My younger kids and I read the first two books in the VOYAGERS series, and we were hooked. My oldest son wasn’t into the 39 CLUES series, but my younger two found the VOYAGERS plot fascinating and fun. For me, it was like THE RIGHT STUFF meets ARMAGEDDON but with twelve year old characters. I…
Author Appreciation: Kate DiCamillo
Last night Candlewick hosted a dinner for Kate DiCamillo with DC-area children’s book reviewers, and I was lucky enough to attend. Kate was in town as the Library of Congress’ National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Earlier in the day, she had participated in an event with former Ambassadors Katherine Paterson and Jon Scieszka, who…
Tuck 40th: Do I Want to Live Forever?
There are three books that I remember nearly every girl in my fourth-grade class reading: THE BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT’S ME MARGARET and TUCK EVERLASTING. It’s the kind of classic middle-grade fiction that, like the Tucks, will go on forever. We’re thrilled to participate in the 40 Days for 40 Years…
Q&A with Mira’s Diary Author Marissa Moss
Although we focus on young adult literature here on Teen Lit Rocks, we also think Middle Grade Rocks! My 9-year-old daughter is particularly invested in books aimed at 8-12 year olds, and we are big fans of author-illustrator Marissa Moss‘ MIRA’S DIARY series. It started with LOST IN PARIS, continued with HOME SWEET ROME, and…
Middle Grade Mondays: Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
Life isn’t like the movies and 11-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She’s smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it’s 1935 and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle’s mother gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn’t like…
Middle Grade Mondays: Sleepaway Camp Edition
I didn’t get a chance to read a Middle Grade book this past week, but I can share which three books my 10-year-old son packed in his overstuffed rolling duffel for sleep away camp this week. I assure you he’ll read at least one of them (I’d say all three, but sometimes socializing is a…
Middle Grade Mondays: ‘The Danger Box’ by Blue Balliett
Author: Blue Balliett Release date: Sept. 1, 2010 Publisher: Scholastic, 320 pages A boy in a small town who has a different way of seeing. A mischievous girl who doesn’t belong. A mysterious notebook . A fire. A stranger. A death. These are some of the things you’ll find within The Danger Box, the new…
Middle Grade Mondays: “See You At Harry’s” by Jo Knowles
Author: Jo Knowles Release date: June 15, 2012 Publisher: Candlewick, 310 pages (Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of the book.) Since summer reading in my house involves my three children, and because I was so ridiculously impressed with the slate of upcoming Middle Grade books at BEA, I’ve decided to dedicate…