#middleGrade

Inkicaninkican
2025-06-24

"I teach middle school and my students would read the hell out of that." Parents and teachers LOVE Mesh - can you help me find the right home for this middle-grade scifi thriller?

inkican.com/mesh-middle-grade-

Two teen boys running from a towering 15-foot yellow and black construction mecha with anime-style robotic joints, sharp mandibles, pneumatic limbs, and glowing blue eyes, inside a large convention hall filled with panicked crowds.
2025-06-24

Rayleigh Mann and the Quest of Misfits (Rayleigh Mann #2) by Ciannon Smart
Release Date June 24, 2025
#Fantasy #MiddleGrade

risingshadow.net/book/67258-ra

rabbit_fighter (Brad Wright)rabbit_fighter@mastodon.world
2025-06-21

Hey, it's my book birthday! Infinity Blast and the Labyrinth of Time is out today from Reycraft Books. If you know any middle grade readers who like sci-fi and/or books with neurodivergent characters, this is the third and final book in the series. #actuallyautistic #adhd #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #middlegrade #KidsBook

benchmarkeducation.com/reycraf

The cover of Infinity Blast and the Labyrinth of Time. Infinity, Twilight, and Gabe stand in an underground tunnel. They have just discovered a mysterious suit of armor.
2025-06-15
A silhouette of a man holding a baby, touching his forehead to the infant's. The room they are in is completely shadowed and the sun is rising golden through a window behind them.
📚🎧💙BargainSleuth Books +BargainSleuth
2025-05-24
2025-05-09

I’ve been talking about my middle grade story for a while now, and I think it’s time for a bit more…

I'm so pleased to reveal the cover for Mission Aboard the Longfin! 🥳

Isn't it awesome?!

Check out my newsletter* for more about this story's creation, the blurb, and a sneak peek at the end!

sarahjhoodlet.beehiiv.com/p/al

*You will have to sign up, but it's free. You can also unsubscribe anytime (but why would you want to?). 😇

#Books #CoverReveal #IndieAuthor #MiddleGrade

The cover of my forthcoming middle grade story, Mission Aboard the Longfin.

The cover features a young boy standing on the deck of a submarine. He's facing away from the reader, staring up at a massive sea dragon, who has bright green scales, tendril-like whiskers, and dark golden eyes.

The title (in the top third of the image) and author's name (along the bottom) are in a burnt orange/yellow, block-style font.
2025-05-08

I'm publishing my first middle grade story this summer, and am curious to get other writers and readers thoughts on the price for the EBOOK format.

For reference, it's just shy of 25k words, and is 116 print pages. The print format will be $7.99.

Thanks!

#WritingCommunity #Writers #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #Author #Readers #MiddleGrade #YABooks #Poll

The Lost Keepsake

1,282 words, 7 minutes read time.

108 Moral Stories (Illustrated) for Children
Affiliate Link

The late afternoon sun dappled through the thinning leaves of the oak trees behind Ethan’s house, painting shifting patterns on the moss-covered stone wall. A cool breeze whispered down from the nearby foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, carrying the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Ethan, a boy of ten with a mop of sandy brown hair and eyes that held a perpetual spark of curiosity, was on one of his usual explorations. He loved the quiet solitude of the woods, the way nature held tiny treasures for those who looked closely enough.

Today, his keen eyes spotted something glinting amidst the tangled ivy clinging to the old wall. He carefully pulled back the vines and there it was: a delicate, heart-shaped locket. It was made of tarnished silver, its surface etched with swirling floral patterns that hinted at age. A tiny hinge allowed it to be opened, and inside, nestled against faded velvet, were two miniature photographs. One was of a young girl with serious, wide eyes, and the other showed an older woman with a kind smile etched with wrinkles. The locket felt cool and smooth in Ethan’s palm, radiating a sense of history and personal significance. A thrill of discovery, mixed with a faint unease, ran through him as he slipped it into his pocket.

