New Releases

February New Releases

February is here! That means 2025 is well on it’s way and it’s time to stock up the To Be Read pile with some fabulous new middle-grade reads.

It’s an extra special New Release’s month here at the Mixed-Up Files as two of our own have books coming out. Rosanne Parry’s latest, A WOLF CALLED FIRE, releases February 4th, and Sydney Dunlap’s RACING THE CLOUDS is out February 18. Happy book birthday, Rosanne and Sydney!!

Now, let’s get rolling with this month’s New Releases.

 

A Wolf Called Fire: A Voice of the Wilderness Novel by Rosanne Parry (Author) and Mónica Armiño (Illustrator)

The stand-alone companion to Rosanne Parry’s New York Times bestseller A Wolf Called Wander tells the wilderness survival story of the wolf pup known as Warm and is illustrated in black and white throughout. This Voice of the Wilderness Novel features extensive back matter, including a map.

Warm is the smallest pup, the one his father calls the heart of the pack. But all Warm sees is his bigger brothers Sharp and Swift, even his sisters Pounce and Wag, winning all the wrestling matches. Just as Warm is finding his place, enemy wolves destroy and scatter the pack. Warm helps lead the pups away from the fight, only to find himself alone with four pups to defend and feed. Can he be both the heart and the head of a new pack? Does he have to choose the aggressive leadership style of his father and brothers? Or is there another way?

A Wolf Called Fire is a stand-alone companion novel to A Wolf Called Wander. It’s inspired by Wolf 8, a real Yellowstone wolf who was the smallest of his pack and constantly bullied by his bigger brothers. Wolf 8 survived a tumultuous first year and grew up to be a different sort of leader—one who fought many rival wolves to submission but never killed any. He had a rare talent for mentoring young wolves and became the patriarch of the largest and most successful pack in Yellowstone by choosing a more collaborative and generous leadership style. Features black-and-white illustrations throughout and extensive back matter, including a map.

 

 

 

Racing the Clouds by Sydney Dunlap

If thirteen-year-old Sage had done one thing differently that day last November, everything would be fine. Only she didn’t, so she and her dad had to leave Philadelphia for a new life in middle-of-nowhere Virginia. Her dad has never actually said he blames her for what happened, but how could he not?

Sage is determined to push it all out of her mind, but then, just before summer vacation, she hears from the grandparents she’s never met. They want her to visit, and she realizes this could be her chance to mend the rift that’s kept everybody apart.

When she meets Grandmother Marion, though, Sage is sure her trip is headed for disaster. Except she wasn’t counting on making a new friend or rescuing a sweet stray dog. With them by her side, maybe she can find the courage to face what she’s been avoiding all along.

From the award-winning author of It Happened on Saturday comes a heartfelt and empowering story that explores the complexity of family relationships, the value of forgiveness, and how to find your way forward in a tough situation with resilience and hope.

 

 

Sweet Valley Twins: Sneaking Out by Francine Pascal (Author) Nicole Andelfinger (Adapted by) Claudia Aguirre (Illustrator)

 

The Sweet Valley Twins are ready to rock out as the hottest band comes to town…too bad they don’t have permission to go! Will they sneak out to dance the night away or will it all fall apart? Find out in the next installment of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series!

Everyone at Sweet Valley Middle School is going to the biggest concert ever…everyone except twins, Jessica and Elizabeth! Their favorite band is back in town but no matter how much they beg their parents they can’t get permission to go. Elizabeth is ready to sulk and stay home, but Jessica refuses to give up hope. She’ll see this band even if it means lying or leaving her sister behind.

Caught between her parents and her twin will Elizabeth sneak out with Jessica? Or will she blow the whole plan out of the water?

Get ready to rock, laugh, and cheer for the unstoppable duo as they navigate the challenges of friendship, family, and following their dreams in the next Sweet Valley Twins graphic novel.

