Studying amphibians is a natural interest for most students.  After all, some amphibians hop, they stick out their tongues to catch their meals, and they go back and forth from land to water.  Studying amphibians is also a great way to expand students’ critical thinking skills through STEM.  Luckily, some great books can help teachers, parents, librarians, and others on this mission.

First of all, what is an amphibian?  By definition, they are a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that usually has two different life stages in two different habitats.  That is, larval in a water stage, and breathing in a land environment.  Amphibians include frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.  Caecilians are also included, though they are not as well known.  The word amphibian derives from the Greek words “amphi”, which means “both sides”, and “bio”, which means “life”. This refers to the two stages of life in two different environments.

Many engaging books teach and inspire children to learn more about amphibians.  

Background knowledge:

A good way to introduce amphibians as a subject is to assess your students’ background knowledge and introduce some key vocabulary words.  The following links show the life cycle of frogs.  I’ve also included a list of some vocabulary words related to amphibians, gleaned from some of the books in this month’s list.  The words are: 

Ectothermic, vertebrate, aquatic, metamorphosis, and herpetologist.

Frog Life Cycle: Nat Geo Kids: Video and other information on frogs, including visuals of the life cycle.

Amphibian Vocabulary: a list of amphibian vocabulary from books from the list. Tier 2 and 3, also includes a worksheet to help students use and understand words.

KWL Chart: Can be used to introduce amphibians, and gauge what students already know about them, what questions students have, and what they might want to learn!

Amphibian Acrobats by Leslie Bulion Illustrated by Robert Meganck

This book is a cleverly written and whimsically illustrated book on amphibians that could be used in a classroom in many ways.  It is oriented around a variety of poem styles that describe various amphibians (including caecilians!), and each entry also provides factual information on the habitat, lifecycle, and other details on each animal.  

Some of the other information in the book is actual notes on the kinds of poems, with specific vocabulary and details on each type of poem. There is also information on the current state of amphibians in the world, and how they need our help; they have included resources on how to help.  There is also a great world map that lists where specific native amphibians live, and it also includes their specific threat of extinction. 

The language in each poem is engaging, with inventive and colorful words describing each creature and their activities.  For example:

The Daredevil Free-Climbers:

We will teethe scummy plants,

Then slurp termites and ants,

When we’re fat burrow frogs, down below!

(Amazing Amphibians, page 39 ebook)

I love the use of “scummy” and “slurp termites and ants”, it’s very visual! And, I’m sure that students would enjoy it also!

Different writing techniques are also used, which could be utilized in class:

The Flag Waver:

A rival hopped up next to him, boi-oing!

A rival hopped up next to him.

Frog’s foot shot out-FLAG! -Take a Swim! Boi-oing!

(Amazing Amphibians, page 31 ebook)

We can always use a new way to introduce onomatopoeia! And this would be great as a read-aloud, to get students interested, and to make them think about word usage, and how to hook their readers.

Activities:

As the book focuses on poetry and the creative use of language, I thought a wonderful way to extend the ideas in this book was to have students write their own creative pieces.  This could be adapted to fit many grade levels.  One possibility is that students could pick their own choice of amphibian to research, and then write a “mini” research project on it.  I have attached a mini book template below.  Of course, it could also be done in PowerPoint or Google Slides. 

Mini Book Template/PDF  

Another idea is to have each student write a poem.  Again, they could choose the amphibian of their choice.  A haiku would be a great way to start, and a template is attached below.  The class could even write a haiku together, and then be released to write their own.  I would also focus on the use of creative, imaginative language to specifically describe their amphibian.  The teacher/parent could read aloud several of the poems, and have students pick out the language that catches their attention, or can make them visualize their amphibian!  

Haiku Pattern Template

Another possible idea is to combine the mini research project with a poem, so that they can produce their own Amphibian Acrobats!

Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs by Annette Whipple

Do you know a student with burning questions about frogs, like how do they jump so high and why do some of them live underground? If so, then Annette Whipple’s Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs is a must for your home or classroom.  It would be great for a read-aloud, or for dipping into to answer some of those questions.  

Another great feature of this book is that Annette has prepared a textbook example of a Teacher Guide for a nonfiction guide.  It is a downloadable package with many treasures inside.  It includes activities for writing, reading, and STEM/STEAM activities; altogether, there are 8 ELA and 11 STEAM activities.  It also includes 4 printable items, including “Lifecycle of a Frog” and “Frog Facts”.   There are also some hands-on activities, such as origami frog math.  All in all, it is a great addition to the book itself, and teachers/librarians will enjoy having these ready-made activities available for their use!

Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs Teacher Guide 

Amazing Amphibians: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and More by Lisa J. Amstutz

This is an amazing book, chock full of ideas to increase your knowledge of amphibians. It provides factual information, while also giving students many different ways to explore, including through art, cooking, in nature, games, writing, researching, and other hands-on STEM activities.  This would be great for many ages and educational settings, from preschool through at least middle school.  I think it would be useful for many settings, including schools, homeschools, and nature centers.  I’ve chosen a few to highlight below, with some additional sources.  However, there are step-by-step instructions for each activity in the book. It would make an excellent purchase for your personal library, or search for it in your school or town library.

Activity: Making a Frog/Toad Abode (Page 95)

Amphibians in general are at risk for habitat destruction, which can impact their life cycle.  One way that humans can help is to provide shelter and a safe habitat. One of the activities in Amazing Amphibians details how to build a “toad abode”, though it can obviously be for frogs as well.  It is on page 95, and it lists material requirements, as well as instructions on how to build it.  It is a hands-on activity, and would work for many ages, with some adaptations.  It could also be artistic, as some builders encourage decorating the “houses” with mosaic tile and other decorations.  Listed below are some videos that give examples and further instructions on how to build them.

How to Make a Toad/Frog Abode

Another Video: How to Make Toad Abode 

Activity: Making Faux Frog Eggs (Page 56)

A section of this book covers the frog life cycle, and many other books cover it as well. (I’ve provided a link to a Nat Geo Kids section on the Life Cycle of Frogs in the first section).  After they’ve gotten a general introduction, this activity of making “faux” frog eggs would be great for many ages.  

This activity uses water beads, water, and green food coloring.  I did locate another option (more earth-friendly) that used chia seeds, and included creating a whole mini habitat.  The video is attached below.  

Making Frog Eggs with Chia Seeds 

Final Suggestion: 

For kids who are truly interested in studying amphibians and reptiles, there is an online program that is coordinated by the Amphibian Foundation.  It includes “camps” for younger students and classes for amphibian pet owners.  There is a modest cost (see information below).

For older students who are interested in further training, there is a Junior Master Herpeologist Program, which is an 8-week online certification program for kids ages 12-14. 

There are other programs available; click on the link below for more information.

Amphibian Foundation: Online Training for Students

The post STEM Tuesday– Amphibians– In the Classroom appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

About the Book

Hi Melanie! Really fun read. Please give us a short summary of Girl of Lore.

Hi! I’m excited to chat with you! Okay summary. Fifteen-year-old loner and cemetery-lurker Mina Murray starts Lore Club to investigate local legends, but along the way she discovers a mysterious book and a body drained of blood. When a classmate goes missing, she worries that the town’s stories might be real. Is the monster lurking in the dark or in her own brain? Bahm bahm bahhmmm…

I felt a Stranger Things vibe. Any inspiration from it?

