Middle Grade novels about finding your voice · finding your people · and finding yourself.
Erin Soderberg Downing
Bestselling Middle Grade and Chapter Book Author
✦ Founding AuthorK–23–56–8K1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th📍 In-person💻 VirtualTitle I rates✓ Published & vetted
Based in
Minneapolis, MN
Local zone
45 mi · no travel fee
Books published
10 titles
About Erin
Erin Soderberg Downing is the Edgar Award-nominated author of more than seventy-five bestselling novels for kids, including A Light in the Dark, What Happened Then, Controlled Burn, Just Keep Walking, as well as several popular series for young readers: Just Like Home, The Great Peach Experiment, and Puppy Pirates. Erin loves reading, sharing book recommendations, creating pottery, exploring the woods, traveling with her family, and walking around Minneapolis lakes with her mischievous dog, Nutmeg. More info can be found at erinsoderberg.com.
Books
What Happened Then
Scholastic Press
Just Keep Walking
Scholastic Press, 2024
Just Like Home #1: Love Rolls In
Scholastic Press, 2026
Just Like Home #2: Kitten Delivery
Scholastic Press, 2026
Just Like Home #3: Healing Hounds
Scholastic Press, 2026
Just Like Home #4: Foxed In
Scholastic Press, 2027
Controlled Burn
Scholastic Press, 2023
The Great Peach Experiment #1: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie
Holiday House, 2020
Puppy Pirates #1: Stowaway!
Random House, 2013
Puppy Pirates #7: Lost at Sea
Random House, 2019
Visit formats
📍
In-person
School visit
✓ No travel fee within 45 mi of Minneapolis, MN. Beyond that, travel is arranged together.
💻
Virtual
Virtual visit
✓ No travel — connect from anywhere. Often the most budget-friendly option.
What a visit includes
✓Pre-visit planning call
✓Customized for your grade
✓Q&A with students
✓Live reading or demo
✓Signed book for library
✓Optional writing activity
✓Post-visit reflection guide
✓Parent follow-up note
Volunteer visits
Erin offers 2 free visits a year
2 remaining this year. Qualifying schools receive a fully-funded in-person or virtual visit.
1
Show the need — Title I, under-resourced, or stretched budget.
2
Name a staff lead who will own the day.
3
Put books in hands first — students read at least one book beforehand.
4
Keep it going — share a plan for sustaining reading excitement.
