How+to+Evaluate+a+Newbery+Contender


 * Newbery Criteria: The Newbery Medal is awarded to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in the preceding year. Distinguished is defined as:**
 * **Marked by eminence and distinction; noted for significant achievement.**
 * **Marked by excellence in quality**
 * **Marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence**
 * **Individually distinct **
 * In determining "distinguished writhing" in a book for children, committee members need to consider the following:**

Definition of theme: Author's purpose in writing the story, going beyond the general plot: the underlying truths or lessons to be learned about life, stated explicitly or implicitly.** Questions to ask about the theme of the book:
 * Interpretation of the Theme or Concept
 * 1) Is this a significant topic?
 * 2) Is it worthy of a reader's time?
 * 3) What is the theme?
 * 4) Is it intuitive to the reader or thought provoking?
 * 5) Is it too moralistic? Is it preachy? Promoting the author's personal agenda?
 * 6) Will children grasp what the author wanted to say?
 * 7) Does this book fit a common literature theme such as the journey, hero, human relationships, coming of age, sacrifice, growth or alienation?

Definition of Presentation of Information: The ability of the author to present the information in a clear and reliable way. Things make sense and the work does not contain misinformation.** Questions to ask about the Presentation of Information:
 * Presentation of Information (Including accuracy, clarity and organization)
 * 1) Do all the supporting details make sense and work, within the context of the story?
 * 2) Is it clear that the author did the necessary research to get the details right?
 * 3) If the story is historical, are the facts of the time period accurate?
 * 4) Is the book organized in a way that is unusual or different? Does it work?

Definition of Plot: Plan of action; holds story together; how the story is arranged. Plot elements include introduction, problem or conflict, rising action, conflict, climnaz, falling action, resolution.** Questions to ask about Plot:
 * Development of a Plot
 * 1) Is the plot original or groundbreaking or surprising?
 * 2) Is the plot predictable, preachy or overdone?
 * 3) How is the plot presented? (Flashback, chronological, episodic, etc) Could you follow the thread of the story throughout?

Questions to ask about Characterization:
 * Characterization**
 * Definition of characterization: Imaginary people created by the writer.** Perhaps the most important element of literature. Protagonist is the major character at the center of the story. Antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist. Minor characters often provide support or insight into the protagonist. Characters can be stagnant, or remain the same or they can be dynamic or developing. If an author has created a significant character, that character should seem three-dimensional to you--you feel that you really know that character and could predict how he or she would act in a given situation.
 * 1) Are the characters flat or stereotyped or are they fully developed?
 * 2) How are the characters presented: through narration, conversation, thoughts, actions, physical description, through the reaction of other characters?
 * 3) Are they stagnant or developing and/or dynamic?
 * 4) Are the main characters worth getting to know? Can you visualize them? Did you get to know them well?

Questions:
 * Setting/Tone**
 * Definition of Setting: Past, present or future: Specific place, or generic or universal setting.** Could be vital to the story or an unimportant backdrop. Setting contributes to the mood or tone of the story. The mood or tone is the emotional atmosphere or condition created by the writing. For example, setting or tone can create a peaceful, sad or anxious feeling in the reader.
 * 1) Does the setting play an important part in the story?
 * 2) Is it visually vivid? This is especially important if the setting is unfamiliar to the reader.
 * 3) Is the setting believable? Could you picture yourself there?
 * 4) What is the tone of the story? Is it influenced by the setting?

Definition of Style: The way in which the author writes.** Could be smooth, fast paced, could contain vivid descriptive passages or detailed action. Could include the way the story is arranged such as flashback, episodic, chronological. The poit of view from which the story is told could be considered here as well. Could be a narrator, first person perspective. Questions to ask about the Style of the book:
 * Appropriateness of Style
 * 1) Does the author have a recognizable style?
 * 2) What is distinct about the style?
 * 3) Does it flow naturally with interesting language, varied sentence strucue and appeal to the reader?
 * 4) Is it choppy or clunky?
 * 5) Who narrates the story? Is the narration believable? Were you able to lose yourself in the story?
 * 6) Are there any parts that you think were very well or very poorly written?
 * 7) Did you want to keep reading without stopping or did you keep putting the book down?
 * 8) Is the ending satisfying, or does the story fall apart midway? Is it an open or closed ending?
 * 9) What did you enjoy most, least about the book?
 * 10) Will you think about this book in a week, a month, a year, forever?

Note: To be considered a Newbery winner, a book should be a complete package. The elements of literature are broken apart for discussion sake, but the author must be a master at melding all the parts together into a seamless work creating a powerful reading experience that leaves the reader sorry to see the book end, wanting more.