Reading in The Middle

By Annisha JeffriesArts Books Kids & Family Stories for Kids Visual Arts

Reading in The Middle episodes

October 05 Sunny Gets to Work: Big Dreams, Hard Work & Finding Your Way
Author Zanni Louise and illustrator Susie Oh discuss Sunny Gets to Work on Reading in the Middle, exploring its themes of big ideas, determination, creativity, and adapting when plans change. They share insights on illustrating Sunny’s world, the harmony between text and images, and the inspiring message about persistence, problem-solving, and faith in one’s ideas for young readers.
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25 min
September 22 Saida J. Bulhan on A Song of Her Own, Somali Storytelling & Finding Your Voice | Reading in the Middle
What does it mean to discover that your own story is worth telling?
On this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha welcomes author Saida J. Bulhan to discuss A Song of Her Own, the first book in the Rain Chaser series.
Set in a Somali nomadic community, the story introduces readers to Kiin, a young girl eager to prove she can take on greater responsibilities. But as Kiin’s journey unfolds, she discovers something even more important: the power of listening, storytelling, family, tradition, and finding confidence in her own voice.
Saida joins Annisha for a thoughtful conversation about creating Kiin and her world; Somali culture and oral storytelling traditions; sibling and family relationships; and belonging; and why young readers need stories that remind them their experiences matter.
It’s a conversation about finding your center, discovering the storyteller within, and realizing that sometimes the story you’ve been searching for has been yours all along.
So find a comfortable spot, settle in, and keep reading in the middle.
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1 hr 3 min
September 08 Shifa Saltagi Safadi on Sisters Alone, Kareem Between & Winning the National Book Award
National Book Award-winning author Shifa Saltagi Safadi joins Reading in the Middle to discuss her new middle-grade novel in verse, *Sisters Alone*, as well as her book *Kareem Between*. Shifa explores themes of grief, anxiety, faith, sisterhood, and survival, emphasizing the importance of providing young readers with stories that are both honest and hopeful.
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48 min
August 31 Robin Easter on Middle School Monsters and Finding Your Pack
In Robin Easter’s new graphic novel, Middle School Monsters, that feeling becomes wonderfully literal. Jamie is beginning seventh grade in a new town and wants nothing more than a normal year. That means hiding her hairy legs, keeping her emotions under control, and making sure no one discovers the werewolf she believes is lurking inside her.
Then Jamie meets Vee, the school’s so-called vampire.
Vee already has a reputation, much of it connected to what happened with her former best friend, Kennedy. Jamie is warned to stay away, but the more time she spends with Vee, the more she recognizes another person who understands what it feels like to be judged, misunderstood, and placed outside the group.
On this episode of Reading in the Middle, Robin joins me to talk about creating Jamie, Vee, and Kennedy; turning the emotions of middle school into a monster story; and showing the difference between changing yourself to fit in and finding people who accept you as you are.
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29 min
August 22 Once a Wasteland: Diane Muldrow and Amy Jindra Hodgson on Healing Cuyahoga Valley
A polluted industrial dumping ground. Nearly 400,000 tons of contaminated soil. And, after decades of restoration, a thriving national park.
In this special episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries guest-hosts the Ohio Center for the Book’s Page Count podcast for a conversation with author Diane Muldrow and illustrator Amy Jindra Hodgson about their nonfiction picture book, Once a Wasteland: From Toxic Dump to National Park.
The book tells the remarkable true story of the Krejci salvage yard in Northeast Ohio’s Cuyahoga River Valley. Once so contaminated that wildlife could not survive there, the land underwent an extensive environmental cleanup and was eventually restored as part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Diane and Amy discuss how they transformed a complex environmental history into an accessible story for young readers, researched the land’s recovery, illustrated the movement from pollution to renewal, and helped children understand that damaged environments can heal when people take responsibility and work together.
Selected as Ohio’s 2026 Great Reads from Great Places title for young readers and recognized as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, Once a Wasteland is a hopeful story about conservation, community action, environmental restoration, and the power of giving the natural world a fresh start.
Special thanks to Don Boozer and the Ohio Center for the Book for inviting Annisha to guest-host this meaningful conversation.
Listen to discover how one of Ohio’s most contaminated landscapes became a place filled with plants, wildlife, visitors, and possibility.
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37 min
August 18 Judith Jacques on Gardenland: Friendship, Inclusion & Belonging

When a single garden party splits into two, everyone faces the choice of where to belong.
On this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries discusses with author Judith Jacques her children’s book, Gardenland: The Peas' and Carrots' Party Shake-Up, illustrated by Trevor Pacelli. The story captures Gardenland's excitement for its annual celebration, which is disrupted when Peas and Carrots decide to host separate parties. This turn of events challenges the community's tradition and prompts Betty Beet to find a solution. With ingenuity and her friends' help, she works to reunite Gardenland. Judith explains the inspiration for Gardenland, the creation of Betty Beet and her quirky friends, her collaboration with Trevor Pacelli, and how she uses humor to explore children’s real feelings: friendship, exclusion, belonging, empathy, conflict resolution, and inclusivity. She also shares her personal connection through her grandmother, Bubbie Rose, the first gardener she knew, whose influence inspired Gardenland’s world. The conversation highlights a vibrant story with a meaningful message: everyone deserves to belong.

