Just another teen reading books: Yay For Middle Grade Books 2022

Monday, June 27, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With George Jreije!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with George Jreije, the author of Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria, which releases in October!

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria?

My novel follows 12-year-old Shad, who loves nothing more than his grandma and Arabic sweets, but is fiercely independent. When he discovers he comes from a long line of alchemists, receiving an invitation to the mysterious Alexandria Academy, he can’t wait to learn more about the ancient art. Yet uncovering his knack for alchemy also makes him a target for the necromancers, a group working in the shadows to revive a forgotten evil. To beat them, he’ll have to rely on his newfound skills as well as overcome his aversion to working with others. Only then can he save the world of alchemy from chaos.

What was the inspiration for the book?

My inspiration came from wanting to create a more original alternative to the traditional magic we see in many fantasy books. Alchemy had roots in Arabic-speaking countries, which is where I’m from, so this seemed like a very natural—and fun—direction to go. Shad Hadid himself is a reflection of the boy I had been at his age, which is where his inspiration came from as well as why he’s such a troublemaker!

Random Question! What’s your favorite word?

A tough question, but probably “Salaam”. It’s an Arabic word that means peace, and can be a greeting. It just makes me happy that I can meet people and wish them peace!

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

Currently, I’m working on the second book in my series! The world of Alchemy has been so exciting to live in, and I’m always eager to return to it. My writing tends to be cinematic, and the first book is full of unexpected twists, so I’m working hard to live up to that in the next installment.

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

Recently, I’ve really enjoyed HANA TSU AND THE GHOST CRAB NATION by Sylvia Liu and NURA AND THE IMMORTAL PALACE by M.T. Khan. I’m looking forward to reading ZACHARY YING AND THE DRAGON EMPEROR by Xiran Jay Zhao as well as SIR CALLE AND THE CHAMPIONS OF HELSTON by Esme Symes-Smith.

Thank you to George Jreije for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: George Jreije is the Lebanese-American author of SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA, a forthcoming children’s fantasy novel with HarperCollins. He has also written short stories published in collaboration with UNICEF. When not writing, George enjoys helping other writers via mentorship or his freelance editing services, trying tasty Arabic pastries, and messing with new yoga poses.

Here are a few links:

His Website

His Twitter

His Instagram

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Sonja Thomas!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Sonja Thomas, the author of Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence, which is out now!

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence?

Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence is about a twelve-year-old scientist named Mira Williams who will stop at nothing to save her sick cat, Sir Fig Newton, when her parents can no longer afford to treat his diabetes. It’s a story about friendship, family, and the power of persistence.

What was the inspiration for the book?

The inspiration for Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence came from real life. My first cat Whiskey was diagnosed with diabetes and a co-worker had shared with his young son who has Type I diabetes that my cat was receiving insulin shots. His son was so excited, that he’d said, “If a cat can get insulin shots, then so can I!”

At that moment, I knew I had to write Whiskey’s story.

Random Question! What’s your favorite time of year?

Fall!

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

My short story “Lovebugs Bite” will be coming out this July in the fantasy/sci-fi anthology Beware the Bugs. Although I can’t get into details, I just wrapped up my third freelance project, historical chapter books to supplement fourth grade social studies textbooks. I also have some projects on submission, so keeping my anxious mind busy by focusing on school visits, speaking at various events, and daydreaming about new story ideas.

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

Sadly, I’m way behind on my TBR pile, but the most recent middle grade books that I’ve read and loved are Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin, The House That Wasn't There by Elana K. Arnold, and JR Silver Writes Her World by Melissa Dassori.

I’m really looking forward to reading Every Bird a Prince by Jenn Reese, Dad's Girlfriend and Other Anxieties by Kellye Crocker, and Etta Invincible by Reese Eschmann.

Thank you to Sonja Thomas for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: SONJA THOMAS (she/her) writes stories for readers of all ages, often featuring brave, everyday girls doing extraordinary things. Raised in Central Florida—home of the wonderful world of Disney, humidity, and hurricanes—and a Washington, DC transplant for 11 years (go Nats!), she's now “keeping it weird” in the Pacific Northwest.

