Reading in The Middle

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Award-winning author Emma Otheguy returns to Reading in the Middle to discuss her new middle-grade novel, Adventure in the City of Stories, illustrated by Poly Bernatene.

Camila, Jorge, and Siggy are back for another journey through time. After valuable artifacts connected to pioneering librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré mysteriously appear in Tía Xía’s closet, the cousins are transported to New York City during the Great Depression. There, they must protect Pura’s legacy, clear their aunt’s name, and help Antonia, a courageous Puerto Rican girl fighting injustice in her community.

In this thoughtful and lively conversation, Emma and Annisha explore why Camila’s story begins with Spanish-language books being rejected at school and what happens when children are made to believe that their language, culture, or stories do not belong.

They also discuss the remarkable connections among Pura Belpré, Arturo Schomburg, and Gabriela Mistral; how libraries and archives preserve evidence of communities that history has too often ignored; and why reading can become a source of dignity, resistance, and collective power.

Emma shares how she balances serious history with humor, magic, and a fast-moving adventure—and why Camila does not need to become fearless in order to become courageous.

Annisha and Emma discuss:

• Camila’s anger and the emotional effects of censoring children’s books
• Why sharing a book can be an act of friendship and resistance
• Pura Belpré’s work as a librarian, writer, puppeteer, and storyteller
• The magic of the Pérez and Martina puppets
• Arturo Schomburg, Gabriela Mistral, and preserving Latino history
• The relationship between literacy, labor, and collective action
• Giving readers compassion for a character without excusing the harm he causes
• Writing historical fiction that remains exciting and accessible
• Why every child deserves to recognize that their language and story belong

Emma Otheguy’s books for young readers include Silver Meadows Summer, Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, Martí’s Song for Freedom, A Sled for Gabo, and Martina Has Too Many Tías. Her work frequently explores family, Latin American history, language, identity, and belonging.

Adventure in the City of Stories is the newest companion novel in the Cousins in the Time of Magic series. It was published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers and illustrated by Poly Bernatene.

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Emma Otheguy’s Newsletter

Emma’s Substack includes news about her books, reflections on writing and family life, reading recommendations, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates about her work.

Learn more about the book:

Adventure in the City of Stories

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In this heartfelt episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries welcomes author Winsome Bingham to talk about her upcoming picture book, On Fridays, illustrated by Jason Griffin and published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House.

On Fridays follows Jamar, a young boy who spends Fridays with his mother at the residential building where she works. What begins as a weekly routine becomes something much deeper: a story about elders, community, caregiving, grief, memory, and learning how to keep loving someone after they are gone.

Annisha and Winsome talk about the powerful line at the center of the book: “We amongst family. Treat them as such.” They discuss Jamar’s relationships with Miss Neely, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Riff; the importance of honoring elders as whole people; and how Miss Neely’s garden becomes a place of memory and healing.

This conversation also explores how children understand grief, why picture books can help families talk about loss, and what it means to give people their flowers while they are still here.

Winsome also shares more about this exciting season in her career, including recent and upcoming books such as Soul Food Sunday, The Walk, The Table, Life Is Beautiful, Missing Momma, Fish Fry Friday, the Fort Goode books, Together, and Auntie’s Dance.

Annisha and Winsome discuss:

• The story behind On Fridays
• Why Fridays become such an important ritual for Jamar
• The meaning of “We amongst family. Treat them as such”
• How children learn care by watching adults
• Writing elders with joy, personality, and dignity
• Miss Neely’s garden and the power of remembrance
• How children process grief when they do not have all the words yet
• Giving people their flowers while they are still here
• Working with illustrator Jason Griffin
• The connection between On Fridays and The Table
• Winsome’s books about family, food, grief, joy, memory, and community
• Her upcoming books Together and Auntie’s Dance
• How librarians, teachers, caregivers, and families can use On Fridays with young readers

On Fridays is a tender story about Jamar, a young boy who accompanies his mother to the residential building where she works. Each Friday, he spends time with the elders there, including Miss Neely, Mr. Dillon, and Mr. Riff.

Through gardening, music, conversation, and care, Jamar begins to understand that community can become family. When Miss Neely dies unexpectedly, Jamar has to make sense of loss in his own way. With time, love, and the garden Miss Neely cherished, he learns that remembering can also be an act of care.

On Fridays is written by Winsome Bingham and illustrated by Jason Griffin.

