Podcasts about Laurel Snyder

We're thrilled to introduce our first guest of Season 2, the brilliant author Laurel Snyder. Highlights in this episode include: Theme bumping against character, setting, plot and more in order to find its path Writing from the heart in a capitalist system Writing like a cook, not a baker Why the outline changes the minute she starts writing The realities of loving, and envying!, authors like Kate Messner Episode links: Laurel's episode on the Commonplace Podcast with Rachel Zucker The Ezra Klein Show podcast episode with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy   Laurel Snyder is the beloved author of many picture books and novels for children, including National Book Award nominee Orphan Island, the Geisel Award winner Charlie & Mouse, and the Sydney Taylor Award winner The Longest Night. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, she teaches in Hamline University's MFA in writing for children and young adults program. She lives in Atlanta with her family and can be found online at laurelsnyder.com. IG: @ohmylorelai  

Grace takes a break from her sabbatical to record the podcast in person with Alvina and special guest author Laurel Snyder. They're recording together at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA and talk about upheavals in the publishing industry, what to do when you're in a slump, and how to rekindle creativity.  See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Buy Girl Scout Cookies from Grace's daughter Hazel here: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/hazel476196. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/

Pen America reports nearly 6,000 books have been banned across the U.S. since 2021. On Thursday night, Charis Books & More is hosting a discussion on "Writing for Kids in an Age of Censorship.” Children's author Laurel Snyder joins “Closer Look” to talk more about the criticism and backlash she's received for her own work, and the ongoing challenges writers face as more books are banned across the U.S. Plus, surveys show a growing amount of tipping fatigue among consumers. While the Pew Research Center found that 72% of U.S. adults believe tipping is expected in more places than five years ago, Bankrate.com reports 66% of people are not happy about it. Drew DeSilver, a senior writer and editor with the Pew Research Center, discusses tipping trends and negative consumer sentiment.Lastly, Rose talks with Emily Chan, the co-owner of JenChan's. Her business recently received blacklash for including a 4% employee health insurance surcharge on their customers' bills. Chan further explains the ongoing challenges small business owners are facing while trying to stay afloat during unsteady economic times.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Erin Entrada Kelly and Laurel Snyder joined George Brown to discuss their writing process, how to write for the middle grade audience, their current works in progress, and their recent middle grade retreat experience.

I'm Brenna Jeanneret, children's lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children's lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster. Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour. Our guest for this conversation was Laurel Snyder. You can find Laurel Snyder on Instagram. DON'T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode's book reviews: THE BAD SEED written by Jory John illustrated by Pete Oswald THE PERFECT SEAT written by Minh Le and Gus Gordon THERE'S A ZOMBIE IN THE BASEMENT by Stan Yan   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Don't forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!   WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!    And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive. Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment! Thanks and see ya next time.  You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.

Rachel talks with long time friend and writer for children, Laurel Snyder. They talk about the Iowa Writers  Workshop, Laurel's path from poet to children's book author, money, the novice brain, labor, being “messy and extra but not totally batshit,” the relationship between poetry and picture books, the experimental nature of picture books, world building, getting things out rather than getting things down. 

Mary and Rachel interview author A.G. Allen to discuss "There Are Dinosaurs in the Library!" a brand new picture book featuring a fun & fantastic tale. Tune in to hear about inspirations, illustrations, and more. "There Are Dinosaurs in the Library!" hit shelves on September 20, 2023. Purchase a copy by visiting A.G.'s website (https://www.agallen.me) or check out a copy from the Milwaukee County Federated Library System by visiting https://countycat.mcfls.org. Connect with A.G. Allen online: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16569617.A_G_Allen Official website: https://www.agallen.me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agallened See what children's books A.G. read and enjoyed over the summer: "Who Cares!" by Barbara Steinitz "Dragons Love Tacos" by Adam Rubin "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" by Mac Barnett "Endlessly Ever After" by Laurel Snyder "Teo's Tutu" by Maryann Jacob Macias To access complete transcripts for all episodes of Not Your Mother's Library, please visit: oakcreeklibrary.org/podcast Check out books, movies, and other materials through the Milwaukee County Federated Library System: countycat.mcfls.org hoopladigital.com wplc.overdrive.com oakcreeklibrary.org

Good night, Laila tov by Laurel Snyder

Rapid-fire Q&A with Laurel Snyder, Lauren Castillo, Brad & Kristi Montague, and M.T. AndersonThis episode is sponsored by THE JOY OF READING, written by Terri Lesesne and Donalyn Miller.

In this episode, author Laurel Snyder takes us behind the scenes of her upper middle grade novel THE WITCH OF WOODLAND.This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their professional book, WHEN KIDS CAN'T READ--WHAT TEACHERS CAN DO (Second Edition), written by Kylene Beers.

Her name is Zipporah Chava McConnell, but everyone calls her Zippy. See, the thing is...that she's a witch — and this year she's having her Bat Mitzvah!------------------------------------This is the premise of The Witch of Woodland, the latest novel from Laurel Snyder. Snyder is a Sidney Taylor Award-winning author who has written over a dozen works of fiction. She joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg for a conversation about The Witch of Woodland, her ongoing effort to overcome "Jewish Imposter-Syndrome," and the ways in which works of fiction can shape our Jewish world. This episode is the 3rd in an ongoing mini-series of Judaism Unbound episodes, honoring Bat Mitzvah's 100th anniversary, and exploring the present and future of B Mitzvah ("B Mitzvah" is a term for Jewish coming-of-age ceremonies, across the gender spectrum).Access full shownotes for this episode via this link.Learn more about Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva -- a digital center for Jewish learning and unlearing -- by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/unyeshiva. And if you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

I've often found it challenging to find books that I love to use with my older students so I created this fairy tale project to use possibly familiar stories in a way that allows students to work together to create short speech pieces/raps and put together an entire classroom performance, if you desire. Today I'm sharing the process I use with my students for this project over four class periods.  Use it as a guide with your students or follow it as shared! You can use this project with the fairy tale stories that I'm sharing today or use other themed literature: the little people musical artist books would work for this, Aesop's fables, or any group of stories based on a theme.  Love the project and want to use it in your classroom?  Head to www.jessicagrant.org, click on shop and look for Fairy Tales: Drumming and Speech Piece. You can also read the transcript of the episode in the podcast page on the website. Book:  Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder  

Drag superstar Brigitte Bidet discusses her recent Atlanta All-Stars Drag competition win and hosting “Drag Bingo” at Politan Row. Then, Atlanta young adult author Laurel Snyder shares how she combines Judaism and magic in her new book, “The Witch of Woodland.” Plus, Gringo Star takes the spotlight on our series, “Speaking of Music,” and we'll hear about the band's experience playing at the Shaky Knees Music Festival.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laurel Snyder, an Atlanta-based author, joined Leah to talk about the music and marriage of Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires. From Jason's early career in the Drive By Truckers to current collaborations with his wife Amanda Shires, their music was the soundtrack to Laurel's pandemic life. Laurel's new book The Witch of Woodland is available for pre-order now and is a perfect gift for tweens preparing to prepare for their b'nai mitzvah. Keep up with Laurel on LaurelSnyder.com Show Notes Little Shop of Stories (order signed books)  https://18doors.org/ JasonIsbell.com AmandaShiresMusic.com Tiny Desk Concert The Nashville Sound Amanda Shires Youtube Jason Isbell Instagram Amanda Shires Instagram Hope the High Road Elephant Something More than Free Jeff Tweedy and Ezra Klein The Triggering Town  

von Laurel Snyder, erschienen im mixtvision Verlag. In der einfachen und trotzdem spannend erzählten Handlung, sind vielschichtige Gedankenspiele verpackt: Es ist ein Buch über das Erwachsenwerden und über das Akzeptieren von Veränderungen.