Oh my gosh I love Stranger Things and that is high praise. My inspiration came from Dracula and classic horror, but Mina and her friends do run all over town like the kids in Stranger Things. And the book is set in Georgia, where Stranger Things was filmed!

I enjoyed how you explained how people often think OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) means “being uber-organized and power cleaning all the time,” but how that isn’t always true. (There are many other types of OCD.) As someone with OCD, I appreciated this being addressed in the book. Can you explain what your goal was with helping the readers know more about OCD?

Yes! I have OCD as well, and when I was Mina’s age, I didn’t understand what was happening inside my head. It was scary and exhausting. I want readers like me to see themselves in Mina’s story and know that they aren’t alone and there’s help, and I want to give readers who don’t struggle with OCD a glimpse inside Mina’s head so they can understand that it isn’t like the stereotypes. My husband learned a lot about how my brain works from reading Girl of Lore! That’s what I love about reading fiction. It helps us develop empathy.

About the Author

Why did you want to write this book?

GIRL OF LORE is a love letter to my favorite genre and the stories that have shaped me, and it’s filled with gothic Easter eggs, obvious ones as well as tiny winks. My favorite novel of all time is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Mina Murray is my favorite gothic character because she’s so smart and underestimated by the men. I remember when my son was in middle school I gave him a boxed set of some of my favorite horror classics, books like Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Call of Cthulhu, etc., and he gamely tried to plow through Dracula but petered off when Jonathan Harker was still trapped in that castle and I thought, “What if I could make this story more accessible for him? What if these characters were teens living in Georgia?” 

How are you like Mina? And how are you different?

Ooh, fun question. Nobody’s asked me this. Hmm, Mina and I both have OCD, but some of my intrusive thoughts and compulsions are different than hers. I gave her my cherry red Doc Martens and love of graveyards. But I am an extrovert and more comfortable around people. Mina is much better at drawing than I am. She’s vegan and I’m not. We both love dogs. My Maltipoo Khaleesi is asleep in my lap while we’re having this interview.  

Did you grow up reading horror/ghost stories? If so, what is your favorite?

Yes! In second grade I found In a Dark, Dark Room in the school library and read about Jenny, who wore a green ribbon around her neck. She wore the ribbon her whole life and when she was very old, she finally removed the ribbon. I’ll never forget the last line of that story: “and Jenny’s head fell off.” Oh my gosh AWESOME. I felt this delicious, visceral reaction. So ghoulish. I was hooked. I had a friend named Jenny and told her the story. She did not appreciate those nightmares. As I got older I discovered classic gothic literature and fell in love.  

Scripts vs Manuscripts & Adults vs Kids

I read that you also wrote episodes for the horror television show Creepshow (and one Molly Ringwald starred in). Very cool! For those of us writers who also have an interest in switching gears, please explain one difference in writing a teleplay vs a novel. 

With a novel, I’m writing all of it. Story, dialogue, setting, character descriptions. Film is very collaborative, so I learned to cut out a lot of the detailed descriptions and focus on the story and dialogue. For instance, in my first script I spent pages describing every detail on Molly Ringwald’s character’s desk and the script was twice as long as it needed to be. Cut cut cut. The set designer would make those details. I didn’t need to. And then writing a novel, the banter between characters came easily to me, but Mina’s inner thought life and fleshing out descriptions of locations was challenging. Many scenes in the book started out as straight dialogue, then I went back in and layered in actions and details.

In addition to writing for the upper middle grade market, you write for adults. Was it a difficult shift to write for a younger audience?

My books for adults are all nonfiction, so the biggest shift was switching to fiction, not the age of the reader. At the time I was writing Girl of Lore, I was raising three teenagers, which helped. That being said, I am a GenXer, so I’m thankful for early readers who noted several moments where a teen would not say that or think that.

This is me at the age Mina is in the book. I’m journaling!

And what drew you to the younger audience?

As a parent, I noticed a reading gap for my kids between middle grade and YA that I wanted to help fill. When they hit the tween and young teen years, they weren’t quite ready for some of the YA content but they wanted stories of teens like them. 

Writing & Research

I loved how you had a character with OCD in a horror novel (quite unusual and why I wanted to read this book!). Which part came first: the character having OCD or the supernatural element? (And you do a great job of having her conquer both.)

Thank you! The OCD and supernatural grew together, although I skirted around the OCD in the first few drafts. I had a meeting with my agent to process some helpful feedback and mentioned that I’d like to explore Mina’s OCD more but I was worried it would be too scary for middle grade. She encouraged me to go for it, and I’m so glad she did.  

With writing horror, I’m curious whether you start with knowing the ending and work your way backwards. Can you walk us through when you began (without any spoilers!)?

Dude, this was my first novel and I knew nothing. Ha, I had an idea for the concept, but I had never plotted out a story so large, so it took many drafts and invaluable feedback to point it in the right direction. I spent a long, long time creating the characters and getting them talking to each other. I wrote so many scenes that I ended up cutting. Maybe some of them will appear in future stories. I axed whole characters, gave Mina a more traumatic backstory, upped the stakes and then upped them again. My editor, Jessi Smith, helped pry my fingers off the original story of Dracula and encouraged me that Mina and her Lore Club friends were strong enough to live their own story.   

I always find it interesting the research involved in fiction. What research did you do for this book?

I worried that I’d end up on a watchlist somewhere with the kinds of things I was googling. Burying bodies, mausoleums, obelisks, crypts. A friend of mine used to work in a morgue and I called her up and asked her what to do with a dead body, then threw in “FICTIONALLY” when there was a pause at the other end of the line. I had the best time researching graveyards. I really wanted to picture Mina’s graveyard where she spends a lot of her time in the book, so I visited a ton of cemeteries. Whenever I travel, I love visiting cemeteries and try to take as many ghost tours as I can. When I was in New Orleans I visited St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. In Edinburgh I visited Greyfriars. We have a bunch of really beautiful graveyards near where I live. The older and wilder the better. 

For Teachers

Are you doing school visits related to this book? 

I am so excited to talk with fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-graders about writing! You can find out more about my author visits at School Visits – Melanie Dale 

How can we learn more about you? 

You can find me on my website at melaniedale.com or on Instagram and Substack @melanierdale. 

This was super fascinating. Thanks for your time, Melanie!

Thanks for having me! 

The post Girl of Lore Interview with Author Melanie Dale appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

Author Interview – Seema Yasmin

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Seema Yasmin today. We are going to be talking about the start of her new series, Muslim Mavericks, spotlighting actress and comedian Maysoon Zayid, and launching from Salaam Reads / Simon and Schuster Kids on February 10, 2026.

I am excited to discuss this series with Seema and encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their classrooms and libraries.

About MAYSOON ZAYID, THE GIRL WHO CAN CAN:

Description taken from online:

From the prolific Pulitzer Prize–nominated Muslim reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin comes an exciting nonfiction chapter book about one of America’s first female Muslim comedians—Maysoon Zayid—the first in the riveting and inspirational Muslim Mavericks.

This is the story of the girl who could!

Maysoon Zayid was just a girl from New Jersey. She might have sometimes felt like she was in the shadow of her three older sisters, but in her dreams, she was Mimi—an amazing actress, comedian, and dancer! The only problem? People kept telling Maysoon her dreams were impossible!