Winsome Bingham is the author of Soul Food Sunday, The Walk, The Table, Life Is Beautiful, Missing Momma, Fish Fry Friday, and the Fort Goode books. Her work often centers family, food, Black joy, grief, memory, community, and the people who help children understand who they are and where they belong.

Learn more about Winsome at BinghamWrites.com.

Follow her on Instagram at @ArmyVetFive.

• On Fridays
• Soul Food Sunday
• The Walk
• The Table
• Life Is Beautiful
• Missing Momma
• Fish Fry Friday
• Fort Goode
• Together
• Auntie’s Dance

00:00 — Welcome to Reading in the Middle

02:00 — Introducing Winsome Bingham and On Fridays

05:00 — Winsome’s current season of books

09:00 — Where On Fridays began

14:00 — Jamar, his mother, and the lesson of care

19:00 — Miss Neely, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Riff, and honoring elders

25:00 — The garden, the flower, and remembering

31:00 — Writing grief honestly for children

37:00 — Jason Griffin’s illustrations and working together again

41:00 — Winsome’s recent and upcoming books

46:00 — Librarian connections and using On Fridays with young readers

49:00 — Lightning round and closing thoughts

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What happens when science, imagination, and friendship collide?

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries talks with Matt Manning and Matt Loux, the creative team behind The Spark Experiment, to delve into the engaging world they’ve built for middle-grade readers.

Together, they discuss:

• The inspiration behind The Spark Experiment
• Creating memorable characters kids will root for
• Why STEM and creativity belong together
• The collaborative process of writing and illustrating a graphic novel
• Hidden details and Easter eggs readers should look for
• Encouraging curiosity, resilience, and problem-solving

Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, parent, or middle-grade reader, this conversation is packed with laughter, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of inspiration.

📚 Book: The Spark Experiment by Matt Manning & Matt Loux

🎙️ Hosted by: Annisha Jeffries

Subscribe for more conversations with today’s best middle-grade authors.

The Spark Experiment, Matt Manning, Matt Loux, Reading in the Middle podcast, middle grade books, graphic novel interview, STEM books for kids, science adventure books, middle grade graphic novels, children’s books podcast, librarians, teachers, book recommendations for kids, friendship books, creativity in education, books for ages 8-12, graphic novels for tweens, middle school readers, Andrews McMeel Kids, Annisha Jeffries

#TheSparkExperiment #MattManning #MattLoux #ReadingInTheMiddle #MiddleGradeBooks #GraphicNovel #STEMBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookPodcast #Teachers #Librarians #BookTube #MiddleSchoolReads #ReadMore

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What happens when a family story becomes an award-winning graphic novel?

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries talks with Ringo Award-winning author and educator Jason Douglas about Jane American, a powerful coming-of-age graphic novel inspired by his grandmother's life in Southeast Michigan during and after World War II.

Together they discuss family history, identity, belonging, resilience, and why the struggles young people face today aren't so different from those faced generations ago. Jason also shares how 26 years as a public-school teacher shaped his storytelling and why graphic novels can be such powerful tools for literacy and learning.

Perfect for middle-grade readers, educators, librarians, graphic novel fans, and anyone who has ever wondered about the stories hidden within their own family tree.

READING IN THE MIDDLE

Show Notes

📚 About Jane American

Set in historic Southeast Michigan during the aftermath of World War II, Jane American follows Betty Jane Johnson as she navigates family, loss, friendship, identity, and the difficult choices that shape who she becomes.

Inspired by the life of Jason Douglas's grandmother, Jane American explores:

• Identity and belonging

• Self-worth and self-determination

• Family and friendship

• WWII homefront history

• Women in wartime factories

• The Great Migration

• Social-emotional growth and resilience

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• Winner, Ringo Award for Best Original Graphic Novel

• First fully self-published graphic novel to win a Ringo Award

• Published by Papercutz

• Distributed by Simon & Schuster

📖 Preorder Jane American

Simon & Schuster:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Jane-American/Jason-Douglas/9781545836217

📚 Educator Resources

Educator Pitch Deck:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sYBjbJGRkbNSFzWW9Ri-kzZxqHgYHfBYwjbCbgsfLXA/edit?usp=drivesdk

🎓 Special Educator Discount

Papercutz is offering a 50% educator discount for classroom sets, school libraries, public libraries, literacy initiatives, and educational organizations.

