In this episode, Jasmine Warga chats with Jennifer about the power of read alouds, using stories as conversation starters, and the importance of representation in literature. Jasmine shares her personal journey as a reader and writer, and how books helped her feel less alone. They also talk about Jasmine's latest book, A Rover's Story and her upcoming mystery novel set in an art museum: A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. The conversation highlights the impact of books on readers' hearts and the need for diverse and engaging stories for middle grade readers.

Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Reader's Heart

03:30 The Power of Read Alouds

06:36 Books as Conversation Starters

08:30 Using Stories to Bridge Chasms

09:23 Writing for Middle Grade Readers

14:34 Book Talk: Rover, A Rover Story

25:34 Writing Mysteries for Middle Grade Readers

29:51 Upcoming Projects

33:08 Conclusion