In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries talks with Lance Rubin, author of the brilliant new middle-grade novel Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend, a hilarious, relatable story about a kid who’s terrible at making friends but finds himself knee-deep in high-tech chaos and real-world feelings.

Lance and Annisha dive into Zed’s world from MonoTown’s quirky tech to the ups and downs of middle-school friendships and explore how humor and heart can reveal big truths about connection, identity, and growing up. You’ll also get some fun lightning-round moments that are as unpredictable as a tech-savvy friendship app.

Lance’s middle-grade work includes Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend and Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan, books full of quirky characters and big laughs that middle-grade readers love. Find more about Lance and his books at lancerubin.com.

Whether you’re a reader, a teacher, a parent, or just someone who’s ever wondered what it means to make a friend, this conversation is packed with insight, laughter, and the kind of awkward honesty only middle grade can deliver.

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