Podcast appearances and mentions of rita williams garcia

Comic Reviews Marvel Amadeus Cho 20th Anniversary Special 1 by Greg Pak, Takeshi Miyazawa, Bryan Valenza; Greg Pak, Creees Lee, Sebastian Cheng; Greg Pak, Jethro Morales, Brian Reber Fantastic Four Fanfare 1 by Mark Waid, Ramon Rosanas, Neeraj Menon; Alan Davis, Matt Hollingsworth; Andrew Wheeler, Sara Pichelli It's Jeff: Jeff Week by Kelly Thompson, Gurihiru, Gustavo Duarte Star Wars 1 by Alex Segura, Phil Noto Marvel Unlimited Marvel Meow 26 by Nao Fuji Dark Horse Lady Baltimore: The Daughters of Medusa 1 by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Bridgit Connell, Michelle Madsen Los Monstruos 1 by James Robinson, Jesus Merino, K.J. Diaz Dynamite Captain Planet and the Planeteers1 by David Pepose, Eman Casallos, Jorge Sutil Space Ghost/Johnny Quest: Space Quest 1 by Joe Casey, Sebastian Piriz, Lorenzo Scaramella Red 5 Snow Monkey 1 by Jason Shawn Alexander, Heubert Khan Michael, Chuck Michael Obach Image Blood and Thunder 1 by Benito Cereno, E.J. Su, Msassyk Free Planet 1 by Aubrey Sitterson, Jed Dougherty, Vittorio Astone Mad Cave Vanishing Point 1 by Mark Russell, Juan Doe OGN Countdown Pencil and Eraser Vol 2: Lost and Frown! by Jenny Alvarado Faiza is a Fighter by Debasmita Dasgupta Cat on the Run Vol 3: Hidden Layers by Aaron Blabey Lost in the Future vol 2: Trapped by Damian, Alex Fuentes Lego Ninjago: Shatterspin by Tri Vuong, Riccardo Robaldo Erin and Yrso Book 1: The Giants by Lylian, Paul Drouin The Actual, Semi-True Adventures of Mark and Dee Vol 1: IN by Mark Dooley, Michael Walt DC's Misfits of Magic by Michael Dow Smith Creaky Acres by Calista Brill, Nilah Magruder Rainbow! Vol 2 by Sunny and Gloomy Phenomena Book 3: The Secret by Brian Michael Bendis, Andre Lima Araujo Love Languages by James Albon One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, Sharee Miller Sunder vol 1 by Pierre-Alexandre-Comtois Additional Reviews: FCBD 2025 Andor s2 ep7-9 Doctor Who ep5 Doom Patrol s1 Electric State News: new Black Cat book by Wilson and Melknikov, Event Horizon: Dark Descent by Christian Ward, Wonder Woman/Harley Quinn: Forbidden Gift, Cheetah and Cheshire comic from Rucka and Scott, new X-Men: Age of Apocalypse title from Loeb and DiMeo, Hayden Sherman signs exclusive at DC, Orion graphic novel, Dan Watters new projects at IDW, Tynion Invisible Man for Image Allegedly Grown Man Visits a Theme Park (Dutch Wonderland) Trailers: Now You See Me Now You Don't, Long Walk, Peacemaker s2 Comics Countdown (07 May 2025): Absolute Superman 7 by Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ulises Arreola Absolute Green Lantern 2 by Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay Batgirl 7 by Tate Brombal, Isaac Goodhart, Mike Spicer Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma 2 by Ram V, Anand RK, Butch Guice, Mike Spicer Mouse Guard: Dawn of the Black Axe 2 by David Petersen, Gabriel Rodriguez Moon is Following Us 9 by Daniel Warren Johnson, Riley Rossmo, Mike Spicer Black Canary: Best of the Best 6 by Tom King, Ryan Sook, Dave Stewart Two-Face 6 by Christian Ward, Fabio Veras, Ivan Plascencia JSA 7 by Jeff Lemire, Rafael de Latorre, Luis Guerrero Let This One Be A Devil 3 by James Tynion IV, Steve Foxe, Piotr Kowalski, Brad Simpson

