Two Lit Mamas

Two Lit Mamas: A kid-lit podcast for parents, teachers and writers

Episode 4: Diverse Summer Reads

You might want to pour a glass of wine for this one. Heather and Margie dive into diverse American stories and get on their soap boxes about the importance of representation, true patriotism, letting sassy children lead us, and the power of mamas’ boys. They aimed for light summer beach reads but happily landed on more important books about black girl magic and the kindness of Latinx boys – much more fitting for the summer of 2020.   

Summer Reads Book Discussion:

A Song Below Water
By Bethany C. Morrow

This modern fantasy about two friends, Tavia and Effie, is set in Portland, Oregon where sirens and other magical creatures live among humans. In addition to dealing with racism and sexism, the play sisters also have to hide their magical abilities out of fear of attack after a siren murder trial rocks the nation. As if that isn’t enough, the young women also struggle with normal teen troubles like boys and hair. In the end, their strong friendship gets them through it all.  

Marcus Vega Does Not Speak Spanish
By Pablo Cartaya

Marcus Vega is a 6-foot, 180-pound middle schooler and while he might tower over most kids at his school, to his mom and brother, he's just a big, overprotective softie. After a fight at school provides Marcus with some unexpected "time off," Marcus' mom decides it's time for him to reconnect with his family in Puerto Rico. However, Marcus thinks this is the perfect time to search for the father who left them ten years ago. Through a series of adventures in Puerto Rico, Marcus learns that family is never quite the way you imagine it.

Pick Six Read the Book, Skip the Movie:

1. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

2. The Giver by Lois Lowry

3. Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer

4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

6. Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Two Lit Mamas: A Kid-Lit podcast for parents, teachers and writers

 Episode 3: Multicultural Middle Grade

In Episode 3 of Two Lit Mamas, Margie and Heather chat about heavy metal t-shirts, flower pictures, and flying teenagers before diving into a discussion on first gen Americans, language misconceptions, unfounded fears of the other, and the right kind of rule breakers. Margie even gets misty about her Turkish, immigrant husband – you don’t want to miss it! 

Multicultural Middle Grade Book Discussion:

We're Not From Here

by Jeff Rodkey

After the human race obliterates Earth, middle schoolers Lan and Ila are living on Mars with their parents. Unfortunately, Mars' resources are nearly exhausted, but the far-off planet Choom has agreed to take on human refugees. Unfortunately, during the 20-year journey to Choom, the government changed and no longer has any interest in taking a ship full of violent human refugees. With little food and fuel left and the remainder of the human race counting on them, Lan and family have been given a chance to prove to all of Choom that humans are not as bad as they seem. No pressure.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

by Jessica Kim

Eleven-year-old Yumi Chung is a shy Korean American girl who struggles at her fancy L.A. private school where students call her names and she eats lunch by herself in the bathroom. Her one solace is her favorite comedians’ how-to videos and her notebook full of jokes. In a case of mistaken identity, Yumi joins a summer comedy camp without the permission of her over-protective parents. During that time to learns to fail forward and stick up for herself. Eventually she uses her comedy skills to save the day. 

Pick Six Multicultural Books:

1.     Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

2.     Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

3.     Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

4.     Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

5.     The First Rule of Punk by Celia Pérez

6.     The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

 Show Reference Links:

 Teacher Guide for We’re Not From Here

 #ownvoices

 The Book Sommelier

 11 Contemporary Diverse Novels for Middle Grade Readers on ReadBrightly.com

 https://coloursofus.com

In Episode 2 of Two Lit Mamas, Margie and Heather surprise each other with book reports on two Middle Grade novels the other one hasn’t read. Listen along as the mamas introduce each other to bog monsters, butter cows, wish granters, and Jan Brady books. What the heck is a Jan Brady book, you ask? Hit play and let Margie explain it to you.  

