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WNDMG Author Interview: Huda Al-Marashi on her Middle Grade Novel HAIL MARIAM

By on August 12, 2026   /   Articles, Author Interviews, Diversity, WNDMG   /   Leave a comment

Author Interview – Huda Al-Marashi

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Huda Al-Marashi today. Huda is a Middle grade author who has written many beautiful books, among which is a personal favorite of mine GROUNDED, and today we will be discussing her book: HAIL MARIAM which came out from Kokila/Penguin Kids on Feb 24, 2026

I adore reading Muslim middle grade, and the synopsis sounds so compelling. I am so excited to dive into this story and talk to Huda about this book!

Librarians and educators- you don’t want to miss this!

About HAIL MARIAM:

Hail Mariam is an interfaith Muslim take on Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret drawn from the author’s own experiences in Catholic school.

Sixth grade wasn’t supposed to be this complicated.

Iraqi American Mariam Hassan transfers to a local Catholic school and before her first day her parents remind her that she might be the first Muslim her classmates have ever met. No big deal, right? Just represent an entire religion while making new friends, keeping up with schoolwork, and figuring out who she is.

When Mariam’s younger sister, Salma, is diagnosed with a serious lung condition, her family faces endless doctor visits and sleepless nights. Mariam tries to lighten their burden and keep her own problems to herself—including the fact that she’s just been cast as Mary in the school’s Christmas nativity play.

Mariam wants to honor her faith and her new community, but she’s terrified of crossing a religious line. Can a Muslim girl be the lead in a Christian story? What will her family think? And why does she feel like every decision she makes represents all Muslims?

Mariam discovers that faith, much like friendships, isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. As she leans on her family, friends, and school community, she begins to see the power of interfaith cooperation and learns she doesn’t have to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Hail Mariam is a celebration of the beauty of finding common ground.

Interview with Huda:

I loved getting to talk to Huda about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her and Mariam as well.

SSS: What a wonderful premise of interfaith commonality. Can you tell us a little bit more about what inspired this story?

HA: This story is based on so many of my lived experiences. Like Mariam, I went to a Catholic middle school, but I also went on to an all-girls Catholic high school and a Jesuit university. As I got older, I came to appreciate the ways in which being immersed in another religious tradition shaped me, and it was something I wished more people had the opportunity to experience. Even when we have major theological differences, it helped me to see the patterns among people of faith and how we value similar things. It got me thinking that I could use stories from my middle school years to show how my interfaith education broadened my horizons and allowed me to see those commonalities.

SSS: Tell us about the character Mariam- is she similar or different personality-wise from you?  

HA: Mariam is the eldest daughter of Iraqi immigrants so we definitely share the personality traits that tend to come with that. At home, she’s wants to be a dutiful daughter and sister, and at school, she wants to be recognized as her teacher’s sunshine. And while much of that does resonate with me, Mariam is far more conflicted than I ever was. In order for me to show her transformation, I started her off in an almost exaggerated place of right and wrong, and she struggles with the decisions she makes in the book far more than I ever did. For example, she wrestles with being cast as Mary in the Christmas play, however when I was in middle school and was also offered the part of Mary, I immediately said, “No, I can’t,” and the decision was over in minutes. 

SSS: I hardly ever see Iraqi rep out in the world. Thank you for this book. Tell us more about how culture affects Mariam and her story?

HA: Thank you for recognizing that under-representation! With this book, I hoped to show how our religious and sectarian differences have been exploited. I chose to make Mariam’s parents mixed sect and her mom’s best friend Christian as a way to reflect the various groups in Iraqi society and to show how integrated these communities are. We have a much longer history of coexistence than the politically-motivated strife that we see represented in the media.

SSS: I love the cover! Can you tell us more about how the concept came about?

HA: I love it too! From the beginning, we knew wanted to integrate Christian and Muslim symbols, and my editor shared a few concept ideas with the cover artist, along with pictures of when I was in middle school. And then we went back and forth quite a bit to capture Mariam’s inquisitive look and spunk.

Link to order here.

Writing Process 

SSS: When did you start writing the story and was the process a long one?

HA: It was so long! I drafted a version of this during Covid when I set a goal for myself to write a chapter a week, but it was my first attempt at writing a middle grade novel and I knew it had problems that needed to be addressed. I put it aside while drafting GROUNDED, a collaborative novel I wrote with Aisha Saeed, S.K. Ali, and Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, but when that was finished, I had to face the draft again and I didn’t have the tools to fix it. Thankfully, I got into what was then known as the Highlights Foundation and is currently known as Boyds Mill Muslim Storytellers Fellowship, and I found the resources there to revise it into the draft that finally sold in 2024.

