Posts Tagged kidlit

Author Spotlight: Katie Kirby

By on July 3, 2025   /   Articles, Author Interviews  
Today, let’s give a hearty Mixed-Up Files welcome to Katie Kirby, the author/illustrator of The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks. The novel, first published in the U.K. in 2021 and praised by Kirkus as “a funny and reassuring reminder that no matter how great Plan A seems, sometimes Plan B turns out to be better,” is now available from Random House in the U.S.

Lottie Brooks: A Summary:

Lottie Brooks is 11 ¾ and her life is already officially over. Not only is she about to start secondary school without any friends or glamorous swooshy hair, but she’s just discovered she’s too flat-chested to even wear A BRA! She might as well give up now and go into hibernation with her hamsters, Sir Barnaby Squeakington and Fuzzball the Third.

Lottie navigates the perils of growing up in this fantastically funny new illustrated series for pre-teens filled with friendship, embarrassing moments and, of course, KitKat bars.

Q&A with Katie Kirby

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Katie. Huge congrats on the U.S. publication of Lottie Brooks!

KK: Thank you so much! I’m very happy to be here and very excited to be bringing Lottie to America. I think she’s going to love it!

Welcome to America, Lottie!

MR: Although Lottie Brooks is new to American readers, the series is wildly popular in the U.K. (The eighth book in the series came out in the U.K. yesterday.) You even have Lottie merch, including T-shirts, totes, and sweatshirts, and mugs. What is it like to experience this kind of success following a debut? It must be pretty heady, right?

KK: To be honest with you, it’s completely mind blowing! With the first Lottie book, I just wrote something I would have enjoyed reading when I was Lottie’s age – I had no idea it would resonate with so many readers. But I’m obviously very chuffed it has, and even more chuffed that I get to say my job is being an author!

Lottie Brooks: The Inspiration

MR: What inspired you to write Lottie Brooks? I have a feeling, but I don’t want to be presumptuous. 🙂 

KK: I was a big reader when I was younger and I particularly loved books that reflected how I was thinking and feeling – Judy Blume was my number one fave! She put into words all the things I couldn’t say out loud, and that really helped me through those tricky tween and teen years. With Lottie, I’ve tried to do the same thing.

MR: And you’ve succeeded. I too am a HUGE Judy Blume fan (check out my love letter to Judy here), and I definitely picked up on the influence Judy’s writing had on your book, particularly her 1970 classic, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Both Margaret and Lottie are obsessed with bras and breast growth! 

As a follow-up, did you always envision Lottie Brooks as a series?

KK: My first book deal was for two books, so a series was always on the cards, but of course I had no idea how it would be received. Now I’m writing Book 9 and have no plans to stop!

Dear Diary…

MR: Lottie Brooks is written in diary form. What informed this stylistic decision? Did you keep diaries as a child?

KK: Funnily enough, I actually started writing the book in chapters but felt it wasn’t working quite as well. I feel like diaries lend themselves well to humor, and when I switched to that format it clicked. I also love that in a diary the protagonist can just mainly dump their innermost thoughts and feelings.

And yes, I kept diaries on and off when I was younger. They are very cringeworthy to read now, but I’m also very glad I have them – so many memories!

Portrait of an Artist

MR: In addition to writing the novel, you created the illustrations. What was the process like for you? Did you do both at the same time or add the illustrations later? Also, how does being an artist influence your writing—and vice-versa?

KK: I love doing the illustrations. I feel they add real comedy value and are often the punchline to a scene/entry. I really don’t think my books would be the same without them.

In terms of the process, I used to do the illustrations at the same time as the text, but as deadlines have got shorter, I now tend to do most of the text first and mark out places where I’ll add illustrations later on.

I love that you refer to me as an ‘artist’ but I’m not sure stick people really count – ha ha! Thanks though 😊

By Popular Consensus

MR: An overarching theme in the book is popularity. In fact, the drive to be popular causes Lottie to turn her back on her new friend at school, Jess. Why do you think tweens behave in a way that doesn’t align with their values, just to fit in? Also, is this a theme you explore in your other Lottie books?