The next afternoon, the usual boisterous energy was missing from their gathering spot beneath the sprawling oak. Caleb, ever the restless one, was kicking at loose acorns with unusual quietness. Sarah, typically the most composed of their small group, sat perched on a low-hanging branch, her shoulders slumped. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and a palpable sadness hung in the air around her. Billy, the youngest, sat silently beside her, his brow furrowed in concern.

“What’s wrong, Sarah?” Ethan asked, his stomach tightening with a premonition.

Sarah’s voice trembled as she spoke. “It’s my grandmother. She’s lost her locket.”

Ethan’s heart lurched. The image of the silver heart in his pocket flashed through his mind.

“Her locket?” Caleb echoed, his usual enthusiasm replaced by sympathy. “The one she always wears?”

Sarah nodded, tears welling in her eyes again. “Yes. It was her mother’s. She’s had it since she was a little girl. She wears it every single day. She’s just… lost without it.” Sarah explained that her grandmother had visited the stone wall area the previous afternoon, enjoying the last warm rays of the sun. They suspected it might have come loose and fallen off there.

A wave of guilt washed over Ethan. He could feel the weight of the locket in his pocket, a tangible representation of his secret. He mumbled something about being sorry and avoided Sarah’s gaze.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in a desultory search around the stone wall. Caleb, usually full of playful antics, was uncharacteristically focused, his brow furrowed in concentration as he peered through the undergrowth. Billy, eager to help, diligently turned over fallen leaves. Ethan participated, pretending to search, his eyes scanning the ground while his mind wrestled with the growing turmoil within him.

He kept replaying the moment of discovery, the way the locket had felt in his hand, the glimpse of the faded photographs. He thought of Sarah’s grandmother, a kind woman with a gentle smile who always had a Werther’s Original candy for him. He imagined her distress, the empty space where the locket usually rested against her chest.

That evening, the weight of his secret became unbearable. He sat on the edge of his bed, the silver locket lying heavy in his palm. He thought of the Sunday school lessons his mother had always emphasized – the importance of honesty, of treating others as you would want to be treated. He remembered a story about finding something valuable and the inner peace that came from returning it.

He considered keeping it. It was a beautiful object, a piece of history. No one had seen him find it. But the thought of Sarah’s sad eyes, the image of her grandmother’s worried face, gnawed at his conscience. He knew, deep down, what the right thing to do was.

The next morning, Ethan walked to their usual meeting spot with a knot of anxiety in his stomach. He clutched the locket tightly in his hand, its cool surface a stark contrast to his sweaty palm. Sarah was already there, her face still etched with worry. Caleb stood beside her, offering quiet words of comfort. Billy trailed behind, carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers he’d picked, a silent offering of sympathy.

Ethan took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Sarah,” he began, his voice a little shaky.

All three children turned to look at him.

He opened his hand, revealing the tarnished silver locket.

A gasp escaped Sarah’s lips. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Ethan! Where… where did you find that?”

Ethan’s cheeks flushed. He explained how he had found it nestled in the ivy by the stone wall two days earlier. He mumbled about being distracted by his exploring and not realizing its significance until Sarah had mentioned it was missing.

A wave of emotions washed over Sarah’s face – surprise, relief, and then a deep gratitude. Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of joy. She rushed towards Ethan and hugged him tightly.

“Oh, Ethan! Thank you! Thank you so much! You don’t know how much this means to my grandmother.”

Caleb clapped Ethan on the shoulder, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Wow, Ethan! You found it! I knew it had to be around there somewhere.”

Even Billy beamed, holding out his wildflowers towards Ethan as a silent gesture of appreciation.

Sarah pulled back, her eyes shining. “I have to tell her right away! She’s been so upset.” She took the locket from Ethan’s outstretched hand, her fingers tracing the delicate carvings. “She wears this every day. It’s like a part of her.”