SSS: Are you a pantser or a plotter? And what helps you with finishing stories when you first start writing your drafts?

HA: I’m a bit of both. I’ll do a rough outline by hand and then try to feel my way through, drafting chapter by chapter, but once I have a draft, I go back to my paper and pen outlines to really think through what I’m actually doing and where I still need to go.

SSS: Any advice for fellow middle-grade authors looking to write MG?

HA: Since I was making the switch from writing for adults to writing for middle grade audiences, I had a lot of work to do on the voice. It was one of those things that I sincerely thought I was addressing in each revision, but my early drafts were far too serious and I would sometimes slip into a more adult voice. It wasn’t until my agent suggested that I lean into the humor that something clicked into place for me. I think that some levity will always be welcome in middle grade books. A little humor goes a long way!

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Do you have more books coming?

HA: I have one more middle grade on the way. I know it will tackle the themes that I’m always drawn to in my work, identity, faith, and family, but it’s still in its early stages so I’m not quite sure how it’s all going to show up!

 

Thank you Huda for joining us and I hope readers and librarians enjoy your book! I know I am so excited to dive in!!!

About Huda:

Huda Al-Marashi writes for both children and adults. She is a coauthor of the middle grade novel Grounded, which won the Walter Dean Myers Honor award, and the author of the memoir First Comes Marriage: My Not-So-Typical American Love Story. Her other writing has appeared in various anthologies and news outlets, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and Al Jazeera. She is a fellow and mentor with the Muslim Storytellers Program at Boyds Mill, formerly known as the Highlights Foundation, and she lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and three children.

Website: www.hudaalmarashi.com

INSTAGRAM: @huda.almarashi

 

 

 

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Author Interview – Tiffany D. Jackson – Ghosts in the Night

By on August 5, 2026   /   Articles, Author Interviews, New Releases   /   Leave a comment

Headshot of Tiffany D. JacksonLast summer, Tiffany D. Jackson published her middle-grade debut Blood in the Water, which became an instant New York Times bestseller, debuting at #4 and has spent a total of 10 weeks on the list. The novel’s success continued this spring when Tiffany received the 2026 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Book. Now, the “Queen of Thrillers” returns with her sophomore middle-grade mystery—this time set beneath the moss-draped trees of Savannah, Georgia.

 

 

Ghost in the Night Cover with a girl holding a lamp on a haunted street

In GHOST IN THE NIGHT, Jackson transports readers to Savannah, famously known as America’s Most Haunted City, where twelve-year-old Harmony’s fascination with ghosts turns chilling as she’s pulled into a missing-persons case that will expose deadly secrets.

Harmony arrives in Savannah, GA for the summer with her musician father while still dealing with the unresolved emotions around her grandmother’s passing. As they travel from city to city, Harmony insists on one non- negotiable activity everywhere they go: a ghost tour. Desperate to prove that ghosts are real, she hopes evidence of the supernatural will mean her loved ones are never truly gone.

But when the ghost tour in Savannah leads Harmony and her new friends into a dangerous mystery, what begins as a search for spirits quickly becomes something more sinister. The suspicious death of a beloved pillar of Savannah’s Black community, coupled with the disappearance of a young Black boy has everyone on edge. As Harmony digs deeper, she uncovers a tangled web of lies and dark secrets that someone is willing to kill over to keep hidden.

Packed with Jackson’s signature suspenseful storytelling and fast-paced prose, GHOST IN THE NIGHT thoughtfully
explores Savannah’s rich Black history, underscoring everything that unfolds and propels Harmony directly to the center
of the mystery…and the danger.

 

I’ve been on a few ghost tours in the south, and I never grow tired of them. There’s something about the atmosphere and the history! What drew you to include these ghost tours as an inspiration for Ghost in the Night?

TJ: It’s one of my favorite things to do when I visit new cities. Ghost tours give a gritty realistic background. As I always like to say, you can learn a lot from the dead.  

The ghost-hunting tools you mention are top notch!  What kind of research did you do for Ghost in the Night and ghosthunting?

TJ: I went down to Savannah for a week to meet with some experts and do additional ghost tours. I had some pretty spooky/creepy moments. The things I do to write a good book!

I always appreciate it when middle graders are active in solving problems! Tell us a little about Harmony, the main character, and her desires to solve multiple problems in Ghost in the Night?

TJ: Isn’t it fun watching kids solve the world’s problems? They have such a raw unfiltered view, that gives them a clear picture on what they should be looking  for. They’re always eager for information and facts, which makes them a wealth of knowledge.

