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Midwife's Apprentice -Reply
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From: Ginny Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 11:20:00 -600
This is a response to your question, Nancy: is The Midwife's Apprentice being considered for the Newbery or some other award this year?
We don't know. The suggestions and formal nominations for the 1996 Newbery Award are confidential. The fourteen Newbery Committee members and the chair are the only ones who know which books are formally nominated. The Caldecott Committee is organized exactly the same way, down to balloting, etc.
I can tell you that The Midwife's Apprentice is one of the books on the CCBC Newbery Award Book Discussion list. But when we compile the annual CCBC Newbery Discussion list, we don't try to second-guess the actual committee. For example, we don't include books that were unappreciated during an earlier CCBC discussion in the year; it just not seem fair to the book or author to set up a book for what we expect will be a round of negative visibility here, even if it might be getting rave reviews elsewhere.
Getting back to the actual Newbery Committee, each member may nominate up to six books, three each during two nomination periods. When the Newbery Committee meets in January during the ALA Midwinter Conference in San Antonio, it will also pay attention to the books suggested for reading earlier in the year to make certain all worthy, eligible books are given a chance. The actual Newbery Committee's extensive discussion of each book will be followed by a balloting process. Each Newbery Committee member will vote for three books on their list, ranking her/his votes: one, two, three. First place votes total four points each, second place votes get two points each and third place votes count for one point each.
We use the same balloting process in the CCBC Newbery and also in the CCBC Caldecott Awards discussions. Perhaps you can join us on the evening of December 14th, Nancy? Advance reading is necessary. Contact one of us in advance for details, if you think you can make it. One of our participants last year had a two-hour drive one-way, but she did it, not only for the CCBC Newbery discussion but also for almost all of the monthly discussions here, as well.
Only the books receiving one or more votes will remain on the actual Newbery Committee's discussion list. Ballots will be taken after each round of discussion until one book receives a minimum of eight first place votes and is eight points ahead of the next book. The process works! But the actual committee is not allowed to name the books they discussed or to reveal who said what or what was said during the discussion. This is more than you asked, Nancy, but I hope it will be interesting and useful to others in the CCBC-NET community, as well. Cordially, Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.macc.wisc.edu)
Robin's comments about _The Midwife's Apprentice_ and _Catherine, Called Birdy_ agree with my perceptions of the two books. Reading the two together--I read _Catherine_ after reading _Apprentice_ enriches both stories.
I also really appreciated the lyrical quality of the vivid writing in
_Apprentice_. From the beginning pages with "...the girl herself, who knew no home and no mother and no name..." to the end "I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up," the book is filled with passages that present sharp pictures, poignant feelings, and deep emotions. Is this book being considered for the Newbery or other awards this year?
Nancy Daniels Platteville, WI
Received on Sat 18 Nov 1995 11:20:00 AM CST
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 1995 11:20:00 -600
This is a response to your question, Nancy: is The Midwife's Apprentice being considered for the Newbery or some other award this year?
We don't know. The suggestions and formal nominations for the 1996 Newbery Award are confidential. The fourteen Newbery Committee members and the chair are the only ones who know which books are formally nominated. The Caldecott Committee is organized exactly the same way, down to balloting, etc.
I can tell you that The Midwife's Apprentice is one of the books on the CCBC Newbery Award Book Discussion list. But when we compile the annual CCBC Newbery Discussion list, we don't try to second-guess the actual committee. For example, we don't include books that were unappreciated during an earlier CCBC discussion in the year; it just not seem fair to the book or author to set up a book for what we expect will be a round of negative visibility here, even if it might be getting rave reviews elsewhere.
Getting back to the actual Newbery Committee, each member may nominate up to six books, three each during two nomination periods. When the Newbery Committee meets in January during the ALA Midwinter Conference in San Antonio, it will also pay attention to the books suggested for reading earlier in the year to make certain all worthy, eligible books are given a chance. The actual Newbery Committee's extensive discussion of each book will be followed by a balloting process. Each Newbery Committee member will vote for three books on their list, ranking her/his votes: one, two, three. First place votes total four points each, second place votes get two points each and third place votes count for one point each.
We use the same balloting process in the CCBC Newbery and also in the CCBC Caldecott Awards discussions. Perhaps you can join us on the evening of December 14th, Nancy? Advance reading is necessary. Contact one of us in advance for details, if you think you can make it. One of our participants last year had a two-hour drive one-way, but she did it, not only for the CCBC Newbery discussion but also for almost all of the monthly discussions here, as well.
Only the books receiving one or more votes will remain on the actual Newbery Committee's discussion list. Ballots will be taken after each round of discussion until one book receives a minimum of eight first place votes and is eight points ahead of the next book. The process works! But the actual committee is not allowed to name the books they discussed or to reveal who said what or what was said during the discussion. This is more than you asked, Nancy, but I hope it will be interesting and useful to others in the CCBC-NET community, as well. Cordially, Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.macc.wisc.edu)
Robin's comments about _The Midwife's Apprentice_ and _Catherine, Called Birdy_ agree with my perceptions of the two books. Reading the two together--I read _Catherine_ after reading _Apprentice_ enriches both stories.
I also really appreciated the lyrical quality of the vivid writing in
_Apprentice_. From the beginning pages with "...the girl herself, who knew no home and no mother and no name..." to the end "I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up," the book is filled with passages that present sharp pictures, poignant feelings, and deep emotions. Is this book being considered for the Newbery or other awards this year?
Nancy Daniels Platteville, WI
Received on Sat 18 Nov 1995 11:20:00 AM CST
