Recently, we at Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors have celebrated wonderful news. Feedspot reviewed thousands of websites and chose us as one of the 80 Best Diverse Book Blogs and Websites. You can check it out here – Feedspot Blogs on Diverse Books I’d like to spend today’s post relaying what this means to me as an author and as a mom. Lack of Books by Diverse Authors on the Shelves I looked around for numbers about diverse books, and this is what I found. At the start of 2018, approximately 95% of all books published in the U.S. were written by white authors. Thankfully, publishing pr ..read more

    Renewable energy is the future of our planet. The titles below help readers to make sense of it. From easy-to-read text, to fabulous photos and fun hands-on experiments, curious scientists will gain an understanding of the different forms of energy and what exciting innovations are headed our way to make sure we are powered up for years to come, and still keep our planet green and healthy.     Renewable Energy: Power the World with Sustainable Fuel with Hands-On Science Activities for Kids written by Erin Twamley and Josh Sneideman, illustrated by Micah Rauch With pro ..read more

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome MG superstar Liz Kessler to the Mixed-Up Files! In addition to being the author of the wildly popular Emily Windsnap series—which has been translated into 25 languages, appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list, and has sold millions of copies—Liz has penned the Phillipa Fisher series, several MG stand-alones, two YA novels, and books for early readers. Liz’s latest MG novel, Code Name Kingfisher, hailed by School Library Journal as “overpoweringly emotional; an intense story, gorgeously told,” is out from Aladdin on May 7. But before we chat with Liz ..read more

We are delighted to have Laura Stegman, author of The Chambered Nautilus on the blog today. Laura Segal Stegman is a Los Angeles-based publicist and author whose middle grade debut novel, Summer of L.U.C.K., and its sequel, Ready or Not, were published by Young Dragons. The Chambered Nautilus, the third in the L.U.C.K. trilogy, will follow. L.A. Parent Magazine lauded Summer of L.U.C.K. as a “good read,” Readers’ Favorite awarded it 5 Stars, and a Macaroni Kid reviewer said, “I was instantly captivated and couldn’t put it down.” Laura serves as a judge for Society of Young Inklings and Society ..read more

It’s springtime and there are so many good things popping up in the month of May, especially books! Here are a few new middle-grade books launching this month—from fantasy to narrative nonfiction to graphic novels and more! The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she fin ..read more

Ruth Behar’s lyrical and moving historic tale, Across So Many Seas, touched my heart, so I’m thrilled to be able to welcome her to our blog today. Thank you for being here, Ruth. We have so many questions for you. I’d like to start with when you were young. Did you have any childhood dreams for when you grew up? If so, did they come true? I dreamed of traveling, and especially of going to different places where Spanish is spoken. I was enchanted by the Spanish language since I was a child. And I dreamed of writing stories that let me see the world in new ways and that might eventually become b ..read more

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

I wish I had a photographic memory. But I don’t. In order to remember something, I typically need to write about it. And as a children’s author, I want to remember the books that I read. Through the years, I’ve tried several methods to chronicle the books I read. These techniques include the following: A Reader Response Journal This is where I note my immediate responses to a book. My writing is sloppy and comes out in a gush. In classrooms, teachers say they enjoy using this method as a way for students to learn how to become close readers. Readers organically engage with texts, and this fee ..read more

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

  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