Behind the Books is a monthly newsletter for teachers, librarians, parents, and caregivers — anyone who connects kids with books in the middle grade years. Written by Larry Verstraete, a former teacher and author of middle grade fiction and nonfiction, each issue explores what makes reading and writing for this age group its own specialized field, just like the readers themselves.
Issues feature middle grade book recommendations alongside practical techniques for writing and teaching in the middle years — insight that comes from working in both classrooms and manuscripts, not just one or the other.
New issues come out monthly. Browse the archive below, or subscribe to get each issue by email.
His Side, My Side
September 1, 2026
Sibling relationships power some of the best middle grade stories — plus three book recommendations to prove the point.
History That Doesn’t Feel Like History
July 28, 2026
Why do some history books put us to sleep, while others read like novels? A look at narrative nonfiction — and the true stories that prove history doesn't have to feel like homework.
Four Seconds to Convince a Ten Year Old
July 1, 2026
A kid scans a library shelf for about four seconds before deciding whether a book is worth a second look. In that window, the cover is doing all the talking. Four seconds, and a book dies or flies depending on the cover’s color, type and a single image making its case.
Justice for Rick
June 1, 2026
On fan mail, honest feedback, and the characters we leave behind
Why Did the Dogs Have to Die?
May 1, 2026
A student asked why the dogs had to die. The answer changed how I teach. It also changed how I write.
Before I Write the First Word
April 1, 2026
Before I write any story — fiction or non-fiction — I ask myself five questions. These questions are not about voice, or structure, or theme. They are not about tone, or pacing, or point of view either. But before I write a single word, they'll help me decide whether the story is even worth writing.
Why I Write for Young People
March 1, 2026
The simple answer is that those years have less to do with age than with a particular moment in life when the world widens, questions deepen, and stories begin to matter in new ways.
