From the Mixed-Up Files
989 FOLLOWERS
A group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. Focused on writing and books for 8 to 13 year olds. For anyone with a passion for children's literature - teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals - we offer regularly updated booklists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the..
From the Mixed-Up Files
5h ago
Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!
This month’s featured STEM author is Meg Thacher, author of Sky Gazing: a guide to the Moon, Sun, planets, stars, eclipses, constellations (Storey Publishing, 2020). Meg teaches astronomy at Smith College and is the academic director for Smith’s Summer Science & Engineering Program for high school girls. Plus, she writes for kids!
Sky Gazing is a fun and fascinating tour of our solar system, with many extra bonus points for its glow-in-the-dark co ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
1w ago
WNDMG Wednesday: Author Interview with Aida Salazar
Welcome to WNDGM Wednesday. I’m so excited to be able to introduce you and interview accomplished award-winning author Aida Salazar today. Aida’s newest book is Ultraviolet (Scholastic) and it launches on April 2, 2024.
I absolutely love anything Aida writes. I am specifically a huge fan of her verse novels- A SEED IN THE SUN and LAND OF THE CRANES made me feel so much emotion while reading, and I hung onto every word of gorgeous poetry.
I cannot wait to dive into this new book!
I encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their cla ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
2w ago
What an incredible time to be a young scientist! Yesterday’s total solar eclipse was an exciting and memorable event for students (and adults) across the country. Interest in learning about about eclipses and astronomy in general is at a high. Thankfully, there are a plethora of incredible books on these subjects that students can read and enjoy. These books can be used as a springboard for classroom discussions and activities.
Can’t Get Enough Space Stuff: Fun Facts, Awesome Info, Cool Games, Silly Jokes, and More! by Julie Beer and Stephanie Warren Drimmer
This highly browsab ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
2w ago
I am beyond excited to share the cover of one of my most anticipated books this year: The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines, by the wonderful writer (and my great friend), Janet Sumner Johnson.
Before we reveal the cover, please tell us a little bit about the Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines.
The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines has a kidnapping, a clue hunt, lots of family tension, and, of course, a treasure to find.
After the incredible events of the last official Winterton Bee, Hope and Gordon Smith have discovered that having an extended family isn’t so bad . . . a ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
2w ago
Looking for a great coming-of-age book? Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine has a little bit of everything. It will be the perfect summer read. I love getting a chance to interview the author and learn more about how the book came to be.
About the Book
Hi Nicole! I really enjoyed Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine. It reminded me a lot of Judy Blume’s Are You There, God, It’s Me Margaret in that your character was relatable and a great example of a young teen trying to make sense of the world and her place in it.
Can you give us a short summary about the book?
Winnie Nash is a twelve-year-old kid ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
3w ago
This is an active month for sky-watchers. Not only will the “Great North American Eclipse” happen on April 8, but the night sky will feature a comet that you should be able to view without a telescope.
Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon’s Shadow (Scientist in the Field) by Ilima Loomis, photos by Amanda Cowan
This is a story about the last “Great North American Eclipse” – August 2017 – and how a science team studies eclipses. Not only do they have to find the best place for observing the event, they have a lot of instruments to set up and test prior to the day. Plus, a bagel production li ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
3w ago
It’s raining awesome new middle-grade titles for young readers! This month’s releases include fantasy, adventures, a memoir, a fun creative art book, fascinating book on the octopus, and a collection of stories from award-winning authors. Check them out!
The Deadlands: Survival by Skye Melki-Wegner, Henry Holt Books, April 2.
Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in the thrilling finale of this action-adventure series about five outcasts—and former enemies—who are the only hope to save their warring dinosaur kingdoms from impending doom.As bloody battle rages between the two surviving dinosaur k ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
3w ago
We love spotlighting agents and editors every month! There’s so much you can learn from their interviews.
Are there any MG agents or editors you hope we’ll spotlight soon?
If so, please let us know in the comments.
Any MG agents or editors who would like to be interviewed—please tell us and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Just in case you’ve missed some of these interviews, here’s a list of them to check out. Happy reading!
*Things may have changed with some of agents and editors from older interviews. The best thing to do is check for agents at https://querytracker.net/ for u ..read more
From the Mixed-Up Files
1M ago
Last summer, I took over the challenge of the Kansas/Missouri SCBWI regional volunteer critique coordinator position. One of my first tasks was to find ways for creators in our region to make connections and feel part of the SCBWI community even though our region covers a large geographical area. I had an idea for a virtual event we call Critique & Meet.
The Critique & Meet idea is a monthly virtual gathering that’s part social, part critique, and 100% the KSMO SCBWI community coming together to help each other create. It’s like an open-mic night combined with a speed-dating vers ..read more