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Author Spotlight: Barbara Carroll Roberts + a GIVEAWAY

By on July 17, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

In today’s Author Spotlight, Landra Jennings chats with author Barbara Carroll Roberts about her new middle-grade novel, The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter (Holiday House, July 22). She’ll share her inspiration behind writing it, the passion for gardening and wildlife that informed it, and the lovely inspiration for the dog character. Plus, there’s a chance to win an ARC of The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter if you enter the giveaway!

 

Book Summary:

Bunny Baxter thinks nothing could be worse than starting seventh grade at a school where she knows no one. But after her first day, she realizes things can actually get much worse.

If Bunny Baxter were an insect, she’d have so many ways to slip through seventh grade unnoticed. But she’s tall instead of tiny, has flaming red Medusa hair instead of camouflage, and she suffers from social anxiety, which makes it hard to be part of a swarm. Worst of all, she’s been redistricted to a new middle school away from her best friend who she could always hide behind when her anxiety got the best of her.

The first day at E.D. Britt Middle School does not go well. Bunny trips on the steps, falls into the cutest boy in the school, and causes a kid domino pile-up. At lunch, she unintentionally causes an uproar in the cafeteria, which lands her and another girl in the principal’s office. Bunny decides there is only one option: to get expelled so she can transfer to the school her best friend attends.

She soon discovers that it isn’t that hard to get in trouble — don’t turn in your homework, walk around the track instead of run in P.E., pretend you deliberately hit someone with a badminton birdie. What isn’t so easy for Bunny is realizing she now has a reputation as a troublemaker. And even more confusing, when it looks like her plan to get expelled might work, she’s no longer sure what to do.

The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter is a heartfelt coming of age story about an insect-loving girl who is learning to grow into herself — quirks and all.

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Booklist Starred Review.

Interview with Barbara Carroll Roberts

LJ: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Barbara! Thanks for joining us today.

BR: Thank you so much for having me.

LJ:  First, I have to tell you how much I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. Bunny’s journey is so beautifully layered and nuanced. “Metamorphosis” is the perfect descriptor. Can you please tell us about your inspiration to write it?

BR: Thanks so much! I actually began this book with what it wouldn’t be about. While I was working on my MFA at Hamline University, one of the other students wrote her critical thesis about how few children’s books she’d found in which the main character had been adopted into their family. And of the books she did find, almost all of them focused on the character searching for a birth parent, or on another issue directly linked to the child’s adoption. The woman who wrote this essay had been adopted into her family, and she also adopted her own children. She felt that children who’d been adopted needed more books about kids like them, but more than that, they needed books in which the main character just happened to have been adopted, but that’s not what their story was about. Since my husband and I had adopted one of our children, I decided to write a book like that.

This isn’t a craft technique I’d recommend, though – starting a novel with what it won’t be about. I struggled through several really awful attempts to come up with a story before the main character and the vaguest idea of a plot began to take shape.

Gardens and Pollinators

LJ: You’re a gardener. How did your passion for gardening and pollinators influence the story? Did you have to do any additional research on that?

BR: This story actually came to me through research, though I initially didn’t realize I was doing research – I was just reading the magazines and websites of the gardening and wildlife organizations I belong to and seeing more and more articles about the need to protect insects, especially pollinators. Then I read two books by Douglas Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope, which also discuss the importance of insects in the natural world, as well as the difference individuals can make by planting native plants in their yards.

So, then I tore out a big planting bed in my yard that was filled with boring nonnative shrubs and replanted it with native flowering plants. And somewhere in all of that the story of a very shy girl who’s fascinated by insects began to take shape. I had to do a lot of research on insects and social anxiety, which Bunny experiences. There was much more research done than what ended up in the story!

Favorite Scene

LJ: The writing was so beautiful. My favorite scene to read was the lovely “hammock” scene. What was your favorite scene to write?

BR: Wow, this is a difficult question. It was really important to me to dig into the deep emotions of the characters in that scene. This was also true of the scene in which Bunny asks her sister, Bella, if she thinks it feels different to have been born into their family instead of having been adopted into the family, as Bunny was. But these scenes were also very difficult to write, because I had to dig deep into my own emotions, too. I’m sure I revised these scenes more than any others, trying to get them “right.” Scenes with broader humor, like the pandemonium in the cafeteria caused by Bunny’s emotional-support cicada, were definitely more enjoyable to work on.

