Posts Tagged middle grade books

Meet Lauren Galit of LKG Literary

By on November 28, 2025   /   Articles, Editor / Agent Spotlight   /   Leave a comment
Lauren Galit, literary agent at LKG Literary

Lauren Galit, literary agent at LKG LiteraryAccording to the LKG Agency website, Lauren Galit is “a story cheerleader, a contract negotiator, and a champion of unforgettable kidlit books.” And according to client Clinton Kelly, she’s “a totally chill agent who’s not even a jerk.”

 

Lauren opened LKG Agency in 2005 and has worked hard to build a thriving agency with a robust client list. She loves working with middle-grade authors, and we know that our MUF readers will love getting to know Lauren!

 

Lauren, tell us a little about your background and how you found your way to agenting.

I was the kind of kid who read constantly, and I always knew I wanted to work with words and language. I initially focused on magazines — Tina Brown was my idol — but eventually realized it was the writers themselves I adored and wanted to support, so a move to books made sense. I began agenting nonfiction because it was a natural extension of my editorial work, but I pivoted to kidlit after my assistant asked me to represent her middle-grade novel, and we grew from there. Now I can’t imagine doing anything other than fiction. I primarily specialize in middle-grade, young adult, and now new adult, but I’ve also realized I will go where my authors go — my main job is to support their writing journeys.

 

LKG Agency has been going strong for 20 years now! What’s the secret to your success?

As a boutique agency of one, with support from a foreign rights agent, I focus on offering a highly personalized experience. I may not have the size of a major firm, but I make up for it by being deeply responsive and very editorially hands-on. When an author is struggling with a scene, plot point, or character arc, they know they can send me questions or pages — or we can hop on the phone and strategize together.

 

What excites you most about your job?

While I love many parts of my job, my favorite thing by far is brainstorming with authors as they work through their projects. We talk worldbuilding, how that world influences the plot, who the characters are and how that shapes their choices, and then we dig into craft — how to make all those elements sing. When they send me a revision and I can see the transformation, I get downright giddy.

 

I read that you got your start as a magazine editor. How did that prepare you for the shift to agenting?

Working in magazines taught me the mechanics of editing — I used to constantly ask the copyeditors to teach me every rule of the road. Being an obsessive reader helped me develop a sense of what works on the page. And working closely with so many talented editors across publishing — learning not just their wishlists but their tastes and approaches to craft — has been an education in itself.

 

It’s clear that you love books! If you could be described as a champion of any particular type of book, what type of book would that be?

I tend to be a middle-grade maven. I gravitate toward it maybe because it feels like such a pivotal time in a child’s reading life — hook them then, and you may have them for life. I’m especially drawn to magical realism or contemporary fantasy; those genres create incredible opportunities to explore the emotional changes young adolescents go through. A perfect example is Wendy McLeod MacKnight’s The Change Up. When her protagonist enters adolescence and discovers she’s a shapeshifter who can’t control her transformations, it becomes a powerful metaphor for how kids are still figuring themselves out; they are easily influenced until they learn who they want to be.

 

You’re speaking our language. Here at MUF, we’re all about middle-grade novels! What do you like most about this category?

The sense of wonder. Everything feels new to these readers, and I love seeing a book crack open a world for them. Even an adventure series like Percy Jackson shows kids that it’s okay to be different — that maybe their differences are actually strengths.

 

What are some of your favorite middle-grade novels?

From my childhood, I adored The Chronicles of Narnia, The Chronicles of Prydain, and Anne McCaffrey’s Harper Hall trilogy. In the present day, there are so many of my authors’ books I could name, but I do remember reading Steven Banbury’s Pumpkin Princess submission and immediately thinking, “I must represent this.” That feeling of joy and excitement is unmatched. I recently had that same reaction reading my new author Laura Boggs’s Margot of Manhattan — her voice is so unique, and it’s a love letter to my dear city of New York.

 

What types of books are you drawn to?