Soar into a world where aviation, chess, and poetry combine! Meet Wayne David Hubbard, a true Renaissance man, and follow his adventure in learning from his first flight in middle school to helping thousands of kids discover a love of STEM. There are also links to books we discuss, including his two volumes of poetry, as well as a special section dedicated to meteorologist Archie Williams. Full show notes and pictures.[04:02] David's life has a  "choose your own adventure" flair. We learn about the books that influenced his journey as a kid, including  How Things Work by David Macauley and   Hawaiian Computer Mystery. Some other wonderful "choose your own adventure books" that may connect with readers today include: Time Travel Inn (Choose Your Own Adventure) by Bart King and Endlessly Ever After: Pick YOUR Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings by Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat.[07:06] "Choose your own adventure, wow, that is a philosophy in and of itself." Today, David works for the Federal Aviation Administration at the Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center. At [08:23], David discusses the nonlinear path that got him there, including time in the Marine Corps and working in meteorology. [11:00] Meteorology took us to Archie Williams, an African American who won a gold medal in the 400-meter dash in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and served as a meteorologist during World War II and the Korean War.  Click through the gallery for an overview of the incredible life of Archie Williams. And follow artist Mark Fiore for more. [14:22] We learn about David's passion for inspiring kids to dream about and engage in STEM activities through the chess clubs he's founded and the Aviation Career Education camps he's led.  Over the years, thousands of kids have benefitted from his commitment to mentoring and giving back.[23:36] Poetry, STEM, and the stars. We learn about David's books, including Mobius: Meditations on Home, which addresses the question how do you know when you are home?  Death Throes of the Broken Clockwork Universe will be published by Atmosphere Press in October 2022. "The themes of these poems, many of which are written over about a ten year period, are time, place and love. And also there is quite a bit of science woven into it as well."[30:11] David shares his three-pronged strategy for success:  look for patterns, ask for help, and fail faster. [32:48] "I learned that failure isn't the end of the world. It's really not the end of anything. And what I mean by failing faster is to close the gapSupport the showRead the full show notes, visit the website, and check out my on-demand virtual course. Continue the adventure at LinkedIn or Instagram. *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Stephanie Ryan, author, education consultant, and creator of Let's Learn about Science. Stephanie shows them some kid-friendly science experiments that are fun for the entire family. Elizabeth's husband, Jeff, also joins to answer a listener question addressed to him! The listener is wondering if they should keep their small four-door car or trade up to a minivan.  Zak recommends joining an adult league, club, or class. Stephanie recommends Osmo. Elizabeth recommends Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Elizabeth and Zak are joined by Stephanie Ryan, author, education consultant, and creator of Let's Learn about Science. Stephanie shows them some kid-friendly science experiments that are fun for the entire family. Elizabeth's husband, Jeff, also joins to answer a listener question addressed to him! The listener is wondering if they should keep their small four-door car or trade up to a minivan.  Zak recommends joining an adult league, club, or class. Stephanie recommends Osmo. Elizabeth recommends Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder.  Join us on Facebook and email us at momanddad@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes.  Podcast produced by Rosemary Belson and Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on MADAF each week, and no ads. Sign up now at slate.com/momanddadplus to listen and support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts. To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com (please put GIVEAWAY in the subject line)!-Find a free literary database containing all the books we’ve discussed here:Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Julie Morstad (hear how this book was formative for Ambre’s eldest’s world view on personal limitations due to not being “typical”)The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats by Sue Weaver Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats by Jerry Belanger and Sara Thomson Bredesen (Listen to hear which goat book Amanda prefered)At Our House by Isabel Minhós Martins, illustrated by Madalena Matoso Grow Kind by Jon Lasser, illustrated by Sage Foster-LasserIn Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson, illustrated by Patrice BartonMore Stories from Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson, illustrated by Patrice BartonErnestine’s Milky Way by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, illustrated by Emily Sutton-Kid’s Review: Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards (in the episode, Ambre incorrectly identified the author as just “Julie Andrews”) The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey ZhangAmah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, illustrated by Tracy Subisak Dolch Readers such as Dog Pals by Edward W. Dolch and Marguerite P. Dolch, illustrated by Fran MateraA Year Around the Great Oak or Around the Oak by Gerda MullerWhere Do They Go When it Rains? by Gerda MullerThe Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith, illustrated by Madeline KloepperSonya’s Chickens by Phoebe WahlThe Thief by Megan Whalen TurnerChewy Louie by Howie Schneider (and an update on Amanda’s Great Pyrenees puppy) Zhang Heng and the Incredible Earthquake Detector by Randel McGeeThe Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs by Fiona RobinsonThe Emperor’s Riddle by Kat ZhangThe Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat ZhangBooks Mentioned:Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler WarnerAnne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas WigginDandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson RankinThank you for joining us today! We’d love to hear from you in the comments!-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

This week guest host Dave is joined by Rebecca Baylies and Sharon Hartley from the Providence Animal Rescue League and Dyanna Morrison White, author of the book For the Love of Buddy. They talk about Dyanna's book and PARL's mission in the community, along with children's books for adults and engaging reality television. During The Last Chapter they discuss: What fictional animal you would like to adopt and why? Like what you hear? Rate and review Down Time on Apple Podcasts or your podcast player of choice! If you'd like to submit a topic for The Last Chapter you can send your topic suggestions to downtime@cranstonlibrary.org. Our theme music is Day Trips by Ketsa and our ad music is Happy Ukulele by Scott Holmes. Thanks for listening! Books For the Love of Buddy by Dyanna Morrison White Rescuing Penny Jane by Amy Sutherland Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano Sail by Dorian Brouwers Real Americans by Jared A. Goldstein Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder & Dan Santat What Do You Do With a Chance? by Kobi Yamada & Mae Besom A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett AV 1883 (2021- ) Yellowstone (2018- ) The Circle (2020- ) Minx (2022- ) Other Providence Animal Rescue League, Providence, RI Books on the Square, Providence, RI Barrington Books, Barrington, RI

Laurel Snyder is a best-selling and very successful author and illustrator, but does anything compare to getting to be a guest on Withywindle? Actually, you know what, don't answer that. Either way, Laurel joined the podcast this week to talk about writing, drawing, reading, trolls, snacks, and much more. And of course, as always, this episode also features Lazy Words, Riddle Time, and some truly terrible jokes. Enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Explore Sonya's work at her website and follow her on Instagram. She recommends Dylan's Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie and advises me to dive deep with her pal Laurel Snyder. Dig our explorations of working lives? Please show your support at Patreon.Get in touch on Insta, Twitter, Facebook, or at podcastforaliving [at] gmail [dot] com.Please hit that follow button and share the pod with your people.As always, special thanks to Liv Hunt for logo design, Rotem Fisher for mastering audio, and Brian Trahan for music production and engineering.Our theme song is Nile's Blues by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under Creative Commons by an Attribution 4.0 License. Be kind and stay healthy. Thank you for listening. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Laurel Snyder is the author of numerous books for young readers, including Orphan Island, My Jasper June, and the Charlie & Mouse books.  In this episode, we talk about staying fluent in the language of childhood, the “ghost of brokenness” when writing from a sad place, how Laurel works with the all-or-nothing cycles of her writing process, being an extrovert in an introvert's career, and the difficulties of writing about faith and religion. Around minutes 53-58, this turns into a Real Housewives podcast. We're not sorry! Theme music by Dave Connis. This podcast is ad-free. Find out how to support it here. Thank you! More show notes / subscribe to get the podcast in your email

Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell debuts his first early reader series about two best friends who are as different from each other as can be. ★ "Cornbread and Poppy are endearing characters, poised to join the ranks of other memorable early reader sets of best friends old and new, including James Marshall's George and Martha, Laurel Snyder's Charlie and Mouse, and Sergio Ruzzier's Fox and Chick." —BookPage ★ "A rewarding choice for young readers." —Booklist ★ "Cordell's loose, Steig-like ink line makes emotions easy to read as the duo's interplay builds, Poppy marching blissfully along and Cornbread furrowing his brow. Their well-built adventure, the story's back half, offers exertion, discouragement, and a wonderfully improbable change of fortune, with just enough suspense to keep readers engaged." —PW LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/3H1sa6D

Story of two naughty brothers names Charlie and Mouse (Yes, mouse!)

This Christmas, Atlanta's Fox Theatre celebrates its 90th birthday. The “Fabulous Fox,” as it's known, has fought its way back from extinction numerous times. Hear from Fox Theatre President and CEO Allan Vella about the dramatic twists and turns of this iconic building's history.

Laurel Snyder (@LaurelSnyder) and Chuck Groenink (@ChuckGroenink) share HUNGRY JIM. In this new picture book, a boy awakens to realize that he is a lion... and that he is hungry. Moreover, his appetite seems insatiable and his urges irresistible. If you detect a hint of Sendak, you won’t be wrong. But this is the kind of story where Sendak and childhood and relationships and all of the little bits that make up you were all swallowed up. And the story that’s been churning inside feels a bit subversive and yet totally relatable. You’re gonna like this one. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Little Feminist Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons.

