Hi, Alexis! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m Alex, I’m an author-illustrator from Miami now living in my hometown’s doppelgänger, Los Angeles. In addition to being an author, I also work in publishing as my day job. I really love books that much. My other hobbies include baking, cooking, sewing, crafting, and video games. I have two cats that I will show you pictures of if we ever meet in person.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’m not sure I ever discovered it, it was always just there. I wrote stories on the shared family PC and changed the font to Wingdings so no one could read it when I was like five years old. I was always drawing pictures and making up stories as early as I can remember. I was severely dyslexic as a child, I had a lot of difficulty reading, and yet I still loved books. I would collect Dear America and Beverly Cleary books despite not being able to read them. Something in me just always loved stories.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Velveteen Rabbit
• The one that made you want to become an author: Can I answer Meg Cabot? Just, everything Meg Cabot. I wanted to be Meg Cabot.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Tuck Everlasting made me a life-long reader, I’ll never forget that.

Your latest novel, Lemons and Lies, is out September 16^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Fake dating, family drama, and food!

What can readers expect?

Although the plot of this book does not center around food, there are still enough descriptions of delicious sounding food to make you very hungry while reading. I feel like I have to open with that warning first. Beside that, it’s about Valeria, who is faced with the possibility of failing her senior year of high school with no one to turn to. She ends up ensnaring Gage, her brother’s academic rival, in a tutoring for fake dating exchange that benefits them both. But just as Valeria is getting her academic life back on track (with a surprise romantic bonus on the side) her personal life implodes. Her complicated family dynamics grow more complicated and she still needs to pass Algebra II.

Where did the inspiration for Lemons and Lies come from?

I sold Guava and Grudges as a two-book deal, and for a long time I thought the second book would be about Sofía, Ana Maria’s sister. But when I wrote the last few chapters of Guava and Grudges, Valeria jumped off the page at me. She seemed so cool and interesting and I knew by the end that the next book had to be about her. Sorry Sofía!!!!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

This book was fun because I already had the whole world developed. I was just playing in the sand box of Port Murphy with characters I already love, but this time I got to write them from the perspective of Valeria. What does this town and what do these people look like to her? It was fun exploring the different sides of characters I already knew so well.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Oh, yes. Time. There simply wasn’t enough of it. I have a day job, I started wedding planning, I had another project land on my plate, and there simply wasn’t enough time for it all. If I could go back, I would definitely do some things differently. But overcoming the stress of not having the time I wanted was just trusting that I knew the story I wanted to tell. Every time I write a book I’m convinced that I actually haven’t written a book at all, what I did was just string together words to create utter slop. That fear holds me back a lot, but I didn’t have the luxury of time to wallow in it for this book. I had to push through and trust that I was doing the right thing.

What’s next for you?

Next up I have something a little different from my previous books: a speculative mystery about a girl who travels to the past and has to unravel a family mystery in order to return home. It takes place in 1895 in Cuba, just as the final war of independence against Spain is about to kick off, in a house far from civilization where things are not quite right. It’s about legacy, families, and the terrible power of love. A Missing Frame of Time comes out in Spring 2027 from Bloomsbury!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

Sharon Shinn is releasing a new book in the Twelve Houses series this September and I’m so excited. That series is one of my top favorites of all time and I cannot wait to go back to that world. Along the same vein, Kristen Britain is releasing the next book in the Green Rider series this September, a series I have cried in a grocery store over. I also cried in my then-boyfriend, now husband’s apartment while he was working when I finished the fifth book in the series. It was the first time he saw me cry and he had no idea what to do because I was sobbing in his bed about a book. If you love being tormented, I can’t recommend this series enough.

Some of my favorite reads from this year include: The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor, The Floating World by Axie Oh, The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson, and When Devils Sing by Xan Kur.

ABOUT
ALEXIS CASTELLANOS was born and raised in Florida, where she enjoyed sunny days, dramatic thunderstorms, and delicious Cuban food. After graduating from college, she moved to New York City and worked as a scenic artist, bringing theatrical sets to life with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of ingenuity. She currently works as a graphic designer by day and spends her nights dreaming up stories. She is the author of the graphic novel Isla to Island and YA novel Guava and Grudges. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and two cats. Connect with her on Instagram and TikTokv @alexisc_art and on her website, alexiscastellanos.com.

Will you be picking up Lemons and Lies? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Alexis Castellanos, Author of ‘Lemons and Lies’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Guava and Grudges by Alexis Castellanos, which is out September 3rd 2024.