As I mentioned, I have a soft spot for magical realism, but my range is fairly wide —contemporary, thriller, mystery, sci-fi, high fantasy, even nonfiction. While not MG, my young adult nonfiction project Obsessed, about the author’s experience with OCD, remains one of my proudest editorial moments. Typically, I’m not a big fan of horror, but after meeting some truly wonderful horror writers at a retreat, I might be softening on that front.

 

Are there any current projects you’re excited about?

So many! I’m not sure what was in the air this summer, but all my authors seemed to finish projects at once and place them lovingly in my lap. I mentioned Margot, which is on sub. I just put the finishing touches on Jaime Formato’s Rogue Richardson and Sly Silver Take Back the Golden Age, an homage to comic books and geek culture. And I’ve been working with Mike Thayer on his older MG A Place Among Heroes, which has one of the best concepts I’ve seen in a while — a boy and his father competing in a reality show that’s essentially a real-life role-playing game, complete with experience points and side quests. The emotional arc is even more compelling than the fictional one.

 

Prospective clients are reading this and asking one question: Are you currently open to submissions?

Yes — though as mentioned above, I’m working through a small backlog thanks to the summer wave of manuscripts.

 

Can you describe any “dream submissions” you’d like to find in your inbox?

OMG, so much pressure! I hate this answer, but it’s the truth: I know it when I read it. What I’ve learned is that when an author LOVES their work, that comes through. When they have a clear vision, a deep understanding of their characters, and genuine joy in the story they’re crafting — that’s what I want to see in my inbox.

 

Will interested authors ever find you participating in pitch parties?

I have participated, and I enjoy seeing what authors are working on, how they distill their stories into just a few lines, and what trends are emerging. I don’t do pitch parties too often because my submissions portal stays busy, and I want to make sure those writers receive proper attention.

 

Where can authors learn more about you?

Mostly through my website and interviews like this. I keep meaning to do more on social media, so stay tuned!

 

What are your favorite things to do that have nothing to do with being an agent?

Other than reading? Hanging with my dog, Luna (whom my 12-year-old named after Luna Lovegood — though personality-wise she’s much more of a Katniss), spending time with my kids when they’re home from college, and traveling with my husband.

 

Lauren, it’s been great getting to know you! Is there anything else you’d like to say before we close out our interview?

Just a thank you to you — and to all the writers out there who keep creating, even as the middle-grade landscape becomes more challenging. With attention spans shrinking and reading levels dropping, we need to work smarter to turn kids into lifelong readers. As research shows, reading builds empathy and has a direct correlation with success. What could be better than that?

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End of the World Shenanigans and Adventures with Max Brallier

By on November 13, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

Today, we’re excited to host Max Brallier, author of a stupendous amount of books, including the wildly popular Last Kids on Earth middle grade series. The highly-anticipated tenth installment, The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair, is out now, and we had the chance to talk with Max about it as well as what’s up next for this prolific writer.

 

Cover of The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor's Lair by Max Brallier and illustrated by Douglas Holgate

Thanks so much for joining us here at the Mixed-Up Files, Max. How exciting is it to be able to celebrate the release of the tenth book in the Last Kids on Earth series! As Quint says, that’s a lot of adventuring. This installment definitely doesn’t disappoint when it comes to shenanigans, superpowered boss fights, massive monsters, and an epic clash with Ŗeżżőcħ. It seems like the ultimate showdown is still yet to come, though. Can we expect even more adventuring with Jack and our other dauntless heroes?

Thanks for having me! Excited to chat. Super exciting to celebrate the release of the 10th book in the main series—although I have to admit it’s a confusing number, since there’s a 5.5 and a 7.5 and other ½ books that aren’t actually half books but kind of are. But it is, truly and really, the 10th anniversary for the series.