Laurel Snyder has made a career of picture books and middle-grade novels that don't shy away from the facts of life. Her newest novel, My Jasper June , follows Jasper and Leah as they embark on a summer of urban adventures and navigate the messy path between childhood fantasy and grown-up realities.

Life is unpredictable, and if you've ever read Katherine Paterson's popular children's book, Bridge to Terabithia, you may still feel a lingering grief from this tragically beautiful tale. On today's show, Lindsay talks to Katherine Paterson about the book's creation and its lasting effect on readers. Katherine walks us through the shockingly true and emotional story behind this story. Authors Laurel Snyder (Orphan Island) and Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Greystone Secrets) will discuss what the book means to them, personally and professionally, and how they've brought their own personal experiences into their stories. They'll also talk about the importance of reading books that scare you, no matter your age. Intercut with audio excerpts from the book, this episode will take you on an emotional journey through a book's important history, its cultural impact, and how we cope with life's great big unknowns. To learn more about Bridge to Terabithia, visit bit.ly/RRTerabithia Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!

Pour le troisième épisode de Pyjama avec Elsa, c'est l'album La danse du cygne, La vie et la danse d'Anna Pavlova, de Laurel Snyder et Julie Morstad, paru aux éditions L'étagère du bas.

Would you like to grow up on a desert island with no adults to boss you around? That's the locale for our book "Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder. Our readers from Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park, Illinois talk about the challenges of growing up and try to get our writer to disclose some of the answers to the mysteries in the book. Congressman Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, is our celebrity reader.

Laurel Synder discusses her essay "No More All-White Panels: A Pledge" with Jacqueline Davies.

Laurel Synder challenges white authors to ensure conferences and festivals include diverse colleagues but taking the "No More All-White Panels Pledge."

Author Laurel Snyder takes us behind the scenes of her middle grade novel Orphan Island.

