Those who know me even a little, know that I am positively NUTTY about good middle grade fiction. Nuttier than a squirrel stuffing her little cheeks full of acorns.
Category: Book Reviews – Middle Grade
Examining the Personality Traits of Memorable Characters
Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Charlotte, Wilbur, and Fern. Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, and Christopher Robin. If you read and/or write kidlit, I’m sure you know these well-loved characters and the phenomenally popular books they inhabit. So how do we create characters as memorable as these?
ATLAS of DOGS: Explore the PAW-SOME World of Pooches
The ATLAS OF DOGS introduces 150 paw-some pooches in the geographic region from which they hail with engaging, kid-friendly language and vibrant, personality-packed illustrations. Though the reading level is tagged at grades 1-3, this is an atlas an entire family of dog lovers can enjoy!
Before We Turn the Page: The 2022 Writers’ Rumpus Year in Review
2022 brought a marvelous array of posts to inspire, inform, teach, and delight Writers’ Rumpus readers, but don’t fret if you missed one here or there. Each December, it’s my honor to highlight one post from each of our talented contributors with an image, a link, and a brief summary. So kick back with your favorite beverage and cuddly blanket while you peruse the 2022 Writers’ Rumpus Review.
Kidlit Interview with Amy Makechnie
As a homeschooling mama of three young kids, the opportunity to read for myself is precious! When I found myself devouring an entire book (Ten Thousand Tries) in a single day, I needed to hear more from the magician who had crafted this truly un-put-downable book with resonating characters. Slight spoiler alert: I definitely cried at the end.
The Differences Between PLOT and THEME … and How They Intertwine
I’m certain that most book writers are intimately familiar with how difficult it can be to write a PLOT that engages readers from the first sentence to the last. But determining, developing, and maintaining the THEME (singular or plural) of your book demands a considerable amount of effort, too.
Interview with Book Reviewer and Podcaster…..E Train!
All ABOARRRD…the E Train is leaving the station!!! This is a ride you will want to hop on, as I talk today with eleven-year-old podcast
INSTANT KARMA by Marissa Meyer: Is it love, hate, or … fate?
Perfectionist and overachiever Prudence Daniels casts judgment on those around her and finds most people seriously lacking. High on her list of disappointments is her lab partner Quint Erickson, who waltzes in late for their end-of-year presentation.
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good
“Can a trip to Midgard help a bad god grow a conscience?” Louie Stowell Loki savors being the god of mischief and chaos. Odin, the
How NOT to become a published author
There are many useful books and posts to help you get your completed manuscript published, but if you’re bound and determined NOT to become a published author, avoid them like the plague. Instead, here are 10 quick and easy tips to help you remain safely unpublished.
The Kitchen Pantry Scientist Math for Kids: An Interview with Rebecca Rapoport and Allanna Chung
Math for Kids does indeed include a wide range of fun and interesting math activities for children, but it pairs each activity with a brief biography of the mathematician who inspired that activity. Reminiscent of biographical anthologies such as Bygone Badass Broads and She the People, this book gives kids a peek into the intriguing and complicated lives of mathematicians.
THE PEAR AFFAIR
A crafty, light-hearted Middle-Grade caper! Walker Books, a division of Candlewick Press, released the first US edition of this international adventure in April 2022. I
Something Spooky Comes Our Way: Nancy Tandon Talks About Her New MG Novel, THE GHOST OF SPRUCE POINT
It’s my pleasure to welcome author Nancy Tandon back to Writers’ Rumpus to discuss her second middle grade novel, GHOST OF SPRUCE POINT. If you missed our interview on Nancy’s poignant debut novel, THE WAY I SAY IT, click here. By the title alone, we can tell something spooky comes our way in Nancy’s newest book, published by Aladdin and available on 8/2/22.
Dragonfly Eyes by Cao Wenxuan Plus a Double Giveaway!
My trip to Shanghai, China fifteen years ago is one that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I spent two amazing
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