Favorite Character

LJ: Your side characters were so well drawn out. Ralph was a personal favorite. Do you have a favorite secondary character?

Riley

BR: It’s funny you mention Ralph. My dog Riley was a real life inspiration!

In general this question is sort of like asking “Who’s your favorite child?” I grew very attached to all of the characters in this book, but the two I had the most fun with are Bunny’s dad – because he’s so talented and creative at garden design, but so absent-minded about all kinds of mundane things – and Sylvia Lester-Hewitt-Abruzzo-Fung – because she has no filter and says whatever comes into her head. Plus, I had a lot of fun thinking about all the goofy things she wears in her hair.

 

Cover Art

LJ: The cover by Erin McGuire is absolutely gorgeous. What was your reaction on seeing Bunny and her faithful counselor Ralph depicted for the first time?

BR: When my editor at Holiday House, Margaret Ferguson, told me they were considering Erin McGuire for the cover illustration, I went to Erin’s website to see her work. And I was thrilled to discover that she’d illustrated book covers that I’ve always loved, including the cover of The Real Boy, by Anne Ursu, and the cover of your book, Wand. I’m absolutely delighted with the cover Erin created for my book. She perfectly captured Bunny’s fascination with insects and the natural world, as well as the love and friendship she shares with Ralph.

To the Heart of Bunny

LJ: I was really touched by Kyle’s articulation of what seemed to be a major theme for the story—”You get to be who you are.” Can you tell us a little bit about that?

BR: I wish I could tell you that I had that scene all planned out from the beginning, but pretty much the opposite is true. Instead, it was one of those magical moments when your characters just start talking to you. I was probably on my fifth or sixth full revision of the manuscript when Kyle suddenly “said” those words to Bunny, and I realized I’d finally found the heart of the book.

LJ: What else do you hope readers take away from this story?

BR: You know, every reader sees a book through the lens of their own life experiences. So, I suspect readers will find a variety of take-aways. My main hope is that readers enjoy the book. And if they happen to be inspired to plant a pollinator garden at their own school or home – even just a small pot of native plants on their apartment balcony or windowsill – that would be lovely.

On Writing

LJ: What do you like best about being a writer?

BR: Oh boy, another difficult question. I very rarely find writing to be fun. More often it’s hard work. Trying to get a sentence to flow smoothly. Figuring out the logical steps of a conversation or a sequence of action. Developing an idea without smacking the reader over the head; finding the most evocative sensory details to bring a scene to life. I started writing Bunny in 2019 after my first book came out. It took some time to develop. But I’ve always enjoyed being alone with my thoughts – what my mother called daydreaming and my children call spacing-out-staring-at-nothing. I think it was E. L. Doctorow who said writers have to “re-dream the scene.” And I think this is what I like best about writing – the dreaming-it-up part.

Lightning Round

No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so. . . .

Coffee or tea?

Coffee.

Sunrise or sunset?

I do love seeing the sunrise. But since I’m a bit of a night owl and not at all a morning person, I don’t see too many sunrises. I’ve always loved the hour or so around sunset, when things start to go quiet and still. I also love the word that describes that hour – the gloaming.

Favorite city (besides the one you live in):

I’m not really a city person – I like being outside in nature too much. But I visited Paris for the first time last year, and it was fabulous.

Favorite childhood television show:

The Wonderful World of Disney. During the summer, Sunday evenings always presented a difficult choice: stay outside playing after dinner or come inside to watch Disney. No streaming shows in those days.

Favorite ice cream:

Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

I’d love to be able to talk with animals.

Favorite book from childhood:

I always loved animal books – Charlotte’s Web, Misty of Chincoteague, Black Beauty, My Friend Flicka. I particularly loved Rascal, by Sterling North.

LJ: How can readers obtain a copy of the book?

BR: The book can be preordered at your local independent bookstores, Bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon, or any place books are sold. Personalized copies can be shipped from Politics and Prose.