Last week, maybe a week ago, maybe 82 years ago, who knows, we talked about alternative plot structures. Much of American film and novels is built on what's considered to be the classic three-act structure, which basically goes beginning-middle-end, and there's this rising line of the plot. It ends up looking like a bit of a triangle. As readers, we can sort of anticipate and feel that structure happening. In a rom-com, we almost always know how far into the book or movie it will be when the couple breaks up and then someone has to chase down a car or airplane or something so they can get back together. There's a lovely familiarity in that, but us writers don't always want a lovely familiarity with beats in all the prescribed places and a structure that looks like a triangle. In an earlier podcast, Shaun, was asking me about the different structures and plots. And this is a pretty big question that people write entire books about, but I'm going to start here. First, a structure is sort of the diagram of rising and falling and action that links all of the plot points together The plot is something that connects the moments of the novel in a way that gives a novel its meaning. . Janet Burroway defines plot as a “series of events deliberately arranged so as to reveal their dramatic, thematic, and emotional significance …. Plot's concern is ‘what, how, and why,' with scenes ordered to highlight cause-and-effect.” Plot, according to Ingrid Sundberg, is about patterns, rhythm, and energy. It's about the movement and feeling your particular arrangement creates. The triangle (often called the Aristotelian story shape) is a visual metaphor for the escalating energy that is meant to come as a result of a classic design arrangement.” This podcast, we're talking about all the different types of plots. Next time? We'll go all structure on you. Here's a list of different possibilities when it comes to plot: • Mini-plot • Daisy chain plot, • Cautionary tale plot • Ensemble plot • Along for the ride plot • Symbolic juxtaposition plot • Repeated event plot • Repeated action plot Explanations of the Possibilities Mini Plot – This is the emotional plot. It's minimalistic. It might even seem like it does not have a plot, but it does. It's just that the cause-and-effect is about emotional evolution and growth. Example: Tender Mercies Daisy Chain Plot - We have no main protagonist, so we have no main goal. A bunch of characters and situations are here and they are linked via cause-and-effect like a physical object. Examples: Thirteen Reasons Why (has a protagonist, but it kind of works). Lethal Passage. Cautionary Tale Plot - Hero? There is no hero! Comfort? There is no comfort! Our main character sucks. And instead the reader is the protagonist. Examples: Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia. Inexcusable by Chris Lynch. Ensemble Plot - According to Berg, this happens when you have protagonists grouped in the same place and it is “characterized by the interaction of several voices, consciousnesses, or world views, none of which unifies or is superior to the others.” Example: Give a Boy a Gun. Along For The Ride Plot - Ah. Where is our protagonist doing proactive things? Not here. Here we have the secondary character pushing the action and the protagonist is there, zooming along with them. The protagonist has an emotional change anyways, but they aren't Captain Proactive going after their goals. Example: Looking for Alaska – John Green Symbolic Juxtaposition Plot - Why yes, it's the anti-plot, which some people treat like the anti-christ. This book is an existentialist's dream. It's not about the emotion. It's about having an epiphany, an intellectual epiphany. The plot is about ideas and themes and symbols and that connects everything and gives it meaning. The cause and effect? It's really not here. Example: Einstein's Dreams by Lightman. Repeated Events Plot - So, the same event? You see it multiple times but through differing perspectives so that we can see the truth from different characters' points of view. Repeated Action Plot - You know the movie Groundhog Day? This is it. This is where a character keeps doing the same things over and over until they try to get it right. They have a goal. But the sequence of events isn't linear but repeating. Example: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver DOG TIP FOR LIFE Repeated action plots are the best. Wake up. Snack. Zoomies. Snack. Breakfast. Snack. Pee. Snack. It's okay to life your life as a repeated event. PLACE TO SUBMIT The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award Your novel doesn't have to be finished. We initially need only 5,000 to 8,000 words and a 300 word synopsis. If you're long listed we'll ask for a total of 15,000 words, including your original word count. Shortlisted? Then we need a total 30,000 words, again including your original entry and long listed word count. It all adds up to an incredible opportunity. Click here for all the details! RANDOM THOUGHT LINK SHOUT OUT! The music we've clipped and shortened in this podcast is awesome and is made available through the Creative Commons License. Here's a link to that and the artist's website. Who is this artist and what is this song? It's “Summer Spliff” by Broke For Free. WE HAVE EXTRA CONTENT ALL ABOUT LIVING HAPPY OVER HERE! It's pretty awesome. We have a podcast, LOVING THE STRANGE, which we stream biweekly live on Carrie's Facebook and Twitter and YouTube on Fridays. Her Facebook and Twitter handles are all carriejonesbooks or carriejonesbook. But she also has extra cool content focused on writing tips here. Carrie is reading one of her raw poems every once in awhile on CARRIE DOES POEMS. And there you go! Whew! That's a lot! Subscribe RESOURCES OF AWESOME. Bechard, Margaret. “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Plot.” Faculty Lecture. Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, VT. Jan 2008. Burroway, Janet. Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narative Craft. 8th Edition. New York: Longman, 2011. Chea, Stephenson. “What's the Difference Between Plot and Structure.” Associated Content. 16 Feb. 2010. Web. 7 May 2011. Fletcher, Susan. “Structure as Genesis.” Faculty Lecture. Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, VT. July 2012. • Berg, Charles Ramirez. “A Taxonomy of Alternative Plots in Recent Films: Classifying the ‘Tarantino Effect.'” Film Criticism, Vol. 31, Issue 1-2, 5-57, 22 Sept 2006. Ebsco Host. Web. 6 May 2011. • Pages 44 -66 in: McKee, Robert. Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting. New York: IT Books, 1997. • Pages 165 – 194 in: Gardner, John. The Art of Fiction. New York: Vintage Books, 1983. https://penandthepad.com/types-narrative-structures-8329065.html

This is an amazing book! go read it!

Authors Rita Williams-Garcia and Grace Line answer the question What inspired you to be a writer? and kid reviewer Dominica reviews One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

On what it's like having (my pathetic, podunk home turf) work to ban her book from school libraries; on why people feel so threatened by words on a page; on whether it's limiting to write for a younger audience.

First Draft Episode #336: Varian Johnson Varian Johnson, award-winning author of The Parker Inheritance, Twins, The Great Greene Heist, joins us to talk about his most recent middle-grade, Playing the Cards You're Dealt. The presenting sponsor for this episode is Sips By, a multi-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box. Use offer code "draftsips” for 50% off your first Sips By box! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Then Again Maybe I Won't, and Iggie's House by Judy Blume Motown and Didi by Walter Dean Myers Virginia Hamilton, author of The People Could Fly: Black American Folktales, Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, and more Sara Crowe, Varian's literary agent at Pippin Properties Andrew Karre, Executive editor at Dutton Books for Young Readers Cheryl Klein, editorial director at Lee & Low and formerly at Scholastic, and author of The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Holes by Louis Sachar Ally Carter, New York Times bestselling author of the Gallagher Girls series, the Heist Society series, the Embassy Row series, Not If I Save You First, Dear Ally: How Do You Write a Book?, and a new middle grade series that kicks off with Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor. (Hear her First Draft interview here) Kate Messner, author of Over and Under the Snow, All the Answers, Capture the Flag, and many (MANY) more The Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program Sharon Darrow, author of Trash, The Painters of Lexieville and more Rita Williams-Garcia, author of One Crazy Summer, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, Like Sisters on the Homefront, and more Tim Wynne-Jones, author of Blink & Caution, The Uninvited, and more Nick Thomas, Varian's editor at Scholastic, currently senior editor at Levine Querido Shannon Wright, illustrator of Twins Jenne Abramowitz, executive editor at Scholastic What Were the Negro Leagues? by Varian Johnson Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

This week's book is "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia will be read by Mary Evans.

Audra Russell chats with author Rita Williams-Garcia.Rita Williams-Garcia's Newbery Honor Book, One Crazy Summer, was a winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award, a National Book Award finalist, the recipient of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and a New York Times bestseller. The two sequels, P.S. Be Eleven and Gone Crazy in Alabama, were both Coretta Scott King Author Award winners and ALA Notable Children's Books. Her novel, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, was a National Book Award finalist and winner of the NAACP Image Award finalist and winner of the NAACP Image Award for Youth/Teen Literature. Rita is also the author of five other distinguished novels for young adults: Jumped, a National Book Award finalist; No Laughter Here, Every Time a Rainbow Dies (a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book), Fast Talk on a Slow Track (all ALA Best Books for Young Adults); and Blue Tights. Her latest book is A Sitting in St. James.Rita Williams-Garcia lives in Jamaica, New York, with her husband and two adult daughters. You can visit her online at www.ritawg.com.In this episode, Rita and I take a thoughtful and hilarious dive into her latest book, A Sitting in St. James.So grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and enjoy!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=29642304)

Rita Williams-Garcia's 2010 novel about the Black Panthers is a middle-grade masterpiece. The book follows three black sisters (Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern) as they visit their estranged mother in Oakland in 1968. Upon arriving in California, the girls learn their mother is a poet and a member of the Black Panther Party. In our episode, we discuss what makes this book so brilliant and how, by focusing on the Black Panthers, it fills a gaping hole in children's literature. We also bust some myths about the Black Panthers and explore how this book serves as an antidote to sanitized and inaccurate stories of the Civil Rights Movement.  If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and subscribe! It helps other people find our podcast! Find our show on Twitter and Instagram @reading_recess Find Sarah on Twitter @sarahebba25 and on Instagram @sarahebba Find Terri on Twitter @TerriCLaRue and on Instagram @tc_larue Email us at readingduringrecesspod@gmail.com

