May 1, 2010

HELP NEEDED - Middle Grade Reviewers and Blogs

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know that I'm moving towards mostly middle grade books.  I'm making this move because I love middle grade (or tween) books and because I feel they need more attention in the blogosphere :)

But I need your help! I'd like to start putting together a directory of blogs that review a lot of middle grade books - well over half their reviews are on middle grade books.  Reply below if your blog fits this description and/or if you know of any that do.  Eventually I'm planning on creating a blog or something for this list - maybe just a page on my blog.  I'm not sure yet. 

Any middle grade blog/reviewer info you can share will be greatly appriciated. 

MIDDLE GRADE AUTHORS I want your info too! If you write for this age group, let me know.  I want to make a list of author blogs/websites.  If you're on Twitter  - let me know that too, so I can follow.

I should've said this before! Middle Grade is usually considered books for ages 9-12/13 where as Young Adult is usually 13/14+.  Sorry for any confusion!

Thanks everyone! I owe ya ;)

24 comments:

  1. By Middle Grade do you mean Young adult books? Because I'd be happy to help if you mean YA books :D

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  2. I write middle grade. My first book is coming out Sept 2011.

    carolinebyline.blogspot.com

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  3. Middle grade is a bit younger than YA. Middle grade is more 9-12/13 and YA is more 13/14+. Hope that helps.

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  4. I don't know if it helps, but ... we have lots of middle grade books on our website and we have purposely used "middle grade" and "middle grade reader" to help people find them.

    http://thereadingtub.com

    I do review them on the blog, too, but more as a periodic feature.

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  5. I think I count, at this point in my blog life!

    (Ms. Yingling reviews lots of mg too)

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  6. It's so important to draw attention to MG reading, and attract reluctant readers to it, especially boys.

    I grew up as a reluctant reader, in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that avid boy readers and girls enjoy just as much.

    My blog, Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com is dedicated to drawing attention to the importance of reading. And my new book, Lost Island Smugglers - first in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series - is coming out in July-August. Contracts are also signed for Captain Jack's Treasure and River Rampage.

    Max Elliot Anderson
    PS. My first 7 books are going to be republished by Comfort Publishing later in 2010

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  7. I am a mid grade author-unpublished so far. I am so glad you are doing this because I agree with you. There are not enough mid grade book blogs out there.
    Charlotte's library--http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/ publishes mid grade and YA fantasy reviews. I think I've seen you on her blog. I'm looking forward to your list.

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  8. I do more YA books on my blog, but Michelle Houts had an MG book, The Beef Princess of Practical County, published last year.

    Her website is -- http://michellehouts.com/
    And her blog is -- http://michellehouts.com/wordpress/

    Hope that helps!

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  9. My suggestions:
    http://betterwithbooks.blogspot.com/
    http://www.thesweetbookshelf.com/
    http://libridilectio.blogspot.com/

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  10. Me, my blog does. Middle grades mostly. I would love to be included!

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  11. Hey love, just wanted to let you know that I have an award for you!

    http://lillybook.blogspot.com/2010/05/prolific-blogger-award.html

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  12. I do review quite a few middle grade books. Not every review is middle grade, but I'm actually requesting that I review more. Because truly...I find them so enjoyable! I would love to be included! THank you!

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  13. I'm so glad you're gathering a list of MG reviewers! Especially since middle-schoolers are probably more likely to accept adult recommendations than high-school students, it's useful for teacher and librarian types to have these sites on hand. I hope I get to see it!
    Have you asked for suggestions on Twitter?

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  14. I normally just lurk here but I had to pipe up and say that I think it's wonderful that you're bringing some attention to MG. Sometimes it seems like everyone in the blogosphere is only talking about YA, but I love MG too (both reading and writing it).

    And since you asked for authors, my first two novels (one out last year, one coming in a few weeks) are MG fantasy. My website is http://www.devafagan.com and I am on twitter (devafagan).

    Some other MG authors (some write YA or PB too) whose blogs I follow (and most have twitter links on their websites):

    http://www.erindionne.com (MODELS DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES, THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET)
    http://www.rj-anderson.com (FAERY REBELS: SPELL HUNTER)
    http://www.kurtisscaletta.com (MUDVILLE, MAMBA POINT)
    http://www.stephanieburgis.com (A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK, coming next spring)
    http://www.ellenbooraem.com (THE UNNAMEABLES)
    http://www.gracelin.com (WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON)
    http://www.sarahprineas.com (THE MAGIC THIEF series)
    http://www.lainitaylor.com (BLACKBRINGER)
    http://www.cynthialord.com (RULES)
    http://www.cynthealiu.com (PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE)

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  15. My fifth and sixth grade students started their own blog and do book review on Middle Grades books. The blog address is http://thecardinalsledge.blogspot.com
    On a personal note, I appreciate you generating a list of these blogs because it is very difficult to find reviews for this particular age group.

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  16. It's right around those middle grade years that boys especially turn their attention from books to other forms of visual entertainment such as video games. If you can find a copy of Polar Bear, Alpha, by Jeremy Koontz, it offers a format of fiction that middle grade boys might find appealing. The website for the book is www.iamaprisoner.com.

    I look forward to seeing what you put together for the MG reader population!

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  17. Please add my site to your list (www.AnnetteLaing.com) Thanks!

    Annette Laing

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  18. You can add my blog to your list. I am 10 and I review MG and YA.

    Melina

    http://readingvacation.blogspot.com/

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  19. I write middle grade mysteries. My debut novel Dead Frog on the Porch came out last fall (Gumboot Books 2009). The second in the Megabyte Mystery series Dead Bird through the Cat Door will be out this fall.

    Middle grade rocks!

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  20. Hi! I'm a middle grade author with my debut coming out next year: POSSUM SUMMER. Can you add me to your author list? I tweet and have a blog, too! Thanks!

    xoxo

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  21. I post to www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com twice a week (to be available on Tues. and Wed.)
    for student readers, parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians.
    As a retired elementary teacher, I enjoy using my education skills, plus my art and writing in these serialized chapter books.
    I currently have audiences in twenty countries including the USA.
    Thank you for the interest and encouragement.

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  22. We have published two middle grade novels, Broomsticks by Sean McHugh and Katie McHugh Parker and Halloween Kentucky Style by Charles Suddeth. They both have blog sites and we are currently attempting to book them on blog tours. I am sure they would love to be listed. We are also looking to publish more middle grade novels.

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  23. Hi there! I just started a blog on middle grade literature. I teach 6th grade and one of my summer goals is to get caught up on what's been published in recent years (and some of my old loves from when I was that age!). www.misswrenn.blogspot.com

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  24. Hi Jill,
    I write a middle grade mystery series called THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB: SECRET OF THE SKELETON KEY (August 2011, Egmont.) The next one will be out in July. The book is for 8-12 year olds and offers codes to solve in every chapter. I usually give out Evidence Bags with code-breaking goodies inside when I speak and sign books at schools.
    -Penny Warner www.pennywarner.com, www.codebustersclub.com

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