Achieving her goals certainly wasn’t easy; as a Palestinian Muslim girl born with cerebral palsy, Maysoon faced all sorts of challenges—both physical and societal. But Maysoon didn’t dare give up. Instead, she followed her heart all the way to the screen and stage to become one of America’s first ever women Muslim comedians and an actress on her favorite TV show.

Interview with Seema:

I loved getting to talk to Seema about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her as well.

SSS: What a wonderful start to a series. Can you tell us why you picked Maysoon Zayid to be the first person to spotlight?

SY: I’ve been a big fan of Maysoon’s standup comedy and writing for a long time and once my agent, Lilly Ghahremani, and I had conceived of the Muslim Mavericks series and pitched it to Simon and Schuster, it was a no brainer to have Maysoon’s story launch the entire series. The way Maysoon uses her voice, her humor and humanity to connect with and move an audience is phenomenal. I’m excited for readers to get to know her.

SSS: How did you conduct your research for this book? Did you interview Maysoon and how was that? (I am assuming hilarious, just like her!)

SY: I had the privilege of interviewing Maysoon, watching her do standup comedy live in New York City, and spending hours researching her life story and calling it “work.” Being a writer is the best because you get to read and interview fascinating people for a living! Interviewing Maysoon was of course hilarious but it was also sobering and humbling; I was made aware of my ableism and how it shows up in my writing.

SSS: What surprised you most about Maysoon’s life?

SY: I loved learning about her mum and dad’s personalities and differing life philosophies. Maysoon’s dad said “Yes, you can can!” and her mum was perhaps ore pragmatic about life and the challenges her daughter would face. But both of them treated all of their kids equally.

SSS: How do you choose who to write about when you are planning this series out?

SY: I am spoiled for choice selecting iconic Muslims who are changing the world. The second volume in the series is about a legendary record-breaker who held a secret for most of his life. There are so many people to write about! As a doctor and artist myself, I want to include the breadth of Muslim changemakers, from vaccine scientists to dancers.

SSS: What is next for this series? Or rather, WHO?

SY: I can’t say just yet but watch this space!

Link to order here.

Thank you Seema for joining us- and I hope everyone gets a copy of this book!

About Seema Yasmin:

Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, medical doctor, professor, and poet. She attended medical school at Cambridge University and worked as a disease detective for the US federal government’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. She currently teaches storytelling at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a regular contributor to CNN, Self, and Scientific American, among others.

The post WNDMG Author Interview: Seema Yasmin on her series Muslim Mavericks appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

Amphibians are animals that tend to live part of their life underwater and part of their life on land. Frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts have soft, moist skin, and most can breathe through their skin – as long as it stays damp. Adult amphibians also use lungs to breathe.

Amphibian Acrobats by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Robert Meganck

This book is filled with froggy poetry about Olympic jumpers, deep-freeze artists, salamander wrestlers, and marathon walkers that migrate to their puddle home to lay eggs every spring. From caecilians to salamanders, each poem introduces amazing amphibian behavior.

Amphibian Groups by Sue Bradford Edwards

A fascinating, photo-illustrated exploration of various frogs, salamanders, and caecilians and how they band together and cooperate to ensure their survival. It includes eye-catching graphics, multiple writing prompts, and discussion questions, as well as an awesome list of facts and a call to action.

Tree Frogs: Life in the Leaves by Moira Rose Donohue

Five chapters discuss where and how frogs live, their food, how they survive winter (some freeze!), and their life cycle from tadpole to adult. One chapter introduces frog relatives, including some that live in trees but aren’t tree frogs. The book concludes with conservation efforts.

A Day in the Life of Frogs: What do Frogs, Toads, and Tadpoles Get Up to All Day? by Itzue W. Caviedes Solis, illustrated by Henry Rancourt

After comparing frogs and toads, the conversational text follows a day from noon to 3 am, highlighting the unique and fascinating lives of frogs and toads around the world and their environments. Fun cameos from the Southeast Asian rock frog, Australian turtle frog and cane toad, Central African wolverine frog, Columbian sun glass frog, and South American Bell’s horned frog connect the narrative across the pages.   

Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs by Annette Whipple, illustrated by Juanbjuan

For younger readers, this is a great introduction to frogs, filled with close-up photos of legs and eyes and tongues – it will make you want to head to the nearest pond for some frog-watching. Sections address the difference between frogs and toads, how frogs eat, where they live, how they make sounds, and their development from eggs to adults. “Leaping Legs” sidebars explain facts from a frog’s point of view.

See-Thru Frogs (see-thru books series) by Sherry Gerstein 

Get to know frogs from the inside-out! See-thru pages help illustrate the stuff on the inside of frogs – their skeleton and internal organs. Kids can compare bones we have in common, and note some differences, such as their longer foot bones. 

Field Guides & Activity Books:

Amazing Amphibians: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, and More (Young Naturalists series) by Lisa J. Amstutz 

Taking readers on a field trip to ponds and fields in search of amphibians of all types, this book introduces us to the major frog families, newts, and caecilians. It discusses amphibian anatomy, shares their housing and meal plans, and lets us in on their secrets of defense. And best of all includes hands-on activities, like an underwater pond viewer, mixing up frog slime, and crafting an origami frog.

Everything You Need To Know About Frogs And Other Slippery Creatures DK Publishing

This browsable book has everything from frog brains and secrets of a smooth skin to how tadpoles survive to adulthood. You’ll meet flapping frogs, flying frogs, glass frogs … and a few reptiles along the way. Plus, how frogs’ legs led to the invention of the first battery.

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians by Catherine Herbert Howell

Amphibians may share this book with reptiles, but there are plenty of pages to explore salamanders, frogs, and toads. Text boxes highlight fun facts, and a longer sidebar dives into metamorphosis. Five hands-on activities include making a simple pond viewer and a toad home.

Amphibians (Field Guides) by Rachel Seigel

Engaging text, featuring 110 frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (some common and some endangered), teams up with “how to spot” statistic and “fun fact” sidebars to make amphibian hunting lots of fun.

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More and Diet for a Changing Climate. Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com

Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the 2018 & 2017 Cybils Awards, and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.

The post STEM Tuesday– Amphibians– Book List appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

About the Book

Hi Rebecca! I really enjoyed When You’re Brave Enough. This was a true coming-of-age story that addressed many things middle graders are dealing with: religion, sexuality, and friendship. I’m excited to dive in and learn more about how the book came to be. Can you please give us a brief summary of the book?

Thank you so much! When You’re Brave Enough is about introspective thirteen-year-old Lacey, who’s always had the same best friend, loud, super-enthusiastic Grace. When she finds out her family is moving Rhode Island before eighth grade, she hopes to reinvent herself and step into the spotlight on her own, so she’s ecstatic when she gets a lead role in the musical Bye Bye Birdie.

But then Lacey finds out about her new school’s longstanding, student-led tradition: the lead couple always kisses (for real!) in the final performance. Lacey’s role has two love interests, and suddenly she’s under a lot of pressure to decide. But what if she’d rather kiss the girl she has a duet with? As she prepares for her bat mitzvah and Grace plans a visit for the final performance, Lacey grapples with the concept of tradition, which ones are worth continuing, and what her perfect first kiss would look like if she were brave enough to listen to her heart.