Ruled by coffee & cats, a few of her favorite things are

dancing to music blasting in the living room
traveling to new places and buying a magnet before leaving
snuggling with her furry friend, Gabbie Lu (just don't let her roommate's 3 other cats know!)

She's a contributing author for Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence is her debut middle grade novel

Here are a few links:

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Julie Abe!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Julie Abe, the author of Alliana, Girl of Dragons, which releases in August! She is the author of multiple MG books, and the upcoming YA novel, The Charmed List, which releases in July.

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Alliana, Girl of Dragons?

Alliana, Girl of Dragons, is a Cinderella inspired retelling with a Japanese twist; twelve-year-old Alliana, who lives in a dusty, middle-of-nowhere town, longs to be invited to the exclusive Royal Academy. Can she make her dreams into her own, better-than-a-fairy-tale happily ever after?

You also have a YA novel releasing this year! Would you like to tell everyone a little about The Charmed List?

The Charmed List is a contemporary romance with a secret magical society, enchanted cupcakes, and charmed cottages where you can dance the night away under the stars. It's about sixteen-year-old Ellie Kobata taking a road trip with Jack, her once-best-friend-turned-enemy, a wishlist of 13 things, and finding magic in the people you love—but most of all, magic in yourself.

Here’s what Axie Oh, NYT bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and XOXO said about The Charmed List:

"The best friends to enemies-to-lovers story I needed in my life! The Charmed List utterly enchants with its delightful characters and heartfelt themes of family, friendship, and first love. I adored this fun-filled and swoony road trip romance with a magical twist!"

Random Question! What’s your favorite word?

"Acquiescence" is one of my favorites: it looks so pretty, yet it's full of conflict. It's a story within itself.

4 If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I can't say much right now, but I've got a busy 2023 planned! Here's a hint: it's inspired by the time I've lived in Tokyo. I'll be sharing more news soon over on my Instagram (www.instagram.com/julieabebooks)

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan - The dreamy cover matches the beauty of the book inside; it’s an adventure with so much heart that I teared up reading it.

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendaño Cruz - Lyrical and mesmerizing; perfect for readers who love luxuriating in beautiful words.

The Prince of Nowhere by Rochelle Hassan - A twisty story with captivating worldbuilding - I totally recommend this for a fun and thrilling read!

I'm looking forward to reading Book Three of the Gifted Clans trilogy from Graci Kim! I was lucky to get an early copy of The Last Fallen Moon (Book Two), and I need Book Three now! I adore everything she writes, and I can't wait to find out what happens to Riley Oh next.

Thank you to Julie Abe for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: Julie Abe writes magical adventures for readers of all ages, including the EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH middle grade fantasy series; the middle grade fantasy ALLIANA, GIRL OF DRAGONS; and the young adult novel THE CHARMED LIST. Keep up with Julie's latest books and adventures on instagram.com/julieabebooks or sign up for her newsletter at julieabebooks.com/newsletter.

Here are a few links:

Friday, June 24, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Dee Hahn!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Dee Hahn, the author of The Grave Thief, which is out now!

Would you please tell us a little about your book, The Grave Thief?

The Grave Thief is the story of Spade, a twelve year old grave thief descended from a long line of thieves. Together with his brother Benji, he's sent to rob graves in the kingdom of Wyndhail. When their father gets the idea to rob a grave in the royal cemetery, Spade and Benji strike out to seek their fortune. Then things go terribly wrong: Spade is caught red-handed, and his little brother is taken captive. In order to free his brother, Spade must make an unexpected bargain with the queen--to become the queen's new monster hunter.

What was the inspiration for the book?

My uncle told me a story about the time he'd been a funeral home assistant. One night, he and his friend were asked to move the coffin of a man up the stairs in the cemetery for burial. He and his friend tripped, and the body rolled out! They had to quickly put the body back in and bury the casket, and it got me thinking...what would it be like to work in a cemetery at night?

What if a kid had to work in a graveyard at night?

Random Question! What’s your favorite holiday?

I love Christmas. (I bet you thought I was going to say Halloween, hahaha!) I start thinking about Christmas in October, though, that's how much I love it.

Fun fact I've recently learned: On Christmas Eve in Iceland, families gift each other books. Then they drink tea together and read books deep into the night. Best day ever!!!

