Please welcome my guest author, Barbara Dee. She may have never experienced serious writer’s block, as this is her fourteenth middle grade novel! Her newest book is about writer’s block, and she offers a list to help with that, Books for Aspiring Writers.
Unstuck by Barbara Dee
Barbara Dee channels middle school in this heartwarming story featuring Lyla, who wants to use her 7th grade English assignment to write the fantasy novel in her head, only to find that she’s stuck, both with writer’s block and with anxiety, and her real-life collides with her manuscript. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
We are also doing a 5 book giveaway of Unstuck. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
How about you? Have you ever tried to write a book? Are you ever plagued with writer’s block? Please share!
p.s. Here are two picture books.
Louisa Learns to Write: Louisa May Alcott Creates Little Women by Kate Hannigan, illustrated by Sophia Moore
This is cleverly told through a story structure of ten habits for becoming a writer: read, write, observe, play, explore, dream, fail, experiment, persevere, and dare. Louisa’s journey to become an author is told through quotes and an interesting narrative of her life. Aspiring writers and fans of Little Women alike will appreciate this book. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]
Writing Toward Justice: The Life and Reporting of Alice A. Dunnigan by Peggy Thomas, illustrated by Tonya Engel
“Fear is the underside of courage. The deeper your fear, the stronger your courage.” Alice A. Dunnigan
Alice Dunnigan was born to sharecroppers in Kentucky, and despite zero encouragement from her father, she got herself an education and a job as a reporter. But it didn’t stop at high school. She graduated from college. But that was just the beginning of the barriers that she broke in the field of journalism. Her reporting also became a critical voice in the battle for civil rights. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up]
10 Books For Aspiring Writers
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani
In 1967, Ariel Goldberg’s family life is upended when her older sister elopes with a young man from India. As she deals with both her parents’ intolerance and her school’s anti-Semitism, Ariel is also struggling with her writing. When a new teacher diagnoses Ariel’s dysgraphia, she finds that typing poems helps her express her feelings and find her voice. Another beautiful, meaningful book by the author of The Night Diary, which also explores the power of words. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Zoe’s letters to her incarcerated father help her to establish a bond and ultimately expose racial inequity in the criminal justice system. An inspiring, multi-layered story about family, baking, and how one kid’s words can have a real impact on the world. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi
Traveling to Pakistan to visit her grandparents, Mimi copes with feelings of dislocation by writing in her journal. The entries vary: some are heartbreaking questions to her absentee father, some are humorous complaints about her mom, and some are memories and random thoughts. What she doesn’t expect is that anyone will ever read her precious journal—and when it turns out that her father does, she wonders if her words can bring them together. Saadia Faruqi always writes with deep feelings, and this is one of her best. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Worser by Jennifer Ziegler
Awkward middle schooler William Wyatt Orser, dubbed “Worser” by his classmates, is obsessed with words. When his mom suffers a stroke and becomes nonverbal, Worser joins the Literary Club, comprised of other word-loving kids, where he shares his Masterwork, an epic word notebook. If you love words you’ll love this charming, poignant, and original book, one of my favorite middle-grade novels of the last few years. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine
This one isn’t a novel, but I can’t resist including it! Gail Carson Levine, the author of Ella Enchanted, offers tips for generating story ideas, creating characters, writing effective beginnings and endings, and more. This lively, entertaining little volume is perfect for writers of any age who need inspiration and encouragement. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
How to Build A Story… Or the Big What If by Frances O’Roark Dowell
Frances O’Roark Dowell is one of my favorite middle grade authors. Here she provides brilliant, witty, friendly advice for getting your story to the finish line. With this book and Writing Magic, writers will unleash the power of their words. ” [middle grade, ages 10 and up]
5 Book Giveaway of Unstuck by Barbara Dee
We are also doing a 5 book giveaway of Unstuck. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Barbara Dee is the author of fourteen middle grade novels including Unstuck, Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, Violets Are Blue, My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, the ALA Notable Children’s Books, the ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Barbara lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a sweet rescue hound named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York. To learn more, check out her website, and follow her on Instagram @barbaradeebooks, Twitter/X @Barbaradee2, and Threads @barbaradeebooks.
p.s. Related posts:
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2023
My 5 Mentor Children’s Books for Writing an Alphabet Picture Book
Taking a Children’s Book Writing Class
New Voices Competition #AmWriting
My First Picture Book Submission: Sumo Joe! #AmWriting
Connections Between a Picture Book Writing Class and Illustrator Exhibit
To examine any book more closely at Indiebound or Amazon, please click on image of book.
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My books:
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Free and downloadable guide:
Barbed Wire Between Us Teacher’s Guide
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I’m excited this website exists!
Sounds like a great round-up of MG novels. Veera Hiranandini is already a favorite, and I have Saadia Faruqi’s latest book on my table right now, about to be read.
My kids liked More to the Story.
My favorite middle grade character who likes to write is Bex from When Sea Becomes Sky.
I don’t currently have one.