KK: I think tweens often do feel really pressured to be popular and that being popular is the key to being happy–but that’s not the way it really works, and Lottie learns this the hard way. Her friend Jess is unapologetically herself and doesn’t care what people think of her. Don’t we all wish we could be more like Jess!

Friendships, high school hierarchies, and mean girls are common themes across the series. I won’t give too much away, but Lottie goes on a real learning journey.

The Perils of Puberty

MR: Puberty is handled in a sympathetic yet hilarious way. Lottie’s family even throws her a “pubic-hair tea party” to celebrate Lottie’s first hair. Was your experience as a prepubescent similar to Lottie’s? Also, what advice would you give to 12-year-old Katie?

KK: LOL – the pubic hair tea party, I certainly didn’t get one of those!! I remember my mum giving me factual books on puberty, but we didn’t really talk about it much. I wish we had, as I think that would have made it feel much less awkward and embarrassing.

I would say to myself at 12 – don’t be ashamed as your body changes, it’s all perfectly normal and happens to everyone, and don’t worry, you won’t be flat-chested forever!

Publishing Across the Pond

MR: As above, this book was first published in the U.K. in 2021 and has been adapted for an American audience (i.e., Lottie says “Mom” instead of “Mum,” and “chips” instead of “crisps,” etc.) Were you involved in this part of the publishing process? If so, what was it like?

KK: I got to approve all of the changes, but to be honest, I largely left it in the very capable hands of my editor! I was very happy for her to make any changes that would make the book work better for U.S. readers.

Blogger-Turned-Children’s Author

MR: Prior to writing the Lottie Brooks series, you were a blogger. (Katie’s popular parenting blog, Hurrah for Gin, was adapted into a best-selling book.) What prompted your decision to write for children?

KK: That’s a blast from the past! I had always loved writing, hence the blog, and my UK publishers came across it and felt like the style would work well for children, too. I guess on reflection it was kind of silly and immature. Anyway, they asked me to give it a try, and hence Lottie was born!

Plotter or Pantser?

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

KK: I’m a PANTSER in capital letters, but I really wish I could say I was a plotter, as surely that would make my life less stressful?! Sometimes I have no idea where a book is going to go when I start writing it. I also get bored quickly so write scenes from the middle or end and then have to fit them all back together like a complicated jigsaw. It’s a real headache!

MR: Finally, what’s next on your writing agenda, Katie? Would you mind sharing a bit about your latest project?

KK: I can’t share too much as obviously I’m writing quite far down the line in Lottie’s adventures, but I will say there is PLENTY of drama and embarrassing moments in store for poor Lottie!

Lightning Round!

MR: Oh! One last thing. No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Corn-based crisps (or chips as you’d say!). I don’t think you have Monster Munch, so I’ll go with Cheetos.

MG authors that inspire you? Judy Blume – My OG writing hero!

Coffee or tea? Coffee – I hate tea, which is not very British of me!

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Nay – I’d be dead in 30 seconds.

Superpower? The ability to pause time. Think about the clever comebacks!

Favorite place on earth? This is cheesy – but home.

You’re stranded on a desert island, with only three items in your possession. What are they? Suncream, water, and an inflatable flamingo.

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Katie—and congratulations on the publication of The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know MUF readers will too.

Bio

Katie Kirby is a writer and illustrator who lives by the sea in Hove, England, with her husband, two sons, and dog Sasha. She has a degree in Advertising and Marketing and after spending several years working in London media agencies, she started a blog called Hurrah for Gin, which was adapted to a best-selling humorous parenting book. Katie likes gin (obviously), rabbits, over-thinking things, the smell of launderettes, and Monster Munch. The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks is her first novel. Learn more about Katie on her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Author Melissa Roske smiling and signing a book at a bookstore event. She is seated at a wooden table in front of bookshelves, wearing a sleeveless purple dress.