 

 

On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim

For fans of Disney’s GO FIGURE, a laugh-out-loud, heartfelt dual POV sibling-rivalry story by acclaimed author Jessica Kim

Twelve-year-old fraternal twins Phoebe and Dexter Bae are polar opposites in every way except for their love of the ice. Phoebe is hyperfocused on pairs figure skating, and Dex loves his hockey team. But when Phoebe’s partner injures his knee just two months before competitions and Dex gets cut from his team in favor of a new hotshot goalie from Canada, they’re both left spinning.

With their skating dreams dashed, their mother suggests that Dex fill in as Phoebe’s doubles partner. It’s a hard sell–the twins haven’t been close since their father passed away two years ago. For Dex, working with a perfectionist like Phoebe would be a challenge, but if it means he’d improve his skating technique enough to get back on the hockey team–and he’d have something to keep his mind off his dad–it’d be worth it. Phoebe isn’t thrilled either, but what choice does she have if she wants to bring home the gold, something that would’ve made her dad happy?

Can these siblings skate past their differences toward victory?

 

 

Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz

Max Bretzfeld is back in Berlin–as a British spy. His most dangerous mission is about to begin in the much-anticipated sequel to Adam Gidwitz’s instant bestseller Max in the House of Spies.

Max is on a mission.

Well, two missions.

One has been assigned by his British spymasters: Infiltrate the Funkhaus, the center of Nazi radio and propaganda.

The other they have forbidden: Find his parents.

Max Bretzfeld was willing to do anything to return to Germany, even become a British spy. Training complete and forged papers in hand, the radio wunderkind’s missions have begun. But nothing is as he expected. His parents are missing. Nazi intelligence is watching him. And the lines between lies and truth are becoming more blurred every day.

 

 

London Calling by James Ponti

In this sixth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies stages a rescue in Rome in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Charlie Thorne.

Cairo, the newest member of the City Spies, takes the lead when his sister disappears in Istanbul. Determined to save the family of one of their own, the team risks discovery as their search leads them to Rome. Meanwhile, there’s been intel that seems to threaten the royal wedding about to take place in Westminster, bringing the team back to the UK on an official case for MI6. With so much security all over the city, it’s harder than ever for the City Spies to go unnoticed. Will their skills be up to the task?

 

 

 

 

Investigators: Agents of S.U.I.T.: Wild Ghost Chase by John Patrick Green (Author) Christopher Hastings (Author) Pat Lewis (Illustrator)

InvestiGators fans, rejoice and get ready to dive into the third volume of Agents of S.U.I.T.! With more than three million copies of InvestiGators in print, readers are primed for more GatorVerse action!

The first two volumes of AGENTS OF S.U.I.T. turned the spotlight to eager rookie agent Cilantro and the un-B-lievably B-loved B-Team of Bongo and Marsha. Now, in the globetrotting third book, new recruit Zeb the sheep joins the flock to help crack the greatest mystery of all! But, uhh…just what is the greatest mystery of all?

Pondering that conundrum is what has kept the dearly departed General Inspectre tethered to Earth long after he should have moved on to the great super-spy base in the sky. Having a ghost haunting the halls of S.U.I.T. wouldn’t be so bad…except he’s possessed Monocle to serve as his Earthly form! Zeb–along with Cilantro, Bongo, Marsha, and cameos from everyone’s favorite Gators–must decipher the series’ biggest mystery EVER to free their pal and finish the Inspectre’s unfinished business!

 

 

 

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

# 1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores friendship, loss, and life with grief in this poignant novel in verse and vignettes.

Sage’s thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn’t predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.

In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl’s journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.

 

 

 

It’s All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango

A poignant novel in verse in which, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion. From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All.

All these months of staring at the wall?
All these months of feeling weak?
It’s ending–
I’m going back to fencing.
And then it’ll be
like nothing ever happened.

No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident.

After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before. Her body doesn’t move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back. If she can’t leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to?

