FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who may participate in the Summit Mock Newbery Discussions?

All student, parent, and staff readers of The Summit School in Winston-Salem, NC, are welcome to participate and submit an enrollment form. (Look above for link to enrollment form.) Students in the Upper School must use their Summit email address to participate. Students in the Lower School should use their personal or family email address.

What are the selection criteria for the Newbery Awards?

The award winning book must be written by an American author and published first in the U.S. during 2010. It must be designed for readers under the age of 14. It must be “distinguished,” which means it must be:

• Marked by eminence and distinction; noted for significant achievement.
• Marked by excellence in quality. (Every aspect or part of it is really, really good.)
• Marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence. (It's much better than others.)
• Individually distinct. (There's something special about it.)

You  might want to read and think about previous Newbery winners and Honors books and consider why they were judged the "best."  Remember that the award is given each year; books may be "better" some years than others.

How do I submit a comment?
Go to   summitmocknewbery.blogspot.com  and find the title of your book. (Look in the main/center area and in the Blog Archive section.)

Click on the word "Comments"  that is located just below the summary of your book.

Insert your comment in the text box. You may copy and paste the final draft of your remarks from your word processor.


Next to "Comment as"  you will see a drop-down menu that says "Select profile." Select "Name/URL" and type your first name and grade. For  example,  albert7.  DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR LAST NAME.

Click "Post Comment" and you are finished!

What do I write about in my comment or post about my book?

1.    First state whether you think the book is worthy of a Newbery Award. (See the Criteria section above.) Use the questions below to help you make up your mind. If you change your mind after reading other books, you may add a second comment and explain your change in thinking.

2.    Next explain your opinion.  What makes your book special? 

Think about its:
Plot -
What makes it predictable or suspenseful? What is the conflict or problem at the heart of the story? What did it make you think about or wonder about? Is it better than other stories with a similar plot?
Characters -
Are they likable, stereotyped, realistic? Do you feel like you know and care about them? What did you learn from them?
Setting - 
Do the characters and plot fit the time and place of the story? Does the author create a world which sucks you in and makes you forget the real world?
Theme -
What is the BIG IDEA of the book? Did you think about something in a new or different way after reading it?  What do you know or understand now that you didn’t before you read the book?
Writing - 
Is the story told in an unusual way – letters, diary entries, flashbacks, poetry, etc.?  Is the writing too easy to understand or confusing? Does the author use words or phrases that make you think of poetry? Did you ever read a passage twice because you like the sound of it or its ideas? Are illustrations needed to tell the story, or do they add to it?
Presentation - Do the pictures, illustrations, diagrams and maps help you understand the story better? Do they catch your attention? Are they necessary? Is the book more attractive looking than most books?


3.   Lastly, tell what age students would most likely enjoy your book. For example, "Great for 5th and 6th graders plus good 4th grade readers"  or  "Probably best for Upper School readers because of some strong language and scary scenes."

Why doesn't my comment show right away after I submit it?

Each comment has to be approved by one of our adult readers, and that may take a couple of days, especially in June when many folks are on vacation. Also, if your comment has several errors or is hard to understand, we will ask you to revise and re-submit it.

Does spelling count? What about punctuation, capitalization, spacing, etc.?

Yes! Your comment will be published so everyone in the world with Internet access will be able to read it. Both what you say and how you say it are important! You might want to write your comment first in a word processor so you can easily spell check and revise it. Then you can copy and paste your thoughtful comments and well-written sentences into the comment box.

Can someone help me write my comment?

Be sure to talk about your book with family and friends as you read. Talking and writing help us find out what we think and be able to put our feelings and reactions into words. 


When it comes to writing down your ideas:
First write your ideas and don't worry about getting everything right. Later, read aloud what you've written very slowly, looking carefully at each word you read. Do this several times, over the course of a few days, making revisions each time. 


When you've thought about what you've written for a couple of days and read it aloud, slowly, at least 14 times, ask someone else to read it. Ask them: Do you have any questions about what you've read? Are there any parts that confuse you or make you want to know more? How many spelling or writing errors do you see? 

DON'T let your helpers tell you what they are. Just ask them how many, and then try to find them. Let them tell you only as a last resort. You're an intelligent reader and your writing will only get better if you do your own work.

When will we discuss the books?

Later this summer or as soon as we get back to school in August. After everyone has had a chance to read several, we'll  get together to compare notes, perhaps eliminate a few titles (think survivor!), and promote the ones we think are the best. Check the blog Calendar page for dates. In the meantime, HAVE FUN!