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, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest (just the funny ones), and received certification as a life coach from NYU. 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  Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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STEM Tuesday– Cephalopods — Book List

By on June 3, 2025   /   Cephalopods/Mollusks, STEM Tuesday  

 

Octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and chambered nautiluses all belong to a special group of mollusks called “cephalopods,” which literally means “head-footed.” These sea creatures have long captivated scientists, inspiring some surprising inventions and discoveries throughout history. This month’s book list celebrates the wild and wonderful world of these incredible animals!

 

The Lady and the Octopus: How Jeanne Villepreux-Power Invented Aquariums and Revolutionized Marine Biology by Danna Staaf

Version 1.0.0This biography of Jeanne Villepreux-Power dives deeply into both the historical context that shaped Jeanne and the scientific questions that captivated her. Jeanne’s passion for observing animals in their natural habitat, at odds with the conventions of her time, led to her invention of the glass aquarium, which she used to make many important discoveries about marine life. Jeanne’s contagious enthusiasm for cephalopods jumps off the page in this multifaceted portrait of a scientific pioneer, written by marine biologist Danna Staaf.

 

 

 

Obsessive about Octopuses by Owen Davey

Filled with incredible illustrations and fascinating factoids, Owen Davey introduces readers to the “weird and wonderful” world of octopuses. This browsable book features some of the lesser known species, like the wonderpus octopus and the flapjack octopus, and even gives out awards to the most sociable, most nimble, and most fashionable octopuses in the ocean.

 

 

 

Ink! 100 FUN Facts about Octopuses, Squid, and More by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

You can’t go wrong with National Geographic. This very visual book introduces readers to a variety of squids including cuttlefish that camouflage themselves and octopuses that outsmart their predators. The text is written by experts with first hand experience and includes many fun facts. It’s both educational and entertaining.

 

 

 

The Octopus Scientists written by Sy Montgomery, with photographs by Keith Ellenbogen

This book whisks young readers off to Moorea, Tahiti where they take front seat with scientists who devote their lives studying octopuses and their superpower abilities. The pictures are remarkable and engaging, and the writing is equally captivating.

 

 

 

 

Search for a Giant Squid written by Amy Seto Forrester, illustrated by Andy Chou Musser

This enthralling choose-your-own-adventure book places readers right inside a submersible to search for the elusive giant squid. Readers will learn about both ocean life and submarine technology as they make decisions about where to explore and how to overcome the obstacles they encounter along the way. And if they don’t find the giant squid on their first try, they can always start over for a whole new adventure!

 

 

 

Amazing Octopus: Creature from another World written by Michael Stavaric, illustrated by Michele Ganswer

This book takes a unique approach. It explores and views octopuses as otherworldly, almost as aliens. The text and original, black and white illustrations really capture the magic and mystery of these creatures. It introduces this topic by first talking about the evolution of all sea creatures, to provide context.

 

 

 

 

What Do We Know About the Kraken? by Ben Hubbard

This book explores the kraken, a legendary sea monster of enormous size, a mix between a squid and octopus. It’s part of the “What do we  Know ABout” series that takes a look at popular monsters from folklore. The kraken was spoken and written about for centuries, and readers can find out what sea creatures may have inspired these myths.

 

 

 

The Incredible Octopus: Meet the Eight-Armed Wonder of the Sea by Erin Spencer

This book combines fantastic photographs with in-depth facts about octopuses. It shows what life is like for these magical creatures, how their suction cups work, how they use their nine brains, what they eat, and what adaptation skills they have. It also features real stories about octopuses that escaped from their tanks.

 

 

 

Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster by Mary M. Cerullo and Clyde F. E. Roper

Part science textbook, part detective story, this Smithsonian book recounts biologist Clyde Roper’s search for a real-life sea monster. Readers will enjoy unearthing clues about the giant squid as they follow along with Roper’s ocean adventures. Cerullo’s text is full of facts and accompanied by a variety of eye-catching images, including both black-and-white illustrations and up-close photographs.

