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  • OhMG News!

    May 12, 2012: The Kids Have Voted

    Votes have been tallied for the 2012 Children’s Choice Book Awards. Winner in the 5th/6th grade category was Okay for Now, Gary Schmidt’s companion novel to his Newbery Honor-winning The Wednesday Wars. Illustrator of the year went to Brian Selznick for Wonderstruck, and author of the year went to Jeff Kinney for Cabin Fever, the latest installment in his Wimpy Kid series.

    For a complete list of the winners…

     

    May 10, 2012: Happy Children’s Book Week!

    In honor of National Children’s Book Week, award-winning author-illustrator Matt Phelan posted this delightful review of Polly Horvath’s new book on his blog… 

    For more about Children's Book Week…

     

    May 5, 2012: Oh Me, Oh May

    Check out all the new books releasing in May...

     

    May 5, 2012: Be a Fourth-Grade Somebody

    One lucky fourth-grade classroom will win a Skype visit from author Judy Blume this month. To participate, all you have to do is have your students write a sentence or two on why they like fourth grade. The contest, which ends May 15, is sponsored by School Library Journal.

    For details…

     

    May 5, 2012: Sturm und Drang for Kids

    Guardian columnist Julia Eccleshare tackles the question “Why are so many highly praised children's books gloomy?” in this April 30 article…

                            




    May 1, 2012: It’s No Mystery

    The Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery of the year was presented this past weekend to Matthew Kirby for Icefall (Scholastic, 2011). Publishers Weekly said of Kirby's Viking suspense novel, “Readers may be drawn in by the promise of action, which Kirby certainly fulfills, but they’ll be left contemplating the power of the pen versus the sword—or rather the story versus the war hammer.” 

    For more on the award…

    To read a Mixed-up Files interview with Kirby... 

     

    May 1, 2012: Crystal Clear

    Winners of the 2012 Crystal Kite Awards, the only peer-given awards in children’s publishing, were announced this week. The awards are voted on by members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Middle-grade winners include The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson and The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine.

    For a complete list of winners...

     

    April 30, 2012: Does a Pineapple Have Sleeves?

    What happens when a Daniel Pinkwater story is adapted for use in a statewide standardized test? The New York Times reports on the kerfuffle here...

     

    April 30, 2012: More than One Path to Publication

    The lines between traditional and self-publishing continue to blur as more and more traditionally published authors find ways to utilize the flexibility and freedom that self publishing offers. Author Kate Milford recently announced in Publishers Weekly that her new fantasy, The Broken Lands, which will be published by Clarion in September, will be accompanied by the release of a self-published novella, The Kairos Mechanism.

    Says Milford, "I want to experiment with self-publishing as a way to promote and enhance traditional releases by providing extra content to readers in the form of complete, related tales. I also want to use resources that support independent bookstores." As an added bonus Milford is planning a special digital edition of her self-published work that will include illustrations by 10 teen readers. 

    For more…

     

    April 14, 2012: It’s Raining, It’s Pouring!

    Check out all the new books releasing in April...

     

    April 12, 2012: The Greatest Girls 

    Jen Doll, columnist for The Atlantic Wire, talks about “The Greatest Girl Characters of Young Adult Literature” in this April 5 article, the first in a series called “Y.A. for Grownups.” Among the characters Doll mentions are a number of middle-grade favorites, including Meg Murray from A Wrinkle in Time and Claudia Kincaid of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

    For more… 

     

    April 12, 2012: Moss Aims to Pick Up Where Tricycle Left Off

    Berkeley-based children’s author and illustrator Marissa Moss, best-known for her Amelia’s Notebook series, is starting a new West Coast publishing venture called Creston Books. Says Moss, “The idea’s been percolating for years. It came to a head after Random House bought Ten Speed and threw Tricycle away.” Moss got her start with the quirky, risk-taking Tricycle Press, which published Amelia’s Notebook at a time when traditional publishers were unsure what to do with the illustrated diary format.  “New York publishing is about: what’s the next Harry Potter, what’s the next Twilight?” says Moss. “When I’ve approached people, I’ve asked, ‘What is the book you’ve been dying to do, but New York won’t do?’ I want the books that they think won’t sell—because I think they will.”