Connect with Judith Jacques:
🌱 Gardenland Books: GardenlandBooks.com
Learn more about Gardenland: The Peas' and Carrots' Party Shake-Up, meet the Gardenland characters, and discover more from the series at GardenlandBooks.com.
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41 min
August 18 Little Monsters with Máire Roche | A Spooky Little Women Reimagining
What if the March sisters were hiding more than just family secrets? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries interviews author Máire Roche about her new middle-grade novel, Little Monsters, a spooky, humorous reinterpretation of Little Women. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are sisters with a very unusual secret: they are monsters. While Meg strives to protect her family and keep their secret, she also faces questions about belonging, identity, fear, and being accepted for who she really is. Máire discusses why she chose Meg as the story's focal point, how each March sister corresponds with her own monstrous alter ego, the significance of setting the story near Salem, and the enjoyment and challenges of reimagining beloved characters with supernatural elements. We also explore themes of sisterhood, family, anxiety, secrecy, and the idea that our hidden parts often define us. Additionally, Máire participates in a lively rapid-fire round about monsters, March sisters, spooky environments, and more. Little Monsters by Máire Roche is available now, perfect for fans of middle-grade fantasy, supernatural mysteries, spooky tales, family narratives, Little Women retellings, and stories about finding your place.
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24 min
August 12 Ghost in the Night with Tiffany D. Jackson
What if the ghost you’re searching for isn’t the only story waiting to be uncovered? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries chats with award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson about her new middle-grade novel, Ghost in the Night. Twelve-year-old Harmony Roundtree enjoys photography, ghost tours, and the idea that those we've lost might still linger. After her beloved grandmother's passing, Harmony travels with her father and his blues band, taking ghost tours in each city and hoping her camera will prove ghosts exist. In Savannah, Georgia, Harmony becomes entangled in a mystery where history, memory, grief, and the supernatural intertwine. Tiffany and Annisha discuss creating Harmony’s memorable voice, the emotional connection between Harmony and her grandmother, photography as a tool for memory, Savannah’s haunted history, Gullah Geechee traditions, and the role of storytellers in shaping narratives about real people and painful pasts. They also ponder one of the novel’s key questions: Who has the right to tell history, and what if the most entertaining story isn’t the factual one? This is a conversation about ghosts, grief, family, history, and discovering that sometimes what we seek isn’t quite what we expect.
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25 min
August 03Ticket to Mars Author Kieran Fanning | Reading in the Middle Podcast
What would you risk for a chance at a better future? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries interviews Irish author Kieran Fanning about his middle-grade science fiction novel, Ticket to Mars. They discuss the inspiration for the story, Veon Windbourne's unforgettable journey from a flooded Earth to the Martian city of Harmonia, and explore themes like justice, inequality, hope, and belonging woven into the narrative. Kieran also talks about his writing process, research on life on Mars, and why stories of courage and resilience resonate with young readers. The episode also highlights his diverse works, including the Codecrackers series, The Black Lotus, The Arrival, Irish Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends, Haunted Ireland, and Enchanted Ireland. Whether you're a middle-grade reader, teacher, librarian, parent, or sci-fi enthusiast, this discussion offers an engaging look into the mind of a creative storyteller.

In this episode:
The inspiration behind Ticket to Mars
Creating the world of Harmonia
Writing believable middle-grade heroes
Science fiction and social justice
Kieran Fanning's writing process
His favorite moments from the novel
A fun lightning round

About Reading in the Middle
Hosted by Annisha Jeffries, Reading in the Middle features thoughtful conversations with today's leading middle-grade authors, celebrating the stories that inspire young readers to think, imagine, and discover the joy of reading.
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19 min
July 28 T. C. Kemper on The Ginghams | A Spooky Middle Grade Mystery About Friendship & Conformity
What occurs when an entire town becomes eerily perfect? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries interviews debut middle-grade author T. C. Kemper about her haunting new mystery, The Ginghams. When twelve-year-old Joni Bird returns from summer camp, Olive Springs no longer feels like the town she knew. Her best friend May has swapped her wild curls and drums for a neat bun and believes drumming is “unladylike.” The local ice cream shop now only serves vanilla, neighbors dress alike, and a mysterious new family with unsettling smiles appears to be behind it all. The mystery centers on the Ginghams’ Thursday night book club, where members return as perfectly polished “model citizens." Determined to uncover the truth and save May and Olive Springs, Joni and Tyler start their investigation. T. C. Kemper discusses creating suspense for young readers, crafting memorable friendships, developing the strange world of Olive Springs, and examining the risks of conformity and perfectionism. She also shares her journey to publishing her debut middle-grade novel and her hopes for what readers take away from it. The Ginghams is set to release on July 28, 2026. Subscribe to Reading in the Middle, leave a review, and share this episode with a reader who loves creepy mysteries, strong friendships, and stories about the courage to be oneself.

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32 min

About Reading in The Middle

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Reading in the Middle, the podcast dedicated to exploring the captivating world of middle-grade books, hosted by Annisha Jeffries, Librarian and literary enthusiast. Each episode dives into…