Jennifer Blecher, author of four middle grade books, discusses her writing process and the themes in her latest middle grade novel, Listen to This. She shares the challenges of writing from the perspective of a boy and the importance of writing big emotions. Jennifer also talks about the inspiration behind Listen to This and the issues of friendship, parental oversharing, and navigating middle school. She emphasizes the importance of keeping the plot moving while giving weight to the characters' feelings. Jennifer discusses her journey as a writer and the evolution of her writing style. She also shares her thoughts on the middle grade genre and her future projects.

About LISTEN TO THIS from the publisher: Secrets, rumors, shifting friendships, overbearing parents, and, on top of all that, a first dance—how does anyone survive seventh grade? Told from dual points of view, this novel about two tweens finding their voices and standing up for themselves is for fans of Lisa Yee, Leslie Connor, and Janae Marks.

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