    Creston’s first books are due to release Fall 2013. In the meantime, Moss is seeking kickstarter funds to help back the project. For more…

     

    April 10, 2012: After Chrestomanci

    An online celebration of the life of British author Diana Wynne Jones (1934-2011) will kick off April 12 with a two-week blog tour. In conjunction with the tour a special blog has been set up where fans can share their favorite books, quotes, stories, characters, covers, and memories of Diana with fellow fans around the world.

    Wynne Jones was the author of dozens of popular titles, including the Chrestomanci series and Howl’s Moving Castle, which was made into an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki in 2004.

    For details…

     

    April 6, 2012: Game Over!

    The Battle of the Books has ended. And the winner is…

    I’m not telling! You’ll just have to click on over to the School Library Journal site and read Jonathan Stroud’s incredible analysis of the three finalists—Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet; Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys; and Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt.


    March 31, 2012: Hiaasen Says There’s No Fooling Kids

    Newbery-honor winning author Carl Hiaasen talks about writing for kids versus writing for adults in this March 6 School Library Journal interview. Says Hiaasen, “The idea that you're fooling kids is crazy. That's the way I've been able to connect to and go between adult and young adult books. Kids love sarcasm and the idea of bursting a grown-up's bubble. It's a question of calibrating the story to the young adult market. Once I did that with Hoot and it worked, it opened up a new and rewarding way of writing for me.”

    Hiassen’s new middle-grade book, Chomp, was released this week.

     For more…

     

    March 29, 2012: What’s the Buzz in Middle-grade Fiction?

    A panel of editors will share their predictions for this fall’s breakout titles when BookExpo America convenes June 5-7 at the Javits Center in New York City.  You don’t have to wait until June to catch the buzz, though. According to the BookExpo on-line news, titles to watch are:

    • Malcolm at Midnight by W. H. Beck (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

    • The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann (HarperCollins)

    • Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin (Little Brown)

    • Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1: Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman (Quirk)

    • With Love From Paris: Mira's Sketchbook by Marissa Moss (Sourcebooks)

    For more…


    March 26, 2012: Lindgren Winner Announced

    Dutch author Guus Kuijer has won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award given by the Swedish Arts Council to honor an author whose body of work is in the spirit of Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren. The winner receives 5 million Swedish crowns (more than $700K), making it the richest prize in the world for children’s literature. Past winners include Katherine Paterson, Sonya Hartnett, Maurice Sendak, and Shaun Tan.

    Kuijer was selected by an international jury of experts who praised his "razor-sharp realism,” “subtle humor,” and “visionary flights of fancy.” Kuijer is author of more than 30 titles, most of them for young teens. Sadly, only one of his books has appeared in English—The Book of Everything, a slim but haunting novel published by Arthur Levine Books in 2006.

     For more…

     

    March 20, 2012: No Grownups Allowed

    It’s time for kids to vote for their favorite books of the year in this year’s Children’s Choice Awards. Winners will be announced during Children’s Book Week, May 7-13, 2012. The awards are sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, which celebrates the transformative power of literacy. Kids can vote individually or librarians, teachers, and booksellers can log on to record their students’ votes.

    Finalists for the 3rd-4th grade Book of the Year are:

    • Bad Kitty Meets the Baby by Nick Bruel

    • A Funeral in the Bathroom and other School Bathroom Poems by Kalli Dakos

    • The Monstrous Book of Monsters by Libby Hamilton

    • Sidekicks by Dan Santat

    • Squish #1: Super Amoeba by Jennifer and Matthew Holm

    Finalists for 5th-6th Grade Book of the Year are:

    • Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

    • How to Survive Anything by Rachel Buchholz

    • Lost & Found by Shaun Tan

    • Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

    • Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog by Garth Stein

    For more about Children’s Book Week…

    To vote …

     



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Happy Mixed-Up Anniversary!