Claribel and Kat discuss how they make promo that’s fun for them and which incorporates their personalities. Then they talk to hilarious bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia about what it was like when she first got started in publishing, how she goes back and forth between Middle Grade & Adult, and some great advice for authors at all level! BIO: Rita Williams-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of novels for young adults and middle grade readers. Her most recent novel, Gone Crazy in Alabama ends the saga of the Gaither Sisters, who appear in One Crazy Summer and PS Be Eleven. Her novels have been recipients of numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalists, Newbery Honor Book, Junior Library Guild, and the Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction. She served on faculty at the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children MFA Program and she resides in Queens, New York. • FOLLOW Rita: website | Twitter | Instagram BUY A Sitting in St. James • FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok • www.claribelortega.com • Check out all of Claribel’s books • Add Witchlings (2022, Scholastic) on Goodreads • FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok • www.katchowrites.com • Add Once Upon a K-Prom (2022, Disney) on Goodreads • Check out Kat’s Books • FOLLOW WRITE OR DIE: Twitter | Instagram • Write or Die Episodes • Join our WorDie community! • Write or Die Teepublic Store --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writeordiepodcast/support

One Crazy Summer, a book by Rita Williams-Garcia, tells the story of three girls who travel to Oakland California in 1968 in search of the mother who abandoned them. It is a story about sisterhood, motherhood, and relationships, set amid the turbulence of the late 60's and the rise of the Black Panther movement.

"Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself," chapters 4-5. Choo choo! All aboard the Miami train for some Judy Blume goodness! Sally, Douglas, Mom, and Ma Fanny take the overnight train to Florida and have a pyjama party! Sally ain't impressed with their new apartment (not even a Murphy bed will change her mind) and has a truly terrible first day at school. Alison and Jody chat head lice, the Orange Blossom Express, braided coronets, and Ralph ashtrays from Hawaii. There's an update on Jody's correspondence with Rita Williams-Garcia, a fantastic bit of Margaret fan fic from Blume Head Helen, and dramatic reenactments that will make you feel like you're right there with the Freedmans.

A fond farewell to Rita Williams-Garcia's "One Crazy Summer"! Jody and Alison present Special Reports on West Oakland, the name Afua, women poets of the Black Panther party, and a deep dive into Rita's life and writing approach. Special guest Carolyn hops on the phone with Jody to chat about her memories growing up in Oakland, encounters with Panther leaders, and some wild times at San Francisco gentlemen clubs!

The "One Crazy Summer" finale — a Christmas Miracle! Alison and Jody discuss Rita Williams-Garcia's beautiful book about three sisters spending the summer of 1968 in Oakland. Cecile turns up at the Panther rally and embarks upon a new relationship with Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern. We discover Fern's alternate name and learn about Cecile's difficult past. Come on inside the Cocoon for dramatic readings, implausible theories, and a very thorough Special Report on North American Gulls. Happy holidays, Blume Heads! xo

OMG, best chapters ever. We cover 28-30 of "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia and cannot believe what just happened! No spoilers here, but we will tell you that Fern takes a turn, Delphine conquers her fears, and Vonetta is actually pretty chill. Join Alison and Jody as they reenact some epic scenes, including a go-kart challenge and the extremely successful Black Panther rally. They chat about poetry, freeze tag, and the potential origins of Ace of Base's megahit, "I Saw the Sign." Thank you SO much to our Patrons, and special shoutout to our newest members: Molly Patton, Erin MacKenzie Mower, and Jen Lener Kwass.

Get cozy for chapters 25-27 of Rita Williams-Garcia's "One Crazy Summer"! The Gaither sisters spend a magical day in San Francisco - they meet real live 1968 hippies, they eat fresh fortune cookies in Chinatown, and ride their first cable car to Fisherman's Wharf. The magical moment comes crashing down when they get back to West Oakland and find that... CECILE HAS BEEN ARRESTED! Aside from the usual dramatic readings and book discussion, Jody and Alison perform an incredible Judy Blume-themed comedy sketch submitted by a true Blume Head (thank you Michelle G!). They chat about the lie of Santa, the simulation we live in, and the time Jody spent the night in jail.

Join Alison and Jody for some snazzy jazz poetry, spoiled mulled wine, and chapters 22-24 of "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia! Delphine gets her own second-hand kitchen stool and tries to teach Vonetta a Very Important Lesson about mothering. It doesn't work. Cecile/Nzila works her letterpress like the true kitchen poet goddess she is. The sisters set off for SAN FRANCISCO, but not before Hirohito Woods takes a moment to show off on his mystery vehicle. Do we detect a Delphine/Hirohito more-than-friendship?! Jody reads some excellent Blume Head memories of The Monkees, while Alison dons her beat poet cap (never forget "Now-Times for People With Now-Dreams").

We're revisiting and re-releasing some of our favorite conversations while working on Season 6. This wonderful conversation was originally released on July 26, 2019. Well worth listening again. Cheers! **** Michelle and Emily welcome Francesca Passanise to the podcast. they share a delightful Argetinian Cabernet Franc, La Madrid. They have an enlightening conversation as they cover so many topics. Francesca shares her reactions to and perceptions of Puerto Rico after a recent visit there. They talk about Francesca's husband's style of art and when asked about her own artistic style, Francesca reveals she is a writer. She talks about being discouraged from pursuing writing as her career because she was always told she needed to do something that would support her. She chose to study business and marketing and has managed to marry her love of writing with her passion for effecting change in our world. She embraces her 'hopey-changey' part of her personality. The conversation flows naturally into a discussion about leadership differences between men and women, how women have a tendency to undervalue ourselves and our work, and equity vs equality. Francesca talks about her personal efforts to expand the cultural literacy in her children's school by reading to her daughters' class during story time during Black History Month and Women's History Month. She's been doing it for four years. She shares several books that everyone should read. Links to them are on our website http://cliterallyspeakingpodcast.com/season-2-43-flipping-the-script/ Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester (a St. Louisan) Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Vol 1 & 2 by Francesca Cavallo & Elena Favilli One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. They talk about how we hide behind the idea that we are a "polite society" and this irrational fear of making strife isn't helping our country with having open and honest discussions. Francesca shared an incredibly touching story about one afternoon during their reading of One Crazy Summer when a student asked if the book somehow would show them how or give them advice on what to do when you can tell someone is judging you. This leads to a rich discussion on privilege and removing the 'otherness' we apply to people. Francesca recommends working with St. Louis organization, WeStories, to develop tools to help create change in our community. She points to two artists who are creating particularly powerful pieces about racism and "other"ing that we should be watching:  Myloan Dinh & Myra Eastman. Thank you for listening and subscribing to Cliterally Speaking the Podcast. Visit our website: www.cliterallyspeakingpodcast.com Facebook: @cspeakpodcast Instagram: @cliterallyspeakingthepodcast Twitter: @cliterallyspea1 Please call our comment line: 812-727-0794 Watch our youtube channel (Cliterally Speaking the Podcast) for all the behind the scenes discussions during our recording sessions. And Subscribe, Like, Share our podcast with EVERYONE!

