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I just read 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass.

It was cute but I don't think it is a future Newbery.

Has anyone else read anything published this year?

I've read Perpetual Check, Jumped, and The Problem with the Puddles. I don't know if I think any of them is a future Newbery, and each for very different reasons.

How about "The Graveyard Book". I was drooling over it when I heard about it. I thought it was right up my alley. And, for me, it fell waaaay short. It would have made a great collection of poems or short stories, but I felt like he stretched the plot unecessarily thin. I was so dissapointed.

I recently finished The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel and was so disappointed. I thought it would be a little more adventuresome then it was. I have also finished Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez and while I didn't think it was a future Newbery I did think it was cute and worth reading.

I just finished Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff and thought it was a solid book,but I do not think it is Newbery material. I also read SLOB by Ellen Potter and had lukewarm feelings about it at first, but find myself thinking about it more and more... (always a good sign when a book stays with you, wondering if anyone else has read it.)

I was not impressed with The Problem with the Puddles. It is not Newbery material. I thought it had too much dialogue and it felt very frenetic.

I loved SLOB but my daughter didn't. Although, like you, she talked about it for days afterward.

I loved When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino and feel both of those have a solid shot.

I enjoyed Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson but didn't think it was as beautiful as Locomotion so I don't think it will Newbery.

I thought Emmaline and the Bunny was good but I didn't think it was distinguished.

I'm torn on When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton. I think I need to re-read it.

Melsmith wrote: "I just finished Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff and thought it was a solid book,but I do not think it is Newbery material. I also read SLOB by Ellen Potter and had lukewarm feelings about it at first..."

I finally got Slob from the library and I really liked it. It was very original. I can usually predict how a story will end but this one was not predictable at all. The ending was perfect. Thank you for recommending it.

I read The Magician's Elephant and I don't think it will make the newbery because it gave too much foreshadowing

Atherton-The Dark Planet will not make the newberry. It was a good book, but I don't feel it will win.

Patty wrote: "I was not impressed with The Problem with the Puddles. It is not Newbery material. I thought it had too much dialogue and it felt very frenetic."

I really didn't like The Problem with the Puddles It was a cute idea for the story but not executed well. I know a lot of people liked it though. Sometimes I read a book that everyone is raving about and just wonder, "do I just not get it?"

Discordia Eleventh Dimension, The by Dena K. Salmon was very disappointing. It was one of those books where you don't care about your characters. I enjoyed the stuff about Rayva but once she joined up with our main character she started to fall flat for me. To be fair the last chapter did get interesting, only to leave me hanging. I don’t know if I will bother with the next Discordia book.

Jillian wrote: "How about "The Graveyard Book". I was drooling over it when I heard about it. I thought it was right up my alley. And, for me, it fell waaaay short. It would have made a great collection of poe..."

I think this book is a better "boy" read. The sentences are short and it's not very well developed. I did n't like it much either, and I love Gaiman.

I'm reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. It's starting to bog down at the end. It should have been about 30 pages shorter.

But The Graveyard Book won the Newbery 2009. Aren't we discussing books that shouldn't win the Newbery 2010?

Dana wrote: "I'm reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. It's starting to bog down at the end. It should have been about 30 pages shorter. "

I'd have to go back and look at it again. When I first read it, I loved it and thought it would make a good Newbery Honor.

Andrew wrote: "I read The Magician's Elephant and I don't think it will make the newbery because it gave too much foreshadowing "

I thought any foreshadowing was entirely in keeping with the dark, fairy tale mood of it. Since the plot depends upon a fortune-teller, I think we have to have some foreshadowing! :)

Kristen wrote: "I just read 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass.

It was cute but I don't think it is a future Newbery.

Has anyone else read anything published this year?

"

No, perhaps not a Newbery, but it is really fun and my 5th grade students LOVE it...

Andrew wrote: "I read The Magician's Elephant and I don't think it will make the newbery because it gave too much foreshadowing "

I thought DiCamillo was writing more for grown-ups than for children. It was a good fairy tale but I look forward to hearing what student's think. I gave one out Friday and we'll see if she passes it on...

I thought Almost Astronauts 13 Women Who Dared to Dreamhad a good premise but was way too long and very boring...

Scatwas good, especially the audio, but not Newbery material

I enjoyed All the Broken Pieces loved the verse novel format and the premise.

Al Capone Shines My Shoeshad great voice and I liked the focus more on the gangsters than Moose's sister.

I liked Notes from the Dogbut thought the ending was abrupt.

I really enjoyed Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg! Even though it took me two tries to get into it.

Phew! Must visit more often.

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me is not a newbery because it didn't have a very good plot or character traits. It was a good book but parts of it were long and boring

I read How Oliver Olson Changed the World. I thought it was darling, but I don't think it's Newbery worthy.

I can see The Magician's Elephant making at least the Newbery Honor list but I personally thought it was too sappy and conventional.

Emmaline and the Bunny

This book is definitely meant for younger audiences(1st grade-3rd grade). It has a lot pictures and it is a perfect book to introduce people to reading novels. The author's purpose, I think, is to show how your love for something may cause you to break the rules. I honestly don't think it'll make the Newbery because there's nothing signifigant about it. The commitee that picks the Newbery are looking for something new, and Emmaline and the Bunny is a cliché of other books around that age level.

I just finished 100 Cupboards, which comes before Dandelion Fire, but I didn't really like it, so I don't think I'll bother reading its sequals. It just seemed to be one ridiculous plot twist after another.

Megan wrote: "I just finished 100 Cupboards, which comes before Dandelion Fire, but I didn't really like it, so I don't think I'll bother reading its sequals. It just seemed to be..."

Agreed. Agreed.
I did slosh through these books. It was a good idea but to much within the pages. Not Newbery material.

Andrew wrote: "Emmaline and the BunnyThis book is definitely meant for younger audiences(1st grade-3rd grade). It has a lot pictures and it is a perfect book to introduce people to reading novels. ..."

Personally, I could not stand this book. Cliches, for sure, nor did I think the illustrations added much. I was surprised that Hornbook gave it a 2 (out of 6, with 1 being starred.) Yuck.

I am sorry, but I have to tell you that THE GRAVEYARD BOOK was the 2009 Newberry Award winner. I didn't think that I would like it, but I loved it.

I just read several of the books others have mentioned on this list. I thought "The Girl Who Threw Butterflies" and "Dessert First" were good books but definitely not Newberys. I also read "Love, Aubrey" and "All the Broken Pieces". Of the two, I liked "All the Broken Pieces" best - it was beautifully written and addressed multiple levels of an issue that is worth bringing back into focus - war and its divisiveness and its devastating losses. However, "Love, Aubrey" was also well-worth reading so I wouldn't eliminate it completely. I love three day weekends. It's possible to get through so much. More to go from all your various recommendations and comments.