Madeline Reads (and Writes!) Kid Books

When your customer IS a ghost, you recommend something right up their alley:
HOUSE SAPHIR by Marissa Meyer

#kidlit #booktok


Honest review of the book I bought, and I also read a free ARC from Feiwel & Friends & MPS.

I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s in my TBR:
I KILLED THE KING by Rebecca Mix & Andrea Hannah

also on my TBR but I haven’t read

2 Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine

Writing Tip: Always have someone else read your draft for logical consistency.

Make sure that explanations you needed didn't get cut or that details now contradict each other. And have someone else look. You already know everything. You aren't going to spot it yourself.

#kidlit #amwriting

Dual POV is always tricky.

After reviewing a friend’s query letter today, I feel it’s time for my periodic reminder:

Don’t forget to tell the agent why your book is awesome. Because it is. There’s a reason why you think THIS is the story that should be published. Don’t be afraid to share it.

#kidlit #amwriting #query

Cover of the book Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark it’s a blue background with a light skinned woman warrior plunging a sword at a light skinned wounded man.

It’s the weekend!! Finally.

What’s everyone reading?

I’ll go first: Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark - an excoriated and a soldier form an uneasy alliance to fight the demon infestations. I cannot wait to start this.

#kidlit #yalit #romantasy

ARC courtesy of @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Green bookcase with shelves with out of focus books. In front is a hand holding the book The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter. It’s a yellow book with two light skinned kids in the front. A girl in pink pointing at a boy in blue with a blue hat.

Look what I found when I snuck downstairs on my way to lunch: a romcom for older tweens just starting to think about friendships that morph into something more!

You can also kind of see some of the other great new arrivals.

#kidlit #mgnovel

You too!

Today I was at the TX capitol telling anyone who would listen about the negative economic impact on small businesses (bookstores) some of the various library censorship bills are having. Because, even bills about libraries can have unintended consequences for bookstores.

Copy of the ARC The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer in front of a bookcase full of books. Cover is a lot of blue with title in white and author name in gold.

Today was a curl up in bed and read a good book cover to cover kind of day. THE HOUSE OF SAPHIR is an amazing retelling of Bluebeard in an ingenious way. Many thanks to MPS & @fiercereads.bsky.social for the free ARCs they sent us to read & share! The book comes out in Nov.

#kidlit #yabooks

Head Full of Clouds Check out Head Full of Clouds - <b>From the award-winning author of <i>Town Is by the Sea</i> comes a beautiful and meditative story about seeing the world around you in a new way.</b><br><br>A girl w...

Mini Review: Head Full of Clouds
Join a child through her day as she sees normal things in spectacular ways.
Why Your Home Library Needs This:
- Amazing, Dramatic Artwork
- Lovely Prose
- Fantastic Story

#BookReview #ChildrensBooks #BooksForKids #kidlit

The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall. I got an ARC from the publisher and loved it and can’t wait for the release in August.

curiouscatbookshop.com/book/9780525...

Brilliant! Thank you!

NVM. It's not live. :(

Yeah, it's frustrating when the members are absent. For SB13, I was really hoping the ones I had testified before over HB1375 would be there, and naturally they were both missing.🤨

I bet the teens are AMAZING though. I'm so glad that they are being heard. I'm going to go pull up the livestream.

I love when authors post their Edelweiss because it makes it so much easier for me as an indie book buyer — but to make it even easier, mention your distributor in your post. Tracy's book is with Storytide, but I don't know off the top of my head which rep to talk to. (It's @harperkids.bsky.social)

Man. For SB13 they limited every bill to 2 hrs. Of course we were last and some people got cut off and didn’t get to testify. After being up there all day.

Good luck, Chris!! When we testified against SB13, we didn't testify until 2AM. At least with HB1375, we were done by 10. It's been a wild session.

Quick editing tip: When editing, always make sure to check for logical consistency. Sometimes elements of old obsolete drafts get left in or new details keep other details from making sense. Don't let logical inconsistencies pull your reader from the story.

#kidlit #kidliteditor

I always wholeheartedly agree.

Hand holding The Library of Unruly Treasures book by Jeanne Birdsall in front of stacks of books.

Before turning in for the evening, just enough time left for a little reading courtesy of my PRH rep and @randomhousekids.bsky.social

(I’m on ch 2 and already so invested in Gwen and her uncle and Pumpkin the dog.)

#kidlit #mgnovel #ARC

This one was really good, and the art is fantastic.

Quick writing tip: Outline at some point in the process of writing -- either before or after the first draft. This can be a great way to check your work's overall pacing.

*Today's tip inspired by last night's fantastic #kidlitchat on ... you guessed it. Pacing.

#KidLit #AmWriting #WritingTips

I have never really ever been able to read horror. I blame this book:

In a Dark, Dark Room

When the girl takes off the ribbon. You know what I'm talking about.

Or getting halfway dressed, stopping, laying out all the clothes and shoes and accessories, and then getting dressed again. It's ... something. And yet, I've done it more than once. 🤣
#kidlitchat

That sounds horrible, but I'm glad you had that outlet. And I hope things got better!!

The closest I ever came was like @andrewauseon.bsky.social where I managed to pants 50%. I then had to outline. Every time I try, my brain reaches a point where it needs to have a solid idea where the story is going. Pantsing is a cool skill. I don't get it but I'm so glad others do!
#kidlitchat

That is incredibly sweet. Thank you!!

I agree so much. And then seeing how those interweave with the plot and subplots.
I honestly don't know how pantsers do it.
#kidlitchat

Yes! I was excited to see you too! I'm the most intermittent person here, but I happened to be online tonight, and when I saw this was about pacing, I couldn't resist!