Later that day, Ethan saw Sarah again, her face radiant. She told him how overjoyed her grandmother had been to have her locket back. The older woman had held it close to her heart, her eyes filled with tears of relief. She had insisted that Sarah bring Ethan over to thank him personally.

When Ethan went to Sarah’s house, her grandmother greeted him with a warm hug and a gentle smile. “Ethan, you are a very honest and kind young man,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “This locket… it holds so many memories. I thought it was lost forever. Thank you for bringing it back to me.” She pressed a Werther’s Original into his hand, her familiar gesture now carrying an extra layer of heartfelt gratitude.

As Ethan walked home that evening, the setting sun casting long shadows across the fields, he felt a quiet sense of peace settle within him. The initial thrill of finding the locket had been fleeting, but the feeling of doing the right thing, of returning something precious and easing someone’s worry, was a warmth that lingered. He understood then that true value wasn’t found in possessions, but in the integrity of his actions and the connections he shared with his friends and his community. The lost locket, worn close to a grandmother’s heart, had not only been found but had also revealed a deeper truth about honesty and the quiet blessings it brings.

D. Bryan King

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

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#AmericanBoy #AppalachianCulture #AppalachianSetting #characterDevelopment #childhood #childrenSFiction #childrenSLiterature #childrenSMoralStories #childrenSStory #ChristianTheme #ChristianValues #community #compassion #doingTheRightThing #elementaryStory #ethicalChoice #ethicalDecision #exploration #Faith #faithBasedFiction #familyHeirloom #forgiveness #foundObject #friendship #friendshipStory #generationalStory #grandmotherSLocket #heartwarmingStory #heirloom #honesty #importanceOfHonesty #inspiringStory #integrity #keepsake #kindness #lostAndFound #lostKeepsake #makingAmends #middleGrade #moralDilemma #moralStory #northeasternTennessee #preciousObject #ruralCommunity #ruralLife #secondChances #sentimentalItem #sentimentalValue #ShortStory #silverLocket #smallTown #SouthernSetting #stoneWall #SundaySchoolThemes #TennesseeStory #truthfulness #upliftingTale #valueOfIntegrity #woods

The Weight of Discovery.
2025-05-06

Book 18 of 2025 Minecraft: House of Horrors by Angel Luis Colón 4⭐️

#books #bookstodon #MiddleGrade

📚🎧💙BargainSleuth Books +BargainSleuth
2025-05-04
Stan Yan - kidlit GNszombicatures@mas.to
2025-05-01

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! My upcoming #middlegrade #graphicnovel has some luxurious features you'll get when you sink into the reading experience. Find out more or preorder a signed copy from @boulderbookstore at EugeniaWangComic.com.

Rep: @annmrose at @TheTobiasAgency

Baroness Book Trovebaronessbt1
2025-04-29

Hello! Here’s a new middle grade called GIGI SHIN, LIVE FROM MANHATTAN by Lyla Lee that is available now and it is the 2nd book in the Gigi Shin series!

Baroness Book Trovebaronessbt1
2025-04-21

📷📙 Book Review 📚✉️
Hello! Check out Karen’s new of FROM THE DESK OF LIZZIE LAZOWSKI by Melody J. Bremen. It is an excellent book.
baronessbooktrove.com/from-the

IndieAuthors.Social Newsindieauthornews@indieauthors.social
2025-04-14

Love This Middle Grade Classic? Try This Book Next!

Here are five new middle grade book recommendations based on your favorite classic, from a puzzle-filled mystery to fantasy adventure.
bookriot.com/comps-for-middle-

#TheKidsAreAllRight #middlegrade
@indieauthors

Stan Yan - kidlit GNszombicatures@mas.to
2025-04-10

Behold, the debut of the LONG book trailer for my upcoming #middlegrade #graphicnovel, #themanymisfortunesofeugeniawang youtu.be/cfCTAgUOPX4

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