MacKids Spotlight – Page 6 – MacKids School & Library

MacKids Spotlight: Dhonielle Clayton

January 27, 2022December 19, 2023

Bestselling author, former teacher and librarian, COO of We Need Diverse Books, and owner of CAKE literary Dhonielle Clayton makes her magical middle grade debut in The Marvellers! This fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky completely redefines the genre — the Arcanum Institute is like no magic school you’ve ever visited before! This is an inclusive, global celebration of the unique magic that lives within each us. ✨

#1 New York Times bestselling–author Rick Riordan says, “The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live in this world. You can stop looking at admissions brochures for all those other schools of magic. The Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors is definitely where you want to apply.”

Dhonielle shares more about her inspiration for the story and the enchanting world of The Marvellers here! Plus, request a digital review copy of The Marvellers on NetGalley!

Read our Q&A with Dhonielle Clayton here →

MacKids Spotlight: Daniel Kraus

January 11, 2022December 19, 2023

Meet the author of the middle grade series The Teddies Saga, Daniel Kraus! Daniel shares more about his inspiration for this series, his most memorable teachers and librarians, his favorite childhood books, and more in this Q&A!

Book 2 of the Teddies Saga, They Stole Our Hearts is now available! Plus Book 1, They Thew Us Away, is now available in paperback! Five teddy bears set out on an epic journey to figure out why they were left behind—and maybe learn the meaning of life, too—in this action-packed middle grade trilogy from New York Times-bestselling author Daniel Kraus. Perfect for Five Nights at Freddy’s fans!

Read a Q&A with Daniel here →

MacKids Spotlight: Lizz Huerta

January 3, 2022December 19, 2023

Lizz Huerta is the debut author of The Lost Dreamer. A stunning YA fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica, this gripping debut introduces us to a lineage of seers defiantly resisting the shifting patriarchal state that would see them destroyed—perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir.

Lizz shares more about her inspiration for the story and her advice for young writers here! Plus, request a digital review copy of The Lost Dreamer on NetGalley!

Read our Q&A with Lizz Huerta here →

MacKids Spotlight: Julian Randall

November 22, 2021December 19, 2023

Julian Randall is the debut author of the blockbuster middle grade fantasy, Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa. The Land of Stories meets Dominican myths and legends in a new duology for fans of Tristan Strong and The Storm Runner.

Julian shares more about his inspiration for the story and his advice for young writers here! Plus, request a digital review copy of Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa on NetGalley!

Read our Q&A with Julian Randall here →

MacKids Spotlight: Aram Kim

November 1, 2021December 18, 2023

You’ve met the creators of the stunning picture book and 2021 Caldecott Medal Winner We Are Water Protectors, but now meet the designer who helped put it all together, Aram Kim! Below, Aram shares more about her role in the creation of this book and the process of how it was made!

MacKids Spotlight: Margaret Owen

October 30, 2021December 18, 2023

Read our Q&A with Margaret Owen here →

MacKids Spotlight: Jennifer Mathieu

October 1, 2021December 20, 2023

Watch a recording of Jennifer Mathieu’s classroom visit below!

Jennifer Mathieu is the author of Devoted, Afterward, The Liars of Mariposa Island, and The Truth About Alice, which won the Teen Choice Debut Author Award. Her 2017 novel, Moxie, was developed into a film by Amy Poehler for Netflix. Jennifer teaches high school English in Texas, where she lives in the Houston area with her husband and son.

Jennifer shares more about her inspiration for the story and her advice for young writers here!

Read our Q&A with Jennifer Mathieu here →

MacKids Spotlight: John Patrick Green

September 27, 2021December 18, 2023

Meet the creator of the graphic novel series InvestiGators, John Patrick Green! This laugh-out-loud sleuth series introduces two gumshoe gators Mango and Brash, the super spy duo who crack cases and catch criminals in the jaws of justice! John shares more about his inspiration for this series, his most memorable teachers and librarians, his favorite childhood books, and more here.

Read a Q&A with John Patrick Green here →

MacKids Spotlight: Adrianna Cuevas

August 20, 2021December 19, 2023

Adrianna Cuevas is the author 2021 Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez. Her new book Cuba in My Pocket tells the story of a twelve-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself, based on the author’s family history.

Adrianna shares more about her inspiration for the story and her advice for young writers here!

Read our Q&A with Adrianna Cuevas here →

MacKids Spotlight: Amber McBride

August 1, 2021December 19, 2023

This month, we’re interviewing Amber McBride, author of debut novel-in-verse Me (Moth)! The novel is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family and a teen boy who crosses her path. The book publishes this August and has just earned its first star from Booklist, who described the story as being “hauntingly romantic.”

Amber shares more about her inspiration for the story and what she hopes young readers will learn here.

Read a Q&A with Amber here →