In your author’s note you mention that you experienced a haunting! Maybe you want to save that story for another time, but I think our readers would love just a couple of details…

TJ: I was in a haunted bar, learning about ghost hunting equipment and while I was chatting, my EMF reader went missing right in front of me. We later found it downstairs. We have no idea how it got there. 

What would you say is the easiest part and the hardest part of writing a mystery?

TJ: The easiest part is coming up with the pitch! The hardest part is landing the pitch, making it believable and satisfying for readers of all ages. 

What are some of your favorite middle grade novels and why do you like them so much? 

TJ: Wait Till Helen Comes was one of my all time favorite books! Of course anything RL Stine wrote. More recently, I really loved the Track Series by Jason Reynolds and The Last Resort Erin Entrada Kelly. 

Now that this book is out in the world, what are some next steps for you? 

TJ: Coming up with the next book, taking time to interact with readers, maybe read a book just for fun.  

Is there anything else you want to share about Ghost in the Night for our audience of teachers, librarians, and middle grade authors? 

TJ: Even though it says “Ghost” in the title, don’t be fooled. This is definitely a mystery (with a little spooky on the side). 

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August New Releases

By on August 3, 2026   /   Articles, New Releases   /   Leave a comment

August is a good month for reading, and  we’ve got you covered with some fun New Releases.

 

 

Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. Jackson 

From mega-bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson comes this highly anticipated follow-up to her Edgar Award-winning, instant middle-grade bestseller Blood in the Water.

Ghost in the Night is another spine-tingling, can’t-put-it-down murder mystery, this time set in America’s Most Haunted City.

Savannah, Georgia, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is a place rich in history…and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony Roundtree’s interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories…but isn’t sure what’s real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?

With two new friends, Harmony sets out to investigate… and stumbles upon clues leading to an unsolved murder. The deeper she digs, the more Harmony realizes that what she saw on the ghost tour might be connected to a shocking crime. But making connections can be dangerous–even more dangerous than ghosts.

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another action-packed mystery full of surprises and secrets that will give readers goosebumps.

 

 

 

Level Up by Daka Hermon

From the author of Hide and Seeker comes a new thriller where an iconic childhood game turns creepy.

Keenan is used to running. He loves it. He is good at it. He is a track star, after all. Now he and his mother are escaping his father, trying to start a new life in Tennessee.

But he has never been on the run like this before. This new town has monsters of its own. The students in his school seem to be under some sort of trance, and Keenan is the only one who isn’t affected. Which means he is the only one who can do anything about it.

It’s time for Keenan to stop running and face his fears.

He cannot let the monsters win.

 

 

 

 

 

The Third Period Comeback by E.K. Johnston

New York Times bestseller E. K. Johnston’s middle-grade debut is an utterly charming, witty, and gloriously inclusive magic-tinged caper in the Canadian wilderness.

Hayley Rilko was born to play hockey—and cursed to ruin whatever team she plays for. As long as she’s still a kid, the curse’s magic doesn’t stick, but everyone knows her time is running out. The two things Hayley has on her side are her family–four generations of it, all carrying the same curse she does–and one last summer vacation in the Ontario Northwoods, where her great grandfather disappeared and the curse began.

As the clock runs down and the magical mysteries pile up, Hayley realizes that just following the evidence isn’t going to be enough. She’s going to have to talk to someone who has the information she needs—even if it means raising the dead. With her cousins on her team, Hayley sets out to do what no one else has been able to: find her great grandfather’s body and break the curse, no matter what it takes.

 

 

 

 

Who Circled the Globe in Seventy-Two Days? Nellie Bly:  A Who HQ Graphic Novel By Melanie Gillman (Author), Rebecca Mock (Illustrated by)

Follow trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly on a record-breaking trip around the world in this exciting graphic novel about one of America’s first female investigative reporters.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling Who Was? series!

Discover how Nellie Bly made headlines in 1889 with one of her most iconic and sensational stunts—a world record–setting race around the globe. A story of daring, adventure, and pushing boundaries, this graphic novel highlights how Nellie Bly challenged traditional gender norms and helped pave the way for women in journalism. Atmospheric full-color illustrations bring this sharp narrative to life, immersing readers in Nellie’s globe-trotting exploits.

 

 

 

 

The Invisibles by Holly Kowitt

For fans of The Breakfast Club who wished every member was a nerd, this new middle grade novel stars a totally uncool boy who gets adopted by a group of other uncool kids in a bid to take over their school.

Jimmy Stern can’t catch a break.

