From The Mixed Up Files

Daphne Benedis-Grab has thrilled audiences with her Secrets and Lies series, and she’s back with a fourth installment: I KNOW YOU STARTED IT. With a crackling mystery and captivating characters, the book is a firestorm of suspense and intrigue. Daphne was kind enough to join the blog to talk about her writing process, her inspirations, and the power of words.  This interview has been edited for length and clarity. From the very first chapter, I felt like I was in such good hands when it came to the central mystery of the book. How important...

On March 19, Publisher’s Weekly reported that the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce moved forward with House Resolution (HR) 7661. As recorded on congress.gov, the stated purpose of this bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) is as follows: “To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of funds provided under such Act to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes.”  ...

Changing the clocks for Daylight Saving Time reminded me of how disruptive losing one hour can be, and had me imagining if I could travel through time. These seven spectacular books feature diverse characters, each with a definite reason for visiting another time. Some go to the past for a...

Hello! Welcome back to STEM Tuesday’s Writing Tips and Resources. I’m Stephanie. Did you know that axolotls are amphibians? I hadn’t really thought about it before, but it’s true; they’re salamanders. And actually, they’re strange ones, since they don’t fully grow up, but instead stay in their “tadpole” stage, keeping...

Daphne Benedis-Grab has thrilled audiences with her Secrets and Lies series, and she’s back with a fourth installment: I KNOW YOU STARTED IT. With a crackling mystery and captivating characters, the book is a firestorm of suspense and intrigue. Daphne was kind enough to join the blog to talk about...

Read-alouds aren’t just for younger students! Research shows that reading aloud—even for just a few minutes a day—is just as effective for intermediate grades, middle schoolers, and even high schoolers. Whether at home or during dedicated time in class, reading aloud to students demonstrates that reading is not merely a...

April showers bring….a storm of brand new Middle Grade Releases. Take a look at the books coming your way this month.     A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm by Philip C. Stead A plucky young goatkeeper sets out on...

I’m delighted to welcome award-winning author Fleur Bradley to the blog. I first discovered Fleur when I devoured her middle grade mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel. With its clever clues and spectacular twist, it felt very Agatha Christie for kids. I became an instant fan. She followed with Daybreak on...