Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors

User Password Recover password From the Mixed-Up Files is the group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. For anyone with a passion for children’s literature—teachers, librarians, parents, kids, writers, industry professionals— we offer regularly updated book lists organized by unique categories, author interviews, market news, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a children's book from writing to publishing to promoting. Shop Your Local Indie Bookstore

It’s been a big firefly summer in Minnesota this year, and we’ve been watching their lights flicker each night in our back garden. Summer is always a time to linger outside in the warm and long nights, look up, and see what you can see. Close to the city, the stars are hard to see though. So, we go up north to see the stars, and they are dazzling.

Summary This is a summer reading list for kids who read at an advanced level but aren't ready for mature themes. We have some ravenous readers in my house. My oldest can blaze through a few middle grade books in a single week. Sometimes it feels like my wife and I can barely keep up, and reloading his Kindle with picks from our local library is a nightly ritual.

Summary This month's WNDMG post offers summer recommendations that help young readers think outside the box. We're highlighting several unique graphic novels, as well as offering bonus listing for your young creatives to try their hand at writing, drawing, or photography! Summer is the perfect time to unwind and relax.

What Happened to our Starry, Starry Night? If you go outside on a moonless night, what do you see? A planet, maybe a handful of stars if you’re lucky. Unfortunately, for too many of us the city lights diminish the night sky. Streetlights and other artificial lights do more than illuminate our world. They create problems for plants and animals living in and around our cities, including seasonal migrators. Who Hid the Stars?

Summary Meet Edgar Award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez as she discusses her new English-Spanish bilingual graphic novel, OFFSIDE (Graphix, July 2026), and get a sneak peek at her upcoming 2027 mystery novel. What a treat it is to welcome author Christina Diaz Gonzalez to the MUF blog! You may recognize Christina as the creator of gripping historical fiction novels and an Edgar Award-winning mystery.

All the Sunshine in the World  by Caroline Brooks Dubois. 368 pp. (July 28) It’s been almost six months since Tolly’s sister died in a distracted driving wreck. Tolly misses Sunny every minute of every day, but is it wrong to want a semi-normal birthday? What about a new phone, to replace the one she lost soon after the accident? Instead, she gets grieving parents and a disappointing, misspelled cake.

I have this thing for rereading books. I like to revisit favorite titles and try to get at least a five-year interval to have another read. The Power of the Reread is a post I wrote a few years ago. The post is about the continuation of the philosophy first heard from Dr. Rachel Schmidt, Professor Emerita of Classics and Religion at the University of Calgary and is still a great source of joy in my reading life.

Summary Five middle grade novels that explore the unexpected changes to friendship, family, and identity that can happen during the summer months. Summer can be an exciting season, inviting more time with friends and family, campouts under the stars, or fun-filled travel plans.

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today, we are thrilled to travel to the Czech Republic to interview Magda Garguláková, author of Bridges (April 2025, Post Wave). Explore the amazing world of bridges—from ancient stone arches to modern marvels—and discover how they connect us all! This illustrated 64-page hardcover book delves into the history, engineering, and construction of bridges.