Ana Maria Ybarra dreams of becoming a world-famous pastry chef, but dreams have a cost. Her family can barely keep the family business running, let alone pay for culinary school. Ana Maria helps out at the family bakery, Café Y Mas, whenever she can, but they are struggling while the rival Cuban bakery across the street, Morales Bakery, is doing better than ever with their Instagram famous desserts. Ana Maria’s only hope is winning a recipe competition, which has a grand prize big enough to pay for culinary school. But then the ultimate distraction shows up in her small town: Miguel, a boy she spent one magical day with six months ago, and who she never thought she’d see again. Ana Maria thinks maybe fate has brought them together again for a reason– until she learns the horrible truth that Miguel is a Morales.

A Ybarra cannot be associated with a Morales-let alone fall for one. But when Miguel offers to help Ana Maria with the competition, she is so desperate to win she can’t turn him down. All she needs to do is keep Miguel at arm’s length and keep their deal a secret from their families. After all, teaming up with Miguel is just business, nothing more…right?

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The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Guava and Grudges’ by Alexis Castellanos appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s that time of year again where your TBR is grumpily glaring at you because you haven’t finished even half of the books on your shelves that you wanted to get to this year and still you somehow dare to order even more books?! Well, let us assuage that TBR guilt by—hah, not helping you read the books on your shelves, that would be way too productive—showing you all the middle grade releases of 2022 that are just waiting for you!

JANUARY

Dream, Annie, Dream by Waka T. Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this empowering deconstruction of the so-called American Dream, a twelve-year-old Japanese American girl named Annie Inoue grapples with, and ultimately rises above, the racism and trials of middle school she experiences while chasing her dreams.

The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters
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Following a 12-year-old neurodivergent orphan with an eidetic memory and zero filter, The Unforgettable Logan Foster is filled with superheroes, supervillains and epic showdowns between good an devil which show that sometimes, all it takes to be a hero is to just be yourself.

Dear Student by Elly Swartz
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When Autumn becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper she is faced with a dilemma–can she give fair advice to everyone, including her friends, while keeping her identity a secret?

The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson
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Exploring poverty, racism, and the power of education through the eyes of a kid who dreams of brighter days, The Lucky Ones will resonate with fans of Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch, Linda Sue Park’s A Single Shard, and Lesa Cline-Ransome’s Finding Langston.

Riley’s Ghost by John David Anderson
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From the beloved author of Posted and Ms. Bixby’s Last Day comes a stunning and unforgettable upper-middle-grade ghost story about the struggles of surviving middle school. When Riley Flynn finds herself caught up in a nightmare of ghosts, she’s put to the test and has to attempt to survive the darkest shadows in her life and reckon with a haunted past.

FEBRUARY

Each of Us a Universe by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo
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From Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo comes a heartfelt middle grade filled with glowing friendship, inner strength and the impossible becoming possible, following two girls who go on an adventure to the top of Mt. Meteorite, and learn about each other, themselves, and the magic friendship can bring, perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Barbara O’Connor.

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
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Witchlings follows a 12-year-old witch who is sorted into a coven of unwanted spare witches with her bully and the new witch in town; they must now band together to defeat the fearsome Nightbeast or risk being turned into a trio of toads. This magical adventure about earning your full powers is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers.

Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston
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The long-awaited sequel to the New York Times bestseller Amari and the Night Brothers!
Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this magical second book in the New York Times and Indie bestselling Supernatural Investigations trilogy—perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor.

Unseen Magic by Emily Lloyd Jones
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The magic-infused town of Aldermere is the first place eleven-year-old Fin has ever felt safe—and she’ll do whatever it takes to save her home when she accidentally unleashes a shadow self who wreaks havoc everywhere she goes. Emily Lloyd-Jones’s middle grade debut is an enchanting exploration of self discovery and finding the place you truly belong. 

Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier
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Fifth grader Jillian will do anything to blend in. But after a bully says she can never be a winner, she sets out to win her school’s biggest battle of wits. Unfortunately, breaking out of her shell is easier said than done. Jillian has less than a month to overcome a lifetime of shyness and summon the courage to speak up for herself—or lose her only chance to win.

MARCH

Where the Sky Lives by Margaret Dilloway
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From the author of Five Things About Ava Andrews comes a new middle grade standalone novel with STEM and activism themes. When the private preserve adjacent to Zion National Park is sold, Tuesday’s park archeologist mother tells her they’re moving, and twelve-year-old Tuesday’s search for closure may lead to unexpected answers.