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on a new middle grade fantasy book about a boy who discovers an unexpected heritage, and a girl who's a bounty hunter--and she happens to be hunting him.

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

Oooh, here's a few of my favourite middle grade novels I've read recently: 'The Last Windwitch' by Jennifer Adam, 'Sweep' by Jonathan Auxier, and 'The Land of Roar' by Jenny McLachlan. I'm really looking forward to reading 'Ravenous Things' by Derrick Chow, and 'A Wolf for a Spell' by Karah Sutton.

Thank you to Dee Hahn for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: Dee Hahn began writing when her children begged for bedtime stories, and she never stopped.

Travel is a great passion of Dee's, and she's spent much of her life exploring Africa, India, South East Asia, and Canada- and she always carries a book in her backpack to keep her company.

Currently, Dee lives in Alberta, Canada. When she isn't writing, you can find her kayaking, building treehouses, and exploring the woods.

Here are a few links:

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Karina Evans!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Karina Evans, the author of Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins!, which is out now! She is also the author of the upcoming 2023 release, Audrey Covington Breaks the Rules.

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins!?

GROW UP, TAHLIA WILKINS!, is a coming-of-age story that gives modern-day readers their own version of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. with a fun romp about friendship, first periods, and growing up.

Your next MG novel, Audrey Covington Breaks the Rules, releases in 2023! Are you able to tell us anything about it?

Yes! AUDREY COVINGTON BREAKS THE RULES is about a girl who breaks free of her overprotective parents by absconding on an adventure with her former Hollywood starlet grandmother.

Random Question! What’s your favorite color?

Pink or red!

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I'm working on another middle grade project that will hopefully be announced soon!

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

So many amazing MG books! Recently I've enjoyed Fireborn by Aisling Fowler, The Prince of Nowhere by Rochelle Hassan, Freddie Vs. the Family Curse by Tracy Badua, and J.R. Silver Writes Her World by Melissa Dassori. Next on my ist to read is Flip Turns by Catherine Arguelles.

Thank you to Karina Evans for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: Karina Evans is a children’s author from Santa Barbara, California. She is represented by Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management.

Karina studied English at the University of Delaware before starting a career in the entertainment industry. She works in marketing for Sony Pictures and has previously worked for Lucasfilm and Paramount Pictures.

Some of Karina’s favorite things include: See’s Candies, The Amazing Race, singing show tunes in the car, and volleyball. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two mischievous cats, Sir Pounce and Taika.

Here are a few links:

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Jason R. Lady!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Jason R. Lady, the author of Time Problems, which releases in August! He is also the author of other MG books, including the 2020 release, Super Problems.

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Time Problems?

Rachel is dreading middle school. She’s heard the older kids are mean, and the schoolwork harder. She thinks an endless summer would solve her problems. Inspired by her stuffed animals, Rachel draws characters to make her dream come true: The Timeduck, a wizard who has power to control time, and Attack Pig, a bodyguard to protect her. Rachel has no idea she is drawing with a magic pen. Before she knows it, the drawings come to life! As the Timeduck works his magic, Rachel’s problems multiply. She finds herself contending with repeating days, pastry-eating hedgehogs, and cracks in time. The Timeduck is consumed with fulfilling his mission regardless of who it hurts. With the help of her best friend, dramatic theater kid Cooper, and her noble bodyguard Attack Pig, Rachel must outwit the Timeduck before irreparable harm is done to time itself!

Time Problems is the third book in the Magic Pen Adventure series, preceded by Monster Problems (2019) and Super Problems (2020). Time Problems is based on angst I had when I left 5th grade and went to 6th grade. I remember lying awake the night before I started 6th grade, worrying that I couldn't handle middle school. It turns out I could! Change can be hard, but we can rise to the occasion. Time Problems gets released on August 18, and is available for preorder directly from my publisher at https://www.blackrosewriting.com/childrensmg/timeproblems

Did you always want to write MG books?

I actually wasn't sure who my audience was going to be at first. I wrote a couple of manuscripts that were fantasy action-adventure for adults, but they weren't that good. My wife suggested I try writing for middle grade, since it seemed like I get along well with middle school kids, and I am a middle school kid at heart. I like writing for the middle grade audience. They're sophisticated enough readers that they can read stories with more complex plots and character development, but they haven't gotten so old and serious yet that they can't appreciate absurdity and humor. It's the best of all worlds for my personality and the kind of imaginative yet wacky stories I like to write.

