From: Brian, Jen, Megan, & Ethan <Brewcheese>
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 19:14:37 -0600

The Immanuel Lutheran School Newbery Committee in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin - 10 students in grades 6-8, two teachers, and one parent - has selected their Mock Newbery winner and honor books. Their selections are:

Mock Newbery Winner: The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Mock Newbery Honors: Wenny Has Wings by Janet Lee Carey What Would Joey Do? by Jack Gantos When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

Two books that came in close were: Dunk by David Lubar Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

I was both surprised and not surprised that House of the Scorpion won. We had a difficult time motivating the kids to read it. In selecting our books, we make a master list of titles "borrowed" from other Mock Newbery lists, and the students select from this list based on the reviews we read online. Many of the professional reviews the students read seemed to focus too heavily on "drug lords" and a country called "Opium." This just didn't appeal to many of them. Many were simply turned off by its size, unfortunately. For these reasons, I was surprised that it won.

On the other hand, the kids who did read it - about three quarters of the group - voted for it, and gave it first place points. When students came into my room to return the book, they raved about it. One girl who loves Nancy Farmer books even refused to read it until her mother "made" her. Then she refused to leave her room for dinner once she got started. For this reason, I am not surprised it won.

The full list of titles we read and considered for the award can be found at www.tznet.com/bookswi. The ILS Newbery Group Book Selections link is at the bottom of the front page.

Brian Wilhorn Immanuel Lutheran School Wisconsin Rapids, WI www.tznet.com/bookswi
Received on Tue 21 Jan 2003 07:14:37 PM CST