Friendship plays such a vital role in this series and in this book in particular. Though what a twist to have Jack and Quint fighting and not speaking for a big chunk of it! Quint is usually the man with the plan, and though he turns out to still be in the end in splendid fashion, Jack has to do a lot more on his own this time. How did you navigate having these two not communicating while still letting them explore the Monster Dimension and move closer to Ŗeżżőcħ?

It wasn’t easy! I’ve always resisted having the kids be locked in a fight for long periods of time; it never seemed like it would be fun to read or to write. But it made sense here. And I was able to do it in a way, I hope, that it won’t feel like a drag.

The Bewilderness was an exciting location to dive into (quite literally), and other places like BountyCon offered a lot of great visuals and details as well. Were there any places you would have liked to explore more in depth?

Lots more places! The Bewilderness sequence was initially a lot longer, and parts were very different. And the entire Hidden City itself was originally going to be more of a living, breathing creature-city.

 

It’s always struck me how fun and heartfelt these books are while there’s a lot of pretty serious stuff going on as well. In this story in particular, Jack is coming face to face with evil. How do you balance the lighthearted, funny tone with the more serious topics of loss and death that come with the apocalypse?

I find that to be the hardest thing about writing the series—and it has been, since book 1. I try to balance it by leaning into Jack’s 1st person POV and having him—usually—approach things in a way that’s lighthearted or wry.


The illustrations by Douglas Holgate are such a perfect match for the tone of the book, combining scale, energy, and cool monsters. At this point in the series, do you have a sense of which parts of the story would make for a good panel or aside in a dialogue bubble? Is that something you get to work on together?

Doug is incredible. More often than not, while writing the manuscript, I’ll call out which moments should be illustrated—stuff like cutaway gags or flashbacks or little asides. Or big action moments that I think we’ll really want to see. But then, when reading through the manuscript, Doug and the book’s designer, Jay, and editor, Dana, will often flag moments that they think would make for a good illustration.

Photo of Max Brallier
You’ve written several other series in addition to the Last Kids on Earth, like Eerie Elementary and Mister Shivers. With all of these great stories and characters, I’d love to ask a question you probably get all the time: Where do you get your ideas?

Sometimes an idea will just hit me when I’m sitting in my car or running errands, or lying on the couch. Other times it’s a real hunt, where I’m pacing around, trying to crack something, trying to find that idea that’s hopefully going to save the whole book at the last minute.


Can you tell us more about what you’re working on right now?

The next two Last Kids on Earth books, finishing up The Last Comics on Earth #4, and two new ideas—one middle grade, one very different.

 

Do you have any advice you’d give to writers who are interested in creating a series?

Start small! Beginning, middle, and end of one story first, while allowing for questions that the reader will hope to have answered, and places the readers will hope to visit.

 

And last but not least, if there’s an Order 72, are there 71 others?

I’m more worried about Orders 73 and beyond!

 

You can learn more about Max and his books at his website: https:www.maxbrallier.com

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Scientists explore 3 Weeks in the Rainforest

By on October 24, 2025   /   Articles  

Rainforest Book cover

Science Rocks! And so do Jennifer Swanson’s books. She is the award-winning author of over 50 nonfiction STEM books for children. A former middle school science teacher for 14 years, she’s also a science communicator, podcaster, and lifelong explorer. Jennifer is a long-time contributor and admin to the Mixed-Up Files blog, creator of the STEM Tuesday blog, and also the STEAMTeam Books promo group. You can learn more about Jennifer and her books at https://jenniferswansonbooks.com/. Most recently, Jen explored the rainforest’s environment with scientists who spent 3 Weeks in the Rainforest. Her forthcoming book captures the diverse ecosystems as well as the ways local communities and indigenous people have adapted to co-exist within this amazing environment.