Random Question! What’s your favorite color?

My favorite color is red! I don't wear red very often, but I've always loved red. When I was a kid, my room had a red trash can, a red mirror, a red desk chair, and a red pen holder that all matched! I also had a Cincinnati Reds jacket and hat I wore for a long time.

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I have an idea for a fourth Magic Pen Adventure book, but it's very much just an idea right now. Currently I'm writing the second book in a science fiction adventure series that I'm writing just for fun. I'm finding that I need to write regularly, even when I'm not writing something I intend to get published. Sometimes writers, including me, forget that it's okay to just enjoy writing and creating, and not worrying about an audience or marketing or any of those pressures.

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

I recently read The Super Life of Ben Braver by Marcus Emerson. It's a lot of fun and is a similar blend of adventure and humor that I work into my books.

Thank you to Jason R. Lady for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: Jason is an army brat who grew up moving around a total of seven times on military bases from Germany to Fort Knox, Kentucky. From a family of avid readers, Jason was encouraged to read fantasy and science fiction, and write his own stories and comic strips from an early age. Jason wrote his first novel-length story in high school--a parody of Robin Hood that starred all his friends, and got passed around on the bus and read on the way to cross-country races. When he's not writing, Jason works in Human Resources. Jason has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowling Green State University and a Masters of Education from Cleveland State University. He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. In his free time, Jason can be found talking about and enjoying 1980’s music and popular culture, watching Marvel movies, working on visiting all the MLB baseball stadiums, and following the Cleveland Guardians. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and many great friends. He is currently working on the third book in the Magic Pen Adventure series.

Here are a few links:

His Website

His Twitter

His Instagram

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Misty Wilson!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Misty Wilson, the author of Play Like A Girl (illustrated by David Wilson), which releases in September!

Would you please tell us a little about your book, Play Like A Girl?

Play Like a Girl is a graphic memoir, illustrated by my husband David Wilson, about my experience in seventh grade, when I decided I wanted to play football while simultaneously trying to fit in with the popular girls. It’s about how hard middle school can be, especially when friendships get complicated and you’re trying to figure out how to balance what you want versus what you think everyone else expects. It’s about defining yourself when maybe how you define yourself isn’t considered “cool.”

The graphic novel is illustrated by your husband, David Wilson! What has the experience been like working together on the book?

Haha, we are asked this question a lot by fellow authors, who often say they don’t think they’d be able to do it. But it’s actually been great. Writing often feels very solitary, even when you have a group of writer friends, but Play Like a Girl was very collaborative. We’ve worked together creatively for a decade on just “for fun” projects, but this was the first time we had to figure out how to work together in a way that made sense to An Outsider (our editor! Haha). We did everything kind of backwards, but it made sense for us—we had a script written, David drew 256 pages of sketches, then we got our edit letter and went through rounds and rounds and rounds of rewrites and revisions, and every time I had to rewrite/revise, he had to redraw. And at that point, we were no longer using a script. David was working off an outline and I was writing dialogue as we went. Basically, it was a very, very messy process that of course led to some snarky comments and eye rolls between us haha, but overall, it worked for us! It was nice having someone who understood everything I was going through during every step of the publishing process because he was going through it, too (i.e. getting an edit letter and sobbing in my kitchen!)(he didn’t sob, but he understood how overwhelming it was!). And it’s really cool that when something awesome happens (like being a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!), we get to share that success with each other because we’ve *both* earned it.

Random Question! What is your favorite holiday?

Hmmm… This is a hard one. It used to be Christmas, particularly because I love Christmas music and movies. But as I’ve gotten older, Halloween has grown on me. My kids LOVE getting dressed up in costumes, and even though it’s raining every single year, I love pouring myself a hot coffee and walking around trick-or-treating with them. Plus, it's a minimal-stress holiday and I get to eat their candy, so….