Chapters 19-21 of Rita Williams-Garcia's "One Crazy Summer" (2010)! Delphine learns about Li'l Bobby Hutton, decides she doesn't wanna go to the Center anymore, and makes a new cool friend! Vonetta and Fern have show biz dreams and plan their song and dance routine for the big Black Panther rally. Cecile is still scary. Jody presents a mini Special Report on Bobby Hutton's 1968 murder at the hands of the Oakland cops, and there are two two juicy Blume Head letters about childhood boom boxes, bratty brothers, and Freckle Juice experiments. Alison and Jody also chit chat about toddler toilet pranks, Fisher-Price policemen, and reminisce about the Weekend at Bernie's beachside mansion.

Here we come... walkin' down the streeeeeet! Join us for chapters 16-18 of Rita Williams-Garcia's "One Crazy Summer" about three sisters spending time with the Black Panthers in 1968 Oakland. Delphine has words with Hirohito Woods and decides to cook an entire meal for her family (she's 11, y'all). We catch a glimpse of Cecile's mystery kitchen and see her ever-so-slightly softer side. The sisters decide they want a TV set and stage a living room protest – will they actually get one?! Jody and Alison chat about off-roading, Safeway, square eyes, and '90s boom boxes. And, as usual, they provide melodramatic readings and literary analysis.

Well helloooo! It's been a minute, Blume Heads! Note: this unreleased episode was recorded back in August (hence the references to summer and "Virgo Season"), but we will be back next week with more current recordings as per usual.This week we cover chapters 14-15 of "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia. Vonetta ditches her sisters to join the mean Ankton girls and desecrates poor Miss Patty Cake with magic marker. Delphine defends Fern's honor and spends all her phone booth money on a Black Panther newspaper. Join us for more Chinese food dinners, dramatic readings, and TWO outrageous letters about My Buddy dolls.

Hailed by the New York Times as "witty and original," One Crazy Summer is a moving & funny story about three sisters looking for their mother in 1960s California. It's also a book that brings up issues that almost mirror current events today, tackling problems kids see around themselves. On this episode, we'll talk to acclaimed author Rita Williams-Garcia about what inspired her to write the Newbery Honor and National Book Award winning story - a contemporary classic that deals with everything from abandonment, to unfair policing, and the Black Panthers - why representation matters, and more. We'll also be joined by authors Janae Marks (From the Desk of Zoe Washington), Paula Chase (Turning Point), and Lisa Moore Ramée (Something to Say), three writers who read One Crazy Summer as adults, and had it stick with them. To learn more about One Crazy Summer, visit: bit.ly/2Yn09T0 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!

Alison and Jody discuss chapters 11-13 of "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia! The Gaither sisters stick around to attend the Black Panther Kids Club to learn about the Revolution but become a laughing stock when Vonetta and Fern embarrass Delphine with their enthusiastic outbursts. Delphine works up the guts to ask about Cecile's name change, and we finally learn what Nzila really means. Speaking of names, turns out Delphine hates dolphins, ESPECIALLY Flipper. But there's an Oreo cameo so we're all good. Jody and Alison talk about Scary Black Cherry bowel mishaps, youth groups, and read a great letter from Blume Head and NEW PATRON, Molly Patton!

Get out your white go-go boots and settle in for chapters 9-10 of Rita Williams-Garcia's "One Crazy Summer." Cecile sends her daughters out into the wild in search of breakfast. They have a stand-off with Beak Man over Miss Pattycake and eat cold eggs with orange slices. Al and Jody provide an insider exclusive about their "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" focus group and do an impromptu mini tarot sesh. There are two Special Reports on the name Inzilla (Nameberry says DON'T DO IT) and the historic rec center at Oakland's De Fremery Park. Keep listening for the usual dramatic readings and analysis, with plenty of off-topic discussion about Puffalumps, Go-Go the Walking Pup, My Buddy, and My Pretty Ballerina.

I sat down with one of my dearest friends Ammi-El Rich. If I'm being honest this episode was very similar to some of the conversations I've been having recently with people of color. To say that this has been a difficult time for BIPOC would be a gross understatement. We talk about our experiences, how those things have shaped our walk with Christ and What the Church can do to stand with BIPOC, both now and in the future. Spotlight Links Podcasts 1619 https://art19.com/shows/1619 The Red Couch Podcast with Propaganda and Alma https://redcouchpodcast.podbean.com/ Revisionist History http://revisionisthistory.com/ Instagram Dope Black Social Worker https://www.instagram.com/dopeblack_socialworker/?hl=en Books One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609764-one-crazy-summer https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16240734-p-s-be-eleven https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836574-gone-crazy-in-alabama If you'd like to support this podcast and Evangelist Janay Pasha $MrsPasha or become a sponsor through Anchor! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whatisthechurchtodo/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whatisthechurchtodo/support

The wisdom that comes with over thirty years in this business and at this craft is priceless--Rita is generous with it here, from aspects of craft (like looking for "points of ignition within the reader") to those of identity (like quitting her day job after 25 years because "I really needed to be the author that I was on my bio").   We get a glimpse into twenty-two year-old Rita who wrote her debut Blue Tights (1987) and asked a disinterested publishing machine, "Why isn't my culture, my reality, good enough?"   We talk breakout success here at the ten-year anniversary of One Crazy Summer, stakes, process, and how she keeps herself enchanted while drafting a story.   For more: https://www.patreon.com/thiscreativelife   Pre-order Sara's Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life

Chapters 7-8 of "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia! Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern spy on a secret Black Panther meeting, put themselves to bed, and have an ice water standoff with Cecile. Delphine also meets Cecile's roommate: a giant pair of angel wings. Alison and Jody do some dramatic readings and analysis, talk about their favorite Muppets, and get into some existential weirdness. Thank you Blume Head Helen for her mini Special Report on Judy Blume in The Simpsons!