As the new kid at school, he just wants to keep his head down and read his favorite Weird Walt comics. But when he accidentally drops Kyle Scott’s phone in the toilet, his social status goes down the drain. Being targeted by the most popular guy in school sucks.

Or, at least, it did suck, until Jimmy receives a note from a mysterious group of students called The Invisibles. Social outcasts like himself, The Invisibles have a plan: elect Jimmy as Art Week Secretary and stop Kyle’s favorite actor, Bayleigh White, from visiting their school. Jimmy quickly agrees, realizing that he can ask Weird Walt to do the Art Week visit instead.

But as campaign tactics spiral out of control, Jimmy will have to decide what he’s willing to do to get even. Smart, fast-paced, and laugh out loud funny, this is a must read for any kid (or adult) who has felt uncool.

 

 

Little Monsters by Máire Roche

In this modern supernatural middle grade retelling of the beloved classic Little Women, the March sisters have a monstrous secret Meg will do anything to protect—especially with another beast lurking in the woods threatening to expose them.

Meg March and her three sisters are monsters. No, really. Meg has teeth that are a little too sharp. Jo gets furry under the full moon. Beth goes night flying on wings that are impossible to hide under her sweaters. And Amy? Well, don’t let her near a body of water or she’ll start sprouting her mermaid’s tail.

Meg is sure their foster mom, Marmee, wouldn’t like any of this if she knew. And Jo’s best friend Laurie, the nice boy next door, would run screaming. To make matters worse, Meg’s small town outside of Salem is on edge. A vicious beast has been spotted in the forest, and Farmer Bhaer believes it’s responsible for his missing chickens. Meg is sure to be blamed if anyone realizes she’s a monster in disguise. And the closer it gets to Halloween, the surer the town is that something evil is hiding in the forest.

Meg doesn’t always remember what she gets up to at night, and sometimes, she wakes alone in a mossy part of the forest and has to find her way back. With John Brooke determined to find out just what Meg is hiding and locals working to uncover the monsters in their midst, Meg must find the culprit herself—or risk losing the little home she’s found with her sisters.

 

 

No Place on Earth by Andrea Beatriz Arango 

From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, comes a moving novel with a touch of magic, where two boys find themselves in each other’s dreams and slowly help one another face the real world.

Since moving to Yellowstone National Park for his mom’s job, Gustavo Santos Costa has had a lot on his mind.

  • For instance: bison stampedes. Did you know that bison can run three times faster than the average person?
  • Also: Why do people always stand so close to boiling hot springs?!
  • Finally: the bad dreams. Why have they only gotten worse since the move?

And that’s all before Gus somehow meets his classmate Kordell inside his dreams. While Gus avoids sleeping (and nightmares) at all costs, Kordell finds that dreams seem to be a welcome escape from his real life . . . until one day, they’re no longer enough. Gus may be the only person who can help Kordell. But when most things already feel too big to take on, how can Gus find the courage to be there for his friends?

In this powerful novel from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, two boys confront their fears—and their dreams—to save themselves and each other.

 

 

Secrets at Sparhawk Point by Anna Rose Johnson

To draw tourists to their declining coastal town, a group of children claim to have seen a mythic creature from Ojibwe legend, the storm-monster Mishipeshu. But when their plan backfires, they’ll need to convince everyone the beast is only make-believe. But. . . what if it isn’t?

1943. Sparhawk Point, Michigan may be a small town, but it’s home. For the Swedish Ahlstrom girls, it’s the only place they’ve ever known—a place they may have to leave if their father’s church can’t find more parishioners. The Ojibwe Robicheaux boys are struggling, too: their father is off at war, and a lack of tourists means no income from their two rental cottages. These kids can’t bear the thought of leaving. . . so they’ll have to make new residents come to them, and fast.

After spotting an unknown object in the water, they find their solution. Drawing on inspiration from Ojibwe stories of the mysterious Mishipeshu—the riser of storms on Lake Superior—the children spread stories of their very own “American Loch Ness monster” to bring curious visitors to their shores. But their plan works too well! People become afraid to visit. To save their families, they’ll need to convince everyone that the creature isn’t real. . . even if that may prove to be their biggest lie yet.

Secrets at Sparhawk Point is a timeless summer adventure from acclaimed Ojibwe voice Anna Rose Johnson, whose first two books—The Star that Always Stays and The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry—have received an avalanche of awards, nominations, and media spots. This is another flawless, insightful, and glowing novel that marries a Native American perspective with myth, history, and a classic storytelling voice.

 

See anything you like? Let us know in the comments.

 

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