The Magic of Middle Grade
PanelLow Ying Ping, Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Vivian Teo | Moderator: Melanie Lee
Middle grade fiction holds a unique and powerful place in children's literature, bridging the gap between early readers and young adult novels. In this panel, authors come together to explore the craft of writing compelling middle grade stories. Through insights into character development, voice, pacing, and world-building, unpack what makes a great middle grade novel resonate with readers aged 8 to 12.
Panelists will discuss strategies for capturing the attention of this curious and dynamic age group, how to navigate complex themes with age-appropriate sensitivity, and how to stay attuned to the evolving interests and challenges of middle grade readers today.
writingmiddle gradereading
Low Ying Ping (Singapore)
Low Ying Ping is the author of two middle grade fantasy series, Mount Emily and Prophecy of the Underworld. She has also written a three-volume English adaptation of the Chinese classic, Journey to the West, for younger children. Her books have won the Singapore Book Awards and were shortlisted for the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award and the Popular Readers’ Choice Award. A short story has also won second prize in the British Fantasy Society’s short story competition. She will be making her U.S. debut with the middle grade novel, Song of the Yellow Dragon, in 2026.
Tanya Lloyd Kyi (Canada)
Tanya Lloyd Kyi is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults. Tanya has worked in the past as a graphic designer, an editor and a dishwasher. (She considers herself entirely qualified for that last one.) Her favourite color is blue, her favourite food is cheese and her favourite book is A Wrinkle in Time. Tanya teaches at the UBC School of Creative Writing in Vancouver, BC.
Vivian Teo (Singapore)
Vivian Teo is the author of middle-grade book series, My BFF Is an Alien, published by Epigram Books. Books in her series have been shortlisted in the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award, Singapore Book Awards and POPULAR Readers’ Choice Awards. The series’ first book won third place in the latter’s English (Children) category in 2020.
Vivian is also a freelance writer whose work has been featured in CNA. She enjoys writing about parenting, education, social and financial issues and blogging on her parenting/lifestyle website, The Stuff Childhoods Are Made Of, at vivianteo.com.
Moderator Melanie Lee (Singapore)
Melanie Lee is the writer of the comic book series, Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma. She is also the author of the picture book series, The Adventures of Squirky the Alien, which picked up the Crystal Kite Award (Middle East/India/Asia division) in 2016. She has also published Imaginary Friends: 26 Whimsical Fables for Getting on in a Crazy World, a collection of illustrated short stories together with Arif Rafhan.
Programme dates and times are subject to change.