Kelcie Murphy and the Academy of the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis
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Brimming with Celtic mythology, action, and danger, Erika Lewis’s Kelcie Murphy and The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts introduces readers to a new kind of magical school and a warrior who must choose with which side of an epic battle her destiny will lie.

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
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This stunning wordless graphic novel follows a young girl in the 1960s who immigrates from Cuba to the United States and must redefine what home means to her.

Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass
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Rain Reign meets Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World in this heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons.

Wingbearer by Marjorie Liu, illustrated by Teny Issakhanian
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From bestselling author Marjorie Liu and debut illustrator Teny Issakhanian comes the first in an epic new middle grade graphic novel series featuring a young girl who must stop a threat to her magical world – perfect for fans of Amulet.

APRIL

Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods by Catherynne M. Valente
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From New York Times bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente comes an inventive new fantasy following a boy journeying away from the only home he’s ever known and into the magical realm of the dead in order to fulfill a bargain for his people.

It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds
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A hilarious middle-grade from Justin A. Reynolds that asks: What happens when five unsupervised kids face the apocalypse under outrageously silly circumstances?

Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace
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Packed with shocking twists, frightening monsters, and dark magic, this is a page-turning fantasy adventure for middle-grade fans of Holly Black and Tamora Pierce. Following 12-year-old Octavia who grew up believing the town of Vittoria was the only one left in the world is in for a rude awakening when she meets a girl beyond the walls of her town and learns the truth about the deadly magical war and plague that defined her past.

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman
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Unicorns don’t belong in fairy tales; they belong in nightmares. Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, fierce sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and of course, bloodthirsty unicorns. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Eragon and His Dark Materials, these unicorns will change everything.

Consider the Octopus by Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner
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When chance, or fate, throws two twelve-year-olds together on board a scientific research ship at the edge of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it’s not all smooth sailing!

MAY

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
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Percy Jackson meets Tristan Strong in this hilarious, action-packed middle grade contemporary fantasy that follows a young boy as he journeys across China to seal the underworld shut and save the mortal realm.

Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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After inheriting a grieving fox spirit, a Chinese American boy must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother’s death in Jesse Q Sutanto’s magical, action-packed middle grade fantasy.

The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
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Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Soman Chainani, and Philip Pullman, The Marvellers is set in a global magic school in the sky where students from around the world come together to practice their cultural marvels. Ella Durand, the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, must overcome anti-Conjuror prejudice to track down a missing teacher and protect the school from a magical threat. 

Freddie vs. the Family Curse by Tracy Badua
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In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations. . . or be trapped in an amulet forever.

Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper
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13-year-old Jake loves his rural town, but doesn’t always feel supported by the people there, so he fades into the background. That is, until he comes out and his overly supportive dad puts a comically huge pride flag in their yard, suddenly turning all eyes on him.

JUNE

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu
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Black Panther meets Percy Jackson in this action-packed and empowering middle-grade series about a British-Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers.

The Lost Ryū by Emi Watanabe Cohen
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In The Lost Ryū, debut author Emi Watanabe Cohen gives us a story of multigenerational pain, magic, and the lengths to which we’ll go to protect the people we love. In this middle grade fantasy set in post-WWII Japan, Kohei Fujiwara must team up with his new neighbour to search for the truth, both about Kohei’s family history and the disappearance of the giant ryū that fought in the war.

Secret of the Shadow Beasts by Diane Magras
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For fans of Dragon Pearl and the Lockwood & Co. series comes a swift-moving contemporary fantasy about a young girl tasked with destroying deadly shadow creatures. As the terrifying beasts In Brannland suddenly double, young Nora decides it’s time for her to join the battle.

Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova
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Sal and Gabi Break the Universe meets Supernatural in a heartfelt, hilarious adventure about a trio of tight-knit, monster-loving siblings from acclaimed author Zoraida Córdova.

High Score by Destiny Howell
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For fans of Gordon Korman, Varian Johnson, and Celia Pérez, High Score is an exciting heist adventure with a diverse cast of whipsmart characters and entertaining, fast-paced writing. With a head for cons and a heart of gold, Darius James – DJ – finds himself faced with his toughest challenge yet: live on the straight and narrow.

What 2022 middle grade releases are you looking forward to reading? Tell us in the comments below!

The post You Need These Highly Anticipated 2022 Middle Grade Fiction Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.