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

Well, I’m truthfully not sure how much I’m allowed to say but also how much I want to say because I don’t know how much it’ll change by the time I do publicly talk about it. BUT my second middle grade graphic novel with David will be a work of fiction, but many aspects of the main character’s life will be based on my own childhood. I just turned in an outline last week (this is being written at the end of April), so I am waiting to hear what my editor thinks. It could end up being an entirely different book by the end of the year haha

I am also working on a contemporary YA, which I’ve been writing and revising for nearly a year, off and on (while working around PLAY deadlines and waiting on notes on it from my agent).

And I have a TON of projects I’ve started but haven’t had time to return to since I’m also teaching. I’m a workaholic with so many ideas and not enough time. I’m excited to see what I can accomplish this summer!

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

I am a HUGE fan of Jenny Han, who is mostly known for her YA books, but when I recently found out she had a MG book, Shug, I devoured it. I love finding authors’ backlists. I also recently read Gordon Korman’s book The Unteachables, and I LOVED it. Other recent reads include Isla to Island, a graphic novel by Alexis Castellanos and The Real Riley Mayes, a graphic novel by Rachel Elliott!

My current MG TBR pile:

Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins! By Karina Evans

Keep it Together, Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko Florence

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Mary Underwater by Shannon Doleski

Glitter Gets Everywhere by Yvette Clark

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Thank you to Misty Wilson for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: Retired seventh-grade football star Misty Wilson teaches by day and writes by night. She is a voracious reader, and she loves binge-watching television shows. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two daughters. Play Like a Girl is her middle-grade debut. Learn more at www.mistywilsonwrites.com.

Here are a few links:

Monday, June 20, 2022

Yay For Middle Grade Books! Interview With Melissa Roske!

Hi, everyone! Today I'm happy to present an interview with Melissa Roske, who has a story in the MG anthology Coming Of Age, which is out now! She is also the author of Kat Greene Comes Clean.

Would you please tell us a little about the anthology, Coming of Age, and your story in it?

Coming of Age is a collection of 13 Bar- and Bat Mitzvah tales geared toward a middle-grade audience. As one reviewer aptly said, the book is “like a Bat Mitzvah buffet; a little something for everyone.” My contribution, “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish,” is about a nonreligious Jewish girl, Bella, whose grandmother wants her to have a Bat Mitzvah—it’s her “dying wish.” The problem is, Bella considers herself “barely Jewish” and is uncertain whether she can fulfill her grandma’s request.

Did you always want to be a MG author?

An author, yes—but not necessarily of middle grade. My first novel, Good Girls Don’t Go Commando, was written for adults. I like to call it my “starter” novel because it wasn’t very good. The title was better than the book! Luckily, it was never published so I saved myself a ton of embarrassment and bad reviews. My next attempt, Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge in 2017), wasn’t originally intended as a middle-grade novel—I thought I was writing YA—but Kat spoke to me and said, “Look… you’re writing MG, okay? Run with it!” So, I ran.

Random Question! What’s your favorite time of year?

Autumn. The air has a crisp, clean quality to it—even in New York City, where I live—and the leafy trees in Central Park are showing off their vibrant colors. The leaves are technically dying, of course, but I find autumn to be a life-affirming season.

If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I’m revising a middle-grade novel about an all-girls football team at an all-girls school, as well as playing with ideas for a new project. I have a bunch of concepts scribbled in my notebook, but I haven’t been able to land on The One that makes me go: “Oh, that’s it!” You’ve got to LOVE an idea before starting a new novel, because you’ll be dedicating hours (and hours!) of time and effort.

What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

I just finished Linda Williams Jackson’s latest MG novel, The Lucky Ones, and it blew me away. It was gorgeously written, and the characters leaped off the page. I’m currently reading Jackson’s debut novel, Midnight Without a Moon, and its sequel, A Sky Full of Stars, is next. I’m also looking forward to Kellye Crocker’s MG debut, Dad’s Girlfriend and Other Anxieties. It’s out on 9/1 from Albert Whitman & Co.

Thank you to Melissa Roske for participating in this event! :)

Author Bio: 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, where she answered hundreds of letters from readers each week. 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 & Company). An active blogger for the popular MG website, From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle-grade Authors, Melissa lives in Manhattan with her husband, daughter, and the occasional dust bunny. Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Here are a few links: