With summer reading in full swing, I’ve picked six of my favorite middle grade mysteries to share. They weren’t around when I was a kid, but discovering them as an adult was just as magical. Reading them satisfied the mystery-loving kid in me and reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. Each one is packed with clever clues, memorable characters, page-turning suspense, and the challenge of solving the mystery before the final reveal.

I hope one of these mysteries piques your interest, sparks your inner detective, and keeps you guessing until the very last page.

Happy sleuthing!

THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW by Stephanie Robinson & Jessica Haight  

Fans of classic detective stories, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and the Secret Series will devour this illustrated middle-grade adventure that follows three curious sleuths as they investigate a mysterious, old house with some hidden secrets.

Eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow is less than thrilled that her family is moving thousands of miles from civilization to the quiet country town of Ashpot, Connecticut, where she’s absolutely certain she’ll die of boredom.

As if leaving New York City and her best friend, Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad (DMS), weren’t bad enough, Fairday is stuck living in the infamous Begonia House, a creepy old Victorian with dark passageways, a gigantic dead willow tree, and a mysterious past.

Before she can even unpack, strange music coming from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a secret room, where an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a strange picture of a red-haired lady are the first in a series of clues that takes the members of the Detective Mystery Squad on an amazing adventure.

THE FRAME-UP by Wendy McLeod MacKnight

When Sargent Singer discovers that the paintings in his father’s gallery are alive, he’s pulled into a captivating world behind the frame he never knew existed.

When Sargent Singer discovers that the paintings in his father’s gallery are alive, he is pulled into a captivating world behind the frame that he never knew existed.

Filled with shady characters, devious plots, and a grand art heist, this inventive mystery-adventure celebrates art and artists and is perfect for fans of Night at the Museum and Blue Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer.

There’s one important rule at the Beaverbrook Gallery—don’t let anyone know the paintings are alive. Mona Dunn, forever frozen at thirteen when her portrait was painted by William Orpen, has just broken that rule. Luckily twelve-year-old Sargent Singer, an aspiring artist himself, is more interested in learning about the vast and intriguing world behind the frame than he is in sharing her secret.

And when Mona and Sargent suspect shady dealings are happening behind the scenes at the gallery, they set out to find the culprit. They must find a way to save the gallery—and each other—before they are lost forever.

THE TONTINE CAPER by Dianne Salerni

Clue meets Knives Out for the younger set in this twisty-turny middle grade mystery-comedy with dry humor, impeccable plotting, and fun interactive bonus content.

Eleven-year-old orphan Nico Lombardi has been unfairly indentured at a remote mountain inn for five years now.

Just as he gathers the courage to escape, the inn gets booked by the remaining members of a “tontine,” an investment scheme where a cash prize is awarded to whomever lives the longest. In other words, every guest wants access to the fortune. Preferably as soon as possible.

During their stay, a chaotic race to control the fate of the tontine takes over the normally sleepy inn. Nico watches in horror as a series of comically disastrous events unfolds—some of which might aid his escape, and some of which might get him in big trouble. Before he can even put the right clues together, three unexpected revelations change the course of everyone’s future!

Arch humor and an incredible cast of strange and calculating characters keep the pages turning in this Wes Anderson-esque mystery filled with funny mishaps and misunderstandings.

THE CASSETTE TAPE SECRET by Danielle Herzog 

Written by a lifelong educator, The Cassette Tape Secret addresses sensitive subjects with a light touch as middle-grade readers solve a mystery alongside characters who are finding their place in a world that might not easily understand them.

Thirteen-year-old Alex Bennett is used to being overlooked by his classmates. From being bullied due to his OCD, he’s learned that being invisible is the safest option. So he’s unprepared when the new girl, Ida May, requests to partner with him on a school project. And he is even more unprepared when the project she wants to work on reveals a mysterious message left on a cassette tape—one that leads the pair to a box buried in Alex’s front yard.

Soon, Alex finds himself knee-deep in a mystery he wanted no part of. Urged on by his therapist and Ida May, he’s forced to step out of his carefully created comfort zone to untangle the complicated history he and Ida May have uncovered. But the more time Alex spends with Ida May, the more he wonders if the friendship growing between them is real or if she’ll leave as soon as the mystery is solved. As he and Ida May close in on the answers they’ve been searching for, Alex begins to understand that not everything is as it seems on the surface, and that maybe he doesn’t have to hide his OCD—or himself—from the world.

THE CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB by Linda Joy Singleton

No one at school knows that Kelsy, Becca, and Leo are secretly friends. They have nothing in common―until they rescue three kittens and form a club to help animals through volunteering, spying, and solving mysteries.

Kelsey helps catch a runaway zorse (horse + zebra) with the help of the nicest and most popular girl in school, Becca. The two are walking home when they happen upon a litter of kittens trapped in a dumpster and Leo is the only person around who can help get them out. The three unlikely friends decide to work together to help solve animal crimes with their secret club.

