The points of issue
Cross-reference only, included to prevent miscataloging. This is a Newbery Honor book (1999), not a Medal winner; the Medal went to the sequel, A Year Down Yonder, in 2001. The first edition was published in 1998 by Dial. The stated first printing carries a number line on the copyright page (reported strings include 7 9 10 8 6); confirm the full descending line for the true first rather than relying on any single terminal digit.
Is this the true first?
US true first is the 1998 Dial issue. Honor book, not Medal winner, listed to flag the distinction for collectors who confuse it with the Medal-winning sequel.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Not a Medal winner; verify award status before cataloging as a Newbery winner. Book-club and later trade reprints lack the complete first-printing number line.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Long Way from Chicago (Honor cross-reference note) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cross-reference only, included to prevent miscataloging. This is a Newbery Honor book (1999), not a Medal winner; the Medal went to the sequel, A Year Down Yonder, in 2001. The first edition was published in 1998 by Dial. The stated first printing carries a number line on the copyright page (reported strings include 7 9 10 8 6); confirm the full descending line for the true first rather than relying on any single terminal digit.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US true first is the 1998 Dial issue. Honor book, not Medal winner, listed to flag the distinction for collectors who confuse it with the Medal-winning sequel.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Not a Medal winner; verify award status before cataloging as a Newbery winner. Book-club and later trade reprints lack the complete first-printing number line.
I have a first edition of A Long Way from Chicago (Honor cross-reference note) — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.