All of us at the Mixed Up Files would like to wish you a New Year full of inspiration and good books to share. We are moving into this new year with a group of new members. We are looking forward to hearing from them in the months to come. And as always we are eager to hear from you, our blog readers, about what moves and motivates you as a reader and writer, as a teacher, a parent, as a librarian, and a book-lover.
Earlier we shared a list of writing resolutions for the new year. We also wanted to share our reading resolutions because there is not good writing without equal time spent in reading the best literature available. Here are our hopes for our reading in the New Year. Please share your resolutions too.
Andrea Pyros
Find books that make me laugh. The news can feel pretty grim, so I want to make sure to have some lightness in my life, too. I just finished Amy Schumer’s memoir (not #kidlit, obviously!) and really enjoyed ending my day reading a chapter or two. More of that!
Jen Swanson
Find more time to read! Particularly middle grade books, both fiction and nonfiction, but also read more widely all kids books.
TP Jagger
I will not walk into any telephone poles while read-walking.
Julie Artz
I only read a handful of adult books in 2016 because there are so many amazing things going on in the world of middle grade. So in 2017, I’d like to read more adult books.
Valerie Stein
I have spent much of 2016 getting to know authors on social media from different walks of life and cultural/social backgrounds. My reading goal for 2017 is to continue to support those authors by purchasing their books and spreading the word about great stories I’m reading. In a more general sense, I like to have a specific reading goal. It keeps me looking for new titles to explore. I’ve read 150 books the past two years. I can do that again.
Rosanne Parry
Jacqueline Jaeger Houtman
I will try not to feel guilty for reading middle-grade literature and enjoying it, because it is my job, and I will allow myself time to read during the day, not just at night, when all the other tasks are done.
Louise Galvaston
To read more classics and keep up with all the fabulous new middle-grade releases.
Natalie Rampella
To have social media guide me to the best new books of 2017…and of course read them!
Mindy Alyse Weiss
To read even more amazing middle grade novels in 2017 than I did in 2016.
Hillary Homzie
To become more of an omnivore and read books outside of my fiction comfort zone. That especially means more nonfiction–everything from development biology to essays on linguistics.
Laurie J Edwards
To read several award-winning books each month.
Michelle Houts
To read the classics I somehow missed but everyone else can seemingly quote effortlessly.
Tricia Springstubb
More poetry!
Amie Borst
To read widely across genres including adult fiction.
Jonathan Rosen
Finish the book I already bought before falling to the allure of new 
ones.
Dorian Cirrone
To find the time to put a significant dent in the huge piles of unread books all over my house.
Kimberly Griffiths Little
To actually READ a little bit every day from the tottering stack of books I bought this last year that’s been staring at me for months.
Kate Manning
4 books that show me a world different from my own
2 classics that I missed
6 books of poetry or novels in verse
25 books overall
Sue Cowing
I’ll probably choose more nonfiction titles this year, and more outside my comfort zone, trying to really listen so that I can respond rather than simply react to people whose beliefs and values conflict with mine. And for courage and centering in this time of uncertainty, I will read and reread books of beauty and wisdom, including poetry. Of course I will always read middle-grade novels, stories of serious hope and humor that help us imagine better ways.
Thank you to my fellow Mixed Up Files members for another year of sharing and supporting the best in Middle Grade fiction. I’m grateful for your support over the years. And to you readers of our blog. Thank you for coming back week after week and sharing your thoughts with us.
Happy New Year
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Thank you for a 2016 of great posts. Wishing you a 2017 full of creativity and fantastic reads!
What Dorian and Kimberly said.
I had forgotten about DEAR [Drop Everything And Read]! We used that when I taught middle school and it was very effective! I think I shall try that concept again for myself. I’d love to read a variety of different genres in 2017, however, I plan to focus on middle grade because that’s what I write for the most part.
Beginning an untarnished new year, sharing and reading! This fills me with hope.