Order Here:

https://papercutz.com/product/jane-american-vol-1/?wdr_coupon=janeamerican50&v=0b3b97fa6688

🏫 Educational Features Included in the Book

• Historical Endnotes & Easter Eggs

• Common Core Alignment

• Discussion Questions

• Four Corners Activities

• See / Think / Wonder Activities

• Socratic Seminar Frameworks

• Writing Prompts

• Persuasive Writing Activities

• Cross-Curricular Teaching Ideas

• Social-Emotional Learning Connections

Ideal for:

• Grades 4–12

• English Language Arts

• U.S. History

• Social Studies

• Historical Fiction Units

• Graphic Novel Studies

• Literature Circles

• Independent Reading Programs

👤 About Jason Douglas

Jason Douglas is a Michigan-based author, playwright, and public-school teacher. After more than 25 years in education, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of creating graphic novels.

His debut graphic novel, Parallel, earned two Ringo Award nominations. His second graphic novel, Jane American, became the first fully self-published graphic novel to win the Ringo Award for Best Original Graphic Novel.

Jason's newest graphic novel, No Man's Land, explores friendship, trauma, and survival through the lens of World War I horror.

🔗 Connect with Jason Douglas

https://linktr.ee/jdouglaswrites

🎧 About Reading in the Middle

Reading in the Middle is a podcast hosted by Annisha Jeffries featuring conversations with authors, illustrators, and creators whose work inspires middle-grade readers.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher, librarian, parent, or reader in your life.

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What happens when compassion and fear collide?

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries sits down with Trevor B. Spisto, author of The Tiger and the Crane, a compelling middle-grade novel set in Qing-era China. Together, they explore the story of Mung, a young crane who discovers an orphaned tiger cub just as his village prepares to choose its next leader.

Trevor discusses the inspiration behind the novel, the wisdom of Master Guan, writing memorable animal characters, and the themes of leadership, courage, belonging, community, grief, and compassion that drive the story.

This thoughtful conversation is perfect for middle-grade readers, teachers, librarians, parents, homeschool educators, and anyone who loves children's literature that sparks meaningful discussion.

• The inspiration behind The Tiger and the Crane
• Writing middle-grade historical fantasy
• Leadership lessons for young readers
• The role of compassion and empathy in storytelling
• Creating memorable animal characters
• Trevor B. Spisto's writing journey
• Advice for aspiring young writers

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What happens when a family trip to Japan turns into an adventure filled with yokai, samurai, festivals, and magical portals?

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries talks with author and illustrator Matthew Loux about his newest graphic novel, My Journey to Japan: Escape to Yokai Mountain. Together they discuss Japanese folklore, cultural exploration, graphic novel storytelling, drawing by hand, and how books can inspire curiosity about the world around us.

Matthew also shares the inspiration behind Penny, Paulie, and Shimesu's unforgettable journey, his love of Japanese culture, and why adventure stories can be powerful tools for learning.

Perfect for:

📚 Librarians

🍎 Educators

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

📖 Graphic Novel Fans

🌎 Readers Interested in World Cultures

Topics discussed:

• Japanese folklore and yokai

• Graphic novels for middle-grade readers

• Japanese culture, food, and festivals

• Travel through storytelling

• Creating art by hand

• Encouraging curiosity and global awareness

Books Mentioned:

My Journey to Japan: Escape to Yokai Mountain

The Time Museum

Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring

The Spark Experiment

Salt Water Taffy

#ReadingInTheMiddle #MatthewLoux #GraphicNovels #MiddleGradeBooks #KidLit #Yokai #Japan #JapaneseCulture #LibraryPodcast #TeacherResources #BookPodcast #ChildrensBooks #GraphicNovelPodcast #ReadingRecommendations

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What happens when an ordinary middle school kid suddenly becomes internet famous?

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries talks with bestselling author Matthew J. Gilbert about his new middle-grade novel, The New Norm, a funny and relatable story about viral fame, friendship, identity, and surviving middle school.

Matthew shares how his career evolved from an award-winning television writer at Nickelodeon to an author of more than 40 books for young readers. We also discuss his work writing stories set in the worlds of Stranger Things, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and other beloved franchises, as well as the challenges and rewards of writing for today's middle-grade audience.

Whether you're a fan of humorous middle-grade fiction, pop culture adventures, or stories about finding your place in the world, this conversation is packed with insight, laughter, and inspiration.

• The inspiration behind The New Norm
• Writing about social media and middle school life
• Creating stories for popular franchises
• From television writing to children's books
• Why humor matters in middle-grade fiction
• Advice for aspiring young writers

• Official Website

Join Annisha Jeffries for conversations with today's most exciting middle-grade authors, illustrators, and creators. Discover new books, behind-the-scenes stories, and reading recommendations for tweens, educators, librarians, and families.