Do you feel this book is more of a window, mirror, or both?

My biggest hope is that When You’re Brave Enough can be a mirror for queer kids and teens who are asking similar questions and grappling with similar pressures to Lacey. I read my first queer book when I was twenty, and it completely reframed my view of being a lesbian from worrying it would make my life difficult to seeing that being queer could open me up to true love and a more authentic, creative life.

While I wrote this book for LGBTQ+ kids and teens, I hope that anyone, regardless of identity, can enjoy it and get a window into one experience of a queer teen coming into her own. There are a lot of misconceptions about queer kids right now, and I hope this book shows people that they are, like all kids, working hard to figure out who they are and where they fit into their communities, and that they deserve support, love, agency, and patience as they make their way.

I loved how sexuality was shown as a fluid spectrum and how the protagonist was discovering where she was on it. What do you hope this story contributes to the landscape of LGBTQ+ literature?

I wanted this story to celebrate the importance of taking time to really sit with your inner voice and respect what it tells you. So many of my favorite middle grade books, such as The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead and Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff, are about a character who is hiding a secret from themselves because they’re in middle school, at the height of pressure to conform and be good, probably the hardest place on Earth to admit you are different. Fragments and memories come to the surface, clueing in the reader, but these characters try to push them away until they can’t anymore and must grapple with the truth. I wanted to contribute a lesbian version of this story and highlight Lacey’s coming out to herself as just as important, if not more important, than sharing who she is with the world.

About the Author

Me at Lacey’s age in my Bye Bye Birdie T-shirt. I still have the shirt, but no longer have the purple Uggs.

Do you see your preteen self in Lacey? Or any of the other characters?

Yes! Like Lacey, I was so confused when my friends started talking about crushes, not understanding that the complicated, yearning feelings I had for a girl in my theater group were just that. I felt behind my peers and desperate to have it all figured out.

I also see a lot of my younger self in Grace, since I was loud and silly as a middle schooler. I loved hiding in lockers and jumping out at people, singing terribly in school hallways, and dressing up in weird, mismatched costumes and wigs to walk to CVS with my best friend. There are parts of me in all my characters, and learning to love and understand them helps me do the same with myself.

What’s your connection to school productions? And why did you choose Bye, Bye Birdie?

I LOVE musical theater and was in Bye Bye Birdie twice growing up, once in fourth grade and once in sixth. I chose this show because of its emphasis on conformity and expectations; it’s set in the 1950s and centers around a group of poodle-skirt-clad teenage fangirls who are all obsessed with teen idol Conrad Birdie (AKA Elvis) and one girl, Kim, who is chosen for the “honor” of being Conrad’s last kiss before going to the army and is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. The start of Lacey’s journey mirrors Kim’s, as a new student facing pressure to kiss one of her co-leads onstage. But more importantly, as an author, I have to put my characters through the ringer so they can grow, and I thought this show about many, many girls obsessed with a boy would be the hardest one for Lacey to disrupt by being true to herself.

How did you come up with the idea of a closing night kiss?

During my fourth grade production of Bye Bye Birdie, the eighth graders who played Albert and Rosie actually did kiss in the final performance! I remember being terrified that I’d have to do that too, and what if I had a co-lead I didn’t want to kiss? I never got a lead role, so I thankfully didn’t have to worry about this, but the fear stayed with me and I loved seeing how it played out with Lacey’s story.

I love how this ended—I think it’s a great message for kids. Did you always plan the closing-night kiss ending how it did or did you play with various endings?

I always knew who Lacey’s first kiss would be, but I played with a few different versions of where and when, public or not public. When I thought of the current ending, I knew that was it. It felt so perfectly Lacey-and-_______. No spoilers!

Research/Writing

Tell us a little about your MFA thesis and how it impacted writing this book.

I wrote my critical thesis at Vermont College of Fine Arts on the impact of positive queer representation in middle grade fiction. Through this, I learned that my experience having my first crushes on girls from nine to eleven but not coming out until years later was normal. Most queer and trans kids realize they’re queer or trans by early adolescence, but middle school is also the time when they’re most likely to be inundated with negative messaging about being LGBTQ+. I also learned that a supportive adult or a positive queer role model can have a real impact on improving the mental health of an LGBTQ+ child, so I made sure to add characters who fill both these roles in the book. I wrote the first draft of When You’re Brave Enough in 2020 and kept going through years of revision and rejection by remembering the impact books like these can have if they get into the hands of a kid who needs them.

Are you more of a plotter or pantser?

A plotter! I usually start by coming up with one character or situation, and then I love the brainstorming phase where I get to think of a million ideas of how their story could unfold. In that phase, I often spend more time in the character’s world than in my own life. But as I write my (terrible) first draft, the characters usually decide they want to do something totally different than I had planned, and I have to go back and revise the outline. Still, I like having it there instead of a blank page!

I liked how there was a parallel with Anne Frank and her diary. When in your writing journey did you create the connection to The Diary of Anne Frank?

The Diary of Anne Frank wasn’t part of my first few drafts of the novel, but when I got a copy of it for my sixth grade students, I decided to re-read it. I was shocked to read the same part Lacey is shocked by, where Anne writes about kissing her best friend and being attracted to the women in her art history books. I realized that when I was in middle school, I read a version of Anne’s diary with many passages omitted, including this one. I wished I could have gone back and given my younger self the unedited, unabridged version. Instead, I gave it to Lacey.

What was the most difficult part in writing this book?

The hardest part was making Grace feel like a well-rounded, fully there character from two thousand miles away. Much of my revising focused on putting memories of Grace in places that made sense, adding her visit, and making the emails between Lacey and Grace come alive through video transcripts, photos of flowers, and even songs, which my audiobook narrator actually plays ukulele and sings in the audiobook!

What was something you didn’t expect that was super beneficial in writing/finishing/publishing this book?

I first wrote this novel in verse and changed it to prose for and revise and resubmit request with an editor. That editor, Jessica Anderson, wasn’t able to acquire the book, but I so appreciate her wise idea to take the emotional heart of each poem and build it into a short scene, adding more dialogue, setting description, and physicality for the characters. Now, when I’m struggling with a project, I write the scene as a poem, figure out the emotional heart that way, and then build it into a prose scene.

For Teachers

Are you doing school visits related to this book?

Yes! As a former middle school teacher, I love doing school visits, especially for grades 5-8. I’m doing two main formats right now. One is a presentation about emotional bravery that ends with a chance for students to make a promise to themselves of something they’d like to be emotionally brave enough to do. If they want, they can write it down on this five foot sign!

The other is a writing workshop where students write a poem describing how a certain emotion feels in their body and then use that poem to build out a scene. I also combined these in my most recent visit! My goal during visits is to add enough visuals and opportunities to participate that even the most distractable student (AKA my younger self) is locked in, thinking, and learning. I also love to speak at pride events or to GSAs!

How can we learn more about you?

You can find me on social media @rebeccabendheim or at my website rebeccabendheim.com!

Thank you for your time, Rebecca!

Thank you for these thoughtful questions and for spotlighting When You’re Brave Enough!

The post When You’re Brave Enough: Interview with Author Rebecca Bendheim appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic
Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm
by Philip C. Stead

A plucky young goatkeeper sets out on a misadventurous rescue mission in this uproarious debut novel with premium hardcover features, perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Lemony Snicket.

