Oh MG News

The Literary Community Supports Minneapolis 

By on February 1, 2026   /   Oh MG News   /   Leave a comment
Middle Grade Authors

 

As we watch chilling news footage of ICE agents in Minneapolis, we are both horrified by the brutality and heartened by the thousands of individuals braving extreme temperatures to raise a unified voice in an effort to protect their neighbors and reclaim their city. 

Among those affected by the chaos, we find independent bookstores struggling to maintain sales, school librarians trying to nurture and protect their students, and members of the publishing industry stepping up to lend a hand. The broader literary community can help Minneapolis by staying informed and offering support.

 

Support Minneapolis Booksellers

According to a January 16 Publishers Weekly article, most bookstores admit that the presence of ICE agents in their neighborhoods has had a negative impact on business. However, they have remained open “as people come in looking for information, resources, and whistles” or for a quiet space to rest and gather their thoughts.

Some booksellers are going a step further. A January 28 Publishers Weekly article introduces Greg Ketter, owner of DreamHaven Books and Comics. When a local news station aired footage of Ketter, age 70, marching through tear gas and cursing at ICE agents near the site of Alex Petti’s death, the video went viral. DreamHaven’s website crashed from all the attention it received, and the store’s sales have increased tenfold over a typical January. 

Looking to order a book from an indie bookstore? You might consider supporting the booksellers on the front lines and ordering from a Minneapolis bookstore. To help you get started, here’s a list of local bookstores in the Twin Cities.

 

Support Minneapolis Librarians

Schools in Minneapolis are feeling the stress. According to a January 20 School Library Journal article, entire school communities are actively supporting frightened students and families. School librarians are facilitating online learning and curating lists of books to help students process difficult emotions and understand pertinent history.

The Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota, a division of the Minnesota Library Association, sent an email out to librarians and advocates. They thanked librarians for the work they are doing. And for those of us living outside the area, they shared ways to “support affected families and communities, including donating to a local food pantry, assisting an organization that is sending kids free books, patronizing MSP BIPOC-owned and immigrant-owned businesses, and calling legislators.”

 

The Literary Community’s Efforts to Support Minneapolis 

You may have heard about the recent Publishing for Minnesota Auction. The auction ran from January 29 to January 30 and included consultations with agents and authors, AMA sessions, portfolio reviews, critiques, autographed books, author visits, and more. According to the site, proceeds will “support organizations providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to those in urgent need.”

But what if you missed the window for this auction? Are there still more ways to help? Absolutely. For those wanting to lend help, PEN America has put together an article about the many ways the literary community is stepping up to support Minneapolis. They also mention ways you can lend your support, “whether through donations, buying books, or reading about their experiences.”

While the effects of this present crisis are unimaginably stressful for the people of Minneapolis, it is reassuring to know that as protesters speak out against the assault on their neighbors, booksellers, schools, and librarians are actively caring for their communities. Let’s support them in any way we can.

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11 Resolutions For 2026 From The Mixed-Up Files Team

By on January 1, 2026   /   Articles, Oh MG News  

To kick off the new year, I polled the busy members of From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors to share their bookish goals for 2026, whether for reading, writing, or something else. Here’s what they said: 

New Year's 2026 Writerly Resolutions

“I’d like to stretch my writerly wings and attempt something out of my wheelhouse, like a picture book or chapter-book series. It’s time to shake off the cobwebs in 2026!” — Melissa Roske

“Instead of reading and writing more, more, more, I want to engage with books in an intentional and thoughtful way.” — Jennifer Kraar

“I’d like to finish the second draft of the middle grade fantasy I’m working on!” — Jackie Peveto

“Like Melissa, I’d like to try something new in 2026 – maybe an adult novel or even some short stories. Time to shake things up 🙂.” — Patricia Heinrich Bailey

“Finish a picture book manuscript I’ve been writing and explore some new topics in a middle grade or YA book. Also make a dent in my to-be-read pile!” — Karen Latchana Kenney

“I’d like to carve out the time to meet my writing goals.” — Faran Fagen “My resolution is to re-read at least 15 of the classics, both adult and children’s.” — Jo Hackl 

“Write for at least a little bit 6 days a week!” — Sarah Allen

“I have a few new projects I’ve started and a couple of projects that need to be revisited and revised…but nothing feels finished. I need to focus and finish one of these projects.” — Susan Koehler

“Revise my current work-in-progress to be full of kid-brain imagination and get it ready to query in summer.” — Kate Penndorf “Spend some time with my manuscript every day – even if just for a few minutes.” — Landra Jennings

And for me? I recently started using Pagebound to keep track of the books I’ve read and want to read, and I’ve set a goal there to read 26 books in ’26. Here’s to reading all the books you have in your TBR pile!

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2026! And don’t forget to tell us your goals on MUF’s Facebook or Instagram pages. 

—The MUF team 

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The People Have Spoken: Let’s Support School Libraries

By on December 1, 2025   /   Oh MG News  
Middle Grade Authors

Several voters cast their ballots at a polling placeIn November, as pundits discussed polls and politicians held watch parties, a quiet victory took place. Of course it was quiet — this victory went to the librarians.

Publishers Weekly reports that in thousands of school board elections across the country, “voters leaned toward candidates who emphasized equity and consensus-building, and rejected division and censorship.” The trend is undeniable: People want diversity, access, and professional respect returned to public education.

In one Kansas county, a parent entered the race because diversity, equity, and inclusion were being erased from the local school system; that parent won. In New Mexico, two candidates endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers built their platform on labor issues; they won. In several Colorado counties, teacher unions played an active role in supporting candidates who wanted to uphold the professional autonomy of educators; they all won.

And do you remember that sixth-grade teacher in Idaho who was told to remove her “Everyone Is Welcome Here” sign because it was deemed controversial? Well, her name is Meghan Brown, and she just won a seat on the West Ada School Board. Maybe everyone really will be welcome soon.

Even in Texas, the tide seems to be turning. In the Dallas area, an incumbent who wants to “clean up libraries” lost to a former teacher who wants to restore classroom libraries. In the Houston area, Moms-for-Liberty-endorsed candidates lost to candidates who voiced advocacy for the restoration of politically dismantled libraries.

“‘The school board election results we saw here in Texas seem to show us that Texas parents are tired of culture wars being waged in their children’s classrooms and libraries,’ Laney Hawes, cofounder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project (TFTRP), told PW. ‘The misinformation-based political messaging of ‘groomer’ librarians, the dangers of CRT, and the LGBTQ agenda in library books isn’t garnering the votes it did as recently as a year ago.'”

National Education Association President Becky Pringle summed up the trend as a desire to bring in “new leaders committed to making sure every student has the support they need to succeed.” Let’s keep moving in a positive direction for our schools, our libraries, and most importantly, for our students!

 

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