How to win!

For a chance to win an ARC of The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter, comment below! (Giveaway ends July 31, 2025, MIDNIGHT EST.) U.S. only, please. ARC will be mailed.

About the Author 

Barbara Carroll Roberts is a children’s author whose debut middle-grade novel, Nikki on the Line, was a finalist for two state children’s book awards and made numerous best-of-the-year lists. Her nonfiction picture book, A Rose Named Peace, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and received a starred review from School Library Journal.

Barbara has had many careers: farm worker, video producer, freelance writer, mom. All of which she draws on in her work writing for children. She grew up in northern California and holds a BA in English from Occidental College in Los Angeles and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has two grown children and now lives in Virginia with her husband, two cats, and one very goofy springer spaniel.

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MAGICAL STORIES WITH TRANS AND NONBINARY HEROES

By on July 16, 2025   /   Book Lists, Fiction  

Summertime!  A time to dream of adventures, heroes, magic, and saving the world – all ingredients found in a good book.

“Trans kids lives, not only matter, but their lives and stories are magical.” – Aiden Thomas

In this list, you will discover stories that feature trans and nonbinary characters who champion loyalty, self-worth, kindness, friendship and, especially, the power of community. These entertaining titles affirm the experience of queer and trans readers.

For an extensive list of titles featuring trans and queer heroes check out We Need Diverse BooksThey have launched MAGICAL STORIES FOR EVERYONE, a program offering trans and nonbinary communities Magic Care Packages containing a diverse magical book from their curated list, messages of hope from authors, and swag.

Consider supporting their efforts. Link: https://diversebooks.networkforgood.com/projects/251105-magical-stories-are-for-everyone

A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff, Penguin Random House, 2025.

A., with the help of a golem and a band of queer friends, is chosen to fight demons. The Save Our Sons and Daughters believe trans kids are going through a craze and resort to ‘alternative treatments’ to get their children ‘back’. As A. uncovers the larger motives behind the increasing anti-trans actions, he is joined with spirits from Jewish Mythology. A gripping adventure full of wisdom and surprises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ice Apprentices by Jacob North, Simon and Schuster, 2025.

Oswin Fields wants to prove he belongs in Tundra, the only stable place in the harsh world of ice and snow. He is transgender,  a stray, disliked by his fellow students at the Magic school, resented for using up scarce resources, and he’s got asthma. Overcoming these obstacles, Oswin is driven to battle the monsters threatening the community’s survival.

 

 

Splinter & Ash by Marieke Nijkamp, Harper Collins, 2025.

What do you get when a disabled princess teams up with a gender-nonconforming squire? A page-turning quest to save the kingdom. The entertainment factor of hidden tunnels and unexpected secrets is non-stop, while the themes of bravery and loyalty will stick with readers.

 

 

 

 

 

Wishbone by Justine Pucella Winans, Macmillan, 2024.
At first Ollie’s biggest challenge is dealing with his anger over begin bullied by his ex-BFF and coping with parents’ never ending fighting. After Ollie gets sucked into the Backward Place, a demonic realm, he meets Wishbone, the two-tailed cat who grants his wishes, but at a price. Readers wishing for a horror fantasy with a trans hero who, with the help of his sister and newly found friends, a magical cat, and battles against an evil wizard trying to take over the world, need look no further.

 

 

 

Tales From Beyond the Rainbow collected and Adapted by Pete Jordi Wood, Penguin 2025.

Ten LGBTQ+ tales as old as time span ten world cultures are told with sensitivity, knowledge, humor and love. These stories full of princes and princesses, sorcerers and soldiers, all feature positive portrayals of queer characters and delve into themes of transformation, identity and hope. Each story features artwork created by an artist whose heritage matches the country of their origin. A gorgeous, accessible book that encourages readers to seek out forgotten stories to retell and share.

 

 

 

 

 

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STEM Tuesday– Plants– Writing Tips & Resources

By on July 15, 2025   /   Plants, STEM Tuesday  

Hello, and welcome back to STEM Tuesday! I’m Stephanie.

