Happy Reading

This episode spotlights four middle grade novels featuring main characters with ADHD:  Focused by Alyson Gerber, A Perfect Mistake by Melanie Conklin, Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya, and Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn. Twitter: @WordNerd153 IG: @Kidlit_Lover.  transcript available at happyrdng.blogspot.com

As of this recording I have read 655 books this year, 80 of which were middle grade, so I thought it’d be fun for me to review those titles and pluck some favorites from the bunch to share with you. This is also a sneaky way to be loosey goosey with this episode’s theme and spotlight books that might not have anything in common other than wonderful storytelling, endearing characters, and a riveting plot. By no means are these the only spectacular middle grade books I read this year—in fact, several of my favorites will show up in future episodes—but we’d easily be here for over an hour if I highlighted every book I read in 2023 that made me a better human.  Books included in this episode: The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt, The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies, The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson, The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon, and Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker. Shout outs also given to The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day, The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

In this episode I share excerpts from five middle grade books that center around sports that generally aren't consdiered to be mainstream: Call Me Adnan by Reem Faruqi (table tennis), Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera (synchronized swimming), Kenzie Kickstarts a Team by Kit Rosewater and Sophie Escabasse (roller derby), Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (fencing), and Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo (baton twirling).  A modified version of the transcript can be found here: https://happyrdng.blogspot.com/2023/11/i-wanna-see-you-sweat.html

This episode spotlights 4 middle grade novels and one middle grade nonfiction book, all of which clock in under 200 pages. The featured books are When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Thirst by Varsha Bajaj, Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech, The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat, and Two Truth and a Lie: It's Alive! by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson. You can read a modified transcript of the episode on the Happy Reading website at www.happyrdng.blogspot.com

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to excerpts from four middle grade novels about young spies. This podcast will not self-destruct at any point, so do not panic. Spotlighted books include A Recipe for Trouble by Sarah Todd Taylor, City Spies by James Ponti, N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley, and Undercover Latina by Aya De León. Find a partial transcript of this episode at https://happyrdng.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-eagle-has-landed-check-out-these.html  

This episode is all about one of my favorite things: baking! I share excerpts from Janae Marks's debut From the Desk of Zoe Washington, the first book in Erin Soderberg Downing's The Great Peach Experiment series, Summer of a Thousand Pies by Margaret Dilloway, Aimee Lucido's Recipe for Disaster, and All You Knead is Love by Tanya Guerrero. A transcript without book excerpts can be found HERE

This epsiode opens with "Amplify," a verso poem about young people getting involved in social activism, and then spotlights five middle grade books about protagonists who are  passionate about bettering their communities. Featured books include A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée, Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone, Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles, Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulos, and Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper. 

Spotlights four middle grade books with quick summaries and excerpts from each book.

This episode spotlights four middle grade books I read recently that I couldn't put down.

This episode spotlights four middle grade novels written from multiple characters' perspectives.

A podcast that spotlights middle grade fiction books by theme. This episode focuses on titles that explore the power of words.

This episode spotlights four middle grade fiction titles that explore how it feels to have a parent in prison.

A podcast that highlights middle grade books centered around a specific theme. In this episode you'll hear excerpts from five different titles that take place during winter.

Hear descriptions of and excerpts from 3 middle grade novels and 1 young adult title that center around running.

Hear about five creepy middle grade titles that will get your heart racing.

Hear about four fabulous books aimed at 8-12 year olds that take place at camp.

Happy Reading Episode 10 - Twins by Sarah Threlkeld

Happy Reading Episode 9 - Chickens by Sarah Threlkeld

Happy Reading Episode 8 - Awesome Teachers by Sarah Threlkeld