@meganhirsch
About to query my contemporary realistic MG manuscript in spring 2026! I write with the foundational belief that middle grade readers are as smart as, or smarter than, I am. Website: meganhirsch.com
See my profile for MG recs.
Kind of hard to beat.
It’s nice to be given permission to be obvious.
Right? It's so funny how mature children's books were back then. Compared to now.
Hand holding a library book. The primarily black cover shows a house built out of $1,000 dollar bills with fireworks exploding behind it. The cover says “The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.”
Worth reading for a Shirley Jackson-esque Newbery winner from the late 70s.
TITLE: The Westing Game
AUTHOR: Ellen Raskin
AGENT: (of her estate) John Silbersack at The Bent Agency
PUB: @penguinbooksusa.bsky.social 1978
#kidlit #mglit #booksky #writersky #middlegrade #bookrec #ellenraskin
👏👏👏👏
Ha- just saw your comment. Great minds think alike.
That's pretty fantastic cover art, too.
Hand holding a library book. The cover is an illustration of two school lunch trays placed across from each other. One tray has traditional American food, the other Indian food. The cover says “Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan.” The cover art is by Mark Elliott.
Worth reading for perfectly complementary dual first-person narration.
TITLE: Save Me a Seat
AUTHOR: @sarahweeks.bsky.social and Gita Varadarajan
AGENT: Holly McGhee @pippinproperties.bsky.social
PUB: David Levithan at Scholastic Press 2016
#kidlit #mglit #booksky #writersky #middlegrade #bookrec
Disgustology- what a great title!
Yeah, I went in with no expectations. There was a lot to like about this book.
Great job! Sounds intriguing.
Hand holding a library book. The bright orange cover is scribbled with algebra, geometry, and calculus math problems. Along with the title and author, it says “If you can survive a bolt of lightning, you can survive middle school…right?”
Worth reading for dialogue that snaps the characters into sharp focus.
TITLE: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
AUTHOR: @stacymcanulty.bsky.social
AGENT: Lori Kilkelly @lkliterary.bsky.social
PUB: Caroline Abbey @randomhousekids.bsky.social 2018
#kidlit #mglit #booksky #middlegrade #bookrec
These are all great tips. Thanks for sharing them!
check the # of ratings- what a good idea.
Care to share? Comp titles are tripping me up.
Maybe they were threatened by the idea of you making their airplane food palatable.
I feel so seen.
"You spend three hours choosing a font and five minutes writing the actual email."😂
Hand holding a library book. The cover is in the orange color palette and shows three young people walking in a line toward the right. Cover says “The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly.”
Worth reading for a cleverly plotted time travel story, à la @rebstead.bsky.social's When You Reach Me.
TITLE: The First State of Being
AUTHOR: @erinentrada.bsky.social
AGENT: Sara Crowe
PUB: Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow Books, 2024
#kidlit #mglit #booksky #writersky #middlegrade #bookrec
Thanks for these reminders!
The Girls of Skylark Lane by Robin Benway. Navigating relationships without a cool mean girl antagonist.
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo. Big feelings, fascinating characters.
Thanks!
Hey, thanks for the shout out! I always flip to the acknowledgments when I connect with a book. It's funny how quickly you start seeing patterns. Happy to share the info!
I wouldn't have thought to watch the videos aimed at agents. Thanks!
You get the award for Most Descriptive Alt Text!
That’s like an orchestra without a conductor.
Hand holding a library book. The cover says “Borgel by Daniel Pinkwater.”
Worth reading for a completely bonkers, creative ride. God bless your singular brain, Mr. Pinkwater.
TITLE: Borgel
AUTHOR: @danielpinkwater.bsky.social
AGENT: (current) @literaticat.bsky.social @andreabrownlit.bsky.social
PUB: @macmillanpubusa.bsky.social 1990
#mglit #booksky #middlegrade #books
And her uncle is Redd.