FLIP TURNS by Catherine Arguelles

2023 Moonbeam Awards Silver Medalist (Pre-Teen Fiction – Mystery)

Thirteen-year-old Maddie just wants her classmate Lucas to leave her alone. He keeps asking her out—as if she hasn’t already said no a thousand times! Focusing on her competitive swim team, the Electric Eels, Maddie tries to ignore him, hoping he’ll stop harassing her.

But then, when someone starts sabotaging Maddie’s family-owned pool—glass on the deck, ketchup in the pool, followed by a “code brown”—Maddie worries it’s her “admirer” trying to get even. After Maddie’s parents rule the problems at the pool just harmless pranks, Maddie and her best friend, Ez, decide to investigate on their own. Could it be Lucas? And how can Maddie get him to leave her alone once and for all? The future of the Electric Eels and Maddie’s family legacy are on the line.

If you discover a new favorite, don’t forget to tell a friend and leave a review. Word of mouth is one of the best gifts you can give an author.

Enjoy!

Lisa

The post It’s a Mystery to Me appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

All about the book:

Four kids overcome challenges and form a strong friendship while trying to save their circus camp from closing in this new coming-of-age story.

Mario has been banished, to circus camp of all places, after stealing his parents’ credit card.

Luna is an aerial artist, but her body seems to have grown curvier overnight, making it harder to perform on the silks.

Ricky is destined to be a stilt-walking star, but his attention span keeps him from safely learning the basics.

Betina has a natural talent for clowning comedy, so long as no one is watching her.

When the landlord threatens to close down Camp Big Top forever, these four kids must join forces to save it. But first, they will have to build trust in each other… and in themselves.

The Background of Camp Big Top

JH: You are not only a writer, but also a certified aerial instructor and circus coach. Can you tell us what drew you to this field?

AD: Coming from a life-long desire to fly, I have always been fascinated by circus arts, thinking that the people who performed them were the epitome of “cool.” Yet for the longest time, I didn’t think I could ever be that “cool.” I was too big, and too tall, and too heavy. People said so. There was a local circus where I live. I drove two different kids I was babysitting to their classes and I still thought it was inaccessible to me. I didn’t have the time or the money. Still, I watched from the wings, secretly wishing I could do these things too until I decided that was enough. I was always going to be too big and too poor so I might as well do it anyway. Without the pressure of seeking stardom and fame (which never interested me), I learned to do “cool” things for myself with my “too” whatever body. I have come as close as I will probably get to flying and it’s great up here.

JH: How did your experience in circus training inspire Camp Big Top?

AD: A few years after joining the circus world, I was asked to teach some classes and that led to teaching regularly. Years of teaching circus camp and school programs and seeing the dynamics that take place in the circus world led to great inspiration. The circus world quickly became my home. A place where I belonged and more importantly, could be myself. This is the book I would have loved to have read as a youth and I’m so pleased I was able to write it as an adult. How could I not write about this world I know and love? The best part is that everything my characters do are things real kids can learn to do for themselves.

The Characters

JH: Camp Big Top features a diverse cast of characters who must come together to save the camp. How did you go about creating the characters?

AD: The characters were already there when I started writing this version. The initial idea was for a picture book. After a bazillion drafts and rewrites that never got sent out, I thought it would make a great chapter book series where each kid had to overcome a personal challenge (like smelly feet insecurity) and a circus challenge (performing acrobatics barefooted). I had a pretty good idea of who my characters were and what each book would be about. When my editor asked me what middle grade I was working on next, I easily adapted the chapter book series idea into a middle grade. I had been thinking about these characters so much already, that aging them to middle school age just meant maturing their desires and insecurities.

JH: To which character do you most relate?

AD: There is a part of me in each of my characters and things that each has experienced that have happened to me. In general, I would say that I relate most to Luna and Ricky. Luna’s body positivity journey is definitely something that strikes a chord though, I admit, she’s much more accepting of her curves than I am of mine. Ricky is the love-child of my neuro-divergent brain. So many of his thought-tangents are thoughts I’ve had. He’s just a lot more optimistic than I am. With all of them, it’s nice to know that my characters handle their inherited traits better than me.

JH: Did any character surprise you at any point while you were writing the book?

AD: Mario surprised me and himself all the time. He has this indifferent air to hide his insecurities but he does care and just wants to be accepted. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t mind when the dogs slobber on him: the pups love him regardless and he needed that.

Themes and Scenes

JH: Your book masterfully balances humor and serious subjects such as family relationships, economic pressures, body positivity, neurodivergence, and the sense of feeling invisible. How did you go about finding the balance between seriousness and humor?

AD: No idea! I don’t try to be funny and I certainly didn’t edit thinking that I had to add more humor. My best guess is that it’s part of how my brain works and how it popcorns and goes in random directions. I have been known to laugh out loud at something I thought of (much to the puzzlement of surrounding people). It’s nice to know that not only can I entertain myself, my humor comes across on the page as well.

JH: If you could drop yourself into one scene from the book, which would you choose—and why?

 AD: I love the dress rehearsal and the show. I think it brings back those feelings of being an outsider who has finally been allowed to be one of the “cool” kids. Being backstage and privy to all the offstage drama and happenings the audience doesn’t know or see is just as much fun as the show itself. I think it’s part of being a writer—that desire to explore and observe things from all angles.