Jen became interested in the Amazon inventory while at an exhibit of The Field Museum in Chicago while visiting her daughter who was a summer intern. The two decided to visit The Field Museum, and that is where Jen first saw the exhibit about the Rapid Inventory Project. We sat down to watch the short video about the project. Jen was hooked. “The vivid images, the amazing conservation efforts, and the team of awesome scientists made the Amazon come alive.” As Jen walked through the rest of the very informative and descriptive exhibit she was enthralled “to learn how these scientists would count every single animal they saw, collect samples, and literally take an inventory of the biological creatures of that area. But I think the coolest part was that the social scientists made great effort to include the local communities and Indigenous Peoples in their reports. The people who live in that area should have a lot of say in how it would be set up as protected lands.”

Jen recognizes that this inventory is important for readers and for the world. “It is an unbiased way to evaluate the health of an ecosystem, determine its strengths and where it might need help. But I think the best part of the way The Field Museum scientists work is that they do this with the full cooperation and involvement of local communities, Indigenous Peoples living there, as well as scientists from all levels of life. It is the people that live there that know best about the areas and that is a huge part of the recommendation made to the country for protection.”

The narrative style of Jen’s writing gives readers the sense of being right there in the field keeping a diary with the different teams. It creates a close bond for readers. But Jen didn’t trave with any of the teams because it wouldn’t be allowed. Instead Jen interviewed a few of the females scientists in person before the pandemic and interviewed the rest via zoom. Jen added, “Also, I’m not sure I’m as brave as they are to just go through these jungles and live amongst the animals.”

She would love for readers to come away from reading this book with an understanding that “there are ways to help their own environments.” This book isn’t just about the Amazon but could be about each reader’s own backyard or local park. She encourages readers to “take a biological inventory of the plants and animals around where you live. Find out which ones might be indigenous to your area, and which ones are not. Learn how you can help to keep your environment healthy and long-lasting.”

She explains that this ability to see the environment and keep it healthy is why she writes for kids. She says, “I think it’s a great way for them to see how people from different backgrounds and different countries can come together and collaborate to protect one of the world’s most amazing resources: the Amazon rainforest.”

One of the surprising aspects of the inventory team preparations for exploring an area was that a lead team comes and not only creates paths in and out of the rainforest, but they create necessary tables, chairs, canopies of leaves for the teams and then leave these items for local use. Jen feels the coolest part of this book was “talking with the awesome scientists that participated in it. My favorite part was when Dr. Lesley de Souza, an ichthyologist, told me that they just walk right into bodies of water or rivers in the Amazon. No waders, just boots and jeans. I said, aren’t their anaconda in these waters. She shrugged and said, ‘Yes, sometimes. The key is to just not let it wrap itself too far up your leg.’ (Yikes! And Wow! She is sooo impressive)”

Jen’s final chapters focus on the ways people can live and work in a symbiotic relationship with nature and the environment within the rain forests. Jen saw this as a way that kids and their grownups living in urban or suburban environments can create a lifestyle that incorporates this relationship into their lives. “The best thing to do is to learn about the environment where you live. Discover which plants are indigenous, or which might be invasive. Try to support the indigenous ones. Maybe even conduct your own inventory of creatures that live there. Consider planting areas that might help feed or protect these creatures. When you are more aware of your surroundings, you will naturally treat them better which is also better for your own mental health.”

The images in this book are lush and beautiful. Jen explains that the Field Museum provided all of the photos. Charlesbridge Publishing and the Field Museum came to their own agreement about the photos. Although Jen wasn’t involved with that she’s glad it worked out. “They are absolutely gorgeous!”

Jen encourage readers to learn more about the environments we need to maintain the earth and suggested that readers “look into local nonprofit organizations that might support a river, or zoos, or even parks. Find out what they are doing to help the environment and volunteer. If you live near a beach, participate in beach cleanups or help to promote safe turtle nesting. If you find an injured animal call the local rescue group. There are so many ways to help, you just need to look around and reach out.”

Readers are encouraged by Jen if they have the means to visit the Field Museum in Chicago. “I highly recommend it. It’s a fabulous place! There are so many different exhibits that teach us all about history and science. And, you’ll get to experience the book in a different way by walking through the Rapid Inventory exhibit. It’s amazing!”

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