In a kingdom ruled by a capricious king, the castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats, and the welfare of those goats rests on the back of a girl called Bernadette. So when one goat escapes, it’s up to her—with the help of a very forgetful wizard and a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes—to bring it back safely.

Her task may be straightforward, but this book is anything but. Like a swirling herd of restless goats, the chapters are all out of order. The ending may prove to have been the beginning all along. All the while, the author of Bernadette’s saga—a character himself—hurries to write her a resolution, with very mixed results. And if you’re feeling lost, don’t worry; the story has twenty-four morals, of varying advisability, to edify you along the way.

Award-winning picture book author and illustrator Philip Stead makes a confident debut as a novelist in this laugh-out-loud, one-of-a-kind illustrated tale, chock-full of running gags, broken fourth walls, and underdog triumph.

Are Octopuses from Another World? Discover the Science Behind Teuthology
By Rosie Rowntree (Author) and Valeria Abatzoglu (Illustrated by)

It’s a big question–are octopuses from another world? These animals and their incredible, unique features help reveal fascinating facts about the animal kingdom.

Discover how teuthologists study octopuses and learn about . . .

• The incredible adaptations that let octopuses thrive in the world’s harshest conditions
• How octopuses can edit their own genes!
• Why these tentacled animals need nine brains and three hearts
• Incredible ways octopuses interact with the natural world around them . . . and so much more!

Beautifully bound with gorgeous illustrations, The Big Questions Answered is more than just a series of books–it’s a complete resource for kids, teachers, and parents to collect. Start a lifelong interest in science–it can change the world!

The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko 

Harriet the Spy meets Black Mirror in The Genie Game, the start of a thrilling new middle-grade series from Jordan Ifueko, author of the New York Times bestselling fantasy Raybearer.

Valentine Adesanya has two missions: 1) become a Feared and Fabulous Film Director and 2) find her missing big sister, Mango. She suspects The Trio Trust, a collection of creepy mega-companies that now rule the United States, made Mango disappear.

A text lures Valentine to a magical boba shop, which comes to life and tells Valentine she is now a GENIE: a member of the General Employee Network of Immortal Engineers, an underground workforce run by the Trio Trust. Genies may only leave their bottles to grant the wishes of mortals. With each granted wish, The Trio Trust gains more magic, and so the Trio hosts a glamorous wish-granting competition, rewarding top players with fabulous prizes. The twist?

The greedy Trio forbids genies from using magic. Genies must grant wishes using nothing but smarts, luck, and elbow grease.

To free her sister Mango and escape the Genie Game, Valentine must score more wish-granting points than any other Genie. But how did the Trio Trust get so powerful in the first place? Why is a magical monster stomping through her home city of Gloss Angeles?

And why does the Trio Trust seem so afraid of 13-year-old Valentine Adesanya?

Lightfall: A Place Between by Tim Probert 

In the fourth installment of the award-winning, critically acclaimed Lightfall series, Bea, Cad, and their friends continue their quest to restore light on their dark world. Perfect for fans of Amulet and Avatar, this next book dives deeper into the magical world of Irpa, where ancient secrets and adventures abound.

After surviving a shipwreck on the Fuerre Sea, Cad washes ashore on the shores of Pellidyr. There, he searches for Lorgon, the Water Spirit, but instead finds the other spirits of Irpa who question if their planet can be saved. One of them offers to help Cad and transports him to A Place Between, a strange liminal realm between the living and the dead, where Cad works to uncover the reason Lorgon summoned them to Pellidyr in the first place.

Meanwhile, Bea awakens within the walls of the capital city. While Pellidyr’s leader has heard the tales of Bea’s derring-do and believes her to be a hero with all the answers, she’s never felt more uncertain about the future. What she does know is that she can’t accomplish anything without her crew. When Bea’s escape plan also brings her to A Place Between, she makes a shocking discovery that changes her understanding of everything that came before her…and what could soon follow.

Auntie Q’s Golden Claws Nail Salon by Van Hoang

A funny and heartwarming middle grade novel about first jobs and second chances where one girl’s summer punishment becomes a mission to save a struggling nail salon and bring her family together—perfect for fans of Front Desk and Millionaires for the Month.

Twelve-year-old Domi Pham had the perfect summer planned: lounging by the pool, making art with her best friend, and celebrating her escape from seventh grade. But one costly mistake puts her dream summer on hold. Instead, she finds herself deep in debt to her parents, and shipped off to New Mexico to work at her Auntie Q’s nail salon for the next three months.

At first, Domi is miserable—surrounded by nosy aunties, constant nail polish fumes, and endless work. But as she gets to know Auntie Q and the people in the salon, she starts to see their struggles and resilience in a new light. When she discovers that the salon is at risk of closing, Domi puts her creativity and determination to the test to help save it.

Laleh and the Language of the Birds by Perin Gurel (Author), Marjane Searl (Contributions by)

Thirteen-year-old Laleh Lateef’s world shatters when her ornithologist father vanishes from the bird sanctuary they called home. She’s forced to live with her grouchy uncle, quiet aunt, and rebellious cousin Ivy, who delights in calling her “Bird Nerd.” Life feels hopeless-until two crow brothers, Gold and Silver, begin delivering strange gifts.

When the gifts fit together into a magical device that lets Laleh talk to birds, she uncovers a breathtaking secret: Her father’s disappearance is part of a larger menace haunting the sanctuary. And her uncle is the likely culprit.

With the sanctuary and its feathered residents in danger, Laleh and Ivy must team up-whether they like it or not-and follow the clues through an ancient Middle Eastern legend known as The Language of the Birds. Their destination: Avesia, the mythical sky realm of perfect bird habitats.

The catch? No one has ever reached it without wings.

Rialto by Kate Milford

A standalone mystery from a New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award-winning author set in a contemporary world tinged with magic, in which two sisters spend summer vacation in a small town in the shadows of abandoned amusement park that is not what it seems.

Ivy and Dahlia Vicar know this summer’s trip to visit friends in Rialto, Missouri, is going to be different from their usual family vacations.

Twelve-year-old Dahlia, an artist who lives with anxiety, is looking forward to something new. Rialto, after all, has its own abandoned theme park! But mystery-loving, fourteen-year-old Ivy is struggling with how to be the right kind of big sister to Dahlia, and longs for the way things—especially vacations—were when they were younger.

In Rialto, it quickly becomes clear that this vacation will also be different in totally unexpected ways. For one thing, the town stands in the middle of an improbable forest that, according to local legend, swallowed it overnight decades before. Then there are Dahlia’s even more improbable sightings of impossible creatures—a giraffe with antlers and a leopard with wings. And there’s their new friend Remy, whose family inherited the house they’re all staying in from an aunt who left bequests for local friends that Remy must personally distribute.

When he enlists Ivy and Dahlia to help deliver these gifts, they find themselves drawn into a mystery going back to the time when Rialto Park was still open. And it begins to seem that, if they are going to help Remy solve it, they will have to find a way to believe in magic.

Themes of friendship, family, mental health, and resilience are expertly woven through this magical, richly imagined story of two sisters and an enigmatic town that transforms everyone who visits it.

