- but I'll definitely be at Annual.<br /><br />And that's really interesting about your dad! I guess every book has its reader, to be Ranganathan for a moment :)Sam Eddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008209097162183766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-21112934039766009202012-07-21T14:31:17.840-04:002012-07-21T14:31:17.840-04:00Tell you what; if and when we meet at an ALA in th...Tell you what; if and when we meet at an ALA in the future, I'll talk your ear off about the things I loved about Moon! Will you be in Seattle?<br /><br />Interesting thoughts in that second paragraph there. I will say that when I've spoken to kids about my experiences on the committee, I always use 1953 as an example of how good books don't have to win the gold... and at one of my presentations last year, my dad happened to be in the crowd. He actually was offended by my dismissal (in his opinion) of Secret of the Andes, which he had loved as a kid!Sam B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13870144459370240769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-61484551032409985272012-07-21T14:25:47.628-04:002012-07-21T14:25:47.628-04:00Nicely said, Stacy! I'll never criticize a com...Nicely said, Stacy! I'll never criticize a committee's decision again... I may not agree with the choice, but like you said, I'll at least look for distinguished characteristics in the winning book.Sam B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13870144459370240769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-48759067374169795132012-07-19T15:19:34.270-04:002012-07-19T15:19:34.270-04:00Copacetic, as the beatniks say. I'll email Eil...Copacetic, as the beatniks say. I'll email Eileen and see if we can do a 30/30 split :)Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06329897606913642368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-28379348040657607622012-07-19T08:48:28.518-04:002012-07-19T08:48:28.518-04:00Like others, I have to say that sitting on the New...Like others, I have to say that sitting on the Newbery opened my eyes to the process. I think that talking about choosing the "wrong" book not only diminishes the incredible amount of work those sitting on the committee have done, but it also seemingly takes away from the book that won. <br /><br />Change out a single person on any given committee and the results may change. After all, the idea of literary quality can mean different things to different people. Everyone comes to the table from a different place, in life - career - etc. <br /><br />That said, there are books that have not won that I love! But instead of saying the committee was wrong, I try to figure out what it is about the winning book that made it the most distinguished to them.Stasia Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16299074609347599698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-30538954765090099612012-07-19T07:55:33.728-04:002012-07-19T07:55:33.728-04:00We could engage in dueling stringed instruments. B...We could engage in dueling stringed instruments. But you'd win. :P <br /><br />I haven't prepared any minutes of material yet, so it is, as the hippies say, all good.Rachael Vilmarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01770915735652311107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-59285672355475533682012-07-19T00:26:03.817-04:002012-07-19T00:26:03.817-04:00Thanks for reading and for the kind words!
I'...Thanks for reading and for the kind words!<br /><br />I'd actually be really interested in hearing your views about MoM, especially as you're someone who's spent a (very) significant amount of time with it and can argue passionately for it. And, for what it's worth, my daughter agrees with you rather than me, and she'd never have encountered the book without it winning the Newbery, so that's one satisfied child right there! <br /><br />One other note is that it got harder and harder to figure out what to put on this list as it got more recent. There's pretty much a consensus in the field as to 1953 and 1965 being mistakes, but once it gets past about 2000, I had a hard time finding as much agreement between experts, between Rachael and I, and even between myself, if that makes any sense at all. (And given how much I love Criss-Cross and Lucky, maybe I'm part of the problem in generating consensus ;) It gets me wondering how the 1953 award, just to take an example, was viewed in 1954, or even 1964, and how long it took for opinions on some of those older ones to settle where they are today. <br /><br />Thanks again!Sam Eddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01008209097162183766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-91155696109730289592012-07-18T21:33:59.905-04:002012-07-18T21:33:59.905-04:00As a member of the 2011 committee, I'd obvious...As a member of the 2011 committee, I'd obviously disagree with my year being on there, and I have about 12 pages of single spaced type extolling the virtues of Moon Over Manifest to prove its worth. But the notes of a committee member are top secret, yada yada yada, so I'll just leave it at this: I think you're wrong. I was going to comment back when you bashed Moon in a review, but it would have taken me days to formulate a satisfactory response... and I probably would have again written 12 pages single spaced. (But I do also really love OCS and War to End All Wars, so it's hard to argue with that part of your point.)<br /><br />I'm with you on 1996, though. Watsons is just fabulous. And I dig the heck out of your blog!Sam B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13870144459370240769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-90233424861599614432012-07-18T14:34:50.837-04:002012-07-18T14:34:50.837-04:00I think we are back to back. We could do 30 and 30...I think we are back to back. We could do 30 and 30 but then I won't get to mock fight you! Plus I'd feel bad if you've already prepared 40 minutes of material.Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06329897606913642368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-38157518545355679802012-07-18T08:46:29.065-04:002012-07-18T08:46:29.065-04:00Oh snap!
But in seriousness, are we back to back...Oh snap! <br /><br />But in seriousness, are we back to back? Can we just split the difference? It will just be me - no Sam - so I'm happy to do 30 minutes.Rachael Vilmarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01770915735652311107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5024002801067718054.post-12889116549616453342012-07-17T20:14:21.549-04:002012-07-17T20:14:21.549-04:00As a member of a snobby committee I can say that e...As a member of a snobby committee I can say that every winner of every award is just a reflection of the group of people on that committee that year. Winners aren't necessarily the best. They are the best that that particular group of people could agree on at the time.<br />In other news I'm starting a mock fight with you mock newbery people. We've all been invited to present at the BEST training, but they gave y'all 40 minutes, and me only 20! Apparently picture books are not as important as your precious newbery contenders ;)Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06329897606913642368noreply@blogger.com