In this Unabridged Book Club discussion, we talk about Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. This phenomenal book is a remix for young people of Kendi’s original Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, and we all felt that it was a phenomenal read and is such a great fit for the classroom.   Bookish Check-In Ashley - Tiffany D. Jackson’s Monday’s Not ComingJen - Robert Kolker’s Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American FamilySara - Sheila Williams’s The Secret Women    Book Pairings   Ashley - Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele’s When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir Jen - Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky Sara - Nic Stone’s Dear Martin and Rita Williams-Garcia’s One Crazy Summer   Give Me One - Favorite Dessert   Ashley - Oreo Ice Cream Dessert (This recipe is similar to the handwritten one I have) Jen - Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars Sara - Ice cream, but Sara also recommends Monster Cookie Dough Dip   Other Mentions   Tiffany D. Jackson's Allegedly Jamie Golden with The Popcast @readwithtoni buddy read for Hidden Valley Road (Don't miss our episode with Toni!) the Hamilton musical Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy Unabridged Episode - Great Books for the Classroom Written by Black Authors Revisionist History episode, "The Lady Vanishes" (Note: In the episode, Jen mentions a Freakonomics episode about the Prime Minister of New Zealand and says she'll check on the link. This episode of Revisionist History, about the Prime Minister of Australia, is the correct reference.) Ibram X. Kendi's interview on Armchair Expert   Click here for a full transcript that you can read while listening, provided by otter.ai.   Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.   Want to support Unabridged?   Check out our Merch Store!Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our Teachers Pay Teachers store. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on Apple Podcasts or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

Order up some lo mein and a Pepsi, it's time for chapters 5-6 of "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia! First and foremost, please excuse Jody's terrible sound quality (we blame Gremlins). Delphine and her sisters are starving, so Cecile barricades the verboten kitchen and sends them out to fetch dinner from Ming's. They make a pricey call to Big Ma and meet a boy with a Burning Man wheelchair. Back at home, Cecile is visited by three mysterious figures. Who could they be?! Jody recalls the time when she fielded collect calls from metalhead prisoners, and Alison reminisces about the time she was able to shower in the morning. There's dramatic readings, fabulous TV commercials from 1968, and some surprise cupcakes! What a night.

We're in Oakland, baby! Chapters 3-4 of Rita Williams-Garcia's "One Crazy Summer" (2010), the novel about three sisters spending the summer of 1968 with their estranged mother. Delphine and crew meet a shady-looking Cecile at the airport and are whisked away to the funky green stucco structure they'll be calling home for 28 days. We quickly learn that Cecile is no Carol Brady – what is going to happen to these poor children?! Alison recounts her very Sheila-esque shimmy through the garage window, and Jody reads a great letter from Blume Head Dustin about growing up with Judy Blume and his plans for an Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great birthday party (aka THE DREAM)! Lastly, thank you to all of our Patrons, we so appreciate you!

Alison and Jody begin their NEW Judy-adjacent book, "One Crazy Summer," by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010). The gals take you on a wild ride through the turbulent year of 1968 and discuss the events, music, entertainment, and fashion that made it so memorable – from neo-Edwardian fashion, to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., to Olivia Hussey's boobs, to the first Miss Black America pageant. Meanwhile, in the book, Delphine and her two younger sisters fly to Oakland to see their long-lost mother, Cecile. Delphine keeps her siblings in line, catches a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge, and has thousands of dollars burning a hole in her sock. To top it all off, there's a fabulous letter from Blume Head Amanda (who read Wifey in FOURTH GRADE) and a Law & Order / Doogie Howser mashup not to be missed. Please don't forget to join our Patreon! www.patreon.com/theblumesaloon

The fight for racial equality didn't start with Black Lives Matter. This week, we visit a Black Panther summer camp in Rita Williams-Garcia's novel "One Crazy Summer." Readers from Washington, DC's Jefferson Academy discuss the novel and host Kitty Felde speaks with the author.

This week on Story Effect, Abigail promotes five Middle Grade and Young Adult books about black protagonists and by black authors. Featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling black authors writing for teens today, these stories shed light on the teen black experience in America, and provide a variety of interesting tales for girls and boys alike. Add these to your summer reading list, and purchase at your local bookstore or borrow them from the library to support black authors, while simultaneously encouraging your growth and learning. Books covered in this podcast induce:You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America by Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Rita Williams-Garcia, Dhonielle Clayton, Kekla Magoon, Leah Henderson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Renée Watson, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Ibi Zoboi, Lamar Giles Ghost by Jason Reynolds Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert New Kid by Jerry Craft

The ladies sit down with our resident show educator Dr. Kecia L Hyman to discuss the status of education for the upcoming school year 20-21 during this pandemic.  How will kids return to school during this pandemic...how will parents as well as educators cope during this time.  Join the conversation and let us know what you think by sending an email to 3thegrownway@gmail.com Pecou Family  Summer Reading Club 1. The Secret Lake - Karen Inglis 2. Born A Crime - Trevor Noah (The Teen Version) 3. One Crazy Summer     P.S. Be Eleven     Gone Crazy in Alabama     (This is a series by Rita Williams Garcia)   

Marilyn Singer, Author, Face Relations: 11 Stories About Seeing Beyond Color. A young adult anthology of short stories about race relations, edited by Marilyn and including her story “Negress,” as well as stories by Jess Mowry, Joseph Bruchac, Sherri Winston, Rene Saldana, Jr., Naomi Shihab Nye, Ellen Wittlinger, Kyoko Mori, M.E. Kerr, Marina Budhos, and Rita Williams-Garcia.

