On this episode, I talk with  middle grade author Kaija Langley about her debut middle grade novel in verse The Order of Things, a heart-rending novel-in-verse about a girl beginning to learn it is possible to go on even after a great loss. We talk about Kaija's writing process, why she chose to write the Order of Things in verse, and incorporating music into a story.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• The Order of Things, by Kaija Langley.
• When Langston Dances, by Kaija Langley.
• Crossover, by Kwame Alexander.
• Freewater, by Amina Luqman-Dawson.

For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.

I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm, a platform that supports indy bookstores.

If you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a rating and review (thank you!).