Middle Grade Matters

On this episode, I talk with author Rachel Renée Russell and illustrator Nikki Russell about their #1 NYT Bestselling Dork Diaries series. Rachel and Nikki talk about how the series first came about, their collaborative process, the most exciting things they hear from fans, and the 15th book in the series, Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Dork Diaries series, by Rachel Renée Russell (Audiobook)
• Whatever After series, by Sarah Mlynowski (Audiobook)
• Frizzy, by Claribel A. Ortega
• Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh (Audiobook)
• The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster (Audiobook)

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!).

In this episode, I talk with Ally Malinenko, middle grade author of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House,  about her writing, her favorite horror movies, and her plans for Halloween!

Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Ghost Girl, by Ally Malinenko
• Ghost Girl (Audiobook), by Ally Malinenko
• This Appearing House, by Ally Malinenko
• This Appearing House (Audiobook), by Ally Malinenko
• Small Spaces, by Katherine Arden
• The Nest, by Kenneth Oppel

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!).

In this episode, I talk with author Lora Senf about her spooky, middle grade horror novels The Clackity and The Nighthouse Keeper. We also talk about the importance of providing kids with access to children's horror stories, trusting them to put them down when needed, and about her plans for Halloween.

Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:

• The Clackity, by Lora Senf
• The Clackity (Audiobook), by Lora Senf
• The Nighthouse Keeper, by Lora Senf
• The Nighthouse Keeper (Audiobook), by Lora Senf

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!).

In this episode, I talk with author Suzanne Supplee about writing her MG debut, Sweetness All Around, after publishing three YA novels, about handling rejection and using it for good, and about writing the kinds of books you love to read yourself.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• Sweetness All Around, by Suzanne Supplee
• Nothing Else But Miracles, by Kate Albus
• Nothing Else But Miracles (Audiobook), by Kate Albus
• Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett
• Tom Lake (Audiobook), by Ann Patchett

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!).

On this episode, I talk with Margaret Peterson Haddix, NYT Bestselling author of 50 books. We talk about her newest middle grade book, The Ghostly Photos, her extensive writing career, and her love of middle grade fiction. 

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• The Ghostly Photos, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• The Secret Letters, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• Into the Gauntlet (The 10th book in the 39 Clues series), by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• Running Out of Time, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• Falling Out of Time, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg
• A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle

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!).

On this episode, I talk with author Kate Albus about her latest middle grade book, Nothing Else But Miracles, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and recipient of a Publisher's Weekly starred review  We also talk about Kate's method of drafting (she's a pantser), how she incorporates history into her stories, and the importance of finding your people. 

Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Nothing Else But Miracles, by Kate Albus
• Nothing Else But Miracles (Audiobook), by Kate Albus
• A Place to Hang the Moon, by Kate Albus
• A Place to Hang the Moon (Audiobook), by Kate Albus
• On Writing, by Stephen King
• On Writing (Audiobook), by Stephen King
• Kate Albus on Kidlit.TV

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!).

In this episode, I talk with author Alysa Wishingrad about her latest middle grade book, Between Monsters and Marvels.  Together we explore Alysa's approach to editing, her path to publication, and the importance of writing books for upper middle grade readers.

Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Between Monsters and Marvels, by  Alysa Wishingrad
• The Verdigris Pawn, by Alysa Wishingrad
• The Highlights Foundation, https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/
• The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults, by Cheryl B. Klein
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Science of Storytelling, by Will Storr
• The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin

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!).

In this episode, I talk with author Laura Segal Stegman about her middle grade L.U.C.K. series, including the latest book in the series, Ready or Not. We also talk about developing an inner support system, finding critique partners, and getting back up when you get knocked down.  And as promised in our interview, below are fifteen middle grade books recommended by Laura. Enjoy!

Fifteen Middle Grade Books 

Recommended by Laura Segal Stegman 

1. Get A Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit

2. Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass

3. The Miraculous by Jess Redman

4. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

5. Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

6. Tips For Magicians by Celesta Rimington

7. Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller

8. All of Me by Chris Baron

9. Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen by Niki Lenz

10. The 7th Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall

11. Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington

12. House Swap by Yvette Clark

13. Starfish by Lisa Fipps

14/15. Summer of L.U.C.K. and Ready or Not (sequel) by Laura Segal Stegman

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!).

In this episode, I talk with author Claire Swinarski about her latest middle grade book, What Happened to Rachel Riley.  We dive deep into topics addressed by the book including sexual harassment and standing up for what's right, and we talk about her writing career from how she got started, to finding an agent, to publishing her first book. 

Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:

• What Happened to Rachel Riley, by Claire Swinarski
• Storyfix. https://storyfix.com/
• Read-Aloud-Revival podcast
• Letters from Camp podcast series

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!).

In this episode, I talk with author Doan Phuong Nguyen about her debut middle grade book, Mèo and Bé, a story inspired by her family's experience living in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  We discuss the challenges of writing a story set during a time of incredible heartache and turmoil, and the importance of finding hope in these stories. 

Books and resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Mèo and Bé by Doan Phyong Nguyen
• Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
• Vermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults

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!).