 

 

 

Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep by Mark Leiren-Young

This recently released book is part of the Orca Wild series, which provides in-depth looks at fascinating creatures from across the planet. Leiren-Young shares his own octopus encounters as he uncovers what makes these animals so unique. This playful book covers octopus history, physiology, habitats, habits, and threats to their survival.

 

 

 

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

Author Lydia Lukidis

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 60+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.  Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.

 

 

author Callie Dean

 

Callie Dean is a researcher, writer, and musician living in Shreveport, LA. Her first picture book, Marvelous Mistakes: Accidents That Made History, will be published in 2026. For more information, please visit https://calliebdean.com.

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Summer Camp Capers: 10 Middle Grade Books About Camps

By on May 16, 2025   /   Book Lists, Fiction  
Cover of "Be Prepared" by Vera Brosgol features anxious looking child camper in the woods.

Who could forget their summer camp experience?

For many children, sleep-away camps or day-camps can be both exciting and anxiety-producing. I remember going to a sleep-away camp when I was in middle school. It lasted a week. It felt like two months. Also, someone very close to me once received a disconcerting drawing from an eleven-year-old at a week-long camp:

Child's self portrait and text "Oh! How I want to go home!"

It should be noted, the child ultimately decided it was “good to get out of my comfort zone.”

How can you help your child or student anticipate or reflect on camp experiences?

1. Journaling

2. Writing stories about camp (whether it be real or imagined)

3. Talking about their feelings

4. Reading books about camps! Whether or not a child plans to attend a summer camp, middle grade books about young protagonists triumphing in challenging, scary or even hilariously over-the-top camp situations can be both inspiring and entertaining.

Listed below are ten wonderful middle grade books that feature summer camps:

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

In Be Prepared, all Vera wants to do is fit in—but that’s not easy for a Russian girl in the suburbs. Her friends live in fancy houses and their parents can afford to send them to the best summer camps. Vera’s single mother can’t afford that sort of luxury, but there’s one summer camp in her price range—Russian summer camp.

Vera is sure she’s found the one place she can fit in, but camp is far from what she imagined. And nothing could prepare her for all the “cool girl” drama, endless Russian history lessons, and outhouses straight out of nightmares!

 

 

 

 

Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker

Ware can’t wait to spend summer “off in his own world”—dreaming of knights in the Middle Ages and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called “normal” kids do.

On his first day Ware meets Jolene, a tough, secretive girl planting a garden in the rubble of an abandoned church next to the camp. Soon he starts skipping Rec, creating a castle-like space of his own in the church lot.

Jolene scoffs, calling him a dreamer—he doesn’t live in the “real world” like she does. As different as Ware and Jolene are, though, they have one thing in common: for them, the lot is a refuge.

But when their sanctuary is threatened, Ware looks to the knights’ Code of Chivalry: Thou shalt do battle against unfairness wherever faced with it. Thou shalt be always the champion of the Right and Good—and vows to save the lot.

But what does a hero look like in real life? And what can two misfit kids do?

 

Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore

Javari knew that West Virginia would be different from his home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. But his first day at STEM Camp in a little Appalachian town is still a shock. Though run-ins with the police are just the same here. Not good.

Javari will learn a lot about science, tech, engineering, and math at camp. And also about rich people, racism, and hidden agendas. But it’s Cricket, a local boy, budding activist, and occasional thief, who will show him a different side of the holler—and blow his mind wide open.

Javari is about to have that summer. Where everything gets messy and complicated and confusing . . . and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

J + C + summer = ∞

 

Lions and Liars by Kate Beasley

Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick’s a flea.

Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent to a disciplinary camp for troublesome boys. His fellow troop mates—Nosebleed, Specs, The Professor, and little-yet-lethal Ant Bite—are terrifying. But in between trust-building exercises and midnight escape attempts, a tenuous friendship grows between them. Which is lucky, because a Category 5 hurricane is coming and everyone will have to work together—lions and fleas alike—to survive!

 

 

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Maya is the pragmatic twin, but her secret anxiety threatens to overwhelm her.

