Archives de catégorie : Middle Grade

A DAY AT THE BEACH de Gary D. Schmidt et Ron Koertge

Short, easily digestible chapters that entertain and pack an emotional punch.

A DAY AT THE BEACH
by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge
Clarion Books, April 2025

From two-time Newbery Honoree Gary D. Schmidt and two-time PEN Award Winner Ron Koertge comes a moving and often laugh-out-loud funny middle grade novel about family, friendship, and belonging, told by a group of kids whose lives intersect one day at the beach.These thoughtful and funny vignettes brilliantly weave together an irresistible tale of tween relationships and connections.

Gary D. Schmidtis the bestselling author of The Labors of Hercules Beal; Just Like That; National Book Award finalist Okay for Now; and more.

Ron Koertgeis a two-time winner of the PEN Award and author of many acclaimed novels for young people.

MEAN MARGARET de Tor Seidler, illustré par Jon Agee

Unconditional kindness is the key in this National Book Award Finalist from the author of The Wainscott Weasel about nontraditional families, adoption, love—and a little peace and quiet.

MEAN MARGARET
by Tor Seidler & illustrated by Jon Agee
HarperCollins, 1997
(via Gillian MacKenzie Agency)

Margaret is a mean, cranky human toddler from a family of nine. She is such a pain that her beleaguered parents chuck her out, and she’s on her own, grousing and grumping until two caring woodchucks, Phoebe and Fred, take Margaret in as their own. But despite their love, Margaret continues to wreak havoc with her loud, destructive ways, ruining the burrow and shrieking nonstop. Soon the woodchucks are as beleaguered as Margaret’s human parents were, but because love is more powerful than temper tantrums, they are determined to make it work. So they enlist a little unconventional help, and with the guidance of a snake, bats, and a skunk, their feral little human just might realize there’s more to life than being mean.

Tor Seidler is the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen children’s books, including Firstborn, The Wainscott Weasel, A Rat’s Tale, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Gully’s Travels, and most notably MEAN MARGARET, which was a National Book Award Finalist. He lives in New York.

Jon Agee is the illustrator of a large collection of children’s picture books, such as Little Santa, The Other Side of Town, Nothing, and most notably the National Book Award–nominated MEAN MARGARET. He lives in San Francisco with his wife.

EARTH… EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY d’Amy Brown, illustré par Kennedy Tarrell

A hilarious and heartfelt graphic novel for middle grade readers that hits on the theme of being “other” through the lens of aliens.

EARTH… EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY
by Amy Brown & illustrated by Kennedy Tarrell
Aladdin, Fall 2025
(via Gillian MacKenzie Agency)

Io has spent her whole life on Planet Meow. After much begging, Io finally convinces her mom to let her visit her dad—who lives on Earth—every other Wednesday. There’s just one space-time problem. A “Wednesday” on her planet is a whole YEAR on Earth!

Amy Brown is a screenwriter who has written for Peacock, Disney, PBS and Hulu, and has written international YA series Find Me in Paris  for Hulu, acquired by Nickelodeon UK and Disney.

Kennedy Tarrell is a Los Angeles-based story artist, illustrator, writer, and comic-maker. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Tarrell is currently working as a Story Artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and has also done work for Netflix, DreamWorks TV, and Warner Bros on both feature and TV projects.

THE DEADLIEST! d’Eleanor Spice Rice, illustré par Max Temescu

A series by a funny, expert scientist.

THE DEADLIEST!
by Eleanor Spicer Rice PhD & illustrated by Max Temescu
Norton Young Readers, 2025
(via Gillian MacKenzie Agency)

The Deadliest Spider & The Deadliest Big Cats – Winter 2025

Snake & Flower – Summer 2025

Insects & Sea Creatures – Fall 2025

A humorous STEM graphic novel series for ages 6-9, starring comedic line-ups of deadly (and not-so-deadly) species, each vying for the title of *the* deadliest, as if in a talent contest, while offering scientific facts throughout.

Dr. Eleanor Rice is a celebrated entomologist and author whose books include the nonfiction series Your Hidden Life (Candlewick) and upcoming picture book, After the Rain (Candlewick).

Max Temescu is an illustrator and designer currently based in Baltimore, by way of Philly, New York, St. Louis, and some other places. He loves drawing stories centered on the outdoors, climate justice, careful observation, research, and animals. He has also worked as a book and greeting card designer.

RIVER OF SPIRITS de Shana Targosz

In her beautifully written and fiercely imaginative middle-grade novel, debut author Shana Targosz delivers an utterly original take on Greek mythology that’s a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and an incredibly nuanced portrayal of grief for a younger audience.

RIVER OF SPIRITS
(THE UNDERWILD, Book 1)
by Shana Targosz
Simon & Schuster, Spring 2025
(via Writers House)

Senka lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead. As ward to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, Senka assists Charon in ferrying recently departed souls across the river and into their afterlife. Although Charon has mentored her, and messenger-raven and tutor Mortimer has taught Senka a bit about the realm of the Living, there’s so much about the Underworld Charon has been keeping from her. Senka knows Charon forbids her from straying too far from their home (it’s Rule number five in the Rules for Ferryers, after all), and though she doesn’t understand why, she listens—there is nothing she wants more than to prove she can be a model Ferryer.

When a young boy’s soul gets yanked away by the river’s current, and when the boy’s living sister, Poppy, arrives in the Underworld and pleads for Senka’s help to find him, Senka is literally dragged downriver, far from everything she’s ever known. Lost in the Underworld, Senka and Poppy encounter malevolent spirits of lore and eccentric ghosts—and not all are willing to let souls slip through their grasp.

But the Living can’t stay in the realm of the Dead for long, and there are only three days until Poppy’s soul will also become lost to the Underworld. Senka must utilize everything she has learned in order to save Poppy from a fate worse than death. As Poppy and Senka dodge angry demigods, hungry wraiths, tricksy shape-shifters, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka gets closer and closer to learning the truth of her own past. Soon, Senka won’t just need to save Poppy’s life—she’ll also need to save her own. . .

Shana Targosz is an Oregon Literary Fellow and the recipient of the Edna L. Holmes Fellowship for Young Readers. An alumni of Author Mentor Match (#AMM), she is a former Pitch Wars mentor and current AMM mentor, and has been a guest host on Grace Lin’s #kidlitwomen podcast.