Intro Hey everyone! This is Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a teacher, a mom of two daughters, and ridiculously excited about the new twinkle lights on my Christmas tree this year.  Sometimes - you have to take joy in the small things. This is Episode #39 and today we are celebrating some of the best middle grade books published in 2017. And today’s episode is brought to you by WriteAbout.com - a writing community and publishing platform perfect for classrooms. If you are like me and are looking for an engaging and authentic way for your students to share their ideas with a wider audience, you are absolutely going to want to visit WriteAbout.com to check it out.    Main Topic - The Top 20 Middle Grade Books of 2017 This year has been another strong reading year for me so far. I read a lot more picture books thanks to participating in #ClassroomBookaDay but I still kept up with my middle grade reads. And as I look at my book list and genre tracker, I notice I read fewer fantasy books compared to last year and way more graphic novels thanks to the CYBILS. And also my plans to boost my nonfiction reading... failed. So this is an all fiction list.  And I decided to separate out the graphic novels this year since I read so many more of them so be on the lookout for another best of podcast very soon featuring just the middle grade graphic novels.    So, last year at this time,  I read 75 total books including 60 middle grade books with  31 of those published in in 2016. And my top three books last year were Booked, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, and The Wild Robot as my favorite read last year. (You can find that list here.) This year (2017), as of December 20th - I have read 91 books, not including picture books. 79 of those were middle grade with 55 of those published in 2017. A quick word before I begin. Picking JUST 20 was excruciating. And they are not necessarily the most “literary”. I read some beautifully written books this year, ones that are bound to get some top awards, but these are the ones I felt were both well-written and had that special spark that would appeal to young readers.  Even with that - I could easily share with you another 20 (or more!) fabulous books, but then we’d be here all night. Alright here we go - these are my Top 20 middle grade novels of 2017: This Is Just A Test by Madelyn Rosenberg & Wendy Shang This novel is about a boy named David who is preparing for his bar mitzvah while trying to please both his Chinese and Jewish grandmothers. (Not a small feat!)  Oh - and building a nuclear fallout shelter just in case things get out of hand with the Soviets. I loved this book because of its warmth and humor AND because it’s set in 1984. And I am all about that 80s nostalgia lately. (If you want to hear more about this book, check out episode 28 to hear an interview with Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Shang.)   Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker by Shelley Johannes This book is about zany (and flexible!) 3rd grader Beatrice whose first day of school plans get derailed when her best friend, Lenny, shows up to school NOT wearing the matching ninja outfit they both agreed on. AND Lenny shows up with a new friend. I loved this book for it’s playful language, fun orange-tinted illustrations, and Beatrice’s great attitude. And since I have my own ninja-clad wall-climbing 8 year old gal at home, I have a special place in my heart for Beatrice.   Enginerds by Jarrett Lerner Speaking of playful books - what is not to love about a robot that blasts cubes out of its butt? But don’t be fooled by the humor - this is one smart book that celebrates the engineering spirit. It’s about a kid named Kennedy who discovers a mysterious box on his front step that assembles itself into a rather demanding robot. And Kennedy and the rest of his enginerd friends have to figure out how to contain this band of rogue robots who have escaped into their town.  Last week I had the honor of chatting with Jarrett Lerner  about Enginerds - and lots of other things - so watch for that episode in January!   A Rambler Steals Home by Carter Higgins This debut middle grade book by Carter Higgins is about Derby Clark who, along with her dad and younger brother, travel around in their Rambler car, selling Christmas trees in the winter. And hot chocolate and gingersnaps and cinnamon sugar donuts out of an old concession stand trailer. In the summers, they make their home in Ridge Creek, Virginia where they set up their concession stand in the parking lot of a minor league baseball team. But this year when they arrive - Derby discovers that her minor league family is different - with mysteries to solve, people to help, and wrongs to make right. This is ones of those books with characters that stay in your heart - and for me, reading so so many books - it’s a rare find when they’re this memorable.   A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold One of my great reading pleasures this year was getting to know the sweet and quirky Bixby Alexander Tam - or BAT for short. And I was excited to hear that there is at least one more book coming!  In this first one, Bat’s mother, who is a Vet, brings home an orphaned baby skunk to take care of and all Bat can think about is how to find a way to prove his responsibility and get to keep him. This book is adorable and poignant and a great fit for younger middle grade readers.   Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart This incredible adventure is like Lord of the Flies meets Holes with a hint of The Ethan I Was Before.  It’s about a kid named Jonathan who has been sent to an island prison for kids for a crime he admits to committing but does not reveal until the end. On the island he encounters this tough group of 14 misfit boys - all imprisoned on this Alcatraz-type reformatory school for their crimes. Then suddenly, an incident occurs and the adults are all gone and the boys have to figure out what to do. If this one passed you by this year - definitely check it out! It’s got adventure and cool literary references and secret tunnels and oh it keeps you turning those pages!!   Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk This is Lauren Wolk’s second novel after her 2017 Newbery Honor book Wolf Hollow. And oh is this a masterful follow up! And one of those books that had me constantly pausing to research the historical details referenced.  Beyond the Bright Sea is about a young girl called Crow who as an infant washed ashore in an old boat on one of the Elizabeth Islands off the coast of Massachusetts. Other than the reclusive fisherman who is raising her, the other people on the island shun her because they think she came from Penikese Island - the nearby leper colony. When one night Crow spots a campfire on that supposedly abandoned island, she decides to find out for herself what answers that place may hold. This book enveloped me in that world and was full of surprises.   Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson This incredible, important, and beautifully written historical fiction novel takes place in rural Mississippi in the summer of 1955 right after the brutal murder of Emmett Till. That event and its aftermath has shifted the world of the main character -  Rose Lee Carter, her family, and her community.  But this isn’t just a Civil Rights story but the story of young girl dealing with self-doubt and family complications, and trying to decide how to balance making a better life for herself and making a better world for everyone to live in. And in a society that is asking us all to make those same calculations and bringing to light prejudices that some thought were on their way out, this is must read to understand our country and ourselves. I’d probably recommend this one for maybe ages 12 and up or perhaps a little younger with the understanding that the n-word is used. So some readers might need some context for that  - which would be a fantastic opportunity for much-needed conversation. And the sequel, A Sky Full of Stars, is coming out on January 2nd - a perfect time to read or reread the first book and have the second one ready to go!   Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry This is a novel told in alternating chapters of prose and poetry. The poetry sections are told from the point of view of Calli who is smart, sensitive, and into astronomy. She also has Tourette syndrome (TS) and was advised by her doctor and mom to hide that fact from people. But since she’s just moved to Utah with her mom, Calli is in this stressful position of starting a new school and trying to mask her tics and noises. The other chapters are from the point of view of her classmate and neighbor Jinsong. He is the student body president and the two of them form a fragile friendship that seems like it might be doomed when his friends start to target her. I adored this book and I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover (but we all do) - and Forget Me Not has such a gorgeous and meaningful cover. Kudos to Anna Booth for the cover design.   Funny Girl edited by Betsy Bird This collection of short stories is truly laugh-out-loud hilarious. Every one is written by women and about experiences young girls in particular can relate to. But - the boys in my class are loving this book, too!  It’s a great mix of personal narratives, poetry, comics, quizzes, and all kinds of cool formats. Some of my favorites are “One Hot Mess by Carmon Agra Deedy, “Bad Hair Day” by Kelly DiPucchio and “Brown Girl Pop Quiz” by Mitali Perkins. You really can’t go wrong with this book. And if you want to hear more about it, check out my interview with Betsy Bird on episode 32.   Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan This is a lovely and heartfelt story about a Pakistani-American Muslim girl, Amina, who is trying to navigate the complicated tides of middle school friendship where old friends are changing and old adversaries might be changing, too. Amina also has to deal with her rather traditional and more religiously strict uncle visiting their family and figuring out for herself how to express her beliefs and culture and voice in a way that feels right to her. This was Hena Khan’s debut middle grade, and I’m excited to see what else she has in store for us.   The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie This book has taken my class by storm!  I read it in one weekend and loved how much it creeped me the heck out. Every sentence - every detail in that first chapter ratchets up the tension as Tessa arrives at her new (possible haunted?) home in Chicago where things start to disappear, and mysterious figures are drawn in her sketchpad, and her brother’s ventriloquist dummy is… acting strangely.  And I haven’t even told you about the cemetery part yet!! If you have young kids who love a scary mystery - get this book in their hands!   Patina by Jason Reynolds This is Book 2 in the Track series and the follow up to Ghost. Here we the story of Patina “Patty” Jones - one of the new and fastest kids on the Defenders Track team. A girl who is running away from a lot - the taunts of the girls at her fancy new school. But also a girl who is running for a lot - for her mom who lost her legs to diabetes and won’t ever run again. And those stresses can sometimes manifest themselves in what looks like a bad attitude toward others and her teammates. So of course, her coach challenges her to run the event that requires the most cooperation - the relay.  It’s a rare sequel captures my heart as much as the first book but this one absolutely did it. And that first chapter about false starts and false finishes is one that has stayed on my mind a lot this year.   Wishtree by Katherine Applegate Did we have any doubt that this book would be wonderful? I have loved seeing how much my students are enjoyed this story about a brave and wise tree named Red and its loyal band of oddly-named tenants. The more subtle themes of immigration and racism take some coaxing and explaining and rereading to bring forth for them, but the the ideas about friendship are at the forefront of their minds. In a time when we all could use a dose of empathy and hope, Wishtree is the book we need.   The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez I really fell hard for this story about a Mexican-American girl reluctantly moving to Chicago with her mom and trying to both fit in and stand out and figure out who she is and what’s worth standing up for. Her fashion choices put her at odds with both her new school and her mother who wishes she could be more “senorita” and less punk rock. But the oh how I loved Malú and her parents and her friends, and I just wanted to go hang out with them in Chicago coffee shops and record stores. And the many zine sections in this book add a uniqueness that makes this book really stand out. (If you want to hear more about The First Rule of Punk, check out episode 33 to hear an interview with Celia.)   Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling This is a book that I came a little late to but when just about every single one of my middle grade Twitter friends are raving about a book, you know it’s something special. And they were right! And I’ll be honest with you - the moment I was sold on this book was the moment I took off the cover and saw the glorious undies - the cover underneath. But - I should tell you about the plot, too - right? This is a mystery centered around Aven - a girl with a fabulous (and sorta sick) sense of humor who likes to tell people that she lost her arms in a wildfire or an alligator attack. In reality, she was born without them and due to her adoptive parents’ vigilance - she can do just about anything that any other kid can do. But - when they all move so her parents can take over running the Stagecoach Pass theme park, Aven has to start a new school and deal with all that entails. Along the way, she meets a couple other “outcasts” who help her start to solve a major mystery at Stagecoach Pass. I loved this book because of how funny it was and how much research the author did to tell Aven’s story. Ban This Book by Alan Gratz I wish I had the guts that this main character has. But - she doesn’t start off so confident. Amy Anne is a shy, sweet fourth grader who loves the library, who loves to read, and who loves From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It’s her favorite book - and one of my childhood favorites, too. But - when her favorite is banned from the school library - along with more and more books, she forms a secret banned book library that she runs out of her locker. Until…. well, I won’t tell you but it’s fantastic! With twists along the way, references to so many other books, and a special (cameo?) by Dav Pilkey who visits her school. Please get this book and has a great message that might be different than what you think.   Posted by John David Anderson As I’ve mentioned before, when you get a new book by an author whose previous work blew you away (Ms. Bixby’s Last Day), you’re almost expecting to be let down.But Posted is incredible. It’s the story of four middle school friends whose equilibrium is shifted when two things happen. One - a new girl comes to school (Rose) and some of them want her in their group and some don’t. Two - cell phones have been banned due to a recent ‘incident” and one of the four main friends, DeeDee, inadvertently starts a trend of posting sticky notes on lockers to communicate instead. Those two catalysts jump start this series of events that lead to a bike. And a hill. And a post-it. And so much more that threatens to fracture their friendship forever. I loved this book and how the author structured it - how it brought forward past information in a flashback but then withheld the next step and then brought everything together at the end. It just was so well crafted.     Refugee by Alan Gratz This book was the most powerful, most emotional I read all year. And I’ll admit that it left me a bit of a mess, and there were times I needed to pause. But how Alan Gratz braided the three stories of Josef and Isobel and Mahmoud together was brilliant and beautiful and raw.  Bringing forward one strand and then another and another, binding them together.  The three stories are - Josef a young Jewish boy, who is traveling with his family from 1930s Germany to Cuba on the infamous ship called the St. Louis. Then there is Isobel and her family who are traveling on a tiny makeshift raft from 1980s Cuba to Florida. And finally Mahmoud and his family who are making their way from war-torn Syria in 2015 to Austria. Since I read this book last summer, there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I haven’t thought of the courage and resilience of these characters and their brave parents in the face of the harshest realities. And… you know, it’s easy to be judgemental when reading about tragedies from the past, thinking to yourself, “Well, I would have done things differently - I would have stood up for those refugees.”  We often talk about books that encourage empathy - well, to me, this book helped me move beyond just empathy to some action. And if you’re looking to do more as well, please read Gratz’s suggestions at the end of the book about how you can help refugees around the world today. And I’ll link to those resources in the show notes if you want to check those out as well. (Alan recommends donating to UNICEF and Save the Children.)       Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder If you have spent any time with me over the past year, you have heard about this book. And if you’ve read it, I’ve probably cornered you for a long conversation to compare theories. And because I can’t stop thinking about it and talking about, and dwelling in the glorious uncertainty of it - my favorite book of 2017 is Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder!  On this mysterious eden-like island there live nine children - no more and no less. And every year when the green boat arrives bearing a new young arrival, the eldest child goes. This year, Jinny is now the Eldest and charged with teaching her young Care, Ess, all the rules she needs to follow to survive on the island and maintain that balance. But…  but.  This is a beautiful and compelling novel about goodbyes and childhood and innocence, and so so much more. I was really honored have the chance to chat with Laurel Snyder on the podcast last May when this book was released and if you want in on that conversation, take a listen to episode 25. Alright there it is. And this list, just like any other, is flawed. It reflects my own preferences and biases and I know there is just no possible way that I could read all the fabulousness in middle grade that was published in 2017. So there will be some of your favorites that I missed. In fact, one of my loves of last year - The Girl Who Drank the Moon - you know, the winner of the Newbery - wasn’t even on my 2016 list.  Because I didn’t finish it until after the episode aired. Right now, I am almost finished with The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish and the audio version of Jack Cheng’s See You in the Cosmos and both are turning out to be incredible! So a quick shout out to some 2017 middle grade releases that are on my To Be Read list: Top Want to Read Books from 2017 The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Bradley (but first I need to read The War Saved My Life) Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams Garcia Vincent and Theo by Deborah Heiligman The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla   Annnd…. lots more that I know I’m missing! So - I want to hear from YOU - what were your favorite 2017 reads and which ones should I prioritize in the new year? You can drop me an email at booksbetween@gmail.com or connect with me on Twitter or Instagram with the handle @Books_Between. Closing Alright, that’s a wrap! Look for our next episode featuring the top middle grade graphic novels of 2017. And, If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or an idea about a topic we should cover, I really would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get a full transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher. And thanks again to WriteAbout.com for supporting the podcast this month - if you head over to their website you’ll find awesome ideas to get your students writing this year. Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!