In this moving novel from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion and discovers that the sum of a person’s achievements doesn’t amount to the whole of them.

 

Mountain Upside Down by Sara Ryan

A funny and heartfelt LGBTQIA+ middle grade novel set against the backdrop of family drama and a library funding campaign in a small town.

Alex Eager lives in Faillin, OR with her grandmother, a retired librarian. Life should be great for Alex, since she finally worked up the courage to ask her best friend PJ if they could be more than friends and she said yes. But their new relationship will have to be long distance, because PJ is moving. On top of that, Alex is worried that something is wrong with her increasingly forgetful grandmother. And to make matters worse, Faillin is holding a referendum on library funding, and things aren’t looking good. Will anything good for Alex ever last?

Mountain Upside Down is a beautifully crafted story of a thirteen-year-old girl finding her place in her family and her community. It’s a queer-positive story that doesn’t center coming out. It’s a story of a library’s role in a community that doesn’t feature book banning. And it’s a story of long-held family secrets and resentment that focuses not on final resolution but learning how to communicate again.

 

Tear This Down by Barbara Dee

From Barbara Dee, the critically acclaimed author of Maybe He Just Likes You, comes a middle grade novel about a girl who makes the choice to speak out against a problematic historical hometown figure no matter the cost–perfect for readers of Dress Coded.

For as long as Freya can remember, she has loved living in her cozy hometown of Wellstone. Not only is the town itself named for local and historical hero Benjamin Wellstone but everything in it: schools, beaches, and stores. There’s even a giant statue of him to remind everyone of the good things he did.

But while doing research for a big school project, Freya discovers that Benjamin isn’t the big hero everyone has been taught to believe. He had some redeeming qualities, but he also held incredibly problematic views towards women, believing they shouldn’t have the right to vote–or even to exist outside of the home. Disappointed by her revelation, Freya wonders if she could figure out a way to not only show what the hometown hero was really like but replace his statue with one of an unsung hero: local suffragette Octavia Padgett.

Though Freya knows not everyone will agree with her, she is shocked when her efforts cause even bigger issues than she could have imagined. Even her own parents seem uneasy with Freya’s cause. With the help of her beloved Nan, friends new and old, and the coolest librarian she’s ever met, can Freya stand firm and tear down outdated views?

 

See anything that you’re moving to the top of your To Be Read list this month? If so, please let us know in the comments.

 

 

New books for the holidays!

Exciting new books coming out this month for the middle-grade readers on your holiday gift list.
The titles below include new additions to several New York Times Bestselling series, and two war-time historical fiction titles. Although intended for younger readers, A Sea of Gold, the latest by the amazing author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, would make a great companion to either of the historical fiction works.
Time for Kids has two new nonfiction titles coming out at the end of the month. One offers the “scoop” for young cub reporters, the other a thoroughly researched listing of amazing athletes.
Links are included to bookshop.org, which supports local booksellers. Want to learn more about the authors? Simply click on their names.
Happy shopping and reading!

The past and present unravel into staggering truths in this can’t-miss installment of the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series told entirely from Keefe’s point of view.
Please be careful. Please be happy. And PLEASE forget all about me. It’ll be better for everyone that way.
Those were the last words Keefe Sencen wrote to Sophie Foster before he ran away to the Forbidden Cities. He didn’t want to leave, but it was the only way to keep his friends safe while he figured out how to control his scary new powers and searched for answers about his past.
What he found was so much more than adventures in Humanland.
Where did he go? What did he do? And who did he meet while the rest of his friends worked to solve the mystery of Stellarlune? The answers go far beyond anything anyone could have ever imagined and give Keefe the power to change his destiny.