Writing for Middle Grade Readers

JH: What draws you to writing for middle-grade readers?

 AD: I never stopped reading middle grade and young adult, and writing for children and teens has always been my desired genre. I feel it’s a world I know and understand (and remember from my childhood so therefore can relate to it better). Most books written for adults bore me so I see it unlikely that I would want to write for that audience. I like the fast pace of children’s books and the common themes—friendship, acceptance, and empowerment—are topics I’ll never grow out of.

JH: Were there any books you loved growing up that influenced your storytelling?

 AD: My early writing was definitely influenced by Babysitters’ Club, Sweet Valley, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, though I wished it was more like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. But even then, there were aspects to all those writing styles and formats that never resonated with me and I knew I wouldn’t write that way. In order to grow as a writer, I had to make my writing my own.

Writing Craft

JH: Did this book begin with a character, a plot idea, or your irresistible title?

 AD: For this book, it was definitely plot, quickly followed by characters. The title was all my agent’s idea!

JH: Were there any scenes that were especially fun—or especially difficult—to write?

 AD: I love Ricky’s introduction to the circus world and his enthusiasm for everything circus related. I likewise really felt sorry for him when things didn’t work out as he planned. Luna’s issues with her parent weren’t particularly difficult to write per se, but they did bring up feelings of resentment and judgment that were surprisingly real despite not having gone through the same arguments.

JH: How long did it take from the first spark of the idea to the finished manuscript?

AD: Hard to say. It was a multi-incarnation picture book for several years. Then it was an idea with notes for a chapter book series. Even when it became a middle grade novel, the publication date was moved back several months. During that time it felt like it was taking ages. As a middle grade book, I think it took about two and a half years

JH: What was the biggest revision you made to the story during the editing process?

AD: Probably making the circus terms and moves less circus-nerdy and more universal for a non-circus reader to understand. The reader didn’t need to know the exact position of a hand or foot to get the general gist of what was happening.

JH: What advice would you give to writers trying to write for middle-grade readers?

AD: Try to remember what it was like at that age and put yourself into the shoes of your characters. What were you feelings? How did you act? What deductions/assumptions did you falsely make? That said, it’s also important to remember that unless you’re writing a memoir, your characters aren’t you so they have to make their own mistakes and have their own character arcs.

What’s Next

JH: What projects are you currently working on?

AD: I always have several things on the go with ideas for many more. I’m excited to see what comes to play next!

————

Lightning Round: 

JH: No interview is complete without a lightning round, so here we go:

Favorite place to write:
On my sofa, in my pajamas.

Plotter or pantser?
Neither and both. There isn’t a label that describes my style.

 If you were not a writer, what might you do for a living?
Teach circus arts (oh, wait. That’s what I already do)!

Favorite musical group or artist:

It depends on my mood. Joan Jett, ABBA, Beatles, Def Leppard, Beauty and the Beast (animated version) soundtrack

Favorite fictional hero:

Cassie Logan or Charlotte Doyle

Favorite fictional villain:

Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Favorite childhood TV show:

Full House

What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

If you want to read the story, write it.

What advice would you give to other writers?

If writing is what you’re passionate about, do it regardless of what everyone else tells you.

Jo: Thanks for chatting with us, Alexandra!

The post Author Spotlight: Alexandra Diaz appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

In November of 2007, we had a terrible ice storm in my small town. Trees and power lines were decimated. We even lost our basketball goal in the driveway when a large oak limb dropped on top of it. We were without power for a week after our house was mistakenly skipped over by the out-of-town power crews on their first pass through our neighborhood, making the wait longer. My family did not appreciate the beanie weenie meal I cooked on the gas grill and ended up spending more time at a friend’s house because they had electricity while I held down the fort through the long, dark, and cold nights.

Although this was not a pleasant experience in any way, shape, or form, there was one sliver of a silver lining from the ice storm. It knocked out the streetlight at the intersection in front of our house and several up and down the street. It was dark. It was fantastic for stargazing. The night sky popped. Planets, stars, constellations, and the Milky Way jumped out in a way I had not experienced anywhere inside the city limits. I felt like a kid again from the back patio staring at the heavens hanging so bright and close that one could almost reach out and touch it. Glorious!

With the extent of the damage to higher priority areas in the city and county, it was a solid six months before the streetlights were repaired, so it was one “dark” period in my life I miss to this very day. After the streetlight came back online, the stargazing party was over, and it was back to stargazing through its light pollution.  

What does my 20-year-old ice storm experience have to do with a STEM Tuesday Writing Tips & Resources post on light pollution?

Well, maybe nothing at all and just a rambling of an old man. But, in writing, we can create so much light of a pollution-like story flow through a frenetic pace or constant action that it masks the reader’s experience. Keeping the reader in a steady Full Speed Ahead Mode makes it difficult for them to see the stars, planets, and galaxies of the story. In other words, they miss the full beauty of the reading experience because they are never offered the opportunity to step away from the bright light, allow what just happened to sink in, and prepare the brain space for what comes next.