Jun 7, 2011
Giveaways, Holiday, Inspiration

Flickr photo by PiKm

I can’t believe it has been a whole year!

One year ago today we began our journey to celebrate and bring attention to middle-grade books. And it’s certainly been a busy year here at From the Mixed-Up Files.  We’ve interviewed 30 authors, illustrators, agents, editors, and other industry professionals.  We’ve hosted our 32-book Summer Giveaways, our 75-book Great Library Giveaway, our current 20-author Mixed-Up Middle-Grade Skype Tour giveaway, and countless other book giveaways donated by us or other middle-grade authors and publishers.  We’ve highlighted hundreds of middle-grade titles, old and new.  We’ve dabbled in technology by creating YouTube videos for the 2010 holiday season and our Skype Tour.  And we’ve sat back in awe as nearly 100,000 visitors and over 550,000 page views have been logged in the last twelve months.  It’s been a truly remarkable year.

The middle-grade book industry has been busy, too.  We’ve shared 90 news snippets in our OhMG News! column this year, and I’m certain we missed some along the way.  We’d like to think we’ve had something to do with the increased attention to middle-grade books and their authors, though I suspect it has more to do with the legions of middle-grade readers clamoring for new titles than with our efforts.

But I do applaud all past and present Mixed-Up Authors for the hard work they have put into this site.  They’ve managed to write new posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (and most Tuesdays and Thursdays, too) while maintaining their assigned sections of the site and working behind the scenes to plan new ways to get middle-grade books into the hands of our readers.  And in the process, they’ve launched 15 of their own middle-grade books into the world, contracted at least a dozen new titles, and have kept up with their other work and family life. I’m not sure how they did it all, but I am amazed at their willingness to make my vision a reality.  I am honored to call them my friends.

I also want to thank you, our dear readers.  Without you we would not be where we are today.  We’ve read every single comment (all 3,975 of them!) and each private email we’ve received, and have appreciated the outpouring of support from parents, teachers, librarians, writers, industry professionals, and those that matter most–the kids themselves.   We’ve also pondered each suggestion and have tried our best to make this site useful and informative.  Thank you for taking the time to read, comment and share our site with others.  We truly appreciate it.

And last, but certainly not least, I’d like to thank E.L. Konigsburg, who hasn’t yet called to tell us to stop making references to her Newbery-award-winning book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  Thanks, Ms. Konigsburg, for the inspiration your book has given all of us.

In honor of her, we here at From the Mixed-Up Files would like to celebrate our first anniversary by giving one of our readers a gift basket full of E.L. Konigsburg-inspired paraphernalia.  It includes three titles written by Ms. Konigsburg:

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World (hardcover)

The View from Saturday (paperback)

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (paperback)

The rest are items to keep you busy if, like Claudia and her younger brother Jamie in From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, you decide to run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (though I suppose any museum would do).  The items we’ve included are:

  • Blank journal
  • Sketch pad
  • Water colors
  • Colored pencils
  • Package of pens
  • pencils
  • pencil erasers
  • Flashlight
  • Bookmarks
  • Deck of cards
  • Jelly Belly candies
  • Hershey Almond bars
  • Crayons
  • Colored index cards
  • Mini pad and pen
  • Fashion notebook (tiny)
  • The Everything Brain Strain Book (puzzles, riddles, mind-benders)
We’ve tried to think of everything, but you’ll have to bring your own trumpet case or violin case to carry your clothes.

