From The Mixed Up Files

In 2011 when my twins were still in high school, our local school held its annual Academic Awards/National Honor Society Initiation/Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony event. It was a weeknight during one of the busiest weeks of the year.  Since there were no local sports heroes were being inducted into the Hall of Fame, my usual strategy would have been to stay home and skip the event. But, as my kids were part of the academic festivities that evening, I went with the plan of sliding out the back door right after their names were...

Still reeling from Goodreads’ elimination of Children’s & Middle Grade and Graphic Novels in their 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards? Still upset about Barnes and Noble’s drastic reduction of hardcover middle grade books? Still shaking your head about Scholastic’s off-again, on-again support of diverse books? Then we have just what you need: some good news about middle grade books! Courtesy of School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox, we bring you the MIND THE MIDDLE PROJECT. The idea is to dedicate 2024 to highlighting middle grade and young teen literature. Why is this important? Well, beyond the obvious reasons, let’s take a...

Just in time for the holidays, check out these new releases! Make sure to put them on your Wish List…or pick up a copy or two for your favorite middle-grade readers. The Last Rose Written by Leah Cypess, Delacorte Press, December 5 release The fourth book in the Sisters Ever...

    We are delighted to interview author Cindy Blobaum for our Ice and Snow theme this month! Cindy is the author of:   Explore the Ice Age! With 25 Great Projects By Cindy Blobaum Illustrated by Bryan Stone Brrr–does it feel cold? Get out your gloves and get ready to experience the...

Nancy Hudgins always wanted to write for children, but her roles as attorney, business owner, mediator, and mom kept standing in the way. A number of years ago, Nancy decided to pursue her dream in earnest. Nancy began taking the advice that many writers offered her; write, research, join the...

I live in California so winter here means we can still get away with no socks, but I grew up in the east and I remember how exciting the first snow was and how we’d stare out the window, fingers crossed, just hoping for a snow day. When I went...

Just in time for the holidays, check out these new releases! Make sure to put them on your Wish List…or pick up a copy or two for your favorite middle-grade readers. The Last Rose Written by Leah Cypess, Delacorte Press, December 5 release The fourth book in the Sisters Ever...

I’m thrilled to have agent Kaitlyn Sanchez back at the Mixed-Up Files. I was beyond excited when she first became an agent and have loved watching her add clients and tons of sales. Kaitlyn has her finger on the pulse of the kidlit market and has endless enthusiasm and energy....