The inverse is also possible. We can write a piece in Low Speed Mode with little addition of action or light, and the reader’s experience is masked in that constant lowkey vibe. The key is to mix and blend the levels of brightness to shine a light where needed and also reduce the light levels to allow the time and reflection necessary to keep the reader engaged.

We need to strive for those moments of awe after the streetlight goes dark and the night sky bursts in all its glory. The reader needs those times in the story when they lie on the cool grass, staring at the Big Dipper or Orion’s Belt, and feeling as if the Milky Way galaxy is just an arm’s length away. 

In my recent regular MUF post, The Book Called to Me Again, I wrote about the genius that is Gary D. Schmidt. Look, a lot happens in Gary D. Schmidt stories. Good things. Bad things. Things that make you laugh. Things that make you cry. His skill as a writer shows when he amplifies these inherently bright story light things by placing them in juxtaposition to periods of dim story light. With the bright levels temporarily dimmed, the reader can not only appreciate the good, the bad, the funny, or the emotional story point that just happened, but have the emotional and mental space to process it. 

Combatting the light pollution in my writing is something I’m constantly working on. I write from the part of my brain that is still controlled by the middle school Mike. This is a blessing and a curse. Middle-school-brained Mike offers a unique perspective for creating stories. My struggle, however, is fighting the young Mike in my head who wants to see more car chases, more explosions, and more jumping from the roof of one building to another. You know, the middle school boy stuff. 

Learn to control the light pollution in your creative work. Shine the light brightly when it needs to be shone and learn to dim, or shut it off when it’s not needed. Ebb and flow to give the reader the headspace they need to stay engaged without needing a pair of very dark sunglasses.

Happy summer writing! May you shine your creative light without creating light pollution.

Mike Hays has worked hard from a young age to be a well-rounded individual. A well-rounded, equal-opportunity sports enthusiast, that is. If they keep a score, he’ll either watch it, play it, or coach it. A molecular microbiologist by day, middle-grade author, sports coach, and general good citizen by night, he blogs about sports/life/training-related topics at www.coachhays.com and writer stuff at www.mikehaysbooks.com. Two of his science essays, The Science of Jurassic Park and Zombie Microbiology 101,  are included in the Putting the Science in Fiction collection from Writer’s Digest Books. He can be found roaming Bluesky under the guise of @mikehays64.bsky.social and @MikeHays64 on Instagram.

The O.O.L.F Files

This month on the Out Of Left Field (O.O.L.F.) Files, we

DarkSky

“Our DarkSky Approved program works with communities, manufacturers, retailers, designers, and others to evaluate and certify dark sky friendly outdoor lighting equipment, as well as dark sky friendly outdoor lighting projects.”

What is Light Pollution? via DarkSky

Light Pollution Map from the University of Colorado at Boulder

ArcGIS Online Global Artificial Sky 3D Interactive Map

https://www.arcgis.com/home/webscene/viewer.htm

John C. Wells Planetarium at James Madison University

Light Pollution: The Overuse & Misuse of Artificial Light at Night via the John C. Wells Planetarium

Astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson’s TED Talk

The problem of light pollution — and 5 ridiculously easy ways to fix it

And finally, a wink to my mother and father, who always yelled at their teenage sons for leaving “every light in the universe on when we weren’t using it” and listening to our loud, noise-polluting rock music at wall-shaking volumes.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for introducing us to the world of environmental activism at home.

“Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” by Australian rock band AC/DC from their classic 1980 album Back in Black. Note: This album may or may not have knocked a picture frame or two from the walls upstairs in our childhood home. For the record, I plead the Fifth.

The post STEM Tuesday– Light Pollution– Writing Tips and Resources appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

Use Code Switching

A subtle but powerful marker of kid dialogue is code switching. This term refers to the way people change how they talk in different groups. Put simply, if you’re an eleven-year-old, you don’t sound the same talking with your parents as you do with your friends. Adults code switch, too, though it’s often less noticeable. Kids who fit into the MG age range are stepping beyond their families for the first time, and they have the chance to make connections with people of all ages. These relationships are great opportunities to show different dimensions of your character, especially if the dialogue can show us different sides of their personality.

If your dialogue is feeling stiff, ask yourself these questions:

• How does my character’s dialogue change when they’re talking with someone their age? Someone older? Younger? Someone in their family? A stranger? Consider how much they might interrupt, not finish a sentence, enunciate, mumble, take charge, or ask more questions.
• If their dialogue doesn’t change, what does that show readers about their personality?

Avoid Writing Tiny Grownups

One of the worst things that can happen in dialogue is giving your kid character a vocabulary and way of speaking that makes them sound like an adult when it isn’t intended to be a character trait. As adults, we’re steeped in specialized language and terms like “juxtaposition” and “voluminous.” We’re more adept at using language to communicate, comfortable with the differences between “angst,” “depression,” and “discouragement.” Kids, on the other hand, simply don’t have a lot of experience wrapping things in language, much less knowing there’s a word for what they’re trying to describe or convey. This includes kids who are passionate about very niche topics as well. While they might know everything about arthropods or camshafts, they likely won’t be as fluent in talking about how their best friend moving away feels.

