Posts Tagged middle grade books

Adventures abound in October New Books!

By Julie K. Rubini on October 1, 2025 / New Releases

This month’s new releases offer adventure, suspense, fairy tales, and a puzzling mystery. And, be sure to check out From the Mixed Up Files Founder Jennifer Swanson’s latest, a fantastic three-week scientific journey through the rainforest!

Links to all the titles to bookshop.org, which supports local bookstores!

Busted written by Dan Gemeinhart, Henry Holt and Company, 352 pages, October 7

When 12-year-old Oscar Aberdeen decided he would do anything to save the only home he’s ever known, he didn’t realize that anything would include theft, trespassing, gambling, a broken nose, grand theft auto, a federal prison, and a police chase. He had no idea it would be so dangerous…or so fun.

Oscar Aberdeen is a bit of an oddball. He’s an ace at playing bridge, loves Frank Sinatra, and attends a whole lot of funerals. He’s also the youngest resident of Sunny Days retirement home by more than a half-century—and he wouldn’t have it any other way. So when his grandpa’s suddenly served an eviction notice that threatens their place at Sunny Days, he needs to find some cash. Fast.

Enter Jimmy Deluca, a shady elderly man with a reputation for being bad news, who makes Oscar an offer he can’t refuse. He’s got the drop on riches hidden away on the “outside” and he’ll share the loot with Oscar on one condition: he busts him out of Sunny Days.

In this humdinger of an adventure, the ultimate odd couple, along with an uninvited stowaway, go from high-stakes escape to rollicking escapade as they search for the secret stash—and forge an unlikely friendship along the way. Will Oscar succeed in saving the only home he’s ever known? Or will he have to fuggedaboutit and return a failure?

The Invisible List of Lani Li written by Veeda Bybee, Shadow Mountain, 224 pages, October 7

A challenge from her little brother and a Chinese fable inspire Lani Li to hit every note of invincible bravery on her band trip to London.

Thirteen-year-old Lani Li has grown up with the tale of the Eight Invincible Brothers–Chinese heroes who use their superpowers to conquer challenges. Lani wishes she could be as brave as them, especially as she faces her own test of courage . . .

When Lani’s elite performance band is chosen to perform in London, she should be thrilled. But with too many fears to count and her little brother, Gavin, unable to join her due to a serious heart condition, the trip feels more daunting than exciting. Before Lani leaves, Gavin gives her a challenge: tap into her own hidden strength by embodying the Eight Invincible Brothers–and each of their special powers.

In London, Lani creates her own “invincible list” based on the fable, and as she checks off each quality, she discovers that these “superpowers” might not be as far-fetched as they seem. But when the final challenge demands that she face a daunting fear–running down the famous Cooper’s Hill in a wild cheese race–Lani wonders if she has what it takes to complete the list.

With her brother’s courage as her guide, can Lani conquer her fears and prove she’s invincible in her own way? Or will this last challenge be the one that defeats her?

Outside written by Jennifer Holm, Scholastic, 240 pages, October 7

From three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm, a chilling but heartfelt story of a girl being raised in a compound who doesn’t understand how isolated and unusual her life is… until she must encounter the outside world.

Whatever you do, don’t leave home.

Razzi has always been told: Don’t go Outside. It isn’t safe. There are people and creatures out there that will harm you. The walls of the Refuge will protect you from them.

Razzi’s friend Ollie was curious about Outside… and it led to his death. So Razzi is trying to be on her best behavior. She is the oldest kid left, the one the younger kids look up to. She has to follow the rules.

But Outside has a way of getting in, and Razzi, guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, wonders what it’s like to run free beyond the walls.

If she steps away from everything she’s ever known… what will she find?

Three Weeks in the Rainforest, written by Jennifer Swanson, Charlesbridge, 80 pages, October 14

A women-led team of scientists protect the Amazon rainforest from destruction as readers get a firsthand account of real-life fieldwork in action.

A compelling, nonfiction, photo-illustrated STEM read for 8-12-year-olds who aspire to be future scientists, environmentalists, and conservationists!