Forbidden Mountain by Brandon Mull

CHOOSE YOUR GUARDIAN. CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series comes an epic new fantasy set in a world where every child bonds with a spiritual guide—some promising greatness and glory, while others, destruction and death.

Every Anoran child dreams of the day they will enter the sacred bonding hut and match with a guardian—a spiritual guide who grants magically enhanced abilities. A lucky few will bond with Advocates, who promise greatness and glory. Others will be tempted by forbidden offers from the Accursed—dangerous spirits who bring nothing but destruction and a penalty of death to any Anoran who chooses them. But when Mako discovers that the worst of these agents of chaos has returned to spread an ancient evil through the empire, he faces an unthinkable choice: Will he bond with one of the Accursed to gain the power to stop another?

Halfway across the empire, Arden has no guardian and no prospects of adventure…until she infiltrates an underground criminal network to find her missing friend. Relying on her knack for sensing the truth through even the smoothest lies, Arden finds herself at the center of a sinister conspiracy that runs much deeper than she ever imagined.

Soon Mako’s and Arden’s fates collide, and together they must face bandit armies, dark secrets, and untold dangers to fight an enemy who could destroy all they’ve ever known.

Life on the Moon by Matthew Swanson (Author) and Robbi Behr (Illustrated by)

The extraordinary tale of a curious boy sent to live on the moon, the wondrous discoveries he makes, and the courage it takes to speak a truth no one wants to believe.

The first rule of life on the moon is: There is no life on the moon.
The second rule is: Don’t ask questions.

12-year-old Leo gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the very first Moon colony. He’s excited to be part of the top-secret mission, but things quickly go off the rails. Right after his family lands on the Moon, Leo’s dad is called off on an urgent mission from which he never returns. The authorities claim the mission never existed, and Leo’s dad is accused of desertion.

Leo goes looking for his dad and discovers far more than he bargained for. Everyone in the colony insists there’s NO life on the Moon. But Leo’s explorations reveal a landscape brimming with extraordinary creatures—with baffling behaviors and beliefs.

Leo’s big question is: why keep Moon life a secret? Who stands to gain? And how can he find a way to save his new Moon friends before the lie becomes a reality?

See anything you can’t wait to add to your Spring and Summer To Read Pile? Let us know in the comments below.

The post April New Releases appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

On March 19,

“To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the use of funds provided under such Act to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes.”

What is the problem with this bill?

Known as “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act” by supporters, the bill’s sponsors say it will safeguard children from inappropriate reading material by withholding funds from school systems in violation. This means that federal aid meant to improve academic outcomes for disadvantaged students, including those at Title 1 schools, could be arbitrarily withdrawn under the bill’s vague language. 

The Author’s Guild points out that language used in the bill specifically targets books containing transgender characters. “Any coming-of-age story, memoir, or picture book that includes a character who is transgender or merely questions their gender would be off-limits.”

Who is speaking out against HR 7661?

Many groups have voiced oppostion to the bill, including the Author’s Guild, Book Riot, School Library Journal, Literary Hub, and the American Library Association (ALA).  AL A President Sam Helmick issued this March 18 statement:

“Parents, not politicians, should guide their children’s reading. In our school, campus, and public libraries, materials are selected by trained literacy professionals who understand child development and community needs. Their work is grounded in one clear purpose: helping young people become lifelong readers. 

“H.R. 7661 isn’t fundamentally about protecting kids. It’s about giving politicians broad authority to restrict whose stories are allowed on our shelves. That should concern anyone who believes in the freedom to read and the right of families to make decisions for themselves.”

What can we do?

Are you concerned about the advancement of HR 7661? The ALA asks you to call your representatives. Tell them you support HR 6440, the Right to Read Act, which is “aimed at increasing access to school libraries, improving literacy through authorized funding, and protecting the roles of certified school librarians.”     

They also suggest that advocates use resources found at Unite Against Book Bans in order to mobilize broader community efforts. You can begin to prepare now for Right to Read Day, April 20. Right to Read Day is an opportunity to celebrate books, make your voice heard, and take action against book bans.

The post HR 7661 Advances Censorship by Withdrawing Federal Funding appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math!

Today, we’re delighted to welcome Maxwell Eaton, author of Survival Scout: Lost in the Mountains(May 2023, Roaring Brook Press). This hilarious graphic novel features a strong female main character who has what it takes to survive. The book is a great choice for scouting groups, wilderness lovers, and readers who like a good laugh.

About the book:

Scout’s woe is your gain in the first of the SURVIVAL SCOUT graphic novel series, where Scout endures natural disasters so we don’t have to.

Stay calm, and Scout it out

1) Take inventory of what you have
2) Find shelter
3) Make a fire
4) Signal for help
5) Secure water and food

Follow Scout’s trial through the mountains, as she explains how to survive if you ever find yourself lost in the wilderness. A perfect travel companion for those with a knack for adventure, or prone to getting disoriented in the forest.

This humorous and informative comic-format guide showcases all things survival in the great outdoors. ~ The Horn Book

An enlightening guide for aspiring adventurers. ~ Kirkus

Linda: Survival Scout: Lost in the Mountains is a fun way to convey 

information about survival skills. The animals that keep chiming in are hysterical. Where did you get the idea for this book?

Max: The idea came from a chat with my editor. We were brainstorming and discussing some of my interests, which include a lot of outdoor adventure activities, and we thought maybe a book that spells out what to do when things go wrong might be fun. It started as a picture book, but it was so dense that it made perfect sense to open it up, add more humor and depth, and turn it into a graphic novel.

Linda: What was your research process like?

Max: I’ve spent most of my life outside having fun in the mountains and on the water in all kinds of seasons and settings, so I have a decent feel for the reality of being in trouble in the mountains. But I really needed to back things up with a cohesive philosophy and structure for survival. Kind of a flow chart of what to do when things go wrong. And that meant hitting the books! Tons of reading. Everything from first hand survival accounts to wilderness first response manuals. From the mountain of reading I was able to distill a rough framework for what Scout, and possibly a young reader, should do if they’re lost.

Linda: What do you hope readers take away from this graphic novel?

Max: I want readers to know that sometimes the best thing they can do in a stressful situation is pause, breathe, and collect themselves. Too much thinking has rarely made a survival situation worse…

Linda: How can teachers and librarians use this book?

Max: Any element of Scout’s story is useful, fascinating, and possibly lifesaving. Activities in the book like building or seeking a shelter, starting a campfire, or using a map and compass (my favorite) are practical and fun, a chance to get hands dirty, and can all be tied to science, physics, and math. 

Linda:You have a few other Survival Scout Books. Tell us how the other books in the series evolved and if there are more books planned.

Max: Survival Scout: Tsunami is the follow-up to Lost in the Mountains. We decided to go big for this one! And again, beyond the scares and action, it’s overflowing with earth science, physics, and skunk jokes. Survival Scout: Lost at Sea is the same but with the addition of some information about weather systems. It was a ton of fun to research each of them and heartening to have heard from scientists, museums, and professionals in related fields who have written to tell me how blown away they were by the depth and accuracy of these silly little graphic novels! There aren’t any other books in the works, but I hope that kids find and enjoy these three.

Linda: In my college years, I once ran into trouble while hiking Mount Washington. I was on an exposed ridge with the sun setting and the temperature plunging. As the stars came into view, I spotted a ramshackle building. It turned out to be a bustling high-mountain hut. What’s your mountain survival story?