If you’re not sure if you’re writing a tiny grownup, here are some questions for you:

• How does my character talk about complicated topics like emotions? If what they say sounds like it could be said by a therapist, it’s likely not a good fit for your kid character.
• Does my character use technical terms, jargon, big words, or specialized language? If so, where would they have learned it? Why do they use words like this?
• If you’re still not sure, give a scene of dialogue to friend who’s not familiar with the story and ask them how old they think the characters are. If they guess incorrectly, ask them which words or phrases made them think the way they did.

Do Field Research If Needed

If you need real-world inspiration, take time to hang out in places where kids gather. Even better is to find places where there’s a mix of ages, such as libraries, schools, malls, and theaters. Listen closely and take notes on what you observe, especially when it comes to how people talk to each other, what words and tone they use, who talks more, and so on.  Reading is another great way to see how other authors have approximated the often messy, not grammatically correct way we have conversations.

It’s important to get dialogue right in middle grade. Play with the way your character talks and see what happens!

The post Sound Like a Kid: Digging into Dialogue appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

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.

Here are some activities to try with your kids now or when school is back in session to illustrate how light pollution not only blocks stars, but can upset the natural balance of our days and nights. I’ve curated this list of activities that could easily go with the books from this mont’s Stem Tuesday list. Read a book, try an activity, and enjoy the summer nights!

How Light Pollution Affects Animals

Activities

• Dark Sky: Resources for Educators
• Great Basin Observatory: Darkness Matters
• AstroEDU: Let There Be Light. . . but not too much!

Citizen Science to Reduce Light Pollution

Activities

• Globe at Night: a citizen science campaign to raise awareness about the effects of light pollution inviting people to measure the brightness of their night sky and submit their observations
• ASTROPHOTOS – Measuring Light Pollution: Make your smartphone measure the light in the night sky with this app and activity.
• Audubon Lights Out Program: Survey where you live or your school and look for ways to help reduce light pollution with the useful list of actions on this site.

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

Of course we’re delighted that our kids love to read, but sometimes it’s tough to find books that are engaging and complex without being overly mature. Our oldest is only nine, after all, and as much as I’d like to hand him some Michael Crichton, we’re still a few years out from killer dino territory. 

My wife is chief book curator in our house, so I asked her and my son (okay, I peppered them with questions on a long car ride when they couldn’t escape) about which books have been hitting the sweet spot. In honor of the summer beach read season, here are our top five picks for advanced readers on the younger end of the middle grade spectrum:

Island of Spies

by Sheila Turnage

According to my son, this book is a great pick for anyone interested in history. Island of Spies follows a group of friends investigating strange happenings on Hatteras Island, North Carolina, in 1942. It does explore some themes of war, keeping friends safe, etc., but it’s fairly balanced thematically and mostly sidesteps the gritty details of war in favor of broader ideas. 

The FunJungle series

By Stuart Gibbs

FunJungle follows Teddy Fitzroy, a middle-schooler who lives inside FunJungle — the largest zoo and theme park in America, where his parents both work. Throughout the series, Teddy and friends chase down clues and solve mysteries, usually revolving around animals in the zoo. It’s mostly lighthearted fun, but Gibbs doesn’t hold back with his prose, and advanced readers will appreciate language that feels “adult” but still reads as kid-friendly. 

Impossible Creatures

By Katherine Rundell

Impossible Creatures will appeal to young fans of fantasy without getting too deep into the social dynamics that often mark the more sprawling fantasy titles in the young adult space. It follows a duo of kids racing to save a magical world full of unique animals, and it’s the first in a series, the third of which is expected at the end of the summer.

The Treasure Hunters series

By James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

One of my son’s favorite things about this series is that it just keeps going! Currently clocking in at nine books, there’s plenty of material here to keep readers busy all summer, and while there’s some danger from pirates, rival treasure hunters, etc., it’s balanced out by plenty of humor and a general sense that the good guys always come out on top. 

The Penderwicks collection

By Jeanne Birdsall

Jeanne Birdsall is another author who never writes down to kids, so readers with a big vocabulary will appreciate the rich language in The Penderwicks. The stakes overall tend to be more grounded in these books, with themes of sibling loyalty, first crushes, and low-grade danger. The more mature concepts like the death of a parent and remarriages are handled carefully and are vague enough to advance the story without crossing into upper middle grade territory. 

It’s worth mentioning that this list is hardly exhaustive, and there are many other explorations on this topic, including a very helpful breakdown from Screenwise that dives into the topic of “Advanced Young Readers”, along with a much longer list from Brightly. 

Maybe you even have a few suggestions? Leave a few recommendations in the comments and help our community find some new favorites! 

And if you’re looking for more summer reading from The Mixed Up Files, check out this graphic novel roundup, this list of books about summer changes, some spooky summer reads, or the June 2026 new releases.

Happy reading!

The post The Sweet Spot: Summer Picks for Kids Who Read Above Their Age (But Aren’t Ready to Grow Up Quite Yet) appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

WNDMG Summer 2026 Recommendations

Summer is the perfect time to unwind and relax. This is true for parents, children, teachers, and students alike! So while we rest our minds, it’s best to try thinking outside the box and finding time to discover some unconventional and lighthearted reads. What am I referring to, you ask? Graphic novels!