Over 22 years, a team of scientists from the Field Museum in Chicago has helped conserve 28.9 million acres of the Amazon rainforest. Follow the team as they race to gather data over three precious weeks in the field.

During rapid inventory, information is gathered in two ways:

Biologists trek through mud and rain and count every animal and plant they see, recording everything that flies, swims, crawls, slithers, or walks. They then look at key plant and animal groups to assess the health of the ecosystem.

Social scientists visit villages, speaking with local people about their desires and goals for the land, as each community has developed its own way of taking care of its environment.

The team then makes a compelling, evidence-based case for conservation.

Developed in partnership with the Field Museum, this action-packed book focuses on Rapid Inventory 30, which is conducted in Colombia with the help of local and Indigenous scientists and community members.

Photographs from the scientists themselves give readers a glimpse into real-life fieldwork in the Amazon that will captivate STEM readers and the next generation of scientists.

Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World, written by Hannah West, illustrated by Jennifer Bricking, Holiday House, 288 pages, October 14

Fairy tale heroes and fantasy villains chase one another across the multiverse in this clever middle grade debut that sparkles with bookish magic and quick-witted humor.

Ivy is an isolated, daydreaming girl in the “real” world. Forest is a scrawny, unlikely hero in Ivy’s “pretend” story.

Never the two shall meet . . . until Forest unexpectedly walks through a portal and finds himself in Ivy’s queendom. All Forest wants to do is talk to the author of his story about a few edits to his character arc—he has no idea what kind of narrative stakes he is up against.

As soon as Ivy and Forest try to rewrite Forest’s story, the pair gets caught in an evil wizard’s plot for world domination. They must travel through the multiverse of Ivy’s imagination—along with a mishmash cast of abandoned characters, including junior superheroes, an intrepid Victorian girl detective, and even a rough draft version of Forest himself—to foil their dastardly foe. If they don’t succeed in their heroic quest, each and every world (possibly even Ivy’s own!) could be obliterated with just two short words: “The End.”

Each story splinters into the next in this brilliant spin on classic storytelling tropes that celebrates the power of imagination and creativity during uncertain times. Bursting with energy, Hannah West makes a fresh middle grade debut that is perfect for bookworms and kids with big imaginations. Features spot illustrations and a map of Ivy’s multiverse destinations.

Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest, written by Chris Grabenstein, Random House Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, October 14

Say this title five times fast!

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Mr. Lemoncello series comes a race across the country full of rousing riddles and laugh-out-loud humor as two brothers try to solve the million-dollar puzzle of an eccentric genius!

Benjamin and Ethan Broderick don’t fit together. Twelve-year-old Ben loves retro arcade games and puzzles, while his older brother would rather play sports and hang out with his friends. The only thing they have in common is how much they resent being forced to go on a summer road trip.

But at the quirky diner where the brothers make their very first stop, they discover a clue leading to a giant puzzle race with a million-dollar prize! Along with five other families, the Brodericks are thrust into a high-stakes competition along the famous Route 66.

Can Ben and Ethan put their heads together—and put aside their differences—to beat out the other families and solve Ms. Pennypickle’s ultimate puzzle?

The Tear Collector, written by R.M. Romero, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 pages, October 14

Set after the end of the world, this darkly fantastical climate change tale explores hope, memory, and what really makes a monster.
Climate change culminated in the Flood, an enormous wave that wiped out entire countries. Malka and her younger brother Ezra survived and now live with Dr. Jonas Hollman on the Island, the only piece of land left on Earth. Scavenging useful things from the shoreline under the watchful eye of the Island’s sinister leader Mr. Gray, Malka and her family get by. Barely.

But an illness called the Sorrow is changing people into monsters when their memories of the Mainland grow too sad…and Ezra is the latest to get sick. Desperate not to lose her brother, Malka throws herself into helping “Uncle” Jonas with his research to find a cure.

