Tucson Festival of Books

Writing a Middle Grade Novel to Engage Readers


Three debut authors of middle grade novels share their strategies for writing to engage middle grade readers, including how to find an agent and publisher.


Panelists
Violet Duncan

Violet Duncan is Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation. As an accomplished author, educator, dancer and storyteller, she has toured nationally and internationally, promoting wellness and cultural education....

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John Schu

John Schu is the author of the picture books "This Is a School" and "This Is a Story," as well as the novel in verse "Louder Than Hunger." His new book is "Ruthie Rose's Big Idea." He is also a children’s librarian at Bookelicious and a lecturer at Rutgers University....

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Kim Tomsic

Kim Tomsic was a classroom conversationalist and got in trouble (a lot!) with teachers for talking. The trouble spanned from the East Coast to the West Coast, because she was a military brat and the new girl at eight different schools....

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Books:
Buffalo Dreamer
Violet Duncan
Children
Penguin Young Readers Group
August 2024
ISBN 9780593624814
128 pages
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Louder Than Hunger
John Schu
Teen
Candlewick Press (MA)
March 2025
ISBN 9781536232523
528 pages

The Truth about 5th Grade
Kim Tomsic
Children
HarperCollins Publishers
August 2024
ISBN 9780063038714
192 pages