Posts Tagged John David Anderson

Growing Hearts: 10 Middle Grade Books to Inspire Gratitude

Let’s talk gratitude!

Fall is the time of year we tend to consider the concept. I recently read Michael J Fox’s memoir No Time Like the Future. His theme: “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable” drove home the realization that gratitude isn’t just a feeling we should have (peaking sometime around Thanksgiving), it’s a practice we must have. If we want to have a forward-looking life in the midst of all the uncertainty and the curveballs life will throw at us…

We need to cultivate the practice of gratitude all year long.

For our young people growing up in this fast-changing world bombarded by sensationalist media developing gratitude is particularly important. Fortunately, developing gratitude (and empathy and kindness and hopefulness and so on) is an area where middle grade literature really rocks! A feeling of gratitude was certainly on my mind while writing my middle-grade novel, Wand. And in general the genre is rich with books to help young people develop this life-sustaining practice, without being preachy or moralistic.

Jenn Brisendine created a gorgeous post a few years back about reflection and gratitude this time of year, and about learning to appreciate what’s right in front of us. Building on that…

Here are 10 middle grade books to inspire gratitude:

Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos

Cover for Ana Maria Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle

The Penderwicks meets In the Heights in this sparkling middle-grade debut about a young Dominican American girl in New York City.

Her last name may mean “kings,” but Ana María Reyes REALLY does not live in a castle. Rather, she’s stuck in a tiny apartment with two parents (way too lovey-dovey), three sisters (way too dramatic), everyone’s friends (way too often), and a piano (which she never gets to practice). And when her parents announce a new baby is coming, that means they’ll have even less time for Ana María.

Then she hears about the Eleanor School, New York City’s best private academy. If Ana María can win a scholarship, she’ll be able to get out of her Washington Heights neighborhood school and achieve the education she’s longed for. To stand out, she’ll need to nail her piano piece at the upcoming city showcase, which means she has to practice through her sisters’ hijinks, the neighbors’ visits, a family trip to the Dominican Republic… right up until the baby’s birth! But some new friends and honest conversations help her figure out what truly matters, and know that she can succeed no matter what. Ana María Reyes may not be royal, but she’s certain to come out on top.

Elvis and The World As It Stands by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough

Cover for Elvis and the World As It StandsA poignant middle-grade story about loss and finding family from the point of view of a newly adopted kitten.

Most shelter animals dream of going home with a forever family. But for Elvis, being chosen by Mrs. Pemberton is a nightmare. He’s been separated from his sister, Etta, and is determined to get back to the shelter to find her. In spite of himself, Elvis becomes curious about 10-year-old Georgina Pemberton, who builds LEGO skyscrapers in her bedroom while navigating her parents’ separation. The longer he’s in his new home, the more he starts recognizing new feelings: admiration for Georgina’s creations, affection for the other pets, and even empathy for the Pembertons–despite their inability to listen.

As Georgina sets out to build her most important skyscrapers yet–the Twin Towers–Elvis realizes that maybe both humans and animals can take a page from Georgina’s Big Book of American Architecture and “build a world of their own choosing,” even if the choices aren’t what they’d initially expected.

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Cover for Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson’s first middle-grade novel since National Book Award winner Brown Girl Dreaming celebrates the healing that can occur when a group of students share their stories.

It all starts when six kids have to meet for a weekly chat–by themselves, with no adults to listen in. There, in the room they soon dub the ARTT Room (short for “A Room to Talk”), they discover it’s safe to talk about what’s bothering them–everything from Esteban’s father’s deportation and Haley’s father’s incarceration to Amari’s fears of racial profiling and Ashton’s adjustment to his changing family fortunes. When the six are together, they can express the feelings and fears they have to hide from the rest of the world. And together, they can grow braver and more ready for the rest of their lives.

Homebound by John David Anderson

Cover for Homebound by John David Anderson

Leo Fender is no stranger to catastrophe, whether it’s the intergalactic war that took his mother’s life or the ongoing fight for his own. He’s seen his planet plundered, his ship attacked, his father kidnapped, and his brother go missing–and found himself stranded on a ship with a bunch of mercenary space pirates.

Still, nothing could have prepared him for the moment he and the crew tried to save his father…and discovered a dark plot that could destroy hundreds of worlds in the blink of an eye.