Then her family’s dismal lives are turned upside down by the mysterious Olivia, who crashes a plane on the beach. More people are out there, she says. The world isn’t lost forever. To save Ezra and the other Islanders, Malka will have to uncover the secrets of her flooded world–and the lies even the people she loves have told her about the true nature of the Sorrow.

R.M. Romero tackles our fear and anxiety surrounding climate change and weaves it through with hope in this beautifully told adventure that will resonate with readers young and old.

Fooled, written by Susan Haas and Lexi Haas, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 288 pages, October 21

In this fresh, funny, and fast-paced story, chaos ensues when a down-on-its-luck middle school comes to believe that fake magic is the real deal!
Magic loving, wheelchair user Lil Evers wishes she could start sixth grade at a real wizarding school, instead of the worst junior high in her district. But when she leads her friends in roleplaying their own magic school in the Exceptional Children’s (EC) class for special education, it helps the school days feel more bearable.

When their magic wands end up scaring some bullies away in a chance encounter, the EC students’ standing at school does a total 180. Students think their magic is actually real–and that Lil and her friends can grant their wishes with good luck charms! Strangest of all, the charms seem to be working…

But it becomes clear that there’s someone lurking who doesn’t want the good luck to spread. Can Lil let go of her fantasy world to find her voice–and embrace her real  school–before Willow Street Middle falls victim to an evil plan?

From the co-authors of the critically acclaimed memoir The Year of the Buttered Cat comes an imaginative novel that shines a spotlight on the way the school system often fails students with disabilities–while showcasing the power of those very students to make positive change.

Interview with Alexandra Alessandri about her Latest Book GROW UP, LUCHY ZAPATA

By Melissa Roske on September 24, 2025 / Author Interviews

It is my extreme pleasure to welcome Alexandra Alessandri to the Mixed Up Files today.

Alexandra Alessandri

Alexandra Alessandri is the award-winning author of several books for children, including Isabel and Her Colores go to School, The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía, and Lupita’s Hurricane Palomitas. The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she is also an educator and a poet. She lives in Florida with her husband and son and today, she’s here to tell us about her latest book GROW UP, LUCY ZAPATA.

About the Book and Characters:

Luchy and Cami’s friendship is central to the story. What inspired you to explore the ups and downs of a long-time friendship during such a pivotal time as middle school?

The inspiration for Luchy and Cami’s friendship began as my son finished fifth grade and embarked on his middle school journey. I was revising another project, but as I lived through those moments with him, navigating the messy feelings of excitement, fear, and anticipation, I couldn’t help but see the seeds of a story. Later, as he went through a friendship breakup, I remembered my own painful one, and the seeds were planted. Like Luchy and Cami, my friend and I had been BFFs since we were two, and like Luchy, I was ditched for the “cool” kids when she finally came to my school. As I thought about our middle school experiences three decades apart, I couldn’t help but reflect on the changes that come during this transition from elementary to middle school, especially when there’s a new school or when there’s a shift in personal circumstances. Slowly, as I wrote down what I was remembering and witnessing, from who-likes-whom and soccer tryouts to teachers and friendships, the ups and downs of Luchy and Cami’s relationship came into clear focus.

NOT COOL ENOUGH

Middle Schoolers Judge If Adults Are Cool - YouTube

The story touches on the idea of feeling “too immature” or “not cool enough.” How do you think this resonates with young readers, especially those navigating new social dynamics in middle school?

I think young readers are especially keen at feeling the push-pull that comes with growing up, and they’ll hopefully connect with Luchy, Cami, and Mateo’s journey because it’ll feel real to them. They, too, are juggling the desire to grow up with the fear of letting go of their childhood. As students move on to middle school and enter new social dynamics there, there’s a stronger urge to fit in. The fear of their peers perceiving them as “too immature” or “not cool enough” rises, in part because we have this innate desire to belong. And in showing three middle school characters who are “growing up” in different ways and at different rates, I’m hoping that young readers will recognize their own realities and know that it’s okay to grow up at your own pace.