#MiddleGradeBooks #MatthewJGilbert #TheNewNorm #ReadingInTheMiddle #ChildrensBooks #MiddleGradeAuthor #StrangerThingsBooks #KidLit #BookPodcast #AnnishaJeffries #BooksForTweens #LibraryPodcast #MGBooks #AuthorInterview #ReadingRecommendation

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What do scouting, hidden treasure, coal mines, and dragons have in common?

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries welcomes New York Times bestselling authors Candace Lee and Eric Newman to discuss their thrilling new middle-grade fantasy adventure, George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend.

Candace and Eric bring an impressive storytelling background to the page. Their work spans Disney+, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, feature films, music production, bestselling novels, and collaborations with Bear Grylls. Together, they've created the Order of the Dragon Slayer series to inspire young readers to face life's challenges with courage, resilience, and hope.

We discuss the creation of George Goodwin, an unlikely hero determined to clear his father's name and save his struggling Appalachian town. Along the way, we explore scouting culture, friendship, cinematic storytelling, dragon mythology, and why today's readers still need stories about bravery.

Plus, stay tuned for our lightning round, where we talk about favorite dragons, adventure movies, campfire snacks, and more.

🐉 Meet New York Times bestselling authors Candace Lee and Eric Newman

🎬 How careers in Disney+, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, and television storytelling influenced their writing process

🏕️ Why scouting became the foundation of the Order of the Dragon Slayer series

⛏️ The inspiration behind Big Mountain, West Virginia, and the mysterious coal mines beneath it

💎 Hidden treasure, dragon lore, and legendary quests

📚 The influence of The Goonies, Jurassic Park, and classic adventure stories on the series

❤️ Creating emotionally authentic middle-grade heroes

⚔️ What it means to "slay life's dragons."

🎙️ A lightning round featuring favorite dragons, campfire snacks, adventure films, and books that inspired them as young readers

Twelve-year-old George Goodwin believes a legendary treasure hidden beneath Big Mountain, West Virginia, could save his struggling town and clear his father's name.

When a scouting trip turns into an unexpected quest, George and his friends find themselves facing collapsing tunnels, dangerous thieves, ancient secrets, and a fire-breathing dragon unlike anything they imagined.

The first book in the Order of the Dragon Slayer series blends classic adventure storytelling with friendship, courage, humor, and heart.

Candace Lee is a writer and producer whose work includes Emmy-winning programming for Disney+, concert films featuring Andrea Bocelli, collaborations with Bear Grylls, and bestselling novels. She studied film and television production at New York University and co-authored the New York Times and USA Today bestseller Miracle at the Higher Grounds Café.

Eric Newman has written and produced Emmy-winning television, bestselling novels, and feature films for Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, and Penguin Random House. He served as a writer and executive producer on Bear Grylls's global adventure series and co-created the Order of the Dragon Slayer series.

Order of the Dragon Slayer Series

George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend

Penguin Random House Book Page

🎙️ Hosted by Annisha Jeffries

📚 Exploring middle-grade books, authors, and the stories that inspire young readers.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

#ReadingInTheMiddle #GeorgeGoodwinDragonSlayer #CandaceLee #EricNewman #MiddleGradeBooks #MiddleGradeFantasy #DragonSlayer #BookPodcast #ScoutingAdventure #ChildrensBooks #MGBooks #AuthorInterview #Bookstagram #Libraries #MiddleGradeReaders #FantasyBooks #OrderOfTheDragonSlayer #AnnishaJeffries

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In this heartfelt episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries speaks with co-authors Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka about their touching middle-grade novel, Roxie in Color, launching on June 2. The discussion covers Roxie’s journey through friendship, anxiety, art, and identity as she faces seventh grade while hiding a personal secret: both her parents are blind. Annisha and the authors examine the novel's emotional use of color, Nash the guide dog’s narration, and the delicate balance between visibility, belonging, and self-protection. They also talk about collaboration, disability representation in middle-grade fiction, the importance of depicting systemic barriers realistically, and the choice to typeset the book in Atkinson Hyperlegible a font made for low-vision readers.

If you love thoughtful middle-grade books about courage, creativity, friendship, and finding your place in the world, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Diane Debrovner on Instagram

Stacy Cervenka is the director of the Iowa Department for the Blind and previously led the Blind Parents Group of the National Federation of the Blind.

Roxie in Color by Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka

Publication Date: June 2, 2026

Publisher: Candlewick Press

School Library Journal Review

📸 Instagram:

@reading_in_the_middle

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