This category comprises realistic fiction for pre-teen readers ranging in age from 8 to 12 with protagonists who are around the same age as the reader.
Discover adventure stories, coming of age tales, historical fiction, humorous narratives, mysteries, and sports stories … all set in the real world. There are no fantastical elements, no graphic or gratuitous sex or violence, or an abundance of bad language, either.
CATEGORY CHAIR: MELISSA FOX
Sometimes Melissa thinks about the phrase “times and seasons”… there was a time, years ago, when she was reading Kidlit because that’s what her kids were reading and she wanted to be an involved parent. But, since all of her children are adults now, Melissa has found that it’s now the season for reading kids’ books because they’re enjoyable. Read Melissa’s full bio here.
ROUND 1
Anne Wilson
blogs at the Mount Prospect Public Library
Emily Cook
History Book by Book, website
Gabrielle Plastnik
@gplastrik.bsky.social on Bluesky Social
Jillian Denning
Jillian Librarian on Substack
Stacy Putman
@stacybuckeye on Instagram
ROUND 2
Matt Esenwine
Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme, blog
Melissa Fox
The Book Nut, blog
Check out all the EMG Fiction books our judges are reading.
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