WOW Reads

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta.

In this episode, we discuss... 

• Jo’s creative process.
• The places and spaces we feel halfway between.
• We recommend this book for our parents and teachers (the OG book influencers), our friends and basically everyone!

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the U of A College of Education.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Lit Discussant: Narges Zandi, U of A COE Graduate Assistant
Audio Engineer: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Art Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Nursing Major
Digital Collaborator: Melanie Reyes, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student

For more information on the Worlds of Words Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP), visit wowlit.org.

Today's Podcast Music was made by Nathan LaValley (Royalty Free Bossa Music).

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We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Worlds of Words Center Middle School and Teen Reading Ambassadors discuss the past academic year as they read and promoted reading together.

For us, books and bagels are a natural pairing. Bruegger's by the University of Arizona, if you're listening, know that once a month since January of 2018, multiple bagel bundles fuel our reading discussions. This is not a paid announcement, just facts. But... if you have cheddar to share, we'll take your dough.

Meanwhile, each Reading Ambassador studied four novels this year. We met at least eight authors, participated in the Tucson Festival of Books, had our first in-person Read-A-Thon, and recorded 10 episodes of this podcast. We continued to hear about the surprising frequency of book bans and challenges. We shared our best book recommendations, changing perspectives, librarian love, and advice for having a good school experience.

Books and authors mentioned in this episode:
Fiona Frizzle (iykyk)
Donna Barba Higuera -- The Last Cuentista and Alebrijes
Bill Konigsberg -- Destination Unknown
Karen McManus -- The Cousins
Sally Rooney -- Normal People
Nic Stone
Kait Waterhouse -- A Stirring from the Depths

This podcast was recorded in the U of A College of Education media studio with assistance from the U of A COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Lit Discussant: Kait Waterhouse, U of A COE Graduate Assistant
Learning & Engagement Intern: Bonnie Rock, U of A W.E. Franke Honors College Student
Audio Engineer: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Art Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Reading Ambassadors, visit wowlit.org (under the About tab).

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley by Melissa Marr.

In a special combined group of middle and high school readers, the Reading Ambassadors came together where story worlds collide -- in this case, DC Comics, the gothic world of Robert Lewis Stevenson, and author Melissa Marr's imagination. We thoroughly enjoyed Melissa's second visit with us, especially she shares her writing process and thoughts on book challenges. We also give a shout out to illustrator Jenn St-Onge.

Program note: Melissa discussed Dissociative Identity Disorder as distinct from the literary theme of the duality of human nature with us. In this episode Reading Ambassadors using terms such as "alter egos" refer to the literary theme, not the mental health condition.

Authors/books mentioned in this episode:
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Guadalupe García McCall, who joined us in WOW Reads' Season 1.

This podcast was recorded in the U of A College of Education media studio with assistance from the U of A COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Lit Discussant: Kait Waterhouse, U of A COE Graduate Assistant
Learning & Engagement Intern: Bonnie Rock, U of A W.E. Franke Honors College Student
Audio Engineer: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Art Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Reading Ambassadors, visit wowlit.org.

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Dear Manny by Nic Stone.

Nic Stone is open and warm, just like her favorite color -- orange. We discuss her commentary on lies (fiction is truth through the lens of a lie), her degree in psychology (understanding human experience helps with character development) and the habit of pursing discomfort (helps us grow and staves off boredom). 

Authors mentioned in this episode:
Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Jacqueline Woodson and Terry J. Benton-Walker.

Additional authors and the books mentioned in this episode:
Jason Reynolds, Long Way Down
Elle Desamours, Needy Little Things
Louis Sachar, Holes (a book that also came into play with the Middle School Reading Ambassador conversation around Jasmine Warga)
Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides

Thanks to the Tucson Festival of Books for coordinating Nic Stone's visit.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the U of A College of Education with assistance from the U of A COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Lit Discussant: Kait Waterhouse, U of A COE Graduate Assistant
Learning & Engagement Intern: Bonnie Rock, U of A W.E. Franke Honors College Student
Audio Engineer: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP), visit wowlit.org.

###

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Reading Ambassadors (middle and high school) as we recap our experience around University of Arizona Museum Day.

Twelve cultural and science collections on the U of A campus offered free or reduced admission and special programming on Saturday, March 29, 2025. In this bonus episode, we briefly discuss... 

• The UA Museum of Art
• Center for Creative Photography
• Greivenkamp Museum of Optics
• Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
• Worlds of Words Center

Worlds of Words shared three experiences for U of A Museum day: our original exhibit "Cepeda Stories: Everyone Has a Story to Tell," art from our archives that complement the exhibit, and award-winning global picturebooks with outstanding illustrations.

The Reading Ambassadors share how these kinds of campus-wide events impact them personally and how they benefit the community.

Special thanks to the U of A Research, Innovation & Impact and the committee who worked to launch this second campus-wide day celebrating art, science and the humanities, including the above listed units as well as Poetry Center, Coit Museum of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Museum of Democracy, African American Museum of Southern Arizona, Flandrau Science Center, Museum Association of Arizona, and The Archive of Visual Arts.