 

 The End of the Story, Author; Melissa De La Cruz, Roaring Brook Press, December 3

Return to the land of Never After for the last time in the riveting conclusion to New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz’s hit middle-grade series perfect for fans of The Land of Stories books. The Never After crew is back for a final epic adventure . . . With Queen Olga drawing ever nearer, Filomena and her friends race to find the last surviving fairy, Sabine, and protect her at all costs. For if Sabine dies, so does all of Never After. Without a moment to lose, Filomena, Jack, Alistair, Gretel, and the rest of the gang–along with some new pals like Captain Hook–set off for Pan’s Neverland to find Sabine. But even in Neverland, there’s mischief afoot. Pan is no ordinary boy, and the group discovers Sabine goes by another name in this mysterious realm: Tinker Bell! But trickster gods and undercover fairies are just the beginning for Filomena and her adventurous friends. As Olga’s evil forces close in, will Filomena find a way to protect the magic of Never After once and for all, and ensure a happily-ever-after for the End of the Story?

 

Swimming with Spies, Author: Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger, Scholastic Press, December 3

As war escalates between the Russians and Ukrainians in the port city of Sevastopol, can one girl and a pod of dolphins prove that communication is the greatest weapon of all?

It’s February of 2014 in the seaport city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Sofiya Oleksandrivna only wants two things: to figure out a way to get Ilya Ilyich to stop bullying her, and to convince her mother to come back home. But as battleships come to populate the waters around their city and Russian forces, including Ilya’s father, start to make their presence known, an even greater threat takes over Sofiya’s life.

The only escape Sofiya has is the dolphinarium where her father is a trainer at the forefront of teaching sign language to a pod of dolphins. And now the Russian military has ordered the dolphinarium to hand over its animals for military use. As armed Russian troops invade Crimea and conflict and tension continue to rise, Sofiya will do everything she can to keep her pod safe. And what she knows better than any of the soldiers occupying her city, is that the most powerful force is communication.

Based on the true events of the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger depicts a familiar world where divisions are sown by hate, but where love can make a world of difference.

Wolves at the Door, Author: Steve Watkins, Scholastic Press, December 3

War. Wilderness. And the will to live.Asta and her younger sister, Pieta, have watched in terror as Hitler’s invasion spreads across Europe. Eventually, the war arrives in their city, bringing with it destruction and death. As the Nazis clash with Stalin’s Red Army and relentless bombing rains from above, the girls flee to their grandparents’ farm. But no place is safe. Surrounded by enemies, Asta and Pieta are presented with one chance at escape: a transport ship leaving from the Baltic Sea.

Getting from the farm to the coast is an impossible trip through a brutal war in the dead of winter. With food scarce, warm clothing lacking, and few resources, the sisters have little chance of making it. And Asta and Pieta are not alone in their plans–everyone is headed to the harbor with the same desperate hope. Securing a place on the ship will require nothing short of a miracle. Their dangerous journey is only just beginning, though, and the sisters can’t begin to imagine what they’ll have to sacrifice to survive . . .

 

A Sea of Gold, Author/Illustrator Patricia Polacco, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, December 3

“An empathetic, heartbreaking look at how warfare can tear families apart–and how traditions still endure.” –Kirkus Reviews

Beloved and bestselling storyteller Patricia Polacco draws on her Ukrainian heritage in this picture book following one family’s history through the generations and the powerful bond of their love.
In the village of Cherinovska, Ukraine, a family raises sunlasknuk (sunflowers) through the generations. When war erupts, they’re forced to leave their beloved home for a faraway world: America. Arriving with nothing but the clothes on their back–and the seeds in one little girl’s pockets–can they make a living…and a new home?

 

 

Time for Kids* Kid Reporter Field Reporter: A How-To Book for Junior Journalists,

Author: Hannah Rose Holzer, Penguin Young Readers, December 29

Learn how to be a junior journalist with this TIME For Kids Field Guide!

This field guide teaches you how to write many types of articles across several different sections including News, Opinion, Reviews, Arts and Culture, Sports, and more! Learn how to be a journalist in this book that explains how to interview sources, cover sports events, critique restaurants, write features on impactful people, and create great articles. This guide also features biographies on several famous journalists throughout history, including Ida B. Wells and Nellie Bly.

