In this episode, we continue our summer reading series with more of of Katherine Sokolowski’s seventh graders from Monticello Middle School in Monticello, Illinois. Today, we hear from Kris, Caden, Dawson, Myles, Sam, Deacon, and Jerremy, who speak about the books they enjoyed this past school year as well as books they hope to pick up this summer. Books mentioned

Percy Jackson and the Olympians-Rick Riordan

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal-Jeff Kinney

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History-Chris Kyle, Jim DeFelice, and Scott McEwen

Restart-Gordon Korman

Long Way Down-Jason Reynolds

We're Not from Here-Geoff Rodkey

The Battle of the Labyrinth-Rick Riordan

Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Jeff Kinney

Miles Morales: Spider-Man-Jason Reynolds

The Hunger Games-Suzanne Collins

Look Both Ways-Jason Reynolds(October 2019)

The Harry Potter Series-JK Rowling

In this episode, we are continuing our summer reading series with another group of Katherine Sokolowski's seventh graders from Monticello Middle School in Monticello, Illinois. We have the great privilege of hearing from Treyden, Charlie J., Charlie M, Trey, Jacob, and Tynley, who will be sharing some of their favorite books from this past school year in addition to what books they are looking forward to reading next. Books mentioned are

Winger 3 by Andrew Smith

When by Victoria Laurie

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

After the Shot Drops by Randy Ribay

The Name They Gave Us by Emery Lord

Look Both Ways-Jason Reynolds (out in October)

Heat-Michael Lupica

Solo-Kwame Alexander

Shout-Laurie Halse Anderson

In this episode, we kick off our summer series with some reading suggestions from Katherine Sokolowski's seventh graders from Monticello Middle School in Monticello, Illinois. Lynnsey, Teresita, Emma, Alaric, Dylan, and Jack tell us all about the books they have enjoyed reading this school year as well as the ones they plan to read this summer. Books discussed

Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Texas Ranger by Andrew Bourelle and James Patterson

5 Kingdoms Series by Brandon Mull

Winger by Andrew Smith

The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Will and Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge

When by Victoria Laurie

Return of the Temujai by John Flanagan

In this episode, teacher panelists Amy Fleming, Gretchen Taylor, Beth Shaum, and Alex Corbitt sit down with Will Fassbender to reflect on their experiences at the 2018 NCTE Annual Convention in Houston, Texas. The theme for this year was Raising Student Voice: Speaking Out for Equity and Justice, a message that seemed to be timely and well-received by conference presenters and attendees. They talk about how Convention has changed them as teachers, readers, and writers, advice they have for teachers who are looking forward to attending Convention 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as the books they picked up in Houston that they are excited to read and share with their students.

In this episode, Amy Fleming's students at Elizabethtown Area Middle School in Elizabethtown, PA, speak with author N.H. Senzai. During this interview, Calla, Claire, and Brooke ask N.H. about her inspiration for writing her novel Escape from Aleppo, as well as specific questions related to the culture and conflict in Syria, reading suggestions for students who want to learn more about the Middle East, and N.H. tells us how an accounting major in college became an author of middle grades novels. We want to give our listeners a heads up that there are some small spoilers in this interview, so you may want to read Escape from Aleppo before listening.

In this episode, middle grades author, Alexandra Diaz sat down with some of Julie Inwright's seventh grade students at Malcolm Bridge Middle School in Bogart, Georgia, to talk about her books The Only Road and The Crossroads, as well her writing practices and her upcoming projects that young readers can look forward to.

In this episode, we have the great distinction to speak with author Jennifer Nielsen, who has written such beloved middle grade books as The False Prince, A Night Divided, and the Traitor’s Game series. She joins our teaching panelists Stacia Long, Gretchen Taylor, and Katherine Sokolowski to talk about her article, "The Arts Built My Future," which appears in the September issue of Voices from the Middle. In addition, Jennifer answers questions about her latest book, Resistance, and provides us with some insight into her writing practices as well as the books that have had the biggest impact on her, both as a reader and a writer.

In this episode, YA author Nic Stone speaks to our teacher panelists Beth Shaum, Amy Fleming, and Julie Inwright about her acclaimed novel, Dear Martin. In addition, Nic answers questions about the process of publishing Dear Martin, her experiences talking to students, what it was like to be a middle grades student herself, and she shares a sneak peek at some novels we can look forward to from her in the future.

In this episode, author Aisha Saeed sat down with our teacher panelists Gretchen Taylor, Julie Inwright, and Amy Fleming to talk about her new book, Amal Unbound, which has the great distinction of being chosen for the 2018 Upper Elementary/Middle Grade Global Read Aloud. Also, we get to know our teacher panelists a little better by playing the game Bring Your Own Book.

In this episode, author Lila Quintero Weaver (https://lilaqweaver.com/) speaks with our teacher panelists, Katherine Sokolowski, Amy Fleming, and newest member, Stacia Long, about her new book, My Year in the Middle. In addition, they asked her about her writing practices, how teachers might use her books to open conversations about diversity and social justice, and they touched on her reading life and the books that she loves.