This summertime post is dedicated to graphic novels, illustrated chapter books, anthologies, online magazines, and all things unexpected. The push for more illustrated middle grade reads and graphic novels is an excellent way to get our kids reading and falling in love with the stories they discover. Check out this list of upcoming (or recently released) stories! 

Descriptions are pulled directly from the books, so you’ll see why these stories will automatically draw you in.

Inbetweens

Faith Erin Hicks. First Second, Released Mar. 31

($22.99, ISBN 978-1-250-83875-9)

A new tween graphic novel by bestselling author Faith Erin Hicks. Perfect for fans of Sweet Valley Twins and Ride On!

Twin sisters Ash and Sloane are headed to animation camp―where their courage, drive, and sisterly bond will be put to the test!

Twin sisters Sloane and Ash are two peas in a pod, and they do everything together: watch movies, attend classes, and most importantly, draw! So when the summer animation classes of their dreams are about to start, they can barely contain their excitement!

Well…Ash is excited but Sloane is surprised to find she isn’t as jubilant about it, which makes no sense, since she loves art. Meanwhile, Ash discovers that just because you love something, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be good at it, and she struggles under the weight of her own expectations and those of her teacher’s. Soon, the trials of challenging classwork and new friendships drive a wedge between the twins. Can their bond survive the summer? 

Kingdom Unraveled: A Closely Knit Graphic Adventure

Mariana DiMercurio. Andrews McMeel, Coming July 28

($22.99, ISBN 978-1-5248-9888-5)

One unlikely champion. One quest to save the kingdom. Two knitting needles.

For lovers of Amulet comes a new full-color graphic novel for kids with an unlikely hero. Jo’s life is changed forever when she is made the new Champion—the person tasked with saving the Kingdom from the insidious evil that’s mysteriously taking over. She’ll have to tap into her own bravery and wisdom and start on a quest through the kingdom unlike any other!

Jo is a 70-year-old woman who lives a quiet life in her village, with just her knitting needles and nature to keep her company. But when a mystical guardian knocks on her door one day, Jo is tasked as the new Champion. With help from her snarky friend Roy—whose goals seem to suspiciously align perfectly with hers—she’ll have to do what no other champion has been able to save the Kingdom (and her family) from certain demise.

Featuring the exclusive, never-before-published ending to the popular online story, Kingdom Unraveled is an original graphic novel packed with humor and heart! 

Superpunk

Mirtes Santana and Guilherme Petreca. Oni, Released May 5

($14.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89488-076-1)

Meet Violeta! Violeta is a thirteen-year-old skateboarder and podcaster. But most importantly? She’s a PUNK! Oh, and a superhero, too. Superhero + punk = SUPERPUNK. That’s Violeta!

After discovering her grandfather’s old cassette player, Violeta decides to play a cassette tape backward. (Why? It’s pure punk rebellion, duh!) What she didn’t know was this rebellious act would grant her magical powers! Aaaaand . . . unleash monsters. A LOT of them. Violeta will need to use all her new superpowers to protect her home of Hollow Hills from the strange creatures and send them back to wherever they came from. Luckily, she’s joined by Alan, Violeta’s faithful sidekick and fellow podcaster. Together, they’ll have to find a way to put these monsters back in their place. But between homework, podcasting, and skateboarding, Violeta has a tough time managing it all. When a horde of monsters descend on her school, will this superpunk be able to save the day?

Multi-award-winning comic book artist Guilherme Petreca and TV writer Mirtes Santana bring you Superpunk, a radical adventure story about the need to rebel and act out to protect the people and things you love!

Hand-Me-Down

Damian Alexander, First Second, Coming July 28

($22.99, ISBN 978-1-250-86020-0)

From the author of the highly praised debut Other Boys comes a moving graphic memoir about the love we pass down across generations. Perfect for fans of Hey, Kiddo and Flamer.

Damian’s mother died when he was a baby, and he has lived with his grandma ever since. Now, all he has left of his mother are old photos and the stories Nanny shares with him. Nanny has a lot of stories, some about his mom and some about her own childhood growing up in foster care.

When Damian feels lonely, he imagines what life was like when his mother and grandmother were middle schoolers like him. Through memories, stories, and daydreams, he feels closer to the mother he lost and begins to see the mother he found.

Journey to Tomioka

by Laurent Galandon and Michaël Crouzat, trans. by Anne and Owen Smith

First Second, Released June 9 ($19.99, ISBN 978-1-250-40671-2)

For fans of This Was Our Pact and Hayao Miyazaki films comes a breathtaking graphic novel about siblings who risk everything to return their grandmother’s ashes to her home inside the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.

Osamu hasn’t been the same since that day. When the tsunami hit Fukushima prefecture, it killed his parents, destroyed his home, and triggered one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. Now, all Osamu has left is his grandmother, Bā-chan, and his big sister, Akiko. As he withdraws into his own world, he befriends friends yōkai―spirits only he can see.