First Draft Episode #214: Jason Reynolds Jason Reynolds is the New York Times bestselling author of the Ghost series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Lu), When I Was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit, As Brave As You, Miles Morales: Spider Man, Long Way Down, For Every One, Look Both Ways, and co-author of All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely, listen to his First Draft interview here) and Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi),. In January, Jason was named the seventh National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2020-2021. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode Jason didn’t grow up writing prose, but he and all his friends had rhyme books where they would write lyrics. They wanted to be the next Nas, Slick Rick, Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, or Rakim. Jason’s aunt would give him classic books as gifts, including Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Bob Marley’s “Kaya,” Nina Simone’s “Four Women,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” were hugely influential on Jason because of the beauty of the lyrics Jason teamed up with the artist and writer Jason Douglas Griffin for an early book, My Name is Jason. Mine Too: Our Story. Our Way. Jason credits Joanna Cotler, author and artist, and then publisher of her own imprint at HarperCollins, with teaching him how to write narrative and gave him the mantra: “Your intuition will take you farther than your education ever will.” Jacqueline Woodson (author of Brown Girl Dreaming, winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and Newberry Honor winner), Rita Williams-Garcia (author of Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, a National Book Award finalist), and Walter Dean Myers (author of more than 100 books for young people, including Monster, winner of the Printz Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and National Book Award, and more) are people Jason considers predecessors to his career. Christopher Myers, writer, artist, and the son of Walter Dean Myers, pressed Jason to return to writing, to carry on his father’s legacy. At Christopher’s urging, Jason read The Young Landlords by Walter Dean Myers (which the TV show 227 was based on) Caitlyn Dlouhy, Vice President & Editorial Director of Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, nurtured Jason’s career by focusing on the integrity of his work Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak and The Impossible Knife of Memory), Eliot Schrefer (author of Threatened, a National Book Award finalist), and Gene Luen Yang (author and illustrator of American Born Chinese), and Jason also shouts out Sharon Draper’s New York Times bestselling Stella by Starlight Jason references part of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself: “Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs!” Jason admires writers who use verse for all or many of their books, specifically Kwame Alexander (poet and educator, and New York Times bestselling author of The Crossover: A Novel, winner of the Newbery Medal and a Coretta Scott King Honor) and Ellen Hopkins (New York Times bestselling author of Crank) Alfred Hitchcock’s works (including Psycho and Rear Window), and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining are examples of subtle ways that framing and design can make a viewer feel uncomfortable. Quincy Jones said about producing music, “I always say you have to leave space for God to walk into the room.” That’s how Jason feels about the appearance of poetry in text. The first scene of Boyz ‘n the Hood shows one kid asking another, “Do you want to see a dead body?” Fresh Ink: An Anthology, edited by Lamar Giles (author of Fake ID and Spin), and Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America, edited by Ibi Zoboi (author of American Street, a National Book Award finalist, and Pride) are among the anthologies that Jason thinks are wonderful. He wonders why we’ve moved away from the short story format for younger readers. The TV show High Maintenance is another example of vignette storytelling that Jason was going for with Look Both Ways Jason shouts out Jennifer Buehler, Ph.D., Associate Professor at St. Louis University, Educational Studies who specializes in young adult literature Jason’s friend and co-author of All American Boys, Brendan Keily (author of Tradition, listen to his First Draft episode here), refers to the story under the story as “vertical narrative” I want to hear from you! Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call (818) 533-1998. You can also email the podcast at firstdraftwithsarahenni@gmail.com.  Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni Every Tuesday, I speak to storytellers like Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent; Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author and host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast; Jonny Sun, internet superstar, illustrator of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Gmorning, Gnight! and author and illustrator of Everyone’s an Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too;  Michael Dante  DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender; John August, screenwriter of Big Fish, Charlie’s Angels, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; or Rhett Miller, musician and frontman for The Old 97s. Together, we take deep dives on their careers and creative works. Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s free! Rate, Review, and Recommend How do you like the show? Please take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you! Is there someone you think would love this podcast as much as you do? Please share this episode on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or via carrier pigeon (maybe try a text or e-mail, come to think of it). Just click the Share button at the bottom of this post! Thanks again!

Rising star Ibi Zoboi (author of the young adult novels American Street and Pride) presents her middle grade fiction debut My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, in a conversation with her mentor, iconic young people's fiction author Rita Williams-Garcia, centered on the culture of 1980s Harlem, hip-hop, and sci-fi and black girl nerdiness. (Recorded in our Fort Greene store on September 12, 2019.)

First Draft Episode #214: Jason Reynolds Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of critically acclaimed books, including National Book Award finalist Ghost, Newberry and Printz-honored Long Way Down, Coretta Scott King Honoree As Brave as You, and his latest, middle grade Look Both Ways, which was just named to the National Book Award Longlist for Young People’s Literature. This episode was brought to you by Freedom — upgrade to Premium and use code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or Forever plan! Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode Jason didn’t grow up writing prose, but he and all his friends had rhyme books where they would write lyrics. They wanted to be the next Nas, Slick Rick, Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, or Rakim. Jason’s aunt would give him classic books as gifts, including Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Bob Marley’s “Kaya,” Nina Simone’s “Four Women,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” were hugely influential on Jason because of the beauty of the lyrics Jason teamed up with the artist and writer Jason Douglas Griffin for an early book, My Name is Jason. Mine Too: Our Story. Our Way. Jason credits Joanna Cotler, author and artist, and then publisher of her own imprint at HarperCollins, with teaching him how to write narrative and gave him the mantra: “Your intuition will take you farther than your education ever will.” Jacqueline Woodson (author of Brown Girl Dreaming, winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and Newberry Honor winner), Rita Williams-Garcia (author of Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, a National Book Award finalist), and Walter Dean Myers (author of more than 100 books for young people, including Monster, winner of the Printz Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and National Book Award, and more) are people Jason considers predecessors to his career. Christopher Myers, writer, artist, and the son of Walter Dean Myers, pressed Jason to return to writing, to carry on his father’s legacy. At Christopher’s urging, Jason read The Young Landlords by Walter Dean Myers (which the TV show 227 was based on) Caitlyn Dlouhy, Vice President & Editorial Director of Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, nurtured Jason’s career by focusing on the integrity of his work Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak and The Impossible Knife of Memory), Eliot Schrefer (author of Threatened, a National Book Award finalist), and Gene Luen Yang (author and illustrator of American Born Chinese), and Jason also shouts out Sharon Draper’s New York Times bestselling Stella by Starlight Jason references part of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself: “Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs!” Jason admires writers who use verse for all or many of their books, specifically Kwame Alexander (poet and educator, and New York Times bestselling author of The Crossover: A Novel, winner of the Newbery Medal and a Coretta Scott King Honor) and Ellen Hopkins (New York Times bestselling author of Crank) Alfred Hitchcock’s works (including Psycho and Rear Window), and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining are examples of subtle ways that framing and design can make a viewer feel uncomfortable. Quincy Jones said about producing music, “I always say you have to leave space for God to walk into the room.” That’s how Jason feels about the appearance of poetry in text. The first scene of Boyz ‘n the Hood shows one kid asking another, “Do you want to see a dead body?” Fresh Ink: An Anthology, edited by Lamar Giles (author of Fake ID and Spin), and Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America, edited by Ibi Zoboi (author of American Street, a National Book Award finalist, and Pride) are among the anthologies that Jason thinks are wonderful. He wonders why we’ve moved away from the short story format for younger readers. The TV show High Maintenance is another example of vignette storytelling that Jason was going for with Look Both Ways Jason shouts out Jennifer Buehler, Ph.D., Associate Professor at St. Louis University, Educational Studies who specializes in young adult literature Jason’s friend and co-author of All American Boys, Brendan Keily (author of Tradition, listen to his First Draft episode here), refers to the story under the story as “vertical narrative” I want to hear from you! Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call (818) 533-1998. You can also email the podcast at firstdraftwithsarahenni@gmail.com.  Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni Every Tuesday, I speak to storytellers like Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent; Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author and host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast; Jonny Sun, internet superstar, illustrator of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Gmorning, Gnight! and author and illustrator of Everyone’s an Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too;  Michael Dante  DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender; John August, screenwriter of Big Fish, Charlie’s Angels, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; or Rhett Miller, musician and frontman for The Old 97s. Together, we take deep dives on their careers and creative works. Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s free! Rate, Review, and Recommend How do you like the show? Please take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you! Is there someone you think would love this podcast as much as you do? Please share this episode on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or via carrier pigeon (maybe try a text or e-mail, come to think of it). Just click the Share button at the bottom of this post! Thanks again!