Can you ever truly know your spouse? The Book Squad tackles relationship conundrums and more as we discuss Lauren Groff’s novel “Fates and Furies.” There’s even a special guest appearance by Ask-A-Man favorite Joe! Plus: We weigh in on BiP/The next Bachelor, read listener feedback about movies that are better than the books, and reveal the lucky winner of a signed copy of “Orphan Island” by Laurel Snyder!00:25 - Introduction: Lies we’ve told08:05 - Intro to "Fates and Furies" and the terrible Goodreads summary10:30 - Our general thoughts: Mary rages11:55 - Is it pretentious? Is the language too fancy?18:18 - Fates vs. Furies (spoiler: Furies wins)20:53 - Discussing an interview with Lauren Groff - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4P0Sq2k0lI&t=0s21:59 - Lauren Groff is so cool25:28 - You can’t Woody Allen it in the Theatre World27:05 - Lotto is a misogynist and an idiot28:33 - My mind is telling me no, but my body’s telling me yes30:00 - How do we feel about the structure?31:40 - Bitch, you don’t know her32:38 - Is Lauren Groff pulling a "Gone Girl?"33:49 - Are Lotto and Mathilde glamorous?34:45 - Lotto’s Artist Retreat!37:00 - Dick-related writing advice39:40 - Not all marriages!40:55 - Why don’t we talk about all the sex/the lie?46:23 - Ask a man! We ask Joe about marriage!50:20 - Losing your virginity vs. getting your period52:02 - Can you ever really know your spouse?55:33 - Listener Letters: Melanie and Justineau 58:00 - "Silver Linings Playbook"58:42 - Bachelor talk: Dean is a fuckboy & no one likes Arie01:00:23 - Kelli’s Bachelor Plans01:01:33 - Bradley Cooper’s face 01:02:45 - "Me Before You"01:04:30 - "The Shining"01:09:58 - Things on the blog - ARE YOU THE ONE?01:11:05 - Fresh off the Boat01:14:10 - NEXT TIME ON #BSG: STEPHEN KING’S "IT!!!!"01:16:00 - Next next time: "All the Ugly and Wonderful Things" by Bryn Greenwood01:18:30 - Future love-pisode about "Room?"01:20:30 - The Winner of the "Orphan Island" Giveaway!!!

Can you ever truly know your spouse? The Book Squad tackles relationship conundrums and more as we discuss Lauren Groff’s novel “Fates and Furies.” There’s even a special guest appearance by Ask-A-Man favorite Joe! Plus: We weigh in on BiP/The next Bachelor, read listener feedback about movies that are better than the books, and reveal the lucky winner of a signed copy of “Orphan Island” by Laurel Snyder!00:25 - Introduction: Lies we’ve told08:05 - Intro to "Fates and Furies" and the terrible Goodreads summary10:30 - Our general thoughts: Mary rages11:55 - Is it pretentious? Is the language too fancy?18:18 - Fates vs. Furies (spoiler: Furies wins)20:53 - Discussing an interview with Lauren Groff - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4P0Sq2k0lI&t=0s21:59 - Lauren Groff is so cool25:28 - You can’t Woody Allen it in the Theatre World27:05 - Lotto is a misogynist and an idiot28:33 - My mind is telling me no, but my body’s telling me yes30:00 - How do we feel about the structure?31:40 - Bitch, you don’t know her32:38 - Is Lauren Groff pulling a "Gone Girl?"33:49 - Are Lotto and Mathilde glamorous?34:45 - Lotto’s Artist Retreat!37:00 - Dick-related writing advice39:40 - Not all marriages!40:55 - Why don’t we talk about all the sex/the lie?46:23 - Ask a man! We ask Joe about marriage!50:20 - Losing your virginity vs. getting your period52:02 - Can you ever really know your spouse?55:33 - Listener Letters: Melanie and Justineau 58:00 - "Silver Linings Playbook"58:42 - Bachelor talk: Dean is a fuckboy & no one likes Arie01:00:23 - Kelli’s Bachelor Plans01:01:33 - Bradley Cooper’s face 01:02:45 - "Me Before You"01:04:30 - "The Shining"01:09:58 - Things on the blog - ARE YOU THE ONE?01:11:05 - Fresh off the Boat01:14:10 - NEXT TIME ON #BSG: STEPHEN KING’S "IT!!!!"01:16:00 - Next next time: "All the Ugly and Wonderful Things" by Bryn Greenwood01:18:30 - Future love-pisode about "Room?"01:20:30 - The Winner of the "Orphan Island" Giveaway!!!

The Book Squad supports Susan in the next step of her Harry Potter journey: her official sorting! Find out what house she gets and what the other Squad members are. Plus, Emily interviews Laurel Snyder, author of 'Orphan Island.' They discuss where the idea for the book came from, YA and middle-grade literature, books that make you think, and, of course, pets! Be sure to enter our giveaway contest to win a signed copy of 'Orphan Island!' Details in the episode and on our website, http://booksquad.ink (like a squid).00:28 - Introduction: our favorite books as kids 7:35 - Speaking of JK, how do we feel about the Hogwarts houses?13:58 - What house do you WANT to be in, Susan?17:00 - THE SORTING BEGINS23:50 - The results! (and quiz analysis) 26:25 - Susan's thoughts on HP Book 129:11 - Intro to 'Orphan Island' and Emily's review32:29 - Interview with Laurel Snyder 34:45 - What house is Laurel in?37:04 - Where did the idea for the novel come from?42.10 - Order & age on the island44:48 - The neglected middle grades46:30 - Do middle grade books get the middle grade experience wrong?49:47 - Why is reading a survival skill in the novel, and why did Laurel mention the books she picks?54:13 - Who does Laurel write for? 56:14 - Will there be a sequel?58:30 - Or maybe a prequel?60:50 - Free time! Extreme reactions to the book63:16 - GIVEAWAY DETAILS: We are giving away an author-signed copy of 'Orphan Island' - to enter, leave us an iTunes podcast review and send us an email with your iTunes username so we know who you are! Details at http://booksquad.ink/orphan-island-giveaway.html65:30 - What's on the blog? What's coming up?69:13 - Next time on the podcast: our discussion of 'Fates and Furies' by Lauren Groff!Thanks again to Laurel Snyder for taking the time to answer our questions! Learn more about 'Orphan Island' here: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062443410/orphan-island

The Book Squad supports Susan in the next step of her Harry Potter journey: her official sorting! Find out what house she gets and what the other Squad members are. Plus, Emily interviews Laurel Snyder, author of 'Orphan Island.' They discuss where the idea for the book came from, YA and middle-grade literature, books that make you think, and, of course, pets! Be sure to enter our giveaway contest to win a signed copy of 'Orphan Island!' Details in the episode and on our website, http://booksquad.ink (like a squid).00:28 - Introduction: our favorite books as kids 7:35 - Speaking of JK, how do we feel about the Hogwarts houses?13:58 - What house do you WANT to be in, Susan?17:00 - THE SORTING BEGINS23:50 - The results! (and quiz analysis) 26:25 - Susan's thoughts on HP Book 129:11 - Intro to 'Orphan Island' and Emily's review32:29 - Interview with Laurel Snyder 34:45 - What house is Laurel in?37:04 - Where did the idea for the novel come from?42.10 - Order & age on the island44:48 - The neglected middle grades46:30 - Do middle grade books get the middle grade experience wrong?49:47 - Why is reading a survival skill in the novel, and why did Laurel mention the books she picks?54:13 - Who does Laurel write for? 56:14 - Will there be a sequel?58:30 - Or maybe a prequel?60:50 - Free time! Extreme reactions to the book63:16 - GIVEAWAY DETAILS: We are giving away an author-signed copy of 'Orphan Island' - to enter, leave us an iTunes podcast review and send us an email with your iTunes username so we know who you are! Details at http://booksquad.ink/orphan-island-giveaway.html65:30 - What's on the blog? What's coming up?69:13 - Next time on the podcast: our discussion of 'Fates and Furies' by Lauren Groff!Thanks again to Laurel Snyder for taking the time to answer our questions! Learn more about 'Orphan Island' here: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062443410/orphan-island

