From The Mixed Up Files

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today, we’re interviewing Jasmine Ting, author of Forests in Danger (A True Book: The Earth at Risk). The book explores forests around the world and invites kids to learn how climate change is impacting these biomes and what we can all do to protect these ecosystems!   Andi: What forest fact that you learned surprised you the most? For me, it was the sheer number of insect species in the Amazon rainforest! Jasmine: I think the fact that 25%...

To kick off the new year, I polled the busy members of From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors to share their bookish goals for 2026, whether for reading, writing, or something else. Here’s what they said:  “I’d like to stretch my writerly wings and attempt something out of my wheelhouse, like a picture book or chapter-book series. It’s time to shake off the cobwebs in 2026!” — Melissa Roske “Instead of reading and writing more, more, more, I want to engage with books in an intentional and thoughtful way.” — Jennifer Kraar “I’d like to finish the second draft...

  Happy 2026 Mixed-Up Files readers! We have some exciting new middle-grade books coming out this January. Here are just a few on them!   Gumshoe by Brenna Thummler In the hot, gossipy town of Stony Lonesome, shy eleven-year old Willa interacts with others the only way that feels right...

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today, we’re interviewing Jasmine Ting, author of Forests in Danger (A True Book: The Earth at Risk). The book explores forests around the world and invites kids to learn how climate change is impacting...

In today’s Author Spotlight, Jo Hackl chats with award-winning author John Claude Bemis about his new graphic novel, Rodeo Hawkins & the Daughters of Mayhem.  John Claude Bemis is the author of seven middle-grade novels, and a picture book. A former elementary school teacher, John earned his Master’s of Education...

Once You Find a Podcast You Love, You Want More Like It I think this is true for most everyone out there. My husband loves to listen to podcasts about history and politics and he doesn’t just want one, he wants multiple podcasts on each subject. For those of us...

Author Interview – Leslie Vedder I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Leslie Vedder today. Leslie is a YA author who has written a beautiful Middle grade fantasy duo, and today we will be discussing the second book, THE NOWHERE BEAST, coming out February 10th, 2026...

Once You Find a Podcast You Love, You Want More Like It I think this is true for most everyone out there. My husband loves to listen to podcasts about history and politics and he doesn’t just want one, he wants multiple podcasts on each subject. For those of us...