Please leave a comment below letting us know what you’ve enjoyed most from us this past year, or a suggestion for future posts or giveaways, and you’ll be entered to win.  You can earn extra entries by linking to this post on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, or by clicking the “follow this blog” button on the right. Don’t forget to mention each link in a separate comment so our random generator will properly add your extra entries. The winner will be chosen and announced on Tuesday, June 14, 2011.  Sorry, but we can only ship this to US/CAN residents.

Happy Anniversary, and here’s to another year of Mixed-Up fun!

Written by: Elissa Cruz on June 7, 2011.
60 Comments
Tags

60 Comments

  1. Ms. Yingling  •  Jun 7, 2011 @4:41 am

    I rely on the monthly releases feature to keep me on top of things! I’ve linked to this post at http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2011/06/last-day-of-school.html, and I am already a follower! Happy anniversary!

  2. Sheri Larsen  •  Jun 7, 2011 @7:09 am

    I can’t believe it’s been a year, either!! I remember the first few days when you all were promoting this fantastic sight. I really enjoy hearing from the MG authors as well as the scoop on new books forthcoming. For this summer, I’ll be working on my two MG stories. I’m in hopes to visit here more often. :) Thanks for all your hard work.

  3. Heather  •  Jun 7, 2011 @7:26 am

    I have loved the author interviews!! Although the most useful aspect is the constant exposure to new and sometimes overlooked older middle grade books. Our library and purchase lists have swelled due to this feature. Congrats on your anniversary! I’m already a follower and dedicated reader of the site.

  4. Jill of The O.W.L.  •  Jun 7, 2011 @7:38 am

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog. What I love most is that you cover all kinds of books for all kinds of readers including boys! I’m a teacher, so I need to hear about books for all of my students. I always find that here.

  5. Jill of The O.W.L.  •  Jun 7, 2011 @7:39 am

    I follow :)

  6. Jill of The O.W.L.  •  Jun 7, 2011 @7:41 am

    I tweeted

    http://twitter.com/#!/justkeepreading/statuses/78078944292782080

  7. Sarah Mullen Gilbert  •  Jun 7, 2011 @8:28 am

    It’s been a year?! Wow! So many wonderful interviews and book lists. Congratulations to everyone at From The Mixed Up Files and keep up the good work!

  8. Angie  •  Jun 7, 2011 @8:55 am

    I love reading about upcoming titles. This is such a great resource for our library! And the author interviews are great!

  9. Lynda Mullaly Hunt  •  Jun 7, 2011 @9:20 am

    You’ve done such a wonderful service in launching this blog. Where there are so many blogs that highlight YA, there are far fewer that shine the light upon middle grade books. And–you do it so well! This is an absolutely, over-the-top fantastic blog! Happy Anniversary and THANK YOU!!

  10. Kim  •  Jun 7, 2011 @10:48 am

    I’m with Angie–reading about upcoming titles is great. I love being able to learn more about what my kids might be interested in than the usual 1-paragraph magazine review can offer, epecially insights into the authors’ processes.

  11. Randi  •  Jun 7, 2011 @10:58 am

    I’m fairly new to your blog but am so happy to have discovered such a wonderful source of middle grade books for my son. Thanks so much!

  12. LG  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:18 am

    Since I started following you in December, I’ve read every post and have enjoyed them all immensely! I really love the ‘new and upcoming’ posts about MG books – and especially when you focus by genre (I’m a sucker for MG fantasy so when you posted specifically regarding that genre, I was elated). ALSO – Interview with Matthew Kirby (HUGE FAN). : )

  13. LG  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:20 am

    I linked on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/lgpereznowak

  14. LG  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:21 am

    And on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/LGPerezNowak

  15. LG  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:21 am

    And, of course, on my blog! http://www.lgpereznowak.com/?p=168

  16. Nicole Zoltack  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:31 am

    Just joined – wow, this looks like an awesome site!

  17. Jeff  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:34 am

    I really enjoy hearing about new MG releases each month! Thanks for doing what you do.