Now Leo is adrift. His father has sent him on a mission with nothing but a data chip and a name of someone who could help, and Captain Bastian Black and the crew of the Icarus are determined to see this through to the end with Leo, to fulfill his father’s wish and prevent further conflict.

But as Leo searches for answers, he can’t help but wonder what it would take to end the war, to track down his father and brother and return to whatever home they have left–and if the cost of doing so is one he would be able to pay.

Kat Greene Comes Clean by Melissa Roske

Cover for Kat Greene Comes Clean by Melissa Roske

Life is messy.

Kat Greene lives in New York City and attends fifth grade at Village Humanity School, an ultra-progressive private school in New York’s Greenwich Village. At the moment she has three major problems: dealing with her boy-crazy best friend; partnering with the overzealous Sam in the class production of Harriet the Spy; and coping with her divorced mom’s preoccupation with cleanliness–a symptom of her worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder. Kat wants to tell her dad what’s going on, but he’s busy with her new family uptown.

With nowhere to turn, Kat reaches out to the free-spirited psychologist at her school, Olympia Rabinowitz, for support and guidance. Olympia encourages Kat to be honest. Eventually, Kat realizes that sometimes asking for help is the best way to clean up life’s messes.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Cover for Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives.

At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US–and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before.

But this life also brings unexpected surprises–there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is.

This lyrical, life-affirming story is about losing and finding home and, most importantly, finding yourself.

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Cover for Simon Sort of Says

Simon O’Keeffe’s biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he’d do anything to forget: the one starring Simon as a famous survivor of gun violence at school.

Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone–the only place in America where the internet is banned. Instead of talking about Simon, the astronomers who flock to the area are busy listening for signs of life in space. And when Simon makes a friend who’s determined to give the scientists what they’re looking for, he’ll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.

Simon Sort of Says, the Newbery Honor-winning novel by Erin Bow, is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past.

Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl

Cover for Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe

11 days. 13 clues. And one kid who won’t give up.

How far would you go to find something that might not even exist?

All her life, Cricket’s mama has told her stories about a secret room painted by a mysterious artist. Now Mama’s run off, and Cricket thinks the room might be the answer to getting her to come back. If it exists. And if she can find it.

Cricket’s first clue is a coin from a grown-over ghost town in the woods. So with her daddy’s old guidebook and a coat full of snacks stolen from the Cash ‘n’ Carry, Cricket runs away to find the room. Surviving in the woods isn’t easy. While Cricket camps out in an old tree house and looks for clues, she meets the last resident of the ghost town, encounters a poetry-loving dog (who just might hold a key to part of the puzzle), and discovers that sometimes you have to get a little lost . . . to really find your way.

The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel

Cover for The Other Half of Happy

One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana’s Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn’t know more about her family’s heritage.

One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she’s found true friends. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for Jayden.

One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what’s going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.

Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole.

This is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson

Cover for When Stars are Scattered

A National Book Award Finalist, this remarkable graphic novel is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl.

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It’s an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.

Let me know in the comments which other middle-grade books have inspired gratitude in your students or kids!

Interview With Middle-Grade Editors of Angelella Editorial

For today’s post, we asked the editors of Angelella Editorial five burning questions about middle-grade books.

Angelella Editorial  is a community of highly skilled editors, specializing in but not limited to children’s literature. We focus on the craft, career, and community of writing and look forward to helping you craft your storytelling magic. Here’s what they have to say.

  1.   What are your top three favorite middle grade fiction/nonfiction books from 2018?

Marissa Graff: Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani, The Science of Unbreakable Things by Tae Keller

Diane Telgen: Regrettably, I haven’t read as much MG as I would have liked this year, but I really enjoyed the skillful weaving of stories in The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, the clear-eyed look at various social issues in Breakout by Kate Messner, and the off-the-wall humor of The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider.

Denise Santomauro: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider, Louisana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Jenn Bailey: Charlie and Frog by Karen Kane; The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson; The Collectors by Jacqueline West

Jay Whistler: Young, Gifted, and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson, Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher, Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar

Kate Angelella: Having just had a baby and amidst growing this business, I have not had much time for free reading this year. But a few of my all-time favorites: Dani Noir (aka Fade Out) by Nova Ren Suma, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass, and Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead.