This podcast was recorded in the Worlds of Words Center studio in the U of A College of Education.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Radio, TV, Film Major

For more information on the Worlds of Words Reading Ambassadors, visit wowlit.org and look under "About."

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We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga.

In this episode, we discuss... 

• How are we seen in real life and in books? How do we see ourselves?
• In what ways do we help or hinder our relationships with friends and family?
• The tight nature of writing in the mystery genre. 
• And Emaline takes a clear stance on graphic organizers.

Bonus Book Mentions:
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Thanks to the Tucson Festival of Books for coordinating Jasmine Warga's visit. In our session, we learned Jasmine previously taught 6th grade. We determined she was likely an excellent teacher. She also mentioned Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine and Holes by Louis Sachar (a book that also came into play with the Teen Reading Ambassador conversation around Nic Stone).

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the U of A College of Education with assistance from the U of A COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Lit Discussant: Kait Waterhouse, U of A COE Graduate Assistant
Learning & Engagement Intern: Bonnie Rock, U of A W.E. Franke Honors College Student
Audio Engineer: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student
Audio Engineer Supervisor: Liam Arias, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Radio, TV, Film Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Nursing Major

For more information on the Worlds of Words Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP), visit wowlit.org.

###

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow.

In this episode the Teen Reading Ambassadors talk about perceptions of love and life as idyllic, though the reality of most people's experiences aren't always so tidy. We also appreciate Kathleen's writing advice, which could also help with college applications, and found Kathleen's experiences traveling for book events in different countries interesting.

Books mentioned in this episode:
The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Dear Manny by Nic Stone
Guides for Dating Vampires (series) by D.N. Bryn
More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

Kathleen's special edition books:
The Glass Girl Target Exclusive Edition
Girl In Pieces Delux Edition

Song:
"Boys Will Be Bugs" by Cavetown

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the University of Arizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Audio Engineers: Liam Arias, Student Employee and Radio, TV, Film Major, and Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP), visit wowlit.org.

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg.

Wherever our destination is, we will enjoy the music! In this episode the Teen Reading Ambassadors talk about the joys of banter between friends, complicated family interactions, and how music connects us regardless of the decade. We, like Bill, hope everyone finds love in a beautiful way.

Band mentions:
Bad Sons
Fiona Apple
Green Day
INXS
Lil Peep (specifically "Star Shopping")
Missing Persons -- Dale Bozzio, do you know about this book?
Taylor Swift
Will Wood and the Tapeworms (specifically "Ish")

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Special Guest: Aika Adamson, Worlds of Words Center Office Specialist
Audio Engineers: Liam Arias, Student Employee and Radio, TV, Film Major, and Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP), visit wowlit.org.

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around predicting the 2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal winner for picturebook illustration.

In this episode, we discuss... 

• Our understanding of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Caldecott committee's criteria and process for selection.
• How we used those understandings in determining our nomination and final voting.
• Our selection for the winning and honor books.
• How the experience informed our view of picturebooks.

We also would like to make a pitch to ALSC to include at least one youth member on the selection committee. Maybe someone without so much homework.

Book Mentions:
Big illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Home In a Lunchbox illustrated by Cherry Mo
The Last House Before Falling Into the Sea illustrated by Hanna Cha
The Last Zoo Keeper illustrated by Aaron Becker
My Daddy Is a Cowboy illustrated by C.G. Esperanza
Touch the Sky illustrated by Chris Park
Two Together illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
The Yellow Bus illustrated by Loren Long

This podcast was recorded in a private room of the Worlds of Words Center on three phones. We didn't need an "and, uhm!"

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Special Guest: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Radio, TV, Film Major

For more information on the Worlds of Words Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP), visit wowlit.org.

###

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan.

In this episode, we discuss... 

• Our connections with the main character, Summer, and the fun we have when we reunite with distant family.
• How Buffalo Dreamer is the first formal introduction for the Reading Ambassadors about Residential/Industrial Schools for Indigenous children in North America, and how we can carry this new information forward. We consider the idea of "moving forwards, backwards" (sourced from University of Arizona faculty member, Sheilah Nicholas), and how even when history doesn't repeat itself, it can often "rhyme."
• The empathy and admiration we have for Violet Duncan after her book was announced as a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It can be hard to be in the spotlight, but this award is well-deserved.

Violet embodied grace and generosity on her visit, and we are thankful she took time to share her time with us.

Bonus Book Mentions:
We Are the Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
And maybe someone can help us locate the title of a book about a young girl who is a member of the Yaqui Tribe and successfully petitions to save a tree?

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the U of A College of Education with assistance from the U of A COE Tech Team.

Producer/Host: Rebecca Ballenger, Worlds of Words Center Associate Director
Co-host and Lit Discussant: Kait Waterhouse, U of A COE Graduate Assistant
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Radio, TV, Film Major
Audio Engineer In Training: Alexis Mendoza, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A First-year Student
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, Worlds of Words Student Employee and U of A Nursing Major

For more information on the Worlds of Words Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP), visit wowlit.org.

###

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or other school entity. If you would like to support this program, please make a gift on-line through the University of Arizona Foundation.

Thank you for listening and keep reading!