The points of issue
First edition 2011, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York. First printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1; copyright 2011. Note FSG does not print a First Edition statement, so identification rests on the number line. Pictorial boards; first-state jacket without the Newbery seal.
Is this the true first?
US true first. Newbery Medal awarded 2012.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
A number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack a printed jacket price; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Dead End in Norvelt a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition 2011, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York. First printing identified by a complete number line ending in 1; copyright 2011. Note FSG does not print a First Edition statement, so identification rests on the number line. Pictorial boards; first-state jacket without the Newbery seal.
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. Newbery Medal awarded 2012.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
A number line not ending in 1 indicates a later printing; book-club editions lack a printed jacket price; post-award jackets add the Newbery seal.
I have a first edition of Dead End in Norvelt — 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.