 

  1.   What is your favorite thing about editing middle-grade novels?

Marissa Graff: Middle-grade novels are misunderstood as being simple to write, especially when compared to YA. Rather, I think the author has a much more difficult task in conveying heart and age-appropriateness, all while respecting the audience’s savvy and perceptiveness.

Diane Telgen: MG allows for more kinds of complexity, both in content and structure, than most people give it credit for. One thing I particularly enjoy is that the tone of MG often tends to be more open and less cynical than works for older readers, and that makes for a refreshing read.

Denise Santomauro: Young people in this age range are old enough to engage in a deep way with challenging topics, but still have a sense of wonder about the world, which is what makes working on stories for them interesting and fun. Characters in MG dive deep into complex social and emotional situations while going on adventures and finding magic and whimsy in the everyday. It’s exciting to help authors balance all of these elements.

Jenn Bailey: When kids start reading MG they are entering a time in their life when they are less self-absorbed and far more curious. They are looking at the world, seeing what it has to offer, and finding their place in it. I love how open they are to experiences that dwell beyond what they know, even when it comes to what kinds of stories they will read. This makes editing middle grade stories delicious. Nothing is really off the table (as long as it stays PG) and it is a time where authors can weave in Big Ideas and take risks in style, approach, and content. It is a chance to awaken wonder in readers and reawaken wonder in ourselves as we write, and edit, for these kids.

Jay Whistler: I love that middle-grade kids are still at the age at which they haven’t figured out how to manipulate people and lie the way older teens and adults have, so the books are more honest and raw. There is a vulnerability in the main characters that you don’t see in YA because the MC still hasn’t figured out how to put up those walls yet. I like being able to help authors navigate that.

Kate Angelella: There is a rawness about this age that has always appealed me. Young people in this age group are experiencing life in all its fullness–joy, sorrow, grief, excitement, and heartache included. Honesty and emotional truth are paramount when creating an authentic voice for this age range. A good MG book will allow the adult reader to travel back in time to that time in their lives in a way that leaves them feeling almost breathless, and will allow the MG reader to feel as though they’re not alone.

 

  1.   If you could have lunch with a middle-grade author, who would it be and why?

Marissa Graff: Lauren Wolk, hands down. I read Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea back-to-back and scrambled to see what else she had written or what was coming out next. Her characters have such believability and life to them, as do her settings. The worlds she creates are these perfectly sculpted packages she delivers to her readers in a way that makes you swear she was watching the stories as they happened. I also love that she delivers messy endings. The characters get what they need, but not necessarily what they want at the novels’ outset.

Diane Telgen: Can I have another lunch with Philip Pullman? While studying in England, I actually attended a group lunch with the author of my favorite MG series (His Dark Materials). I could have stayed past dinner time listening to him talk about the power of poetry and how he builds worlds.

Denise Santomauro: I would love to spend a few hours with Kate DiCamillo. I love pretty much everything she writes. She infuses so much heart and courage in her stories and isn’t afraid of delving into challenging topics, which leads me to believe that we would have an amazing conversation and become best friends.

Jenn Bailey: I would love to cruise the Costco aisles, eating free samples with John David Anderson. I discovered him a few years ago and have since devoured everything he has written. He pairs funny, trope-busting, quirkiness with great heart and honesty. And he’s comfortable in multiple genres — fantasy, contemporary, scifi. I will never forgive him for writing The Dungeoneers before I could (as if I could) but I will always love him for Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. Speaking of last days, if I could have lunch with somebody who is dead I’d pick Terry Pratchett. Always Terry Pratchett. I’d eat out of a dumpster for Terry Pratchett. But I’d bring John along with me.

Jay Whistler: There are almost too many to name. I love Julie Berry’s ability to switch genre and age level and voice, to sound as if she is writing as a plucky preteen in Victorian England in one book and then a persecuted religious heretic during the Inquisition in the next. Then there’s Katherine Paterson, who has managed to navigate a changing landscape of children’s literature over her nearly fifty years of writing. How does one stay relevant to that age group, when one’s original audience could almost be grandparents now? Or Lois Lowry, or Diana Wynne-Jones, or Terry Pratchett. I could go on. Just too many.

Kate Angelella: Neil Gaiman, without a doubt. I would love to explore the wonderful weirdness that is his brain. That said, I am always a little afraid to meet the people whose worlds I’ve inhabited for so long, and in such a personal way! I’m always afraid that knowing who they are personally will shade the way I read their books.