Then, tragedy strikes again, and Bā-chan dies. Osamu and Akiko are determined to return her ashes to their family farm in Tomioka, a town within Fukushima’s forbidden zone. There, the siblings will face dangerous radiation and yōkai, both friendly and deadly―but they’re willing to risk it all to make it home.

A Fishboy Named Sashimi 

Dan Santat, Roaring Brook Press, Released Apr. 14

($14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-250-35999-5)

“From the mega-talented Dan Santat comes a hilarious and beautifully illustrated tale of friendship, adventure and mystery. Sashimi is FRESH!!!” -Dav Pilkey, creator of Dog Man and Captain Underpants

He’s funny. He’s (too) friendly. He’s… a fishboy named SASHIMI!

A new, graphic novel series from bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat.

In the town of Barnacle Bay, a creature lurks. He’s come from the ocean, in search of others like him.

To fit in with humans, Sashimi sneaks into an elementary school and pretends to be a student. But he’s clearly a fish out of water!

When Sashimi finds out the whole town is on the hunt for the Beast of Barnacle Bay—a creature who sounds a lot like Sashimi—hijinks ensue! Fortunately, with the help of a new friend and the class goldfish, Sashimi figures out a way to stay afloat.

Perfect for fans of Bad Guys, Sharkdog, and The Investigator series!

Bonus Recommendation

If reading stories isn’t your kid’s cup of tea this summer, maybe creating their own is more their speed! If so, have them try their hand at submitting work to Lit Kids Magazine – an online publication featuring creative works made by kids for kids! Lit Kids Magazine publishes four issues per year with rotating themes. The call is open for children ages 5 – 13 to submit their stories, poetry, artwork, and even photography. If you’ve got a creative youngster in your midst, nudge them to share their work and get published! Their next deadlines for submissions is August 7 and the search is on for your spooky stories!  

With so many unique finds, your summer reading list just grew a little bit longer. Which recommendation piques your interest the most? Share your graphic novel recs below or let us know which one you’ll be picking up today.

The post Thinking Outside the Box appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

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? How Light Pollution Changes Our World by Danio Miserocchi & Maciej Michno; illus. by Valentina Gottardi, and translated by Sylvia Notini

This well-documented book examines how city lights affect birds and bats, reptiles and insects – even trees and flowers. It also provides hope, sharing things cities and people can do to minimize light pollution. Back matter includes ideas for bringing back the stars (dark skies) and resources.

Saving the Night : How Light Pollution is Harming Life on Earth by Stephen Aitken

Full of fascinating photos and facts, this book examines many interactions creatures and plants have developed with light, the differing effects of various sources of light pollution on land and in our waterways, conservationists working to preserve the night, and successful projects. It includes suggestions for reducing our individual light pollution. 

Dark Matters: Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution by Joan Marie Galat

A blend of science and memoir that focuses on the environmental consequences of increasingly artificially lit night skies. She describes its impact on sea turtles, fireflies, birds, and bats and provides basic steps to address light pollution.

The World at Night: Discover the World That Wakes When You Sleep by Ben Lerwill

A browsable book broken into sections including the night sky, oceans, forests, and cities. From penguins to city rats, it explores how animals sleep, how they see at night, and the environmental and health effects of artificial light on animals, including humans.

In the Dark: The Science of What Happens at Night by Lisa Deresti Betik, illustrated by Josh Holinaty

Combining lightly comic illustrations with amazing graphics and charts, it explores the biological functions of sleep and darkness on people, animals, and plants. Did you know plants do math at night? It also examines issues caused by artificial lights on migrations, animal and plant behaviors, and the science of the night.

Follow the moon home : a tale of one idea, twenty kids, and a hundred sea turtles by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson

Informational fiction inspired by the student-initiated Lights Out for Loggerheads program in South Carolina. The story presents a model for community engagement, and back matter outlines actions appropriate for preteen environmentalists.

Some Hands-On Appreciation Of The Dark:

The Animal Adventurer’s Guide : How to Prowl For an Owl, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-Handed, by Susie Spikol  

While not dedicated to night prowling, these animal-focused activities will get kids outside at any time of the year whether light or dark.

Sky Gazing : A Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, Constellations by Meg Thacher.

This was actually a featured book a couple years ago (link) but we wanted to mention it again as a resource for sky-watchers. Each section includes activities that focus on the sky, the moon, the sun, planets, and stars and constellations.

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’s been a judge for the Cybils Awards since 2017, 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– Light Pollution– Book List appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

Christina Diaz Gonzalez

In more recent years, you may have been introduced to Christina’s English-Spanish graphic novel Invisible. This groundbreaking bilingual book debuted in 2022 to high acclaim, including three starred reviews and spots on a couple of bestseller lists. 

Well, Christina Diaz Gonzales is back with Offside (Graphix; July 7, 2026; Ages 8–12), a new English-Spanish bilingual graphic novel that is sure to delight middle grade readers. 

Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed, but not everyone is happy about this change. When tensions threaten to destroy their season, the kids must discover the only true way to win is to work together as a team. With text in English and Spanish, Offside creates a unique reading experience and puts a spotlight on Latine characters throughout. We’re excited about this new work and grateful that Christina Diaz Gonzalez carved out some time to share with us.