Max: I can’t tell or my family will worry! But, again, I can tell readers from lots of experience that it pays to keep a level head and some perspective in the mountains. And always watch out for skunks!

Linda: Max, thanks so much for being our guest today on STEM Tuesday. I can’t wait to read your next book!

Maxwell Eaton III is the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of dozens of outdoor adventure-based picture books and comics for young readers. All of Maxwell’s books are informed by a life led outdoors in the mountains and on the water. He is passionate about sharing his love for the natural world with young people and empowers them to get outside; make and do with their own hands; to think and act with calm and collected minds; and to maintain perspective and humor. He skis, paddles, and writes in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. 

Linda Zajac is the author of Robo-Motion: Robots That Move Like Animals and eight Minecraft books for kids. She’s an award-winning science writer who sometimes trades her writing cap for a biking helmet, a hiking visor, or a kitty named Twinky. Find her at www.lindarosezajac.com

The post STEM Tuesday– Mountains– Author Interview appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

A Summary

It’s 1986, and 13-year-old Yasha Reznik doesn’t understand why his parents moved from their Russian community in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, to the suburbs of New Jersey. Sure, it may be their American Dream, but it’s not his. Yasha’s dream is to make it through his Bar Mitzvah, watch the New York Mets make it to the playoffs, and fit in at his new school.

But fitting in is harder than he thinks, when he’s one of only two Russian families in town; he even starts going by “Jake” instead of “Yasha.” The only person who seems to really get him is Bernie, his pal from the senior citizen home where Yasha is doing community service for his bar mitzvah project.

When Bernie says his dream is also to see the Mets win the World Series, Yasha knows that somehow, someway, he’s going to get those tickets–even if he doesn’t know his Torah portion yet, or why he feels alone even with his new “friends.”

Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Margaret! Before we dive in, can you tell readers a bit about Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah?

MG: This book means so much to me as it’s based on some of my own experiences growing up as a Russian-Jewish-American in the 1980s. Yasha and his family emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Brighton Beach, New York. Eight years later, they move to the suburbs of New Jersey. While in New York, he lived in a community with many others who were Russian; in New Jersey, he is one of two in his grade. He struggles to fit in while planning for his Bar Mitzvah. He finds a friend in Bernie, a senior citizen he meets for his Bar Mitzvah project. They both love the Mets, and this propels Yasha to try and get tickets to the 1986 World Series.

Memories from Childhood

MR: Like Yasha, you emigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union as a child. How was your experience similar to Yasha’s? How was it different?

MG: Yasha is a little older than I was. We moved to New Jersey when I was eight, and I was 10 in 1986. Yasha is 13. Also, while we lived in Brooklyn, we did not live in Brighton Beach, so the atmosphere was  different. I never had a Bat Mitzvah project or a “Bernie,” but I was very close to my grandfather and based some of Bernie on him.

The discrimination Yasha experiences is very much based on my own experiences. It took a long time  for me to accept the Russian part of me. I felt really “othered” because of that. Our love of the Mets is the same, and I remember watching (on TV) the Mets win the World Series in 1986 and all the hype around that. Like Yasha, my father’s brother and mother stayed behind in the former Soviet Union when my parents, sister, and I came to the United States. My mother’s parents came with us. So, there are many similarities.

But I feel Yasha’s story is universal. Anyone coming from another country or culture who is trying to fit in will be able to relate to his experiences and struggles with his parents and peers. Even if one did not come from another culture, everyone has felt left out, and I think that theme will resonate. (For more on Margaret’s emigration experience, check out her first-person Newsweek essay.)

Meet the Mets!

MR: Baseball is a huge part of Yasha’s story, particularly his love for the New York Mets. I know you’re a Mets fan, too. How did your love of baseball originate?

MG: To be honest, I’m not sure! It was not a big thing in my family. My parents were not very familiar with baseball. My dad loved soccer and hockey and then got into American football. Every summer, my sister and I went to the Catskills with my grandparents. There were many kids our age. All those kids were into the Mets, so I think that’s where it started. I learned about the sport and team from them. The Mets won the World Series in the fall of ’86, and when we went back to that same bungalow colony the summer of ‘87, everyone was still talking about the win like it was yesterday. So, it was Mets hype all over again.

Intergenerational Friendships

MR: Another important part of Yasha’s story is his friendship with Bernie, a resident of the Heavenly Skies retirement home whom Yasha met while working on his bar mitzvah project. Can you tell readers more about Yasha’s connection with Bernie? Also, what were you trying to say about intergenerational friendships?

MG: I think it’s so telling that the person Yasha connects with first is not in his own age group. Growing up, I loved hearing my grandparents tell me about their parents and what they went through. Even now, I remember that while their exact experiences differed from mine, there were universal moments–first love, loss of friends, loneliness, sibling connections, academic woes and successes, etc.–that resonated with me.

The school where I teach has many opportunities for students to connect with the town’s more senior residents, and it leaves both the seniors and teens feeling fulfilled. In terms of Bernie and Yasha, they are both lonely and have undergone similar family issues. They find hope and a friend in each other, and each help the other heal.

Margaret’s Amazin’ Bat Mitzvah

MR: Speaking of B’nai Mitzvahs, did you have one? If so, was it anything like Yasha’s?

MG: My Bat Mitzvah was close to Yasha’s date, albeit three years later. When I was that age, we were part of a conservative synagogue and women were not permitted to read from the Torah. So, I did not have a Torah portion like Yasha does. I did have to memorize prayers, though. My party was not in a Russian restaurant, and it had a mix of Jewish and American food. However, we did have a DJ who added some Russian songs into the party mix. The thing I remember most about my Bat Mitzvah was the fun, family, and friends. Two of my friends made a memory glass for me. It was a thing back then. They melted candle wax and put flowers and ribbons and things in it.

(For more books that feature B’nai Mitzvahs, check out this article from the Mixed-Up Files archives.)

The Importance of Jewish Books

MR: As a follow-up, Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah is a quintessentially Jewish book, which showcases Jewish joy. Why are Jewish books so important, especially now in our current political climate?

MG: There has been a big uptick in antisemitism in recent years. That is very sad and scary. I think it is important for everyone to see each other as human beings who have more commonalities than differences. If people who hate read Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah, they will hopefully find room in their heart to see humanity rather than whatever image or story they created in their minds about Jewish people as a whole.

Ain’t It Funny

MR: Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah is your second middle-grade novel. Ain’t it Funny, about an 11-year-old wannabe comic with OCD, came out in 2024. How will your experience as a previously published author affect your approach to launching and marketing Yasha? What will you do differently this time? What will remain the same?

MG: I feel this time I put myself out there more. I have been on various podcasts, did more interviews, scheduled a virtual book tour, and promoted publicly more. I am not the best at self-promotion and a part of me feels it will annoy people. I’m trying to push past that. I feel if it bugs people, they can always mute me or keep scrolling.

In terms of what’s the same, I had my Ain’t It Funny book launch at the local library and will do the same for the release of Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah. For AIF, I had joke stations and people who attended were able to make up their own jokes or share one of the one already there. This time, the theme is Bar Mitzvah party! I’m excited for the party atmosphere and the activities I have planned: Bar Mitzvah games, photo booth, snacks, etc.

