Reading in The Middle

Award-winning author and illustrator @Grace Lin joins Reading in the Middle to discuss her newest middle-grade novel, The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon — a sweeping fantasy filled with Chinese folklore, stone lions, and a possibly-not-a-worm dragon.

In this episode, Grace reflects on her journey from aspiring ice skater to literary icon, shares behind-the-scenes stories about illustrating her work, and explains why she believes books can be both mirrors and windows. We also chat about her early books (The Year of the Dog, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Ling & Ting), her advocacy work, and her beloved podcast Book Friends Forever.

Pick up The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon wherever books are sold, and don’t forget to support your indie bookstores and libraries.

🎧 Subscribe to Reading in the Middle for more conversations with the storytellers shaping middle-grade literature.

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Authors Victoria E. Pannell and Thorir Sigfusson join Reading in the Middle to discuss The Crow’s Tales, their bright and funny mystery series starring a ten-year-old boy, a loyal crew of friends, and one unforgettable crow named Ralph. From bake sales and bullies to ruby rings and remote-control car races, we explore how their books blend real-life feelings with big adventure — and why writing as a team created a voice all their own.

Subscribe to Reading in the Middle and support your favorite indie bookstores and libraries!

Featured Titles:

• The Bird Caper – Brandon’s world is turned upside down when his pet crow is accused of stealing, and neighborhood tensions reveal unexpected allies and new beginnings.

• The Big Dream – Brandon and his friends try to build a remote-controlled car in time for a big race — and learn lessons about teamwork, grit, and community.

• The Crow’s Ring—A decades-old heist, a ruby ring, and a tugboat that needs saving send Brandon and the crew on their biggest mystery yet.

In this episode:

• The origin of Ralph the crow

• How to balance mystery, humor, and emotion for middle-grade readers

• What it’s like to co-write a book series

• Why Maplewood, the setting, feels so real

• The power of friendship, persistence, and bugs that save the day 🐞

Connect with the Authors:

• https://pannellsigfusson.com/

📚 Support local:
Find The Crow’s Tales at your library or order from your favorite indie bookstore.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe to Reading in the Middle wherever you get your podcasts — and leave a review to help more readers discover these incredible stories.

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Rosie, a 12-year-old musical prodigy with synesthesia, perceives music in color. After enduring years of her mother’s pressure to become a concert violinist, she yearns for a respite. However, an unexpected summer spent with her grandparents and a time glitch altered her life completely. Rosie suddenly encounters her mother as a child. In this episode, author Emily Barth Isler speaks with host Annisha Jeffries about The Color of Sound, Jewish family traditions, the generational tug-of-war, and the significant impact of learning to listen.

In This Episode:
🎻 Writing about synesthesia with lyrical detail
📖 How Jewish culture and family shape Rosie’s story
💬 What happens when kids confront family expectations
🕰️ Time travel as a metaphor for empathy and repair
📚 Connections to Emily’s debut novel AfterMath
🎧 Crafting middle grade fiction that honors “big feelings”

Books Mentioned:

• The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler

• AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

Perfect For:
✔️ Middle grade readers who love emotional, character-driven stories
✔️ Educators exploring family, identity, and creative self-expression
✔️ Librarians looking for diverse, layered fiction with intergenerational themes
✔️ Listeners interested in how time, memory, and storytelling collide

Where to Find the Book:
The Color of Sound is available wherever books are sold.
Support independent bookstores at bookshop.org.

Stay Connected:
📸 Instagram: @reading_in_the_middle
📬 Email: @readinginthemiddle. blog
🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen

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On today’s episode of Reading in the Middle, Newbery Medalist and Coretta Scott King Award winner Jerry Craft joins me for a lively conversation about creativity, competition, and the power of storytelling.

Jerry shares the behind-the-scenes story of his new book J vs. K, a dynamic collaboration with fellow Newbery winner Kwame Alexander. This fast-paced illustrated novel follows two fifth graders—one who writes, one who draws—as they battle it out in a school-wide storytelling contest. (J vs. K hits shelves May 6, 2025!)

We also talk about:

• How Jerry’s New Kid trilogy (New Kid, Class Act, and School Trip) broke barriers in children's literature

• What it was like seeing New Kid head to the big screen, produced by LeBron James

• Using comics and humor to tackle significant issues like identity, belonging, and friendship

• Advice for young creators who are finding their voice through words or art

• A rapid-fire round where Jerry reveals the one thing he refuses to eat in the school cafeteria!