SK: You’ve established yourself as a prolific and successful middle grade author. Looking back to the days when you were the age of your current readers, is this what you imagined your adult life would be like? Are there dreams that have come true, dreams that you’ve abandoned, or dreams that you’re still working to achieve?

CDG: Growing up I had a “secret” dream of being an author, but I had never met a writer and didn’t think people like me or my friends could have their stories published in a book. It was for this reason that I didn’t immediately pursue a writing career… Instead I chose to study accounting and then became a lawyer (which required a very different type of writing). Eventually it was my sons who reminded me how much I loved middle grade novels and I began pursuing the dream of sharing stories from my own imagination.

SK: As a kid with a secret dream of being an author, I’d guess you were probably a reader. If so, what were some of the books you enjoyed?

CDG: I was a HUGE reader as a kid (even won a Read-a-Thon) and the book that opened my eyes to the vast array of impactful stories was Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.

SK: You established a track record of narrative prose in several genres before branching out into graphic novels. What have been the biggest challenges and greatest delights in moving to the graphic novel form? 

CDG: I love the graphic novel format (as a kid I was a big fan of the Archie Digest comic books) and it is a wonderful way to highlight different languages side-by-side (like Spanish and English) because the art can be a third “language” which adds so much to the understanding of the story. I am always delighted to see the illustrator’s interpretation of a story that solely existed in my imagination… although it can be a challenge to “let go” of my own preconceived notions of what the page might have looked like. Lucky for me my illustrators have far exceeded anything I could have imagined!

SK: Tell us about your process of collaborating with illustrator Mari Costa. How was your narrative development influenced by her visual story-telling, and what are the benefits and challenges of working with an illustrator in this format?

CDG: One of the surprising aspects of working with an illustrator on a graphic novel is that there isn’t as much collaboration as you might expect. We each bring our own imagination and creativity to the project at separate times. I create the story and write the manuscript breaking it up into suggested panels and, once that is complete, I hand it all over to the illustrator to bring it to life as they see fit. Mari Costa took my manuscript and crafted incredible characters that blew me away when I saw how she had imagined them.

SK: Offside is about a middle school soccer team going co-ed. You obviously know a lot about soccer and team dynamics. What experiences do you have as a soccer player and/or fan?

CDG: I didn’t grow up playing soccer or even being a fan of the sport, but my sons played highly competitive soccer, and I became the team mom/team manager. I saw how soccer brings people together, but I also witnessed some of the disparities within youth sports.  

SK:  This new book uses the same bilingual (English/Spanish) format as Invisible. How do you balance these two languages while developing your narrative, and why is this format important to you? 

CDG: I love how the graphic novel format allows for more bilingual narration which would be more limited in traditional prose novels. This is important because we live in a multi-cultural/multi-lingual world, and kids deserve to see themselves and their classmates featured as main characters. I try to balance the languages by being true to the characters (and their language fluency) while making sure that the English-dominant reader can understand everything that is happening in the book.

SK: Do you have a favorite character from Offside? If so, what makes this character special to you?

CDG: My favorite character is Palmer as he is named after someone I know who is also a fantastic soccer player… and an even better kid!

SK: You refer to Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot in part of this story. Can you tell us about other middle grade authors or books that you particularly enjoy right now?

CDG: There are so many books that I am loving such as James Ponti’s Sherlock Society series, Alyson Gerber’s The Liar Society series, Jen Calonita’s The Isle of Ever series, and Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista series. Hmm… I’m now seeing a pattern of reading series and yet I primarily write stand-alone books! 

SK: Do you have another idea in the pipeline right now? Any hints to what your next book might involve?

CDG: I have a new mystery/spy novel book coming in March 2027 called UNIDENTIFIED. It follows Alex, a middle schooler desperate to save his family’s struggling UFO-themed mini golf park located in Gulf Breeze, Florida. When Alex overhears a retired military colonel talking about spies in the area, he and his best friend, Nora, jump into action hoping a reward will save the park. But each clue pulls them deeper into a mystery that hits far too close to home… one that suggests Alex’s parents may be involved in a plot to wipe out all of Earth’s technology.

SK: That sounds fantastic! Christina, we so appreciate your time, and we love knowing that you are hard at work creating more books that middle grade readers will love. We’ll be sure to watch for Offside, available July 7, and we look forward to learning more about UNIDENTIFIED next year. 

If readers would like to learn more about Christina Diaz Gonzalez, her books, and her author visits, a great place to start is her website: christinagonzalez.com.  You can find her on various social media platforms as well, including Instagram and Threads: @christinadiazgonzalez; Facebook: Christina Diaz Gonzalez; and Bluesky: @christinadg.bsky.social.  

The post Christina Diaz Gonzalez Discusses Her New Book: OFFSIDE appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.

The imprint, with the goal to “[champion] bold authors across generations,” will publish children’s books from picture books through YA, as well as adult titles. The imprint will also have to-be-announced initiatives to help discover and support new writers.

The post New Kwame Alexander Imprint appeared first on From The Mixed Up Files.