  18. Tameka  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:35 am

    I appreciate the depth and breadth of information you offer. I also appreciate your commitment to highlighting the multicultural titles that are out there.

    The Mixed Up Files is a phenomenal MG resource. May your second year be just as spectacular!

  19. Tameka  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:40 am

    I linked on FB:
    http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fromthemixedupfiles.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fhappy-mixed-up-anniversary%2F&h=cbb14

  20. Tameka  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:45 am

    I tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/#!/teebrownkidlit

  21. Tameka  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:46 am

    I follow. :)

  22. Mary Ann  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:55 am

    Happy Anniversary!!! You guys are awesome!

  23. Mary Ann  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:57 am

    I tweeted :-)

  24. Mary Ann  •  Jun 7, 2011 @11:59 am

    I’m following too! :D

  25. Sayantani DasGupta  •  Jun 7, 2011 @1:16 pm

    Happy Anniversary everyone!!! Such an honor to write for this site!!

  26. Katie Schneider  •  Jun 7, 2011 @1:39 pm

    Would not have discovered “The Great Wall of Lucy Wu” and the Chance Fortune books without this blog. Have sent links to posts to the librarian at my daughter’s school since the information was so great. Thanks!

  27. Katie Schneider  •  Jun 7, 2011 @1:43 pm

    Posted link on Facebook.

  28. Julianne Dillard  •  Jun 7, 2011 @2:27 pm

    Happy Mixed-Up Anniversary! I love EVERYTHING! As a mom, teacher, and writer, there are so many resources and inspirations and I gain via the site. Keep up the fabulous labor of love! Thank you!

  29. Julianne Dillard  •  Jun 7, 2011 @2:34 pm

    I follow–and happily!

  30. Julianne Dillard  •  Jun 7, 2011 @2:36 pm

    I tweeted you some anniversary affection! Wishing you many more successful years!

  31. jpetroroy  •  Jun 7, 2011 @2:49 pm

    Congrats!!

  32. jpetroroy  •  Jun 7, 2011 @2:49 pm

    I follow this blog.

  33. L  •  Jun 7, 2011 @2:54 pm

    I have really enjoyed the author interviews. and I make lists from your monthly new release posts. congrats on your anniversary.

    ~L (omphaloskepsis)

  34. Jennifer Can Quilt  •  Jun 7, 2011 @3:52 pm

    Thank you so much for your awesome contributions! I love this blog and am so happy I’ve found it– my students have benefited greatly from! your exertions.

    My favorite part of The Mixed Up Files? The new releases posts. They expose me to titles I wouldn’t otherwise have seen, which means I find more literature for my classroom library!

  35. Jennifer Can Quilt  •  Jun 7, 2011 @3:53 pm

    Also, I am already a follower, and not because of this giveaway.

  36. Linda Andersen  •  Jun 7, 2011 @5:22 pm

    Hi Mixed-Up Files Team,

    I love staying informed about Middle Grade literature. I don’t have to figure out a plan for how to do that–you do it for me. I appreciate each and every post and I’ve enjoyed entering contests and actually winning one recently. I’d continue to read and comment without the contests, but I do appreciate them too. Please enter me in this one!

    Linda A.

  37. Jenni E  •  Jun 7, 2011 @5:44 pm

    Just joined. I’ve been meaning to check out your site for awhile. I love your book lists!

  38. Jenni E  •  Jun 7, 2011 @5:59 pm

    Posted link on facebook.

  39. Margaret Nevinski  •  Jun 7, 2011 @6:03 pm

    I love Mixed-Up Files because it keeps me connected with what’s happening in middle-grade writing. And a lot is happening!

  40. Margaret Nevinski  •  Jun 7, 2011 @6:03 pm

    I follow.

  41. Margaret Nevinski  •  Jun 7, 2011 @6:08 pm

    And I linked to my blog on my website. Congratulations on your first year!