Margie’s Surprise-Me Books:

Eventown
by Corey Ann Haydu

Eventown follows eleven-year-old twins, Elodee and Naomi as they move from their urban home to Eventown following a heartbreaking loss. Eventown promises to be a new start where nothing is good or bad but only even. Memories fade, both good and bad and everything is replaced with a perfect state of calm. The problem is, what makes things better for one sister, doesn’t always work for both. *Note* Contains references to teen suicide.

Slider
by Pete Hautman

David Miller is a fourteen-year-old who is stuck in the middle. He’s the middle child living in the middle of Iowa and the only thing he seems to be good at is competitive eating. When a mess-up on an online auction site threatens to get him grounded for life, David has to break out of the middle and find a way to shine, even if it’s by eating two dozen pizzas.

Heather’s Surprise-Me Books:

The Girl Who Drank the Moon
by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a 2017 Newbery Medal winner about a young girl named Luna who becomes magical after a witch, who saves her from abandonment in the forest, feeds her moonlight. The witch, Xan, then raises Luna as her own along with the help of a bog monster and a tiny dragon. On the other side of the mountain, in Luna’s hometown of the Protectorate, a young man vows to put an end to the evil witch who demands a sacrificial baby each year, but the real evil is waiting to be uncovered.   
 
Granted
by John David Anderson

Granted is a middle grade novel about Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets, a Granter fairy who’s been given her first wish-granting assignment. To complete her mission, she must leave the safety of the Haven for the first time. Her mentors warn her that the human world is a dangerous place, but Ophelia isn’t afraid. She’s packed everything she could possibly need and is ready to make one girl’s wish for a new bike come true ­– or, so she thinks. 

Show Reference Links:

Artist Duffy and the history of Iowa State Fair butter cows

More Middle Grade farm books from The Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors 

More about bog ecosystems from National Geographic

Ms. Bixby’s Last Day

Teacher Guides from Pete Hautman

Heather and Margie, two KidLit obsessed moms, share their middle grade author crushes. The discussion quickly devolves as the BFFs defend fart jokes, thumb their noses at boring classics, and disparage men who take credit for the work of goddesses. If you’re a KidLit snob, you might want to give it a pass, but, if you’re in need of some good book lovin’, give it a shot. Eh, why not? 

Margie’s Top 5 MG Crushes:

Dan Gutman 

Not only for the most fun chapter books around, the Weird School series, but also for the Genius Files which are also, genius.

Carl Hiaasen 

For writing kid lit that is as fun, wild and exciting as his adult books, just without the naughty parts.

Margaret Peterson Haddix 

Because she challenges kids’ views of the world and makes them want to explore other worlds as well.

Jeff Kinney 

For making storytelling with graphics mainstream and making it ok to be a total nerd. Beyond that, for creating a bookstore – An Unlikely Story, in Plainfield, Mass. – that is a haven for kid-lit and the best place in the world to spend an afternoon.

Judy Blume 

For being the Grand Dame of telling important stories and making so many of us want to write for kids too.

Heather’s Top 5 MG Crushes:

Richard Peck 

For writing about my hood with humor, love and respect in the A Long Way from Chicago books and for writing about a mouse in England that made my little, anglophile heart happy. 

Madeline L’Engle 

For making this nerd think big thoughts that led to bigger worlds, ideas, and experiences than a farm girl ever could have imagined. 

Pam Muñoz Ryan 

For shining a brilliant light on the Latinx experience and for writing horse stories that a horse-loving girl like myself cherished. Can’t wait to read Mañanaland.  

Christopher Paul Curtis 

For saying, “I’m the kind of person who is excruciatingly slow to come to taking a risk but once I decide to, I’m all-in” and for creating Bud Caldwell and his Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Can we hang out, Mr. Curtis? I seriously love the way your brain works.  

Margaret Peterson Haddix 

For using a journalism career as a jumping off point for a unique and fascinating children’s lit collection that captivated my son, as well as me.    

Show Reference Links:

One Question with Mr. Sharp YouTube channel 

Mr. Sharp interview with Margaret Peterson Haddix 

M. Night Shymalan vs. Margaret Peterson Haddix 

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson 

Storyteller Academy 

Arree Chung