Special guest Adam joins the squad for a discussion of M. R. Carey's "The Girl with All the Gifts." We talk zombie tropes, narrative style, and what it means to be human. We also talk about the movie, which we were led to believe would be better than it was. Plus: five-minute Bachelorette thoughts, what's on the BSG blog, and what's happening in our next minisode (spoiler alert: we've got our first author interview!).3:05 - Introducing special guest, Adam!4:45 - Introduction to the book and the terribleness of Goodreads summaries 10:22 - Initial thoughts and ratings (no half stars, cheaters!)21:28 - What does 'TGWATG' add to the genre?25:48 - Zombies and video games29:20 - But why zombies? Explaining them is a choice30:35 - Melanie! And what it means to be human40:05 - POV issuesssss47:20 - Book vs movie (where are the junkets??)51:09 - Race implications in the book and movie Links referenced:+ http://www.raisingself.com/blog/white-washing-the-girl-with-all-the-gifts-why-im-pissed-helen-justineau-is-being-played-by-a-white-actress+ https://blackgirlnerds.com/girl-gifts-race-analysis/58:45 - Sally, why did you say "Girls Trip" was good?59:47 - The ending of the movie1:03:36 - Movies that are better than the book - tell us your thoughts!1:05:02 - "5-minute" Bachelorette finale thoughts + Susan's Bachelorette blog post: https://booksquad.ink/blog/let-rachel-lindsay-live1:12:10 - "Perfect Little World" listener questions and comments: true love, BBQ, and the IRB1:17:11 - "Couple Next Door" questions and comments: Doritos and irredeemable books1:27:50 - What's on the blog! The Bachelorette, "Hamlet," "Angels in America," and a pantsless Oscar Isaac. https://booksquad.ink/blog/1:30:00 - Next time on BSG: A special children's lit minisode with Laurel Snyder (complete with a signed book giveaway!)

Special guest Adam joins the squad for a discussion of M. R. Carey's "The Girl with All the Gifts." We talk zombie tropes, narrative style, and what it means to be human. We also talk about the movie, which we were led to believe would be better than it was. Plus: five-minute Bachelorette thoughts, what's on the BSG blog, and what's happening in our next minisode (spoiler alert: we've got our first author interview!).3:05 - Introducing special guest, Adam!4:45 - Introduction to the book and the terribleness of Goodreads summaries 10:22 - Initial thoughts and ratings (no half stars, cheaters!)21:28 - What does 'TGWATG' add to the genre?25:48 - Zombies and video games29:20 - But why zombies? Explaining them is a choice30:35 - Melanie! And what it means to be human40:05 - POV issuesssss47:20 - Book vs movie (where are the junkets??)51:09 - Race implications in the book and movie Links referenced:+ http://www.raisingself.com/blog/white-washing-the-girl-with-all-the-gifts-why-im-pissed-helen-justineau-is-being-played-by-a-white-actress+ https://blackgirlnerds.com/girl-gifts-race-analysis/58:45 - Sally, why did you say "Girls Trip" was good?59:47 - The ending of the movie1:03:36 - Movies that are better than the book - tell us your thoughts!1:05:02 - "5-minute" Bachelorette finale thoughts + Susan's Bachelorette blog post: https://booksquad.ink/blog/let-rachel-lindsay-live1:12:10 - "Perfect Little World" listener questions and comments: true love, BBQ, and the IRB1:17:11 - "Couple Next Door" questions and comments: Doritos and irredeemable books1:27:50 - What's on the blog! The Bachelorette, "Hamlet," "Angels in America," and a pantsless Oscar Isaac. https://booksquad.ink/blog/1:30:00 - Next time on BSG: A special children's lit minisode with Laurel Snyder (complete with a signed book giveaway!)

​In this episode, I answer my most frequently asked question: What the heck is a literary agent, anyway? And author and professor Laurel Snyder is on hand to talk about Imposter Syndrome, mid-list author mania, crafty plots (and how to keep 'em moving), avoiding creative burnout, and more.

Laurel Snyder (@LaurelSnyder) and Emily Hughes (@plaidemily), author and illustrator of Charlie & Mouse, stop by the podcast to talk about focusing on the quiet, working from muscle memory, and how truth and facts are different.

Intro   Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a teacher, a mom, and just back from a trip to our local greenhouse to pick out flowers for our window boxes. I always feel like summer is finally around the corner when I look out and see geraniums and petunias.   This is Episode #25 and it’s early!  I had the opportunity to chat with Laurel Snyder about her new novel Orphan Island and so many other things - the need for more upper middle grade books, indie book stores, what she’s been reading lately. It was supposed to last for 30 minutes but, well, we got talking, and it was a great conversation and rather than chop it way down and pair it with some book talks or other information for a more traditional show, I thought I’d just give you an episode of all Laurel Snyder.   So here it is.   Laurel Snyder - Interview Outline   Orphan Island is released May 30th and I am really excited for that because now I will have MORE people to talk to about this story! I’m wondering, what plans do you have for the Orphan Island publication day and having published several other middle grade novels and picture books - do you have certain traditions or routines on days that books are released?     What is Orphan Island about?   I saw your Nerdy Book Club post explaining why you decided to leave the ending rather open and keep some mysteries unsolved. It made me wonder…. Have you had the grownups clamoring for a sequel?     When you were first drafting this novel - did the backstory, the “rules of the island” ever change or did you know right away how it was all laid out?       One of the parts of Orphan Island that particularly resonated with me as a parent and teacher was that tension between being protective and giving children the freedom to make mistakes. As parent, is that something you’ve struggled with yourself?   If you were to live on the island, what would be your favorite thing? And what would be the thing you found most challenging?     One of the goals of this podcast is to share ideas about how to help kids find (and eventually learn to discover themselves) books that they’ll love.   You mentioned before that you see a need for more really good upper middle grade books...     You’ve mentioned that you are are teaching creative writing this spring in the MFA program at Hamline University. I’ve heard so many people say that you never really know something until you have to teach it to someone else. How has your writing changed as a result of your teaching?   I have noticed in my conversations with authors and educators and parents a feeling in the past six months that we are living through a critical time in our nation and therefore they feel a shift in their writing or teaching or parenting. Have you felt that way yourself?       Your Reading Life   You have been an advocate of small independent bookstores. And I’m sad to say that we no longer have one in Syracuse. What are your favorite indie bookstores?   What have you been reading lately that you’ve liked?       Closing   Okay - that wraps up our show this week. If you have an idea about a guest we should have or a topic we should cover, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between.   Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can find an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our shows along with all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com.   And, if you are liking the show, please help others find us too by telling a friend, sharing on social media, or leaving a rating on iTunes or Stitcher.   Thanks again and see you soon!  Bye!     Charis Books - http://www.charisbooksandmore.com Little Shop of Stories - http://littleshopofstories.com   A Capella Books - https://www.acappellabooks.com   The Ivy Bookshop - http://www.theivybookshop.com The Bird in HAnd  - https://birdinhandcharlesvillage.com   The Children’s Bookstore - http://www.thecbstore.com   The Red Canoe - http://redcanoecafe.virb.com   Avid Bookshop - http://www.avidbookshop.com/welcome   Prairie Lights Book Store - http://www.prairielights.com   The Canning Season   York - Laura Ruby   Rebel Souls   https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2017/05/24/what-i-was-thinking-about-by-laurel-snyder/     http://laurelsnyder.com

