Middle Grade Magic
FREE VIRTUAL EVENT

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET

The Middle Grade Magic virtual event will be hosted on April 8th as originally scheduled. In response to the evolving COVID-19 health crisis, we are also exploring virtual contingencies for our near term in-person events, so we can continue to meet your needs.

Join School Library Journal for our second annual Middle Grade Magic virtual event, a day-long celebration and exploration of one of the most important areas of literature for young readers.

Attendees will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the most anticipated new titles, hear from celebrated authors, and—for the first time this year—attend librarian-led sessions on services and programming for middle graders. Attendees will also have the opportunity to check out the virtual exhibit hall, chat directly with authors, download educational resources, and receive prizes and giveaways.

Middle Grade Magic is a free, completely virtual summit—no traveling and no cost! You'll also receive a certificate of completion for the number of session hours you participate in.

We look forward to 'seeing' you on April 8, 2020. Can't make the live date? No problem! All the sessions will be archived, and the virtual environment will be accessible for up to three months.

 "A great selection of vendors and authors, all sharing a passion for providing quality middle-grade literature! I learned so much about some upcoming novels, found some great authors who hadn't been on my radar, and just got to witness the love that middle-grade authors have for their subjects."
—Emma Richey, Eckhart Public Library

Program

10:00 AM | Booths Open

11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Opening Keynote with Andrea Davis Pinkney
Andrea Davis Pinkney, Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It (Little, Brown)

11:30 AM-12:15 PM | Panel 1: Family Ties
Cyn Bermudez, The "Brothers" series (Rosen)
Ally Carter, Winterbourne Home for Vengeance and Virtue (HMH)
Leigh Dragoon, Little Witches: Magic in Concord (Oni)
J.M.M. Nuanez, Birdie and Me (Penguin)
Amanda Strong, Four Faces of the Moon (Annick)
Moderator: Ashleigh Williams, Middle Grade Editor, SLJ

12:15 PM-1:00 PM | Panel 2: Funny Books
Jessica Kim, Stand Up, Yumi Chung! (Penguin)
Yehudi Mercado, Fun Fun Fun World (Oni)
Jason Platt, Middle School Misadventures: Operation: Hat Heist! (Little, Brown)
Chad Sell, Doodleville (Random)
Moderator: Mahnaz Dar, Graphic Novel Editor, SLJ

1:00 PM-1:30 PM | Lunch Keynote with Renée Watson
Renée Watson, Ways to Make Sunshine (Bloomsbury)
Moderator: Ashleigh Williams, Middle Grade Editor, SLJ

1:30 PM-2:00 PM | Break

2:00 PM-2:45 PM | Panel 3: Fantasy, Folklore, and Reimagined Stories
Alane Adams, The Eye of Zeus (SparkPress)
Rena Barron, Maya and the Rising Dark (HMH)
Christina Soontornvat, A Wish in the Dark (Candlewick)
J. Torres, Lola: A Ghost Story (Oni)
Moderator: Anja Webb, Assistant Editor, SLJ

2:45 PM-3:15 PM | Fast Learning Session: Awesome Programs for Middle Graders
Ellene Cudd, Children's Librarian, Abilene Public Library, TX: Fandom Escape Rooms

3:15 PM-4:00 PM | Panel 4: Friends and Friendship Stories
Kat Leyh, Snapdragon (Macmillan)
Gina Loveless, The Friend Thief (Andrews McMeel)
Zanib Mian, Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet (Penguin)
Laura Shovan & Saadia Faruqi, A Place at the Table (HMH)
Beth Vrabel, The Newspaper Club (Running Press)
Moderator: Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

4:00 PM-4:30 PM | Closing Keynote with Linda Sue Park
Linda Sue Park, Prairie Lotus (HMH) 
Moderator: Vanessa Willoughby, Associate Editor, Nonfiction, SLJ 

Keynote Speakers

Linda Sue Park
Prairie Lotus (HMH)

Andrea Davis Pinkney
Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It
(Little, Brown)

Renée Watson
Ways to Make Sunshine (Bloomsbury)

Speakers

Alane Adams
The Eye of Zeus (SparkPress)

Rena Barron
Maya and the Rising Dark
(HMH)

Cyn Bermudez
The "Brothers" series (Rosen)

Ally Carter
Winterbourne Home for Vengeance and Virtue
(HMH)

Leigh Dragoon
Little Witches: Magic
in Concord
(Oni)

 Saadia Faruqi
A Place at the Table
(HMH)

Jessica Kim
Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
(Penguin)

Kat Leyh
Snapdragon
(Macmillan)

Gina Loveless
The Friend Thief
(Andrews McMeel)

Yehudi Mercado
Fun Fun Fun World
(Oni)

Zanib Mian
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet
(Penguin)

J.M.M. Nuanez
Birdie and Me
(Penguin)

Jason Platt
Middle School Misadventures:
Operation: Hat Heist!
(Little, Brown)

Chad Sell
Doodleville
(Random)

Laura Shovan
A Place at the Table
(HMH)

Christina Soontornvat
A Wish in the Dark
(Candlewick)

J. Torres
Lola: A Ghost Story
(Oni)

Sponsors