  42. Suzanne Warr  •  Jun 7, 2011 @6:15 pm

    I’m a noob to the files, but I love the sense of community! It’s great to know there’s a place just for me and my favorite kind of book, middle grades!

  43. Suzanne Warr  •  Jun 7, 2011 @6:20 pm

    I’ve also followed you guys, through the joint blog I’m a part of that’s just getting off the ground. Thanks again for all the agent interviews, too!

    http://fivecuriosities.blogspot.com/

  44. Kathryn Jankowski  •  Jun 7, 2011 @6:24 pm

    No need to enter me in the contest. I just want to congratulate you. Happy anniversary and may you have many more!

  45. PragmaticMom  •  Jun 7, 2011 @8:01 pm

    Congrats on your vision and this excellent blog! I love it!

  46. TA Demings  •  Jun 7, 2011 @9:41 pm

    What a great blog! Congrats on 1! My favorite part about this blog has been and always will be the references to one of my all-time favorite books.

  47. TA Demings  •  Jun 7, 2011 @9:43 pm

    I joined the blog…not sure what the difference is between joining and following so I decided to do both! :)

    http://tademings.blogspot.com

  48. TA Demings  •  Jun 7, 2011 @9:45 pm

    I tweeted your blog :)

    http://tademings.blogspot.com

  49. Tricia  •  Jun 8, 2011 @8:08 am

    It’s a delight and privilege to be a Mixed-Up Author! Many thanks to our intrepid leader Elissa, and here’s to another amazing year.

  50. Taffy  •  Jun 8, 2011 @8:44 am

    I can’t believe you’re only one year old! I’ve enjoyed the interviews.

  51. Patricia Cruzan  •  Jun 8, 2011 @9:42 am

    The basket looks like it’s filled with goodies. I like the books offered the best, but I’d love the candy bars. My husband loves jelly beans. You have quite a give away. Thank you for sharing with others.

  52. Deb Marshall  •  Jun 8, 2011 @3:03 pm

    You’ve grown this blog into something amazing. What a resource! So proud to be a very small part of it!

  53. Kenda  •  Jun 8, 2011 @5:13 pm

    What a treasure chest of a gift basket–but more than that, what a treasure this site is :-) Great for anyone who works with, writes for, or nurtures middle-grade kids. Thanks for your hard work putting it all together, and congratulations on a year of success! I especially like the author interviews, news snippets, and book titles. I’d miss a bunch of them if it weren’t for what I find here.

  54. ShootingStarsMag  •  Jun 10, 2011 @6:13 pm

    I would love to things about authors moving from MG to do something else, or authors who normally write adult or ya who are working on something MG…like YA author, Hannah Moskowitz.

  55. ShootingStarsMag  •  Jun 10, 2011 @6:14 pm

    i follow you via GFC!

  56. Megan Earley  •  Jun 11, 2011 @2:40 pm

    I just discovered your blog, but it’s nice to see a blog focused on MG instead of always YA.
    mearley1979 at gmail dot com

  57. Megan Earley  •  Jun 11, 2011 @2:42 pm

    I follow
    mearley1979 at gmail dot com

  58. Wehaf  •  Jun 11, 2011 @10:24 pm

    I’d love to see some posts or even a giveaway on Ellen Raskin’s work.

  59. deniz  •  Jun 12, 2011 @4:52 pm

    Happy anniversary! I enjoy the author interviews best, or the roundup of books by themes – it’s fun revisiting books I’ve loved since childhood.

  60. Cathy Stakey  •  Jun 13, 2011 @4:19 pm

    Congrats on such a successful first year! This is my “go to” site for finding great new literature, author info, and outstanding book lists for the middle grade classes that I teach! I commented earlier this year about looking for multicultural titles and am impressed at how responsive you are to your readers’ needs! Thanks and best wishes for many more successful years.

    I also posted a link to you in my blog entry for my students and tweeted congrats!
    http://kidblog.org/MrsStakeysClass/student1184/book-bloggers/