Intro   Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a 5th grade teacher, a mom of two daughters, and happy to be DONE with 2016 and onward to 2017! Typically we have a New Year’s Eve party at our house - last year was a disco theme - but this time my kids were not feeling so great and instead we had a quiet night. I set up my new bullet journal with my reading goals, played canasta with my kids, crocheted, and just cuddling on the couch under the heating blanket. I know - NOT a very cool New Year’s Eve celebration. But - it was wonderful and I hope yours was as well. So - hello to 2017!   This is Episode #14 and today we are discussing some fun reading challenge ideas to kick off your new year, the most anticipated middle grade books coming out in 2017, and I’ll answer a question about what books to recommend for a 5th grader who has a high school reading level.   Main Topic - Reading Challenges for the New Year   One of the best things about the New Year is the reset that happens when December flips over into January and you have a full twelve months laid out in front of you with all the possibilities in the world! You’re past the indulgences of the holidays and ready to refocus, make some resolutions, build better habits, and set some goals.  So today I’m going to talk about a few fun ideas for reading challenges this year that can help you connect with your community, keep you motivated, and maybe spur you to stretch yourself as a reader in 2017.   Now our conversation today is geared toward personal reading goals for you, but these same ideas can be shared with the students and the children in your life. And as the lead reader in your library or classroom or home, sharing your own reading goals shows that you take your reading life seriously and that we’re all in this reading community together. I know that my first day back with my class, I’ll be sharing my Reading Challenge list with my students and helping them set up their own. So - if you are thinking about doing a reading challenge this year, here are a few ideas for you:   Challenge Idea #1 - Set a number goal.  Maybe that’s forty books or sixty books or a hundred books! Something that’s a bit of a stretch but still doable for you.  Last year, I participated in the #SixtyBooks Challenge  - I happened to see the hashtag last January and I thought, “I can do that!” And it’s been fantastic. One thing that kept me motivated was connecting to others doing the same challenge on Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads. So - if you decide to do any kind of challenge, connecting with other readers through social media helps keep you stay excited about it through the year. And if you want to join me this year, just check out #SixtyBooks and we can support each other!   Challenge Idea #2 - Set a goal based on type of book.  These can be found all over the internet this time of year. They are usually focused on adult books but you can easily read middle grade books within those categories and maybe make just a couple adjustments.  A really great one is Book Riot’s yearly Read Harder Challenge which this year features tasks like read a debut novel, read a travel memoir, read a superhero comic with a female lead, or  read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative.  Those last two are definitely going on my list.  I’ll leave a link to that in the show notes and what’s nice about the Book Riot challenge is that they have suggestions for each category, a Goodreads group, and in-person meetups throughout the year.     Another Reading Challenge that my friend Emily told me about is the one from PopSugar. They feature 40 book categories with this year’s theme of diversifying and expanding your reading - love it! Some of their reading prompts are a book involving a mythical creature, a book recommended by a librarian (I love that one), a book by or about a person who has a disability, a book with a main character who is a different ethnicity than you, and some fun ones like a book with a red spine or a book set in a hotel. PopSugar also has an extra twenty prompts for those hardcore readers who finish early. They also have a Goodreads group and printable lists, and I’ll link to their site too so you can check that out.   Another 2017 Reading Challenge that I discovered last week is one hosted by a site called Modern Mrs. Darcy. (Now - already with that name - I’m in!) What I really like about this challenge is that there are two paths you can follow: Reading for Fun or Reading for Growth.  Each have just 12 tasks so they are doable and you might even have time to do both! On the Reading for Fun list are topics like a juicy memoir, a book you chose for the cover, and a book by a new favorite author. Those all sound comfy and great. On the other hand, if you want to stretch yourself and go for the Reading for Growth path there are options like a book that addresses current events, a book by an #ownvoices or #diversebooks author, or a Newbery Award winner or Honor book.  That all sounds exactly what I need this year.   Challenge Idea #3 - Create a Reading Time Capsule for the year.  I wish I could remember where I saw this so I could give them proper credit, but this idea is similar to the practice of families jotting down happy memories throughout the year and tucking them into a jar to read on New Year’s Eve. This idea is to jot down favorite quotes and inspiring ideas from the books you’ve read throughout the year. I’m thinking that a nice adaptation would be instead of putting it in a jar, write it down in a journal or if you want to go more 21st century - challenge yourself to post on social media one inspiring quote or idea about every book you’ve read this year.  And that could also make a very cool classroom project.   Challenge Idea #4 - Do a Library Crawl!  Unlike a pub crawl, which is typically done in one night and you can’t bring your kids. Or well, you really shouldn’t bring your kids. A Library Crawl can span the whole year, the summer, or maybe just Spring Break. And it’s way better when you bring your kids!  Basically you challenge yourself to visit a set number of libraries in a set amount of time. Last summer, I was looking for some inexpensive things to do with my girls that would be fun, educational, and get us all out of the house and away from the electronics. So we challenged ourselves to visit 16 libraries during the summer of 2016. And we almost made it! I have a lot more to share with you about Library Crawls, how to do them, some fun ideas, and the unexpected benefits that I think I need to do a whole episode on it.     Challenge Idea #5 - Little Free Library Challenge.  Oh how I love Little Free Libraries!  They are popping up all over my community, my friends are all getting them, my school is putting one up this spring, and that is our family summer project. There are a couple ways you could go about doing a Little Free Library Challenge. One idea is to simply visit as many as you can this year and maybe document your travels on social media. If you go to the Little Free Library website, you can find listings of all your local registered libraries shown right on a map.  If you wanted to extend that into a Pay it Forward challenge, you could donate one book to each Little Free Library you visit.   Challenge Idea #6 - Design Your Own Reading Challenge!  Think of it as a 2017 Choose-Your-Own-Reading-Adventure.  Take the best ideas of the options out there and create something for yourself. And these ideas are easy to layer.  So you can set a number goal, participate in say, the Book Riot challenge or pick your own categories to read from the options you like, and maybe pick up those books while you do your library crawl.     Whatever you decide, get your kids and students involved, too and I’d love to see what you’ve got planned for the year!  You can send me an email at booksbetween@gmail.com or connect on Twitter or Instagram with the handle @Books_Between.   Book Talk - Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books of 2017   In this segment, I share with you a few books centered around a theme. This week I’m highlighting some of the most anticipated books of the upcoming year.  Some are new books in favorites series. Some are by favorite authors. Some are by debut authors. And some just sound fantastic! So, get ready to add to your wish list. And just a reminder - that you can find every book mentioned here AND a picture of the covers AND a link to pre-order them right through the Books Between Podcast link at AlltheWonders.com.  So, no need to scurry and write things down. I’ve got your back, I know you’re busy, so it’s all right there for you.   One quick note before I start - publication dates do change, so while I’ve mentioned the month each book is expected to release - things sometimes change.   All right - let’s get to it!   http://www.readbrightly.com/middle-grade-books-2017/ https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/74235.Middle_Grade_Novels_of_2017   Coming in January…   Scar Island - a new action adventure by Dan Gemeinhart. So if you liked his other novels The Honest Truth or Some Kind of Courage (which I know you did!) , definitely get this one. A new Jerry Spinelli novel - The Warden’s Daughter. It’s set in 1959 Pennsylvania and oh it looks fantastic! Also in January, we’ll get the third Terrible Twos book - The Terrible Two Go Wild by Mac Barnett & Jory John. And the second Audacity Jones Book - Audacity Jones Steals the Show.  AND another Victoria Coe Fenway & Hattie book - the Evil Bunny Gang! If you were a fan of Counting by 7s, like I am - then look for Holly Sloan’s new novel called Short - it’s about a small-for-her-age girl who gets cast as a Munchkin in a production of The Wizard of Oz. So fans of Oz will have something to love in this book, too! One book I’ve been really looking forward to this year is the short story collection put together in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. It’s called Flying Lessons & Other Stories and features authors like Grace Lin, Matt de la Pena, Jacqueline Woodson and so many others. If you’re like me, and part of your Reading Challenge this year is to read more nonfiction and to read more diversely, then there’s two books to look for this January Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Black Souls by Tonya Bolden Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell.  It’s the story of the civil rights case set up as a novel in verse. That should be amazing. Coming in February …   This time I’ll start with nonfiction: We have Bats: Learning to Fly - the newest volume in the nonfiction graphic novel series called Science Comics. Then we have Kwame Alexander’s latest called The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life. A great nonfiction pairing for fans of Booked and The Crossover. Also in February, the highly anticipated Judd Winnick graphic novel Hilo 3 - huzzah!   And the debut middle grade novel by picture book author and All the Wonders friend Carter Higgins. It’s called A Rambler Steals Home and it’s about baseball, and family, and friendship, and sweet potato fries - it’s incredible - you absolutely need to get this one!  In fact, if you preorder A Rambler Steals Home from the Once Upon a Time Bookstore, Carter has offered to sign it for you before they ship it out to you. It’s a win-win-win! You get a signed copy of an awesome book, you support an independent bookstore, and you support an author you know and love. So, I’ll include that link in the show notes for you. In March, there are four books I am really looking forward to: Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Wissinger, which is the companion book to the 2015 book Gone Fishing. Forget Me Not by debut middle grade author  Ellie Terry featuring a science-loving main character, Calliope, who has Tourette syndrome. A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold This one is about a kid who ends up caring for a baby skunk and tried to convince his mom to let him keep it.  What could go wrong? And - we get a new Nathan Hale book this year!  It’s not a Hazardous Tale’s book. In fact, it’s almost the opposite of that. It’s set in the future and Earth is being attacked by aliens who suck up the energy from electrical devices leaving our civilization under threat. And there’s a robot pony. It’s so different from Hale’s work that I’m familiar with, but it looks original and fresh and amazing and I can’t wait to read it.   In April we have: The first book in a new mystery series by Adrienne Kress called The Explorers: The Door in the Alley. My students are really loving mysteries this year so this will make a great addition to my classroom library. Tito the Bonecrusher by Melissa Thomson. This is the story of a boy who seeks out the help of his favorite lucha-libre wrestler / action star to save his father from being deported to Mexico. That sounds fantastic and funny and... timely!   May is going to be a stellar month for reading: Georgia Rules by Swing Sideways author Nanci Steveson And a new Lisa Graff novel called The Great Treehouse War.  So if you liked Absolutely Almost or Lost in the Sun, look for this one this spring. A new Gordon Korman stand-alone novel called Restart about boy who was a bully who loses his memory and gets a fresh start. What an interesting premise! Another May release that I am so so excited about is Posted by Ms. Bixby’s Last Day author, John David Anderson. I loved Ms. Bixby so much - I can’t wait to see what Anderson has in store for us next! Then there’s a nonfiction book about Hamilton! It’s called Alexander Hamilton: How the Vision of One Man Shaped Modern America by Teri Kanefield And finally - mark your calendars and pre-order Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder because this book has been getting all the buzz. This novel keeps popping up everywhere I look!   In June we have: A 6th Ranger in Time book called Escape from the Great Earthquake   The third book in Phil Bildner’s Rip & Red series!  This one is called Tournament of Champions. My students are going to psyched about this one!   And a second book from A Distance to Home author Jenn Bishop called 14 Hollow Road. It’s about a 6th grade girl whose town is torn apart by a tornado and her family ends up living with the family of her crush, Avery, after both their houses are destroyed.   A fun book in a new non-fiction series called Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive! So, basically the reader is presented with three stories about the natural world and you have to guess which one is the lie. Sounds fun - and good practice for life.     It’s a good thing I have July off from school, because there are some seriously awesome books being released that month: Including a new Comics Squad!  Comics Squad #3: Detention I love these! They’re fun, they’re quick, and they introduce kids to new writers. Another book to look forward to in July is Our Story Begins : Children’s Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids Oh - now that should be good! And also in July, we’ll get Spirit Hunters - the first middle grade novel by Ellen Oh - this one is the first of a new ghost story series. Can’t wait for that! And - I am also excited for July because that’s when Abby Cooper’s second novel, Bubbles, comes out!   In this one, the main character can see other people’s thoughts. Oh god - can you imagine?   August August is going to be fabulous because we get a new Cassie Beasley book. If you liked Circus Mirandus, her new novel is called Tumble & Blue and it’s about a curse, a swamp, and a golden alligator.   So after August, publication dates get a little hazy. BUT - I hear there’s a new Katherine Applegate book coming called Wishtree.  Also - there’s a fourth Al Capone at Alcatraz book coming out in the fall called Al Capone Does My Dishes.   And the Rick Riordon’s third Magnus Chase book: The Ship of the Dead . And the third Mr. Lemoncello's Library - the Great Library Race   And of course - I’ll keep you posted about all the amazing books headed our way so we can stay up to date. Those were some upcoming titles to look forward to in 2017. But. If I had to guess - the one book that you fall in love with this year, that one new book that your kids can’t put down. Is one that isn’t on this list and isn’t even on your radar right now. Most of my favorites of last year, I wasn’t even aware of them this early. And that’s exciting! There is so much to look forward to!   Q & A Our final segment this week is Question & Answer time.   Question: After sharing our Top 20 Middle Grade Books of 2016 list last week, I got this question from Jane: “Do you have an idea what book to get a 10-yr-old boy who reads on a 12th grade level?” And she added, “He is currently into the Warriors series.”   Answer: That can be a tough situation. He CAN read Young Adult or Adult books, but you’ve got to be careful of the content, which might not be okay for a 5th grader.     A quick example / horror story about that: when I used to teach 6th grade in a middle school, one of the reading assessments we gave was a computer program that would determine a reading level and would then print out a recommended list of titles for each kid. Sounds great, right? Well. I noticed that the kids who scored the highest were being recommended A CLOCKWORK ORANGE! I never ripped a piece of paper out of kid’s hand so fast! (Can you imagine if that went home?)   So - anyway - just because the reading level is a good match, does not mean the book is a good fit.   But - there are lots of middle grade books that have a higher reading level. And if he likes Fantasy, then there are some great books that I think he’ll like.  I might try the Wings of Fire series. It has some similarities to Warriors - there are clans and battles and shifting alliances - but it’s dragons instead of cats.  He might really like The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz or maybe The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin or even The Lord of The Rings which is more “high” fantasy.  Another option that a friend recommended is The Riverman Trilogy by Aaron Starmer.   So, Jane - let us know how things go and if you’ve found something that hits the mark.   Closing   Alright, that’s it for the Q&A section this week. If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or an idea about a topic we should cover, I really would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get a full transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And when you are there, check out Matthew’s interview with Cozy Classics creators Jack and Holman Wang. I cannot stop reading and rereading these adorable little board books. And, if you are liking our show, I’d love it if you took a second to leave a rating or review on iTunes or Stitcher.   Thanks, Happy New Year, and see you in two weeks!  Bye!