Whether you're team words, team drawings, or somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with inspiration, laughter, and a reminder that the best stories aren't just about winning—they’re about how you tell them.

🎧 Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen—and don't forget to pre-order J vs. K!

Show Notes:
📚 Books Mentioned:

• New Kid by Jerry Craft

• Class Act by Jerry Craft

• School Trip by Jerry Craft

• The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

• J vs. K by Jerry Craft and Kwame Alexander (Release date: May 6, 2025)

🎬 Coming Soon:

• New Kid movie adaptation produced by LeBron James and directed by Prentice Penny

✨ Follow Jerry Craft:
Website: jerrycraft.com
Instagram: @jerrycraft
Twitter/X: @jerrycraft

✨ Follow Reading in the Middle for more:
Instagram: @reading_in_the_middle

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📚 Bigfoot Is a Jerk by Julie Ditchburn Patton is a laugh-out-loud middle-grade adventure that blends summer camp chaos with cryptid-sized attitude. When new kid Zander signs up for Camp Bear Paw, he expects bug bites, bonfires, and bad cabin food—not a run-in with the most obnoxious Bigfoot in the forest. But something (or someone) is determined to make camp unforgettable, for all the wrong reasons.

Packed with wild twists, quirky characters, and just the correct dose of heart, this is a hilarious story about friendship, facing fears, and what happens when legends come to life... and don’t play nice.

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We’re embarking on an adventure filled with friendship and middle school chaos with Donn Swaby, the author of Corey Crumbly and the Lost Amulet! 🏫💥🌀

Join us on Reading in the Middle as we discuss Corey’s thrilling quest, his comical best friend Sharod, and what it truly means to be courageous—even when panic sets in. Imagine Indiana Jones colliding with Star Wars… in the classroom.

Don’t miss this enchanting and action-packed episode that demonstrates you don’t need superpowers to be a hero—only heart, humor, and a sprinkle of amulet magic.

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Today, the incredible Aubrey Hartman, author of The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, joins me.

In this episode, we talk about foxes and forests, bookish girls and winged lions, grief, friendship, and why fantasy stories are sometimes the best way to talk about real life.

So if you’ve ever needed a little courage, comfort, or magic, this episode is for you.

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What do harp seals, poetry, and middle school have in common? They all collide in this heartfelt new episode with award-winning author Padma Venkatraman!

We’re talking about her latest middle grade novel, Safe Harbor—a story of change, courage, and finding peace even when life feels like a storm. 🌧️☀️ Follow Geetha as she navigates a new life in Rhode Island after leaving India—facing bullies, learning a new culture, and rescuing a seal who might help her heal. 🦭

In this episode, Padma and I talk:✨ Finding your voice through music and poetry
✨ What to do when you're feeling all the feelings
✨ Why letting go is sometimes the bravest thing you can do
✨ And how even the most minor acts—like picking up trash on a beach—can lead to significant change

Whether you’ve read The Bridge Home, Born Behind Bars, or this is your first time meeting Padma, you’re in for something truly special.

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In this touching episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha talks with debut author Melanie Baldwin, inspired by her wildlife rehabilitation experiences, leading to her picture book, Penny Opossum: A Baby Animal Rescue Tale. Also joining is Illustrator Don Mason, who helped visualize Penny's journey. Together, they discuss the power of following one's instincts—whether that's a baby opossum or an author—and how a simple Facebook post sparked a story of courage, collaboration, and care for nature.

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👻 On this episode of Reading in the Middle, I sit down with Adam Rosenbaum, author of The Ghost Rules, a middle-grade novel that’s eerie, heartfelt, and full of mystery. We talk about the rules of the afterlife, crafting ghost stories that resonate, and why middle-grade readers love a little bit of spooky with their storytelling.

Plus, hear an exclusive clip from the book that sets the stage for our ghostly discussion! 👻

Stick around. This one’s going to be un-boo-believably good. 🎧✨

📖 Listen now on Reading in the Middle!

#ReadingInTheMiddle #PodcastInterview #MiddleGradeBooks #TheGhostRules #AdamRosenbaum #SpookyReads #GhostStories #KidLit

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