Ramona Quimby is a pest. So... why do we *love* her? Ramona is an icon who helps kids understand the things we can't control like family dynamics and classroom rules. She also teaches us to speak up and question everything—even grownups. In this episode, we'll talk about the Ramona Quimby series and its legendary author, Beverly Cleary, who herself once struggled with reading. Guests Julie Murphy (Dumplin', Dear Sweet Pea), Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground), and Dan Yaccarino (Giant Tess, Five Little Pumpkins) join us to talk about Ramona's bold personality and how her pesky relationships with world around her paved the way for them as authors writing popular children's books in today's climate. They'll also talk about the important intricacies of coming of age books, their own complex characters and why its important to write about ordinary, relatable situations—something Beverly Cleary does so, so well. To learn more about Ramona Quimby, visit bit.ly/RRRamonaQ 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!

Michelle and Emily welcome Francesca Passanise to the podcast. they share a delightful Argetinian Cabernet Franc, La Madrid. They have an enlightening conversation as they cover so many topics. Francesca shares her reactions to and perceptions of Puerto Rico after a recent visit there. They talk about Francesca's husband's style of art and when asked about her own artistic style, Francesca reveals she is a writer. She talks about being discouraged from pursuing writing as her career because she was always told she needed to do something that would support her. She chose to study business and marketing and has managed to marry her love of writing with her passion for effecting change in our world. She embraces her 'hopey-changey' part of her personality. The conversation flows naturally into a discussion about leadership differences between men and women, how women have a tendency to undervalue ourselves and our work, and equity vs equality. Francesca talks about her personal efforts to expand the cultural literacy in her children's school by reading to her daughters' class during story time during Black History Month and Women's History Month. She's been doing it for four years. She shares several books that everyone should read. Links to them are on our website http://cliterallyspeakingpodcast.com/season-2-43-flipping-the-script/ Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester (a St. Louisan) Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Vol 1 & 2 by Francesca Cavallo & Elena Favilli One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. They talk about how we hide behind the idea that we are a "polite society" and this irrational fear of making strife isn't helping our country with having open and honest discussions. Francesca shared an incredibly touching story about one afternoon during their reading of One Crazy Summer when a student asked if the book somehow would show them how or give them advice on what to do when you can tell someone is judging you. This leads to a rich discussion on privilege and removing the 'otherness' we apply to people. Francesca recommends working with St. Louis organization, WeStories, to develop tools to help create change in our community. She points to two artists who are creating particularly powerful pieces about racism and "other"ing that we should be watching:  Myloan Dinh & Myra Eastman. Thank you for listening and subscribing to Cliterally Speaking the Podcast. Visit our website: www.cliterallyspeakingpodcast.com Facebook: @cspeakpodcast Instagram: @cliterallyspeakingthepodcast Twitter: @cliterallyspea1 Please call our comment line: 812-727-0794 Watch our youtube channel (Cliterally Speaking the Podcast) for all the behind the scenes discussions during our recording sessions. And Subscribe, Like, Share our podcast with EVERYONE!

Jessica Lawson and I chat about writing and the strange quirks of being a writer. We discuss each of her books, where she gets her ideas, and her best writing practices. She doesn't sing a song about lost socks, alas, but she does talk about her editorial process and her best tips for successful school visits. Jessica and I have been online friends for years and it was a pleasure to finally have a conversation in person. I learned a lot and you will as well. Jessica Lawson enjoys living in Pennsylvania, where she and her family spend weekend hours hanging at the local orchard, pretending to be on Top Chef Junior, building with magnet blocks, making up new holidays, and reading plenty of books. She likes pizza. A lot. She is the author of The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher, a book that Publishers Weekly called “a delightfully clever debut” in a starred review, and Nooks and Crannies, a Junior Library Guild Selection and recipient of three starred reviews. Her 3rd book, Waiting for Augusta, won the Colorado Book Award for Juvenile Fiction, and was also a Junior Library Guild Selection. Of her latest book, Under the Bottle Bridge, School Library Journal says: "Beautifully written, with vivid characters, this exploration of family and friendship shines from the first page." She fell in love with storytelling at an early age, and is a sucker for Roald Dahl, Maurice Sendak, Linda Sue Park, RL LaFevers, Charles Dickens, Karen Cushman, Barbara Park, Amy Tan, Maryrose Wood, Barbara Cooney, Anne Ursu, Christopher Paul Curtis, Gail Carson Levine, Rita Williams-Garcia, Arnold Lobel, Isabel Allende, Sharon Creech, Eva Ibbotson, Shannon Hale, Maeve Binchy and many, many, many other wonderful authors and illustrators. She writes middle grade fiction, lots of to-do lists, and songs about lost socks. MiddleGradeNinja.com JessicaLawsonBooks.com

One Crazy Summer By Rita Williams-Garcia They didn’t really remember their mother, since she’d left so many years ago. So when their dad sends them off to San Francisco to get to know their mom, Delphine has her reservations. After all, she doesn’t know much about her mother and her mother doesn’t seem to even want them in her house. Plus it is the summer of 1968, and lots of things are going on in the world beyond just what is happening in their family. Recommended for grades 7 and up.

