Blog

STEM Tuesday– Forests/Temperate Trees — Book List

By STEM Tuesday on January 6, 2026 / Forests/Temperate Trees, STEM Tuesday

Take a walk through a number of different forests across the globe and join scientists and naturalists as they discover many amazing secrets of some remarkable trees. And learn how we can all help protect these important guardians of our globe.

Can You Hear the Trees Talking? Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest by Peter Wohlleben

This book is a walk through the woods in seven chapters. Forest explorers learn how trees work, how they grow, animals that live in and around them, and more. Each spread examines a single question: How do trees drink? Do trees make babies? Can they talk? “Look” sidebars invite readers to notice something, and “Try This” activities provide hands-on STEM activities to explore the forest around you.

Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate by Melissa Koch

An engaging and conversational older middle grade book highlighting various tree scientists and their fascinating and surprising discoveries about the trees’ ability to communicate with each other. Using an underground system of soil fungi and other methods, trees help each other survive and thrive by transferring resources, sending defense signals, and communicating. It also explores our need for the forests and how we can help them.

The Magnificent Book of Trees by Tony Russell

An oversize, browsable book that will have kids not only turning pages, but turning the book to better study the illustrations of three dozen trees from around the world. Intriguing facts reveal the secret lives of each tree, along with a quick “fact file” box.

The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of the Natural World) by Jen Green

This browsable book opens with a map showing where trees live in the world. Five sections explore what a tree is, their flowers, fruits, and seeds, tree habitats, their partnerships with other species, and the complexities of human-tree relationships.

Deep Roots: How Trees Sustain Our Planet (Orca Footprints, 8) by Nikki Tate

‎This book explores forests through their interactions with four essential elements: earth, air, water, and fire all the while celebrating the central role they play in our human lives. Margin notes include “Forest Facts” and “Try This” activities.

A Walk in the Boreal Forest by Rebecca L Johnson

A great evaluation of the largest forest on earth through a fun mix of text, stunning photographs (with lyrical captions), and illustrated ‘notebook’ sidebars. It explores the lives and interactions of the flora and fauna, as well as the unique climate of this forest. Back matter includes a call to action and additional resources.

Forest Ecosystems (Earth’s Ecosystems) by Tammy Gagne

Divided into 12 sections, this book takes a close look at different kinds of forests around the world, as well as the animals living in them. The final two sections outline human impacts on forests and how people care for forests.

Forests in Danger (A True Book: The Earth at Risk) by Jasmine Ting

From the tropics to the poles, this book looks at three forest biomes and what makes each unique. A fourth chapter examines threats to forests, from invasive species and deforestation to fires, and shares ways kids can help with forest conservation. There’s also a great explainer about carbon capture.

The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang

Margaret Lowman had been a leaf detective since she was a young girl. Even though most people thought there was no room for a woman in science, she went to university and conducted research in the rainforest. But to study leaves she needed to find a way to get into the treetops. Because, she said, “We had already been to the moon and back and nobody had been to the top of the tree.”

Activity/Field guides:

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees by Patricia Daniels

Introductory pages include “what is a tree?” and provide lessons for recognizing leaves. Each tree entry includes a photo of the entire tree and a close-up of leaf or needle, flowers, nuts, cones, or fruit. Special features and “fun facts” make this more than just an ordinary field guide.

Treecology, 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Trees and Forests by Monica Russo

Starting with the basics, this book introduces what a tree is and how scientists have sorted them into plant families. Did you know that apple trees are in the same family as roses? From forest basics to food webs, this book will inspire kids to get to know the trees around them on a deeper level.

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More (with Alisha Gabriel) and Diet for a Changing Climate (with Christy Mihaly). Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com

Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the 2018 & 2017 Cybils Awards, and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.

New Releases for January 2026!

By Karen Latchana Kenney on January 5, 2026 / Book Lists, New Releases

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 to her—the mail. She loves the mail so much that she hopes to become a mail carrier herself one day. But her dreams of delivering birthday cards, thank-you notes, and love letters come crashing down when she’s mistaken for the notorious Two Gum Tilly, a bandit rumored to be stealing mail for as long as folks can recall.

Now an outlaw herself, Willa realizes the only way to clear her name is to bring the real crook to justice. But when a chance encounter introduces her to the Gumshoe Gang, a group of runaways looking to right the wrongs of the letter-looting thief, she finds that human connection might be her only path to freedom. Can Willa clear her name and revive her dreams of postal glory, or has she stamped her last letter . . . forever?