Chaya is the outgoing twin. When she sees her beloved sister suffering, she wants to tell their parents—which makes Maya feel completely betrayed. With Maya shutting her out, Chaya makes a dramatic change to give her twin the space she seems to need. But that’s the last thing Maya wants, and the girls just drift further apart.

The once-close sisters can’t seem to find their rhythm, so they make a bet: they’ll switch places at their summer camp, and whoever can keep the ruse going longer will get to decide where they both attend high school—the source of frequent arguments. But stepping into each other’s shoes comes with its own difficulties, and the girls don’t know how they’re going to make it.

 

 

Stella Díaz Never Gives Up by Angela Dominguez


Stella gets a big surprise when her mom plans a trip to visit their family in Mexico! Stella loves marine animals, and she can’t wait to see the ocean for the first time . . . until she arrives and learns that the sea and its life forms are in danger due to pollution.

Stella wants to save the ocean, but she knows she can’t do it alone. It’s going to take a lot of work and help from old and new friends to make a difference, but Stella Díaz never gives up!

 

 

Summer at Squee by Andrea Wang

Phoenny Fang plans to have the best summer ever. She’s returning to Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (SCCWEE for short and “Squee” to campers in the know), and this year she’s a senior camper. That means she; her best friend, Lyrica Chu; and her whole Squad will have the most influence. It almost doesn’t matter that her brother is a CIT (counselor-in-training) and that her mom and auntie are the camp directors. Time spent at Squee is sacred, glorious, and free.

On the day Phoenny arrives, though, she learns that the Squad has been split up, and there’s an influx of new campers this year. Phoenny is determined to be welcoming and to share all the things she loves about camp—who doesn’t love spending hours talking about and engaging in cultural activities? But she quickly learns how out of touch she is with others’ experiences, particularly of the campers who are adoptees. The same things that make her feel connected to her culture and community make some of the other campers feel excluded.

Summer at Squee turns out to be even more transformative than Phoenny could’ve imagined, with new friendships, her first crush, an epic show, and a bigger love for and understanding of her community.

 

Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim

After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers . . . that is until her dad’s girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya’s summer is saved! . . . or not.

What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot . . . paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn’t at culinary camp—she’s at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she’s going to survive this summer . . . and if she’s lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.

 

Teen Canteen: Rocky Road by Amalie Jahn

On the final night of summer camp, Tasha, Raelynn, Claire, and Billie get busted stuffing themselves with ice cream in the mess hall’s walk-in freezer. But when they slip away without being punished, they’re convinced the pink feather boa Billie put on to stay warm is magic.

Back at home, each member of Team Canteen tests the boa’s powers as they face their own challenges. When her little cousin moves in with her destructive dog, Tasha struggles to find her place inside her adoptive family. Claire’s scared the kids at school will find out how hard life’s gotten since her dad lost his job. Raelynn longs to be someone other than her sister’s twin. And with a hockey-obsessed family charting his every move, Billie’s worried he’ll never be able share his dream of becoming a figure skater.

It’s going to be a rocky road from the start of the school year back to Camp Happy Hollow. Will the boa continue to protect Team Canteen, or will their friendship end up being the most magical find of all?

Alternating among the friends, Rocky Road is a smart, soaring celebration of the highs and lows of middle school, and the unbreakable friendships that see you through, no matter what comes next.

 

Twelfth by Janet Key

Twelve-year-old Maren is sure theater camp isn’t for her. Theater camp is for loud, confident, artsy people: people like her older sister, Hadley–the last person Maren wants to think about–and her cinema-obsessed, nonbinary bunkmate, Theo. But when a prank goes wrong, Maren gets drawn into the hunt for a diamond ring that, legend has it, is linked to the camp’s namesake, Charlotte “Charlie” Goodman, a promising director in Blacklist Era Hollywood.

When Maren connects the clues to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, she and her new friends are off searching through lighting booths, orchestra pits and costume storages, discovering the trail and dodging camp counselors. But they’re not the only ones searching for the ring, and with the growing threat of camp closing forever, they’re almost out of time.

 

Let me know below other great middle grade reads that feature summer camp!

 

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