Providing reliable sources for parents and educators for over 25 years, the TIME for Kids field guide is an excellent gift for young readers who want to learn more about the world and how to write about it.

 

 

Time for Kids* Amazing Athletes:101 Stars You Need to Know! Author: James Buckley, 

Penguin Young Readers, December 29

Learn about 101 of today’s greatest athletes in this TIME for Kids book!

The fact-filled TIME FOR KIDS: AMAZING ATHLETES includes biographies on 101 of today’s most impressive sports stars. Kids will be inspired by the careers of LeBron James, Simone Biles, Travis Kelce, Caitlin Clark, Coco Gauff, Nathan Chen, and more! Perfect for young sports fans, this book is a great introduction to the best of the best athletes across eighteen different sports.

Providing reliable news sources to parents and educators for over 25 years, this TIME for Kids book is perfect for sports fanatics and introducing different types of sports.

Interview with Suma Subramaniam, Author of V. MALAR – GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME

I had the pleasure of picking the brain of Suma Subramaniam, a seasoned author (and long time member of the Mixed-Up Files team), to discuss the release of her latest chapter book: V. MALAR – GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME! Suma took time from her busy schedule to indulge my curiosity and wow me with her wisdom.

I’m honored to be part of her new book release tour with this inspiring and heartfelt interview. So, let’s jump on in!

A Determined Journey

Patchree: What has your publishing journey been like? Did you always plan to become a children’s author?

nov 2024 new releases

Suma: I always wanted to be an author for a long time. But children’s writing happened when I attended my first SCBWI conference in Western Washington in 2010. I met the wonderful author, Sundee Frazier at the conference. Sundee encouraged me to keep working on a manuscript that she read the first five pages of. I followed her advice and kept the dream alive. Five years later, I got accepted to the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Fast-forward to 2019, my short story was published in THE HERO NEXT DOOR (Crown Books, 2019). And now, I’m here with V. MALAR – GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME (Candlewick Press, 2024), illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan, with several published picture books and a few more books releasing in the next few years.

Patchree: You have quite a book resume to your name, and your work truly highlights your Indian heritage. How do you think your cultural roots impact your writing?

Suma: Thank you, Patchree! Having spent more than two decades in India, I have fond memories of my growing up years. There’s still so much I do not know.  I have deep interest in history. Every book takes me along a fascinating journey during the research process. That’s why I write uplifting, lively stories about fun and feisty children of Indian descent that my little self would’ve wanted to read.

Patchree: What motivates you to write?

Arms hugging globe with a red heart on top.

Designed by FreePix

Suma: I always ask myself what my effort in writing books will amount to. Like any writer, I expect my work to influence or make an impact on many readers, and sometimes I am discouraged by the world’s indifference to children’s and young adult writing. But I hold on to the dreams I’ve had since I was a child by staying committed to the craft and the community. They sustain me through the difficult times, the struggles and disappointments that come with this profession.

Patchree: As an author, what is your wish or key takeaway for readers of your books?

Suma: I hope readers love themselves. If we can’t love ourselves, we can’t love the world. That is the key takeaway for readers from all my books.

 

Writing Your Roots

Patchree: Moving onto your latest book, V. MALAR: GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME, who was your inspiration for your main character Malar?

Suma: The inspiration for V. MALAR: GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME came from celebrating the harvest festival year-after-year since my childhood. Growing up in India, holidays and festivals brought me closer to my family. These celebrations not only passed on from generation to generation, but they also helped us navigate life’s joys and challenges with ease. In troubled times, we learned to recover together. Pongal is a four-day celebration in South India when crops are harvested in mid-January. It is celebrated every year in many Indian households during the Tamil month called Thai, in honor of the work farmers do. V. MALAR- GREATEST HOST OF ALL TIME is filled with moments of togetherness, joy, and empathy that begin in the family. I hope that through Malar’s eyes, all readers will access the experience of those relationships, take them to heart, and pass it on with love.