 

  1.   How do you get a sense of the voice and character in a middle-grade novel?

Marissa Graff: When a voice can translate from words on a page to sounds in my ear, I know a writer has nailed the voice for their narrator or characters.

Diane Telgen: I love that MG often allows for a distinct narrative voice, in addition to the voice of the characters, and thrill to a confident narrator who can draw the reader deeply into a new world. As for character, it’s their emotions and actions, as well as their dialogue, that show me who they really are.  

Denise Santomauro: Unique voice is most apparent for me when it’s clear the author has fully fleshed out the character. A character who has a past, desires, dislikes, hopes, opinions, emotional responses, etc. will guide the voice and the way a character moves through the story.

Jenn Bailey: When I know exactly what that character will say (I don’t mean verbatim) and how they will say it before I read it. Voice and character — a great pairing — because I feel they support, enhance, and inform each other.

Jay Whistler: I read this question differently than my colleagues did, and I saw it as wondering how we, as writers, find that sense of voice for writing middle grade. So I answered it that way. This probably seems obvious, but volunteering in a classroom or library is a great way to be around that age group and see what is important to them, how they talk, how they behave, how they interact with one another and with the adults around them.

Kate Angelella: This may sound a bit strange…but when I can imagine myself in the character’s shoes, when the character is so real to me that I can move through their story as them, I feel as though that’s the moment a writer has conveyed voice and character successfully.

 

  1.   What advice would you give someone who is looking to hire an editor?

Marissa Graff: Request a sample edit, a few pages where the editor gets to know your writing and you get a sense of the value of their feedback. It’s an investment and you want to make sure it’s worthwhile. I think most writers are surprised at how valuable the feedback of a good editor really is. I also think a good editor shows you how to employ techniques going forward so that you learn deeply for all writing going forward.

Diane Telgen: I agree with Marissa that a sample edit can be useful in deciding whether you’ve found the right editor. I’d add that working with an editor requires an open mind-set. If you see a critique as just someone telling you what’s wrong, it can feel crushing when you see comments and corrections littering your pages. But if you approach a critique as a chance to learn and grow, to try new things, it can be amazing. Remember, we provide feedback because we have confidence you can make your writing better.

Denise Santomauro: I’d echo everything Marissa and Diane said, and add that I think it’s important to examine where you are in the writing process and read the editorial options carefully to determine the most useful type of edit for the manuscript in its current form. I’d also recommend taking a break from the manuscript after you send it off to an editor. Taking time away provides the necessary distance needed to be able to have a fresh perspective on the work when you get your editorial letter.

Jenn Bailey: Difficult to think of anything to add to the wonderful advice of my colleagues. I think Denise really hits on something by encouraging writers to know where they are in their process, and know what they will need from an editor, before jumping in. I realize that may sound counterproductive to getting folks to hire us, but it isn’t. We really want you writers to succeed. We want you to launch on your publishing adventure, but you have to be ready. So write your first draft, give it some revision, share it with your critique group, and when you are ready for that one-on-one deep dive into your story, that push that will make your story the best it can be, look us up.

Jay Whistler: My colleagues have covered a lot of the same points I would make. But I think it doesn’t hurt to reiterate that you must be open to having someone go through your story with a fine-toothed comb. While it might seem as invasive as having someone rifle through your underwear drawer, remember that editors are truly looking to help you make your story as strong as it can be. Professional editors have a reputation to uphold and want to help you on your journey to learn and improve your craft.

Kate Angelella: Yes, to all of the above! Be sure you get a sample edit, be sure you get a contract, and be sure you feel connected to the editor in some way. The reason we offer clients a glimpse of our editors’ favorite movies and TV shows on our website is to offer potential clients a way to connect with our editors outside of their own work. One of the very first things Kyle and I connected over, way back when he was a client of mine, was our love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the TV show Pushing Daisies.

Writers, did you know that Angelella Editorial is offering a 10% discount on all editorial services this holiday season? For more information about the editors of Angelella Editorial and the work they do, click here and here.

 

A Valentine to Our Favorite Books

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Mixed-Up Files team shares the middle grade books they love the most. Share your loves in the comments section! 