On Diversity and Cultural Identity:

As a Colombian American author, how did your own experiences influence the way you portrayed

Luchy’s and Cami’s cultural backgrounds?

I knew early on that I wanted to explore the various ways we might connect to our culture, but specifically, the ways Colombian Americans might experience this part of their identity. Often, I write protagonists who share my cultural heritage, but as I dove into Luchy’s story, I decided both she and Cami would be Colombian American. It’s what would make their families connect, as often happens to those living in the diaspora. The city Luchy’s and Cami’s families come from is Manizales, my dad’s birthplace, and this part of the backstory was inspired by a real event, where I met someone as an adult who was from Manizales and who knew my uncle.

However, as I wrote, I discovered that despite their shared connection to the motherland, they experienced their identity quite differently, and this stemmed, in part, from comparing my own first-gen experience to my son’s second-gen one. In some ways, I’m most like Cami, having grown up speaking fluent Spanish and visiting Colombia often so there was never a question of whether I was truly Colombian—even if sometimes I didn’t feel enough of a Colombian because I wasn’t born there, a sentiment that Luchy feels keenly. My son, on the other hand, is more like Luchy; he doesn’t speak Spanish, but he still connects to this part of his culture in other ways, like through music, food, and soccer.

Incorporating Colmbian Culture into the Story

In what ways did you incorporate Colombian culture into the story, and how do you hope it will resonate with both Colombian American readers and those from different backgrounds?

Columbia University in the City of New York

I focused on including details that Luchy would’ve felt drawn to—like the food and fruit juices her abui makes, which are staples in many Colombian households, as well as the art and colors found in Colombia’s murals peppered throughout cities like Medellín and Cartagena. The murals described actually exist, and I was lucky to visit them during my last trip there. Luchy’s nickname for Mateo, Tigre, is also a nod toward Colombia’s Ramadel Falcao, a soccer star that she would’ve watched with her papi. In those moments, connected to those other elements of her identity as foodie, artist, and athlete, she would find that she’s not as far removed from her culture as she might think. Also, as a big fan of renowned Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez and magical realism, I left a few nuggets in Luchy’s art project, the one that ultimately leads to her epiphany about Colombia, and Mami’s scrapbooks and Luchy’s research take her to some beautiful and wonderous landscapes of Colombia. My hope is that those who are Colombian American might immediately recognize their own story in these pages while those from different backgrounds might discover a different story about Colombia and Colombian Americans.

Writing for Middle Graders:

The Importance of Middle School ...

Middle school can be such a transformative time. What drew you to write about this age group, and how do you hope your book will impact readers going through similar experiences?

One of the things I love about writing for this age group is just how much change happens in a few short years—physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Young readers are expanding their circles, figuring out who they are in relation to their families, their peers, and their communities. They’re learning what they love, and don’t love, and what they feel passionate about. It’s a wonderful time of transformation—of metamórfosis like Abui says. One of the recurring feedback I’ve been receiving about Luchy’s story is how real it is—and I love it! In these pages, I hope Luchy, Cami, and Mateo will become my readers’ friends, that in following Luchy in her attempts at salvaging her friendship with Cami, they might find hope that even if things don’t work out the way we want, it’ll still be okay. And hope, in the end, is what keeps us going.

Friendship

Friendship is such a key theme in the book. How did you approach writing the evolving dynamics between Luchy, Cami, and Mateo?

6 ways to help your child thrive socially in middle school - Phyllis Fagell

To discover and understand the evolving dynamics between Luchy, Cami, and Mateo, I did a lot of freewriting and brainstorming exercises from each of their different perspectives. I wanted characters who leapt off the page, who felt real and familiar and who each had their own struggles and conflicts, and to do that, I had to spend time with each character individually, separate from Luchy. I sat with the characters and got to know them, their families, their fears, and desires. The more time I spent with each character, the more I discovered what made them tick, what their vulnerabilities and strengths were—and this helped create the evolving dynamics between the three.

Take Away Message

If there’s one message you hope readers take away from Luchy’s story, what would it be?

