Tag: Middle School

February 12, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor

The DogEaredBookAward: Creating Readers and Celebrating Books, a guest post by Jennifer Guyor Jowett

A few years back, I was looking for a way to engage readers and put books into students’ hands that landed somewhere between enjoyment reading and the rigor of a novel unit. After playing around with some ideas, a book award seemed to offer just the right amount of dynamic interaction.

January 4, 2024 by Amanda MacGregor

Lisa Yee and Dan Santat on Friendships, Middle School, and THE MISFITS

"I think we would have been preteen pals, and had we met earlier, we could have cheered each other on through our creative insecurities."

August 4, 2023 by Amanda MacGregor

Book Review: Make a Move, Sunny Park! by Jessica Kim

I can't say enough great things about this book. A fantastic read about a cool kid doing her best to figure out middle school and the many issues that come with growing up.

More Recent Posts

Travel, Growth, and Growing Up: Ally and Amanda talk about Dan Santat’s A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

April 7, 2023 by Amanda MacGregor

TLTers Ally and Amanda shower love on Santat's new memoir and recall travel from their younger years.

Insides and Outsides, a guest post by Sashi Kaufman

October 25, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor

Everyone knows you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But everyone does it. Especially in middle school. When I was in middle school I was obsessed with my proverbial cover.

Book Review: Play Like a Girl by Misty Wilson with illustrations by David Wilson

September 26, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor

While I loved watching her play football and follow her interest despite the judgmental and at times unwelcoming atmosphere, I really loved watching her become herself. A truly fantastic look at navigating the complexities of growing up.

A Deep Dive Into Middle School, a guest post by Jessica Speer

August 3, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor

During the middle school years, kids are in different phases of development, navigating puberty, exploring their identities, and transitioning from childhood into young adulthood. To say a lot is going on would be an understatement.

Middle School Angst in the Sunshine State, a guest post by Nina Moreno

May 23, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor

So, why did I—an introverted indoor kid—write a story about a tween joining so many clubs? Because, much like Maggie, I was once determined to define myself.

Change Doesn’t Paws for Anyone: Growing Up with Katie the Catsitter, a guest post by Colleen AF Venable and Stephanie Yue

February 18, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor

Change can be cathartic! Change can be the thing that makes you grow! We wanted to create a tale that says you don’t have to choose a best friend. A story that says everyone deals with self-doubt sometimes. A story that says there’s always some gray and no real good guys and bad guys—everyone is flawed and that’s okay.