{"id":8563,"date":"2016-03-24T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/?p=8563"},"modified":"2023-04-25T12:42:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T16:42:27","slug":"meet-experts-behind-50-best-books-11-12-year-olds-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/meet-experts-behind-50-best-books-11-12-year-olds-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Experts Behind the \u201850 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds\u2019 List"},"content":{"rendered":"

To put together our list of\u00a0the 50 Best Books\u00a0for 11- and 12-Year-Olds<\/a>\u00a0we went straight to the experts \u2014\u00a0the children’s literature experts. Learn more about the book-loving folks who selected\u00a0our top titles for tweens below.<\/p>\n

list_with_images no 8578 8578 erin-clarke Erin-clarke.jpg 11487 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/meet-experts-behind-50-best-books-11-12-year-olds-list\/erin-clarke\/ erin-clarke 1 erin-clarke inherit 8563 2017-03-22 15:41:55 2017-03-22 15:42:03 0 image\/jpeg image jpeg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 96 96 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke-130×130.jpg 130 130 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke-110×110.jpg 110 110 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Erin-clarke.jpg 141 141 Erin Clarke <\/p>\n

Erin Clarke is a senior executive editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of\u00a0Random House Children’s Books<\/a>, where she edits picture books, middle grade, and young adult. Books she has edited include\u00a0Wonder<\/a><\/i>\u00a0by R. J. Palacio,\u00a0The Book Thief<\/a><\/i>\u00a0by Markus Zusak,\u00a0Anna and the Swallow Man<\/a><\/i>\u00a0by Gavriel Savit,<\/i>\u00a0Taking Flight<\/i><\/a>\u00a0by Michaela DePrince, and\u00a0Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy<\/i><\/a>\u00a0by Karen Foxlee.\u00a0<\/i>Erin’s favorite book about middle school is Rebecca Stead’s\u00a0Goodbye Stranger<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

8579 8579 liv-hanson Live-hanson.jpg 15141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/meet-experts-behind-50-best-books-11-12-year-olds-list\/live-hanson\/ 1 live-hanson inherit 8563 2017-03-22 15:43:11 2017-03-22 15:43:20 0 image\/jpeg image jpeg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 96 96 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson-130×130.jpg 130 130 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson-110×110.jpg 110 110 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Live-hanson.jpg 141 141 Liv Hanson <\/p>\n

Liv Hanson is Content Curator of Youth Materials at the Chicago Public Library<\/a>. She also named\u00a0Goodbye Stranger<\/i>\u00a0as her favorite book about middle school.<\/p>\n

8580 8580 rene-kirkpatrick rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 14328 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/meet-experts-behind-50-best-books-11-12-year-olds-list\/rene-kirkpatrick\/ rene-kirkpatrick 1 rene-kirkpatrick inherit 8563 2017-03-22 15:44:22 2017-03-22 15:44:27 0 image\/jpeg image jpeg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 96 96 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick-130×130.jpg 130 130 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick-110×110.jpg 110 110 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/rene-kirkpatrick.jpg 141 141 Rene’ Kirkpatrick <\/p>\n

Rene\u2019 has been a bookseller since 1978. She currently works at University of Washington Book Store<\/a>\u00a0as Children\u2019s Book Buyer and Supervisor. She received her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Oregon. As for her favorite book about middle school,\u00a0Rene\u2019 picked The Wednesday Wars<\/i><\/a>\u00a0by Gary D. Schmidt.<\/p>\n

8581 8581 melissa-taylor melissa-taylor.jpg 11681 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/meet-experts-behind-50-best-books-11-12-year-olds-list\/melissa-taylor-5\/ melissa-taylor 1 melissa-taylor-5 inherit 8563 2017-03-22 15:46:10 2017-03-22 15:46:20 0 image\/jpeg image jpeg https:\/\/www.readbrightly.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 96 96 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor-130×130.jpg 130 130 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor-110×110.jpg 110 110 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 https:\/\/assets.readbrightly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/melissa-taylor.jpg 141 141 Melissa Taylor <\/p>\n

Melissa Taylor, M.Ed may have left the classroom but not her passion for literacy and children’s literature. Her favorite thing, besides curling up with a good book, is helping kids find their perfect book. Like\u00a0Rene\u2019,\u00a0Melissa also called out\u00a0The Wednesday Wars<\/i>\u00a0as\u00a0her favorite book about middle school. Find more of her favorite books on Brightly<\/a>\u00a0or her blog,\u00a0Imagination Soup<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn more about the children’s literature experts who selected the titles on our list of the ’50 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds’ here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[365,786,787,908,954],"coauthors":[146,236],"class_list":["post-8563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-middle-grade","tag-11-year-old","tag-12-year-old","tag-tween","tag-educators","ages_stages-tween"],"yoast_head":"\nMeet the Experts Behind the \u201850 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds\u2019 List | Brightly<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn more about the children's literature experts who selected the titles on our list of the '50 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds' here.\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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