Key Takeaways Written By Man In The Note Stock Photo - Download Image Now - Key, Take Out Food, Sign - iStock

That they are enough just the way they are, and that the way they experience their identity is valid and real. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

What’s Next?

Can you share what’s next for you as an author? Are there any new projects on the horizon?

Colorful Kaleidoscope Seamless Pattern Decorative Hexagon Ornament Geometric Design Element Rainbow Wallpaper Fabric Paper Furniture Print Abstract Flower Or Star Psychedelic Style Stock Photo - Download Image Now - iStock

Up next, I have a short story titled “Kaleidscope,” about a girl who emerges from grief and battles with fibromyalgia to discover how to love herself again, in the anthology All the Love Under the Vast Sky, a collection of short stories in verse surrounding the theme of love—look for it on January 14, 2025! I also have picture book coming in 2026 about an anxious girl nicknamed “Pajarito” and the nightly walks with her mami, as Pajarito wonders if she’ll ever feel brave enough to fly out on her own. Like with my current books, these two are also deeply inspired by my lived experiences, including my own journey with fibromyalgia.

Connect with Alexandra

You can connect with Alexandra and learn more about all her wonderful books here.

Author Spotlight: Anh Do

By Melissa Roske on September 18, 2025 / Articles, Author Interviews

If you haven’t heard of Anh Do, it’s for one reason, and one reason only: you haven’t spent time in Australia. There, he’s a beloved TV personality, stand-up comic, artist, memoirist, and yes… bestselling children’s author. His wildly popular Wolf Girl series, which features Gwen, a plucky, slingshot-toting tween and her pack of furry and feathery friends, has sold over a million copies Down Under.

The second installment in the series, The Great Escape, is now available in the U.S. from Harper, along with Book 1, Into the Wild, which came out last year.

But first…

The Great Escape: A Summary

After spending four years alone in the wild, Gwen is overjoyed to see another human being. But all that changes when she’s thrown into the back of a van and taken to a remote prison camp. The situation looks dire. How will her pack of loyal animal friends find her? Where are her parents and sister? Are the other kids in the camp friends or enemies? And, above all, how will she escape?

And now, without further ado…

ANH DO!

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Anh! It’s an absolute pleasure to have you here!

AD: Thank you, Melissa. It’s a real joy to be here!

MR: Although American readers may not be familiar with the Wolf Girl series, the books have sold more than a million copies in Australia. What’s the secret to writing a series with such strong reader appeal? It’s no mean feat, especially in today’s competitive market.

AD: I have a super short attention span, which was a problem when I was a kid, sitting in class. But now it’s my superpower. My books have to be fascinating to me, first and foremost, so my children’s books have truckloads of awesome things that happen. Every few pages there is something amazing, or moving, or surprising, or funny. I guess this keeps my readers totally engaged and delighted.

Anh’s Inspiration

MR: What was your inspiration for the series, and for your plucky protagonist, Gwen? She’s quite a force of nature.

AD: When I was a kid, my family owned a farm. We had seven dogs that helped keep foxes at bay and look after the other animals. They became like my little band of buddies. I spent entire days wandering around the forest with my pack of dogs.

About 30 years later, I was watching my three-year-old daughter, sitting with her soft toys and talking to her fluffy dog toys, when suddenly the idea of Wolf Girl popped into my head: a little girl who gets lost in the forest and befriends a wolf puppy and a bunch of adorable dogs. Over the years they become family, and the dogs teach her how to become more in tune with her senses and how to detect danger, the way dogs do. Some people have said that Wolf Girl is a bit like Tarzan but with dogs instead of apes, and a young girl instead of a muscle-bound man.

Kindness in the Face of Adversity

MR: In The Great Escape, Gwen is taken to a prison camp, where children are forced to work as unpaid laborers. There, she meets Rupert, a fellow inmate who shows compassion to Gwen by sneaking her food. What were you trying to say about the nature of kindness, particularly in the face of adversity?