“As an adult I really enjoyed Larger-Than-Life Lara by Dandi Mackall. Truly heartwarming story about loving yourself, having a positive outlook, and being kind. I cry just thinking about it!”
Amie Borst

 

 

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. How can you not love a book about a gorilla who paints?”
—Natalie Rompella 

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages is a perfect blend of emotional journey, immersive history and science on both a large (nuclear physics) and small (inquisitive kid) scale.”
—Jacqueline Jaeger Houtman

 

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume sparked my love of reading and writing. It was one of my favorite books as a child, became even more special when I saw it through the eyes of my own children, and will remain one of the most beloved books for the rest of my life.”
—Mindy Alyse Weiss  

“I love Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan for its messages of hope, recovering from a tragedy, and learning to rely on your inner strength.”
Michele Weber Hurwitz  

“I loved Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin for Rose’s indomitable spirit, despite the challenges she faces.”
Beth Von Ancken McMullen

“I love the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. I have read it several times, and in fact, am now re-reading it again. It is filled with mystery, fantasy, and tons of historical figures. The way he weaves history, science, magic and fantasy together is just stupendous. Makes me lose myself in his world every time I read it.”
Jen Swanson

“Two of my favorite books are perfect for Valentine’s Day because they are both love letters in story form. My childhood favorite, Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl is the world’s best love letter to dads. More recently, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson is a heartfelt love-letter to teachers.”
—Julie Artz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’ve got to give two as well… one to an old love, and another to a new one! Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising is probably THE book that made me want to become an author. Seeing Will grow and become capable of surviving meant so much to me at the time. And more recently, Anne Ursu’s The Real Boy tugged at my heart in a way few books can. Seeing a kid who thinks he’s broken discover that people can love him for who he is… that’s love.”
—Sean Easley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve got to give two too!! Also, like Sean, I’ve got old and new.  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle will always always hold a special place in my heart because tesseracts are fascinating science and Meg Murray. I always want to read about a brave and smart girl. And A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd because magic, mystery, family, and finding your home are themes I will read again and again. Plus the language is so so beautiful!!”
Heather Murphy Capps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“To choose just one is hard, but I’ll go with Bridget Hodder’s The Rat Prince. I just adored how she used the rat’s POV to share the familiar tale, and there’s even a teeny bit of romance in there.”
Sheri Larsen

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary! And more recently, Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor. Lovable Ramona doesn’t always behave, which is very refreshing in a character. Connor’s character Addie has a way of being upbeat in the face of terrible odds. She’s resourceful in the most heartbreaking way.
Phyllis Shalant

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt, a deep and sensitive dive into the heart of a boy. I love everything about this book and the spare language Schmidt uses to communicate so much.”
Amber J. Keyser

“Amber stole mine. But I refuse to change my answer, so put me down for Okay for Now, as well. It made me laugh. It made me cry. And sometimes it did both within the span of a single page.”
TP Jagger

“I have to second Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.”
Dori Hillestad Butler

“My latest favorite is Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan for its use of POV switches and voice.”
—Jenn Skovira Brisendine

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Now? If I have to choose just one I’d say Crossover, by Kwame Alexander. SO powerful – feelings like a punch to the chest – but real and hopeful and so true to how kids feel things.”
Valerie Stein

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Why? Because it’s a beautifully written, Jungle Book-inspired tale with ghosts and ghouls and creatures of the night fighting the man Jack who means to harm the orphan Bod. All in an ancient burial ground/cemetery. And it starts with the multiple homicide of Bod’s family by Jack. An exceptional book at all turns and it landed perfectly in my literature sweet spot.”
Michael Hays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“My favorite that I discovered as an adult is Skellig by David Almond. I really think it’s the perfect book–spare, lovely, magical, and with so much heart. As a kid, my favorite was Anne of Green Gables, which I am loving all over again now that I’m reading it aloud to my 8-year-old redhead.”Kate Manning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“On the fantasy side, I still love the Harry Potter books and on the historical fiction side, Blood on the River James Town, 1607 by Elisa Carbone. It’s a story about the founding of James Town. It kept my 5th grade class riveted in their seats.”
—Robyn Oleson Gioia

 

The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato has stolen hearts in my family. My daughter has read it more times than I can count. And she cries every time.”
Louise Galveston  

 

 

 

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume is THE book of my tween years–Blume gets kids of a certain age so perfectly right. What a gift!”
—Andrea Pyros

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrea Pyros is the author of My Year of Epic Rock, a middle grade novel about friends, crushes, food allergies, and a rock band named The EpiPens.