The Juggler

MR:  In addition to being a novelist, you are a middle-school teacher, editor, and writing coach. How do you juggle these different facets of your life? What are the biggest challenges? The greatest rewards?

MG: Besides what you mentioned, my friend and I recently started a college consulting business, https://caringcollegeconsulting.com/. We have both worked independently assisting students with college essays and applications and decided to join forces. So, yes, all of these ventures require balance, and sometimes it’s a challenge. However, it has forced me to become more organized, which has been a struggle since elementary school. As I have become older, I have learned what works for me. For the college consulting, my business partner and I make detailed spreadsheets that keep us on track.

Teaching requires daily and weekly planning. And, thanks to deadlines, I can keep up with my writing. The biggest reward of all my ventures is connecting with and helping others. I love encouraging my middle-school students and celebrating their accomplishments. The same holds true for our consulting clients. It’s so rewarding seeing their faces light up when they get into the college or university they want or when they see how far their Common App essay has come.

Finally, I adore connecting with readers as well and hearing their thoughts about my novels. When a student says they saw themselves in my characters, it means a lot.

Writing Routine

MR: What is your writing process like, Margaret? Do you have a specific writing routine? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

MG: I write when I can. Usually, that’s on weekends or over school breaks. I used to be a pantser, but I would inevitably get stuck toward the middle of a book. Now I write out all the major plot points and make a chapter-by-chapter outline. I’m lucky my agent is editorial. She always provides great feedback on my outlines and any scene I’m stuck on. One of my closest friends is a writer too, and she and I swap pages and brainstorm all the time as well, and that’s also very helpful.

Next Up…

MR: What’s next on your writing agenda? Any new projects you can tell us about?

MG: My friend and I are working on a book for an adult audience. It’s fun and quirky and still very much in the planning stages. I also have another middle-grade idea, and we’ll see what happens. Fingers crossed.

Lightning Round!

And finally, No Mixed-Up Files interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Goldfish crackers

Most memorable World Series moment? The ball going through Buckner’s legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

Favorite Mets player, past or present? I can’t pick just one: Past would be Tom Seaver, Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza, and David Wright. The present would be Francisco Lindor.

Coffee or tea? Coffee to wake up, chamomile tea to calm down

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Nay, because I have no survival skills at all.

Superpower? The ability to go back in time

Favorite place on earth? Anywhere with my family and my cat, Goose  

You’re stranded on a desert island, with only three items in your possession. What are they? Assuming I can’t bring my family, then sunscreen, a water purifier, and a huge box of matches

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Margaret—and congratulations on Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah. I thought it was fab, and I know MUF readers will agree!

MG: I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for having me. This was so fun, and your questions really made me think!

Bio

Margaret Gurevich had wanted to be a writer since she was seven years old. Her first story was about a girl who got kidnapped in the woods, and she entered it in the second-grade writing contest. Unfortunately, her teachers thought the story was too scary, and the prize went to a girl who wrote about a talking strawberry. However, if you ask Margaret, talking strawberries are plenty scary, so she was definitely robbed! Lucky for her, she recovered from this slight and went on to write for magazines (SELF, Ladies’ Home Journal, Parents, and more) and publish novels. Her Chloe by Design series was billed as a “Project Runway for Teens,” and received praise from School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist, and Kirkus. She is also the author of books in Penguin Workshop’s Who Was series. Her middle-grade novel, Ain’t It Funny, was published by Penguin Workshop in 2024. Learn more about Margaret on her website.

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. 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. Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Facebook, and Instagram.

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So, set your clocks back, and make time to read a few of these page-turning time travel stories.

Queso, Just in Time

Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros

One night, under a moon bow, while cuddling a mysterious rabbit, Quetzalcóatl Castillo, aka Queso, makes a wish. It’s the one thing he always yearns for – to spend time with his father. Even before his dad died, it was hard for Queso to relate to him because of his struggles with PTSD after his time in Vietnam. Queso’s wish comes true; he travels back to the 1980’s and becomes pals with Pancho, his younger dad. The two bond fighting bullies, playing foosball, and discussing their dreams. Queso instills a confidence in his dad, which ultimately improves their family’s future. A relatable look at grief and memory with a spot-on middle grade humor.

Candace, the Universe, and Everything by Sherri L. Smith

Thirteen-year old Candace’s whole world changes when she opens her locker and a wild bird flies out. She discovers a purple notebook that says, These People Are Not Your Friends. This note strikes a chord with Candace – her best friends have been excluding her. The locker is a portal that  connects her to two women from other generations. Together they go birding and explore the time travel aspects of the locker. Candace learns to navigate her peer friendships and a crush too. A fascinating look at intergenerational friendships, identity and science.

First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

“In the lead-up to Y2K, a Delaware 12-year-old preparing for disaster meets a time traveler from 2199.” (Kirkus, March 5, 2024) Because Michael is from a poor family with just his mom and himself, he is extremely anxious about surviving the turn of the century. Enter Ridge, a mysterious boy who seems calm and knowledgeable. This boy turns out to be from 200 years in the future, and has a book which details what has happened over this time span. This book of answers is just what Michael needs, or so he thinks. This Newbery-winning tale of travel, found family, and friendship does not disappoint.

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

When Dally Peteharrington discovers portals to other times in the library, she is able to escape the grasp of her strict mother and her grief over her grandfather’s death. While time-hopping from the 1860’s, 1930’s, 1950’s and earlier in the 2000’s, she finds a candy stash, encounters pirates, and learns how her parents met. She also unravels some painful truths about her family’s past. While this book considers racial truths and grief, it also has an entertaining side full of adventures, surprises and a gutsy girl.

Project Mercury by Ronald L. Smith

An enemies-to-friends story set in Area 51, Nevada. Army brats Ike and Eesha pretend to get along for their parents’ sake, but actually rub each other the wrong way. The two of them investigate possible UFOs and begin to suspect that Ike’s mother is a spy. Finding an ancient radio, solving secret codes, and uncovering a glowing clock brings the two to a startling discovery – Mindy, a girl from the future. Time traveling 300 years in the future creates new challenges for now friends, Ike and Esha. Wondering if UFO’s are real and if Ike’ s mom is a spy will hook readers. The adventures and growing friendship will keep them turning the pages.

A Spoonful of Time by Flora Ahn

Food often evokes memories, but Maya is surprised to take a delicious bite of her grandmother Halmunee’s Korean patbingsu and actually be transported into the past. Maya learns that while her grandmother has the ability to go back in time, it is like a movie that she cannot enter in or change. It is easy for Maya to keep this phenomenon a secret from her mom, who thinks that Halmunee has dementia, and spends a lot of time at work.. Maya longs to know more about her absent father, and yearns for a stronger connection to her Korean heritage. Traveling back in time  reveals family secrets and surprising life lessons. The seven recipes included in the book spice up this heartwarming story.

Charlie Hernandez and the Phantom of Time by Ryan Calejo

In this fourth installment of the series, Charlie travels to 1950 Cuba to try to save the universe from evil forces. A letter from the Land of the Dead arrives from his grandmother to warn him about these dark forces and propels Charlie and his friends to travel back in time. They encounter monsters who are grounded in South American mythology. Readers will need to hang on for this action filled, entertaining read.

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