AD: I think human beings are innately kind. Of course there are exceptions, but whenever you see a natural disaster, like a hurricane or fire, people will help other people who are total strangers. I have found that in my childhood. I grew up very poor and was raised by a single mum. Many people, young and old, helped me and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for their kindness.

Animal Friends

MR: Gwen shares the spotlight with a pack of heroic animal friends: a wolf, four dogs, and an eagle who serve as her protectors. As Gwen says, “If not for my animals, I don’t know if I would have survived.” Can you elaborate?

AD: Gwen is about eight years old when she befriends the lost animals and they become her family. The dogs and eagle help her hunt for food and provide her with warmth when she curls up amongst them. But they also provide her with emotional comfort. The animals mean that she is not totally alone.

Vietnam to Australia

MR: While we’re on the subject of survival, your 2010 memoir, The Happiest Refugee, chronicles your family’s perilous journey by boat from war-torn Vietnam to Sydney, Australia. How did that experience shape you as a writer and influence your books?

AD: Yes, I am a refugee and my family lived through the Vietnam war. In fact, my father and uncles fought alongside American soldiers, so I grew up with stories told at the dinner table every night. Every story was life and death, kindness and betrayal, love and loss and danger. All these things are now deeply infused in my books.

Renaissance Man

MR: Switching gears, I think it’s fair to say that you’re the true definition of a Renaissance man. Not only have you written dozens of books for children and adults, but you’re also a stand-up comic, an actor, an artist, and have even competed on Dancing with the Stars! Is there anything you’re not good at, Anh?

AD: I can’t swim. Tried loads of times but I sink really quick!

MR: As a follow-up, with so many things going on in your life—including a multi-city comedy tour—how do you juggle it all?

AD: I love everything I do, so it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like pursuing a hobby. When something stops feeling like fun, I drop it pretty quick; otherwise it will sap my energy.

MR: Rumor has it that Wolf Girl is being adapted into a film, with actress Rose Byrne as the producer. Can you tell us more? Also, will you be in it? 🙂

AD: I can’t tell you too much, except to say that I am super excited about Wolf Girl as well as many of my other titles being turned into TV or film adaptations!

Anh’s Writing Routine

MR: What does your writing routine look like, Anh? Do you have a particular time during the day when you prefer to write? Any habits or rituals?

AD: I write everywhere, on planes, in taxis, even whilst shopping. If an idea pops into my head when I’m shopping, I stop and type the idea into my phone to capture the idea before it flies off with the wind. I was once in a gift store and I saw a statue of the three monkeys who are blocking their eyes, ears. and mouth. You might’ve seen this kind of statue before. Suddenly an idea popped into my head: imagine a trio of villains called ‘Senseless’ who can walk into a bank and make everyone in the bank momentarily lose their sight, hearing, and verbal ability? Wouldn’t that be a scary trio of villains? So they are now the main villains in my series Skydragon.

The Secret Cave

MR: The final book in the Wolf Girl trilogy, The Secret Cave, is coming out in March 2026. Can you give readers of taste of what’s to come? (No spoilers, of course! 🙂)

AD: The Secret Cave has an Indiana Jones kind of adventure vibe. By the way, Book 3 is not the final Wolf Girl book. In Australia, Wolf Girl is up to 14! The series is a sweeping tale told over many years and there is heartbreak and family reunions and betrayal and love and loss and everything in between!

MR: What are you working on now, Anh?

AD: Another 100 books. I’ve released over 100 books in Australia. Now for the next hundred.

Lightning Round!

MR: And finally, no MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Nuts

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Superpower? Laughter

Best piece of writing advice? Do whatever it takes to get really, really good.

Favorite joke? Why is 6 scared of 7? Because 789.

Favorite place on earth? Tuscany

If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be? A nice yacht, a helicopter, and a submarine

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Anh—and congratulations on the publication of The Great Escape. I can’t wait to read book #3, when it comes out next year!

AD: Thank you, Melissa. It’s been so much fun!

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. 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 Facebook and Instagram.

Posts Tagged middle grade books

Adventures abound in October New Books!

Like this: