In case it’s not clear from the title of Paula Danziger’s 1994 novel, Amber Brown is not a crayon. Nope — she’s a third-grader who’s dealing with the news that her best friend Justin will be moving away with his family. In Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon, readers ride the ups and downs of this experience with our spunky heroine. You’ll hear Alli and her guest chat about all of those ups and downs on Episode 156. They also discuss the “not like other girls” trope, how to treat young readers with respect, subtle moments of representation, portrayals of divorce, and miniature chocolate chips.

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the author of books for teens and adults, including The Ex Talk, Today Tonight Tomorrow, and We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This. Follow her on Instagram (@rlynn_solomon).

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