The Moon Without Stars bookcover

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, Luna is somehow swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she’s going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu

Auden “Denny” Greene is happiest with her friend Runa, creating stories set in their imaginary land of Sorrowfeld, where princesses rule and cursed dragons are a constant danger. But now that they are turning twelve, Runa seems ready to give up on the magic of Sorrowfeld just when Denny needs it the most…

Princess Auden is the last remaining princess of Sorrowfeld—and on her twelfth birthday, she will be expected to vanquish the dragons that took her family. Only, when a swarm attacks her birthday celebration, all she can do is run…

But suddenly. Auden is in Denny’s world. And Denny is in Auden’s.

The two Audens have switched places. No one but them has any idea. And now, each girl must come into her own power in order to fight the other’s dragons.

Fustuk: A Graphic Novel bookcover

Fustuk: A Graphic Novel by Robert Mgrdich Apelian

Inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, this graphic novel follows the youngest of three dysfunctional siblings who strike a magical deal to save their mother’s life.

Seventeen-year-old Katah Fustukian has always felt like the odd one out in his family of chefs. Unlike his older siblings, he is useless in the kitchen, and too young to have known their late father—a legendary Hye chef who’d made a name for himself in the Pars Empire.

But with his mom’s illness worsening, Katah hopes that his vision-like dreams are a sign of magic stirring within him—especially after they lead him to Az, a powerful div with some mysterious connection to his family. In an attempt to save their mom’s life, he and his siblings strike a deal: Az’s help in exchange for a dish that rivals their father’s. But after the siblings clash over what to cook, Katah will have to make sense of his magic and family history—and wager far more than a single meal to meet Az’s demands…

Nadia Islam, on the Record by Adiba Jaigirdar

A curious and competitive girl travels to celebrate Ramadan with her family in Bangladesh, where she learns about the country’s climate crisis—and the true meaning of her favorite holiday.

Even though Nadia Islam is excited to meet her cousins on her summer trip to Bangladesh, she is disappointed not to be celebrating her first Ramadan fasting alongside her best friend, Yasmin. Then again, she just might find the news story that will get her picked to be her school paper’s editor-in-chief!

As soon as she lands, Nadia realizes she has a lot to learn about Bangladesh. Fortunately, her favorite aunt (and fellow journalist) is spending the summer researching the disastrous flooding in the region—and she just might need Nadia’s help to get the inside scoop about the country’s climate dangers.

Meanwhile, Nadia’s cousins are almost as competitive as she is, and suggest a contest to see who can keep the most fasts. Between her journalism and her determination to win the Ramadan Race, Nadia is sure to have the best Ramadan ever—right?

Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game by Kadir Nelson

Basketball has evolved by leaps and bounds since its origin over 125 years ago, but what remains is the passion of the players, the heat of competition, and supreme strategy and athleticism on the court. In this visual tour de force, celebrated artist Kadir Nelson weds his love for the game with showstopping paintings that bring its heart-pounding history to life.

The sage voice of an elder player narrates the journey from the early days of the slow game of “basket ball” to today’s dazzlingly athletic and fast-paced sport. Engaging profiles of revolutionary players–including Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry–are featured, along with notable quotes from major figures of the game. With each breathtaking page turn, fans young and old will learn the gripping story of the all-American game and meet its iconic, indomitable heroes.

Troubled Waters: A River’s Journey Toward Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford

Some say water is the mightiest force on earth.
But the yearning for freedom is even stronger.

For centuries, the Alabama River has been a witness. Buried in its riverbed are countless fossils and artifacts-as well as souls, secrets, and stories.

Troubled Waters brings history to life through the voice of this mighty waterway, from the earliest settlers on its shores to 1965, when Black citizens in Selma rose up like a river to demand their right to vote.

Celebrated creators Carole Boston Weatherford and Bryan Collier show that the Alabama River is much more than a witness to history. It is also a source of strength, keeping hope afloat through times of trouble; and a rising tide, coursing on a journey toward justice.

Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America by Sean Qualls

Fros, Fades, and Braids seeks to tell the story of Black hair in America, starting with Madam C.J. Walker and hair-straightening, and ending with what’s happening with Black hair today! The art includes portraits of some of the key players in the creation of the Black hair industry, as well as some of the personalities that made notable styles like the conk, the Afro, and the Jheri curl famous.

Hair care for Black folks is a way of declaring one’s freedom of self-expression and personal identity. Fros, Fades, and Braids is my love letter to Black hair and is for anyone who wants to know more about it!

After all, hair is the highest part of the body and the closest to heaven.
And since it sits all the way up there,
some people consider their hair
a crown,

An empowering history of creativity, bravery, and pride—thoughtfully written and illustrated by award-winning artist Sean Qualls— an inspiring and educational book for children of all races.