...In which writer Laurel Snyder shares her hilarious/poignant story about how a toddler, a newborn, and the filthiest bathroom on the east coast changed her mindset about parenting forever. Also, Parental Moments of Glory about (gasp) cursing!, our earth's sworn sovereign Beyonce, and the automotive miracle of hitting a priest, but injuring no one.

Laurel Snyder (@LaurelSnyder) and Julie Morstad, the author and illustrator of Swan: the Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova, published by Chronicle Books (@ChronicleBooks, @ChronicleKids), stop by to talk about revising out as much as you can, an obsession with Anna Pavlova, and helping your childhood self to finish writing the story.

An interview with Laurel Snyder and Catia Chen, author and illustrator of The Longest Night, an award-winning picture book that retells the story of the Exodus from a child's point of view.

Click here to subscribe to the podcast and get a free eBook of some of the biggest episodes ever!   Don't see a live link? Go here: https://katiedavis.leadpages.net/bbab-subscribe/     Have questions about publishing? Ask them by clicking here.

A conversation with Laurel Snyder, author and outside-the-box thinker in the world of Jewish kidlit.

We talk with Laurel Snyder, author of Bigger Than a Bread Box and Penny Dreadful, about growing up in Baltimore, writing books bound in wallpaper samples, and getting into research everyone can love.

This episode features "Any Which Wall" by Laurel Snyder.

Author, Laurel Snyder was interviewed by Shelby Cagle regarding her book, Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains. The interview took place in Montogomery, Alabama on April 18, 2009 at the Alabama Book Festival.

In this episode of The Book of Life, we talk to 2 Jews and get way more than 3 opinions. These two conversations are the last of the material recorded at Book Expo 2008. Smart, articulate women Kathy Bloomfield (a Jew by choice) and Laurel Snyder (a product and practitioner of interfaith marriage) explore Jewish identity and how it affects our reading and our writing. Please visit www.bookoflifepodcast.com to vote on our format: should our podcast have short single-interview episodes, or should we continue with longer shows featuring several guests? Feedback: bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com XML: http://heidiestrin.audioblog.com/rss/the_book_of_life.xml