Intro

 

Hi everyone! And welcome to Books Between - a podcast for educators, parents and everyone who loves middle grade books!

 

I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of two tween girls, a 5th grade teacher in Central New York, and currently enjoying those magical days between Christmas and New Years when you have no idea what day it is and you spend half your time in your pajamas reading…..ahhhh…..

 

I believe in the power of books - especially fantasy books - to help you mull over the big moral issues in life and help you discover who you really want to be. And few books have accomplished that for so many better than the Harry Potter series.

 

This is our final #HappyPottermas episode of December and it is full discussion centered around those topics.

First, you’ll hear some clips from Harry Potter fans - editors, authors, teachers, and… my own family.

 

And then I’ll share with you three conversations that will definitely get your wheels turning - and probably disagreeing. First, #HappyPottermas organizer Erin Varley and I will chat with Dr. Pat Geyer about how she has transformed her school into Hogwarts.  Then librarian Angie Manfredi and I get into some Harry Potter controversies. And then I share some firewhisky with author and KidLitDrinkNight podcast host Amy Skelding who shares her surprising 10 Most Devasting Harry Potter Deaths.

 

It probably goes without saying that this episode will discuss the ending of the books - but just in case that’s not clear - Spoiler Alert!!

 

#HappyPottermas - Audio Submissions (2:00)

 

• Cary (@CarytheEditor), Blogger Freelance Editor at The Friendly Editor
• Adrianna Cuevas (@acuevaswrites) -  MG author  
• Cassie Thomas (@mrs_cmt1489) - 5th grade teacher, blogger at Teachers Who Read
• Victoria J. Coe (@victoriajcoe) - author, Fenway & Hattie series
• Kathy Burnett (@thebrainlair) - Independent Bookstore Owner - The Brain Lair
• Lena Allen - 4th grade student
• Angie Allen - 6th grade student
• Paul Goat Allen (@paulgoatallen) - genre fiction book reviewer

 

Erin Varley & Dr. Pat Geyer - Interview Outline (17:20)

 

Our first special guests this week are Erin Varley (teacher and #HappyPottermas organizer) and principal Pat Geyer - who, as you will hear, is doing some amazing Harry Potter themed activities at her school that has inspired me to do some similar things this year as well.

 

Take a listen…

 

Topics we chatted about

 

• Introductions
• Harry Potter Themed Activities at Pat’s School
• Harry Potter Themed Activities at Erin’s School
• Harry Pottter as a Read Aloud
• Kid’s Reactions to Harry Potter now vs. 20 Years Ago
• Rereading Harry Potter
• New Harry Potter Covers / Illustrated Versions
• Our Hogwart’s Houses
• More Hufflepuff and Slytherin love

 

Links:

 

Erin Verley on Twitter - @erinvarley

Dr. Pat Geyer on Twitter - @patgeyer

Pat’s school on Facebook

The Harry Potter books

Pottermore website

 

Angie Manfredi - Interview Outline (32:40)

 

Next up I am really excited to welcome special guest Angie Manfredi -  librarian and editor of the upcoming anthology - The F Word. We chat about how our views of Harry Potter have changed over the years, our frustrations with Dumbledore and the new direction JK Rowling has taken with the spin-offs, and Angie’s incredible and very accurate one question quiz to sort you into the right Hogwarts House. Plus - she finally convinces me to read The Cursed Child. Which I will tell you - it is taking all of my willpower to do anything else around the house other than finish that book that right now.

 

Take a listen…

 

Topics we chatted about

 

• Introductions
• First memories of reading Harry Potter
• Rereading Harry Potter
• Problematic Details
• Dumbledore & Draco
• Fantastic Beasts
• Problematic Systems of Magic involving Native Americans
• The Cursed Child
• Scorpius Malfoy
• Angie’s one question Hogwart’s House sorting quiz
• Should we sort?
• The Harry Potter Movies
• The acting in the Harry Potter movies
• Fascist Ideology in Harry Potter & the Mitford Sisters
• Snape, James Potter, the Black Family
• Controversial Opinions!
• Fan Fiction
• Native American Fantasy

 

Links:

 

Angie Manfredi on Twitter - @misskubelik

Mr. Turner movie

Author Adam Silvera

Carry On  by Rainbow Rowell

Rick Riordan Presents line

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha-Lee

Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

 

Native American Representation in Harry Potter

http://nativesinamerica.com/2016/07/dear-jk-rowling-were-still-here/

http://nativeappropriations.com/2016/03/magic-in-north-america-the-harry-potter-franchise-veers-too-close-to-home.html

 

And some books by Native authors Angie recommends if you liked Harry Potter

For MG readers:

Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection

How I Became a Ghost

 

For YA readers

Feral Nights

Strangers

And if you want to read more about the Mitford sisters, who were the very real inspirations for the Black sisters:

https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Saga-Mitford-Family/dp/0393324141?fbclid=IwAR1jhRuVY28a-t1uGDyZa0eOZr8C4byU3YRxEFt1yi09wncPXre4F8Fbs84

 

Rowling has said Jessica Mitford is a huge inspiration and her oldest daughter is named after her. And Angie quite recommend’s falling down a Wikipedia hole about them https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitford_family#Mitford_sisters

Amy Skelding - Interview Outline (1:20:00)

 

For our final #HappyPottermas segment, I am joined by middle grade author and Harry Potter mega fan Amy Skelding! She is also the host of the KidLitDrinkNight podcast. We share a bit of firewhisky and chat about Harry Potter inspiration in the work place, how Harry Potter inspired her family through a challenging time, and… her rather surprising list of the ten most devastating deaths in the Harry Potter series.

 

Take a listen…

 

Topics we chatted about

 

• Introductions
• Firewhisky
• The adult appeal of Harry Potter
• The movie adaptations
• The Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter as a Moral Compass
• House Sorting
• Favorite Character
• Amy’s Top Ten List of the Harry Potter Deaths in Order of Devastation to Me Personally

 

Links:

 

Amy Skelding on Twitter - @akskelding

Kid Lit Drink Night Podcast

 

Ogden’s Old Firewhisky Recipe: http://www.inliterature.net/by-author/jk-rowling/2017/06/13021.html

 

Half Magic by Edward Eager

 

Closing

 

Alright, that wraps up our show this week!

 

If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between.

 

Books Between is a proud member of the Lady Pod Squad and the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com

 

Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well.

 

Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!