Maple for the People bookcover

Maple for the People by Kate McGovern

Maple is running for president of the sixth grade against popular Sonia Shah in this contemporary story of friendship, family, and community action, a follow-up to Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen set in a dyslexia-friendly font.

Maple has made it to sixth grade at last, and her friend Jack thinks she’d make a great class president. At first, Maple’s mind isn’t on politics—she feels her old friends drifting away, her family can’t afford a new rent increase, and her favorite historic tree is taken down by the city, leaving only a stump with hundreds of rings. But when Maple realizes she might be able to achieve something good, like starting a community garden, she jumps into the race. When a fire sweeps through a local building, Maple’s priorities change. What if her class could help the families displaced by the disaster? Unfortunately, campaigning on the idea of giving away the class fund isn’t too popular, especially when Maple’s opponent, Sonia Shah (who has a cool new haircut), promises new tablets for everyone instead. Maple is further disheartened by anonymous attacks on her struggles with reading. But she is determined to see this campaign through, win or lose, with a slogan that shows her truest heart: Maple for the people!

Happy reading from all of us at the blog!

Author Spotlight: Megan E. Bryant

By Melissa Roske on January 2, 2026 / Articles, Author Interviews

Photo credit: Kris Fulk Photography

Today, let’s give a warm Mixed-Up Files welcome to Megan E. Bryant, author of Abby in Between: Face Forward, the second installment in the Abby in Between series. Praised by Kirkus as “a winning sequel that sees the welcome return of a flawed yet big-hearted protagonist,” the novel is available now from Penguin Workshop.

But first…

Abby in Between: Face Forward – A Summary

Big things are heading Abby McAdams’ way: her eleventh birthday, fifth-grade graduation, and the end of elementary school. There’s also the end-of-year overnight camping trip, and she can’t wait to practice her science skills. Oh, and there’s another thing. Abby suspects she’s going to get her period any day now, but after a few false alarms she’s not quite sure. Can Abby navigate new emotions, friendship dynamics, and her changing body, all while figuring out what kind of person she wants to be?

Q&A with Megan E. Bryant

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Megan. Huge congratulations on the publication of Abby in Between: Face Forward!

MEB: Thank you so much! I’m so excited to chat with you about Abby and all things middle grade!

MR: What was your inspiration behind Abby McAdams? I know she’s a lot like your daughter, Clara, and a lot like you when you were a preteen. Can you elaborate?

MEB: I always envisioned Abby as an “every girl” character, hoping to write about her early puberty experience in a way that would be relatable and reassuring for girls embarking on their own puberty journeys. One of the things I love most about Abby is how deeply she feels emotions. There’s an intensity to the way Abby experiences the world—from her excitement about big milestones in her life to her compassion for animals, the environment, and people in need—that has endeared her to me.

Abby McAdams vs. Margaret Simon

MR: Abby has a very distinctive voice, reminiscent of another preteen protagonist, Margaret Simon, in Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1974 novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. How are the two girls similar? In which ways are they different?

MEB: I think both Abby and Margaret are curious about puberty and how their bodies are changing, and they express this curiosity in very natural and normal ways. Margaret is older than Abby—part of the inspiration for writing the Abby books is that puberty tends to start earlier now—and as a result, I think that Margaret grapples with more mature topics. I also think both characters’ puberty experiences are affected by the times in which they live and cultural norms.

That’s SOOOO (NOT) Awkward

MR: Speaking Judy Blume, you write about puberty in a similar, straightforward way, without shame or embarrassment (yay!). What’s the secret to handling potentially awkward topics, from pubic hair and body odor to vaginal discharge and periods, in such a no-nonsense way? I’m sure your readers are beyond grateful! (I know I would have been as a tween. 🙂)

MEB: From the start, I knew I needed to write these books with unflinching honesty—or I shouldn’t bother writing them at all. So anything that made me feel squeamish or cringey was something I needed to work through on my own. It became an opportunity to examine any negative messages I’d absorbed about girls’ and women’s bodies and overcome them, while remembering that the whole range of emotions and reactions to puberty are completely normal. I figured that if a topic were embarrassing for me, an adult woman, to write about, then there would probably be readers who were embarrassed to be experiencing it, and I owed it to them to face it with honesty and compassion.

Dear 11-year-old Megan…

MR: As a follow-up, what advice would you give to 11-year-old Megan?

MEB: While I was deep in the process of writing Face Forward, something remarkable happened: my husband developed an old roll of film from my childhood, and there was a picture of me at my 11^th birthday on it—the same age as Abby. I looked at the image of my younger self with so much tenderness. Incredibly, I wasn’t nearly as ugly, awkward, or messy as I’d felt at the time. So I think I’d tell 11-year-old Megan, “Go easy on yourself. You’re doing just fine.”