Patchree: How much of your own experiences did you include, if any, in this story?Indian Pongal Festival

Suma: Holidays and festivals are the times to gather with our families and friends, and strengthen our relationships. There is so much love underneath the traditions, celebrations, and growing up in an Indian household.

I included everything I loved about the harvest festival and the traditions of celebrating from my own family. Pongal brings families together to celebrate the blessings of good health and happiness. The first day of Pongal is called Bhogi Pongal. On this day, we clean our homes and discard old and broken items. The second day is called Thai Pongal. It is also called “Uzhavar Thirunal” which means “Farmers’ Day”. We worship the sun god and have an elaborate meal. The word “Pongal” means “to boil” in Tamil. It is also the name of the rice dish that is prepared on the second day of the festival. We make two types of pongal, sweet and savory. It is served with stew made with the season’s vegetables.

The third day is called Maatu Pongal. We honor our cattle and seek blessings for a good harvesting season. The fourth day is called Kaanum Pongal. It is also known as “Thiruvalluvar Dhinam” because we celebrate the eminent Tamil poet, Thiruvalluvar on this day.

Patchree: Your book does a wonderful job of touching on the idea of “culture shock” children of the diaspora experience when visiting their native lands. How important was this theme for you?

Suma: Thank you! As I wrote about Malar, it was important to have her believe in the strength of her extended family even though she and her cousins lived in different countries. The relationship snapshots in the story show that the expectations of both parenting and being raised as a child can feel like you’re being pulled in different directions sometimes. These are the universal experiences faced by families all over the world.  Malar’s book is more than just a story about holiday festivities. It’s a story about diaspora when cousins from opposite hemispheres meet, relishing family time, practicing gratitude, recognizing the value of what one has, being present, and even living a sustainable lifestyle while combatting climate change. There are some valuable SEL and STEM lessons to be learned here about seeing things from another person’s perspective and how ordinary people in different parts of the world choose to live responsibly.

Patchree: It’s clear that V. Malar is a planned chapter book series, what can readers look forward to with this series?

Suma: Readers can look forward to more hilarious adventures with Malar. In book-2, Malar is all set to become the greatest ranger of all time in South India’s Western Ghats where she will explore what it takes to become a nature conservationist and a wildlife advocate.

In book-3, Malar’s first visit to the US to see her cousins coincides with Diwali and Halloween. She prepares to become the greatest hallowali of all time.

Woman holding a notebook and writing while standing alone in front of a window

Designed by FreePix

From An Author’s POV

Patchree: What do you do if, or when, you get into a writing slump? How do you pull yourself out from a stint of writer’s block?

Suma: I travel every few months to take my mind away from writing. If I’m not traveling, I do things that fill my well in other ways. I read, knit, volunteer, go for long walks, and tire my legs out. Other than that, I visit my local indie bookstore, the library, cook, and host dinner with friends and family.

Patchree: Last but not least, what is your number one piece of advice for aspiring writers or perhaps something you’ve learned that you wish you knew before becoming a published author?

Suma: Writing is a lonely creative pursuit and also a business.  With the connections you build in the industry, you can go a long way, not only to improve your creative work, but also find your way through it. Agents and editors like working with writers who are invested in making books for children in the long term. Having a portfolio of projects gives the industry an added layer of reinforcement that your work is good, and that you are putting the effort to make the writing better with every project.

 

More about Suma:

Author PhotoSuma Subramaniam is the author of several children’s books based on STEM and STEAM topics as well as India and Indian heritage. She earned her MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her poems have been published in the Young People’s Poetry edition of Poetry Magazine from Poetry Foundation. When she’s not writing, she’s volunteering and blogging about children’s books. Suma lives in Washington State with her husband and a dog who will do anything for Indian sweets and snacks. Find her online at sumasubramaniam.com.