Absolutely. Although I will say if an author combines serious issues with basketball, football, or skateboarding it’s a whole lot more likely that I will buy the book! I have limited funds, so before I buy a book I have to be able to think of at least five kids I know who will read the book. Unfortunately, some books with serious issues move a bit slowly for middle grade readers.

Congratulations! Lynnette and Leslie

Oh my goodness, this is wonderful! Thank you, Debbie and Mixed-Up Files! Debbie is an exceptional writer and teacher, so I know her input will be very valuable!

Congrats on winning, Leslie! Looking forward to reading your pages! 😀

Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to this book – I have many students who will absolutely love it!

I’ve read the Sister Grimm series and Tracy Barrett’s, The Sherlock Files. I’ll have to check these others. Thanks for sharing and I shared this on my facebook page and twitter.

Nice list of books on the post. I shared on twitter.

I shared on my FB page and my Children’s Writer Group Page. Thanks for this fabulous post. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

I shared this on Facebook.

Great article, Dorian! I shared it on Twitter. Sorry to miss your presentation! We were out of town. 🙂

We use The Sisters Grimm series in our school’s Battle of the Books club. I can’t wait to read The Secret Destiny of Pixie Piper! Shared on Twitter!

Cannot wait to read some of these! Sharing on FB and Twitter. Great post!

These all sound like a lot of fun. Thanks for the post.

Wish I’d thought of it first! Shared on twitter.

I shared on Twitter 🙂
https://twitter.com/bohofoxbabe/status/755841821578637312

xoxo

My most essential tool is my learned resilience…part of which is the heartfelt belief that the prize is in the work.

Thanks for the inspiring post. I’m currently reading THE SEVENTH WISH by Kate Messner that uses Irish dance as a backdrop to the story.

Wonderful advice, and so true. We all need the reminder now and then.

Thanks for chiming in Jean. I have a bunch of revisions coming up and I’m going to keep these thoughts firmly in minds (and listen to Irish music) as I work through my critiques. And Greg, The Seventh Wish is on my to read list! I’ve heard great things. And I’m researching a historical novel that has some Irish music and dance in it.

Very inspiring post! I love Irish dance. Thank you for the excellent advice. Great motivation to start my day. 🙂

I love the premise of this book. I suspect I could have ADD myself. Long, long ago – when I was in middle school it didn’t have a name. I was an excellent student though, through sheer determination and a high IQ. I have never forgotten a college friend’s note in my year book: “You are warm and generous and just a little spacey.” The author and I have that description in common. 😉

My students would love this book. They love the Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kids series because they like reading humorous fiction and stories that they can relate to. It sounds like this book would be perfect for my class.

The Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries books are never on the shelves in my library. The kids will be thrilled with a new book in the same vein. I’m really pleased to see a girl with ADHD – it is an under represented group.

I would love to win!

Both my grandson and granddaughter are ADHD and it is so true that there are a LOT of books about boys, but hardly anything for girls who struggle with this condition. I would love to have this one for my granddaughter — who is incredibly smart and funny and loves funny books. Thanks for the chance and for a great post.

I love that Debbie talks about her struggles with this book over the course of a few years. I can’t wait to read this book too!

I love the main character of the srtory

Love this premise.

Thank you all for your sweet comments. I can’t wait to see who the lucky winners will be tomorrow. Good luck!

There should be more funny books in the world, thank you.

Thanks so much!

Agree, agree, agree. Great post. Thanks Jan.

It is a sad, sad day. Thanks for a thought-provoking post.

An interesting topic, and you are so right about how important it is for the ending to be true, even if it’s hard. My son loved and grieved Pax. He actually read the last two pages out loud to me, I think because he was just trying to process it. But it felt right to him.

Can’t wait to read your new book!

I like stories that end the way they should rather than tied up neatly with a happy dance at the end. This is certainly a topic writers should think hard about. Thanks for an interesting post.

Both of these are on my bookshelf and I’ve been putting them off because I know they’ll break my heart. But you’re so right about a story’s ending ringing true–that’s more important than achieving a happily-ever-after.

“What a great list. I never thought of podcasts as a middle grade resource,” Don’s says as he hides his rotary phone.

Thanks Julie.

Great list! I also like Kidlit Drink Night. Funny ladies and I always come away with books to add to my TBR.

Rebecca

Yay!! Thank so much! So excited to read the Drake Equation with my 5th grade son!!!

This is such a great interview. I, too, am an indie publisher, and your insights are very helpful. I inherited my Dad’s publishing company and am working to move it forward, happy that all our books have life as long as I’m around to keep putting them out there in front of new readers.

This sounds like a great book. My classroom library doesn’t have another book about a birdwatcher. Thanks for the great interview.

This sounds like a great book. I love learning about new things.

This sounds like a great book. My students love birds and birdwatching. We have a pair of pigeons that often peek into our classroom, and my students are always so excited to see them.

Sounds like a fun, exciting read! I want a copy Congrats to Bart! Happy book birthday!

I think my students would love this book!

I think so, too, Brooke! I’d love to read it aloud with students.

Sounds like a great book. It would be nice to read about a young person who likes birdwatching. Thanks for the post!

Looks awesome! So anxious to read and will pass along to my granddaughter! Congratulations!

We think you’ll really enjoy sharing it, Linda!

I agree, Penny. Glad you liked the post! I enjoyed meeting Bart.

Fun is right, Mark! Maybe you’ll win. 😉 But only the Alien Invasion will tell.

That’s fun, Jennifer! They would like to read this one, for sure.

I know quite a lot about birds, Sheila, but I learned some new things for sure (and not just about birds!).

Good luck, Stacey! Did you see my last post here on the site? It’s all about books that feature birds and birdwatchers! That is why I wanted to read this one.

These look great! I’m a bit of a sock and sock monkey aficionado myself and don’t even bother trying to keep my toddler’s socks matched (they don’t stay on long enough anyways.

Thanks, Amber. Funny about your toddler’s socks!!

Milo Speck, Accidental Agent by Linda Urban has an amusing beginning that features socks.

You nailed it with Molly Weasley! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms.

Congrats to the winner and hooray for LILY AND DUNKIN!

Great job with this list, Dorian! So many delicious new books to sink my teeth into.

Wonderful list, thank you especially for all the nonfiction recommendations as well

I’ll add MAYDAY by Karen Harrington to your list. I was fortunate to read the ARC. It’s a voice driven story of understanding and renewal after the main character and his mother survive a horrific plane crash.

Wow. What a great list. Thanks for all this info. Wish I could just sit down and read for a few weeks.

Great interview! What a fun concept for a book!

I agree! I’m really looking forward to reading it! I like to give advice as well. Sometimes when people don’t ask lol which can get me in trouble.

There are student’s names in my head right now who would love it!

Have always loved Cyrano de Bergerac. Can’t wait to read the MG version.

Great interview and I’m looking forward to reading CICI RENO #MIDDLESCHOOLMATCHMAKER!

Our own Mixed-Up Files site has plenty of book lists (click on “book lists” at the top of the page), as well as a list of sites that review middle-grade books (http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/read-next/).

Thanks, Jacqueline, for pointing this out! I can’t believe I forgot to mention our own wonderful blog!

Just added that info to the post, Jacqueline!