Writing about Climate Change

MR: In addition to stressing over the onset of her period, Abby is concerned about the state of the environment, including climate change and global

warming. This is a topic on many middle graders’ minds. What’s your approach to making such a weighty, often confusing subject palatable for young readers?

MEB: Many years ago, I attended a talk by Joyce Carol Oates, who was asked about writing for young people. She said, “You’ve got to give them hope,” which resonated deeply with me. It’s a message that imbues all of my writing. I found the global warming sections of this book to be perhaps even more challenging to write than the puberty ones, because the problem is grave, and young people will inherit a crisis worsened by the inactivity of prior generations. But there is hope, which can inspire us to work toward a solution.

MR: One more Abby question: Abby is desperate for a kitten, and she comes up with a detailed plan to get one. This is relatable to many preteens who ask for pets. Did you have a pet as a child? Do you allow your kids to have one (or maybe more than one 🙂)?

MEB: Goodness, yes! Growing up, I had pet rabbits and cats. We currently have four cats and two dogs. I always say our house is full, but my kids know that if they find an animal that needs a home, I’ll try to make it work—which is how we ended up with six pets, ha!

Advice for Writers

MR: Let’s move on to your writing career. It says in your bio that you’ve written 250 books for children. What is the secret to being so prolific? Also, what advice would you give to new writers? What about to more established ones?

MEB: I’m profoundly grateful for every writing opportunity I’ve had; for every idea that evolved from nebulous thought to printed book; and for every reader who has read my words. I’m not sure if there is a secret to being prolific besides making it a priority to write whenever you can. I often tell my writing students that they are the only ones who can prioritize their writing in a world that makes so many other demands on their time.

I’d tell new writers to persevere above all else—keep dreaming, keep plotting, keep reading, keep learning, keep writing, keep revising, and keep trying! For established writers, I’d encourage them to try mixing up their writing routine. Almost all of my books have been written linearly, but for a variety of reasons, I wrote Face Forward completely out of order, in much shorter writing sessions than I was used to. When it was time to read the manuscript from start to finish, I was really worried that it would be a jumbled mess of disconnected scenes. To my surprise, though, it flowed well, and I learned a good lesson about adapting my established writing process.

The Plot Thickens

MR: What is your writing process like, Megan? Do you have a specific routine or word-count goals? Any writing rituals? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

MEB: I am 100% a plotter! I’ll often spend months thinking about a new project before writing a single word. My outlines are usually 10-15 pages or more, and I use them like a roadmap to guide each writing session. As much as I love a detailed outline, though, I also have a notebook close at hand where I write all the new ideas and storylines that pop into my mind as I’m writing.

As for writing rituals, I keep a bottle of nail polish on my desk and when I get stuck on a sentence or paragraph, I’ll paint my nails. So if you see me wearing nail polish—especially if just a few of my nails are polished—chances are I’m working on a manuscript!

MR: What’s next on your writing agenda? More Abby books, I hope…

MEB: I’m always ready to revisit Abby and the McAdams family! Right now, I’m working on two projects—a family comedy focused on the misadventure of two brothers, and a futuristic trilogy. They couldn’t be more different, so no matter what mood I’m in, I have a project that suits it!

Lightning Round!

MR: Last thing: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Chocolate

Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon

MG authors that inspire you? Madeleine L’Engle, Dana Levy, C.S. Lewis, Raina Telgemeier, Lois Lowry, Katherine Applegate, Jason Reynolds—I could go on and on!

Most cringe-worthy tween moment? Running into my eighth-grade science teacher while I was buying pads—horrors!

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Hard pass—you’ll find me hiding under the bed with my pets when it happens.

Superpower? Listmaking!

Favorite place on earth? Home is where my heart is.

You’re stranded on a desert island, with only three items in your possession. What are they? Practically: a solar-powered communication device, a water purification system, and sunblock. Whimsically: my knitting, a solar-powered fridge full of chocolate and coffee, and . . . sunblock!

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Megan—and congratulations on the publication of Abby in Between: Face Forward. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know MUF readers will too.

MEB: Thank you so much for your kind words! I really enjoyed answering these thought-provoking questions.

All About Megan

Megan E. Bryant has written more than 250 children’s books for ages ranging from babies to teens. Her most recent books include the middle grade novel series, ABBY IN BETWEEN; the CITIZEN BABY board book series, co-authored with her husband, historian Daniel O. Prosterman; the four-book chapter book series THE TINY GENIUSES; and the Kirkus starred and Best Young Adult Book of the Year GLOW. She lives in Winston-Salem, NC with her family.

Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines and selected jokes for Reader’s Digest. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.