My brain is still in April… I keep thinking about the mysterious intersection of nature and writing. Which identity comes first, the writer or the naturalist? Surely, not all naturalists are writers, and not all writers are naturalists. But where the intersection exists, what’s the cause? Do people first love nature, and that gives birth to their inner writers—or, because of and through their inborn writerly tendencies, do they appreciate nature? “Unanswerable” questions like this one are often very productive for young thinkers, bringing up concepts including correlation vs. causation and nature vs. nurture. If the admittedly dichotomous question isn’t flawed to begin with, the answers are personal anyway—and for me at least, maybe rooted in childhood exploring, reading, and writing. After all, exploring nature is not just something we do in a forest or park; it also happens on the page.

That said, if you haven’t yet, take a look at the books we’re featuring this month and, if you teach, classroom ideas. Today I’ll focus on writing tips and resources.

Writing Exercise: Invent a Cool Plant

One of my earliest memories of world-building was deciding that basketballs should grow on plants. As an adult, maybe that sounds like an impossible premise. But what if it weren’t impossible—what then? I imagined a forest with basketball-hoop trees and basketball bushes. I thought about what the insides of the balls contained (are they fruits?), and how they would have developed to self-inflate? Or maybe they grew deflated, like heavy-duty, rubbery balloons, and you had to pick them and blow them up? My 10-year-old mind was enthralled by the possibilities writing fiction offered.

Last week, Carla suggested the classroom activity of designing a deadly plant. This time, design a plant that sparks joy for you. It doesn’t have to be truly possible; it just has to be thinkable. If you can think of it, explore it.

    • What purpose does the plant serve in its environment?
    • How did the plant evolve, and what are its defense mechanisms?
    • What are its ideal soil conditions—or is it epiphytic (an “air plant”)?
    • If this plant were to really exist one day, maybe 2,000 years from now, which existing plants might contribute genetics?
    • What does it look like, smell like, taste like, and how have these factors impacted its evolution?

To read more about facts as fantasy seeds, revisit this post.

Writing Exercise: Making Facts Sticky!

For this non-fiction exercise, pick a plant to gather information about. Write down at least five things you already know about the plant, especially the most basic, common things. Got it? Great! Now it’s time to make those facts memorable—what Chip and Dan Heath call “sticky.” If you haven’t read their book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, this will be a brief introduction.

What goes into memorability? The Heath brothers say there are six main components: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotions, and stories. For example, keeping your facts simple means depending on things that readers already know, rather than overexplaining. Unexpectedness is important generally, even more so for kidlit audiences. Concreteness is physicality, something immediately evocative.

I’ve chosen roses as my example. Here’s one fact that’s not very memorable or interesting: “Mini roses can be as small as ¼ of an inch in diameter.” That’s great—but how small is that, in real life? Using comparisons can help by depending on ratios that readers already know. Here are some rewritten versions of the same fact:

  • Mini roses can be as small around as #2 pencil erasers.
  • Mini roses can be as small around as shirt buttons.
  • Mini rose buds can be smaller than a dime.
  • Mini rose buds can be smaller than an earbud.
  • Mini rose buds can be smaller than a piece of O-shaped cereal.

Each of them is better than the original, but the best version depends on your intended audience, down to whether it’s a grade school kid or a teenager. I like the last option the best. The cereal seems the most accurate, most immediately evocative, most familiar to kids, and maybe even somewhat emotional—kids love food! My second favorite is the earbud comparison.

For your own exercise, which plant did you choose, and what comparisons did you come up with? Whether you’re writing with kids, or for kids, I hope this has been productive for you. You may also like this origami plants book I came across for kids. Adding a kinesthetic element to lessons always seems to help with stickiness, in my opinion.

Thanks for reading. See you soon.

A nature-loving creative, Stephanie Jackson writes poems, articles, picture books, and middle-grade novels. Her nonfiction has been published in Cricket magazine and her poems have been published in various literary journals including Dirigible Balloon, Tiny Seed, Cosmic Daffodil, and Touchstones, where she’s been a contributing poetry editor. Professional affiliations include the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and The Authors Guild. She graduated from Utah Valley University in April 2025 with an undergraduate English creative writing degree. You can find her online at StephanieWritesforKids.com and on Goodreads.

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