Three Books is Ela Area Public Library’s podcast series where our host (just Becca this time) chats about three popular/favorite books. Author Maggie Lehrman talks about her new book (The Last Best Story), high school memories, highway overpasses, stream of consciousness poems and more! 00:32 Maggie Lehrman Introduction 02:25 The Last Best Story 04:53 Local Inspirations in The Last Best Story 11:12 How His Girl Friday Inspired The Last Best Story 13:57 Word Association Game 17:34 Book 1: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 21:30 Book 2: Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce 25:42 Book 3: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia 27:58 Experiences with Rita Williams Garcia 31:50 Why she chose her three books 32:38 Why Last Best Story was set aside for 10 years 36:20 Notable Books she has edited 40:07 The Editing Process 43:16 Maggie’s Library Story 52:37 Maggie’s Quote Maggie’s Books: The Last Best Story The Cost of All Things Maggies’s Three Books: Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia Other Titles/Information Discussed: Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales (Lafayette! out October 16, 2018) Apocalypse Taco by Nathan Hale (out March 12, 2019) The Raven’s Tale by Cat Winters (out April 16, 2019) In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles by Thomas Lennon (out Feb. 26, 2019) The Bachman Books: Rage / The Long Walk / Roadwork / The Running Man by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King) Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery Watching: His Girl Friday (Available on Hoopla!) Find Maggie: http://www.maggielehrman.com ‎@maggielehrman on Twitter @maggielehrmanauthor on Facebook Contact us! Email: threebookspodcast@gmail.com Twitter - @threebookspod eapl.org/threebooks

Episode Summary: Hosts Julie Dina, Lauren Martino, and David Payne talk about New Years resolutions. Are they helpful? What are some strategies for keeping them? How can MCPL help you make a change? Recording Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Hosts: Julie Dina, Lauren Martino, and David Payne Featured MCPL Resource: February is Library Lovers Month. The Library Lovers Month Kickoff event will take place at Aspen Hill Library, February 3, 2018 at 11 AM. It will feature an interactive STEM show and a hands-on booth “Bubbling Potions and Explosions” by the Science Guys of Baltimore. Here are some other fun events to help you express your love for libraries.  What Our Hosts Are Reading: Julie Dina: Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi Lauren Martino: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia, whose other well known books include Gone Crazy in Alabama and One Crazy Summer.  David Payne: A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré, who also wrote The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  Books and other MCPL Resources Mentioned During this Episode: Artist Works: Unlimited access to beginning through advanced, self-paced video lessons for instruments, voice and physical art. NOTE: Our subscription to Artist Works does not currently include quizzes.  Broke Millenial: Stop Scraping by and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, who also wrote Being Mortal Gale Courses: High-quality, free courses and career training programs offered entirely online.  Getting Things Done by David Allen Learning Express: Offers online tutorials, practice tests, and e-books to improve job search and workplace skills; reading, writing, math, and basic science comprehension; and career certification, licensure and education testing skills.  Lynda.com: Learn new skills online! Lynda.com offers over 6,000 courses in business, technology, and creative endeavors taught by industry experts.  The 21 Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom by Michelle Singletary Other Items of Interest: Habitica: App mentioned by host Lauren Martino that turns adopting good habits and avoiding bad ones into a game.  Read the transcript

If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance. https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea --- In today’s new episode, we have a highly motivating roundup of interview clips from guests we’ve had on the show throughout the past two years. There’s so much that’s been going on around us, and an overwhelming amount of devastating news lately, and it’s honestly no surprise that there are many of us hitting a wall with our creativity. I’ve been keeping a close eye on our community and some of you have not been able to write lately, and several have been feeling stuck for quite some time now. So I went through some of your top favorite and most popular episodes to pull out highlights I found would be most helpful for you right now, and will hopefully give you a massive boost of inspiration. In the roundup, you’ll be hearing clips from interviews with Jacqueline Woodson, Victoria V.E. Schwab, Rita Williams-Garcia, Jeff Zentner, Angie Thomas, and Leigh Bardugo, in that specific order. We talk about writing as a catharsis to push through grief, facing self-doubt, making time for writing, and learning to fall back in love with your writing. I hope that after you listen to this episode, it feels like a warm tight hug for your soul and anytime you hit a rough spot again with your writing, I encourage you to re-listen to this episode to remind you that you are not alone. Say 'Hi' to our featured authors on Twitter! Jacqueline Woodson Victoria V.E. Schwab Rita Williams-Garcia Jeff Zentner Angie Thomas Leigh Bardugo Happy listening! Xo, Yin PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! --- If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page! --- Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here! --- Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you! --- Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here! --- Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here! --- Click on the following links to be brought to each author’s full interview on 88 Cups of Tea:  Jacqueline Woodson Victoria V.E. Schwab Rita Williams-Garcia Jeff Zentner Angie Thomas Leigh Bardugo

Every family has its own way of doing things and, now that our kids are old enough to compare our homes to their friends', suddenly there's a whole list of ways in which we, our kids' parents, ARE MONSTERS. Plus, Biz paves the way for weekend fun and Theresa visits a real forest. And we talk with writer Nefertiti Austin about her experience adopting children as a single woman of color.   In reference to our conversation with Nefertiti, here are some book recommendations from Gwen Glazer of the New York Public Library. These books are for children ages 10+, featuring protagonists who are people of color. Note these are categorized by gender -- the first listed are books featuring boy/male leads and below that are books featuring girl/female leads. As with any book, parents should read first to make sure it is suitable for your child. Thank you, Gwen!   Featuring boy/male leads:   As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds (Nefertiti after the show found this as well through her local librarian)  ​​The Crossover and Booked by Kwame Alexander (these might skew older​ -- for a mature 10yo only​)  The Cruisers series by Walter Dean Myers​​ Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth​​ Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis​   Featuring girl/female leads:   One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia  Flygirl by Sherri L. Smit  Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes  The Jumbies series by Tracy Baptiste  The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis   Zora and Me by Victoria Bond   Nefertiti Austin: http://muthamagazine.com/author/nefertiti-austin/ http://www.essence.com/authors/nefertiti-austin Tickets for One Bad Mother Live at the Independent in San Francisco April 29th: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1453303 You're Doing A Great Job!: 100 Ways You're Winning At Parenting! is available now! You can get it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million or your local indie book store! Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of MaximumFun.org. Our sponsors this week are Blue Apron and Care.com. You can try Blue Apron and get your first three meals free with free shipping by visiting BlueApron.com/badmother. And to save 30% off a Care.com Premium membership, and receive a $15 credit that you can use toward paying your caregiver when you use Care.com’s convenient payment platform, visit http://www.care.com/badmother when you subscribe. Share your genius and fail moments! Call 206-350-9485* *Be sure to tell us at the top of your message whether you're leaving a genius moment, a fail, or a rant! Thanks!! Share a personal or commercial message on the show! Subscribe to One Bad Mother in iTunes Join our mailing list!

Sheryl Scarborough worked as a writer, story editor, and series developer in children's television before receiving her MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adult from Vermont College, where she studied under Rita Williams-Garcia, Tom Birdseye, Susan Fletcher, and A.M. Jenkins, among others. She lives and works in Kalama, Washington. To Catch a Killer is her debut. http:Visit Tamara and Alistair at their websites. Alistair’s novel, THE ANGEL ALEJANDRO is available! Sign up HERE for Thorne & Cross book updates, special deals, upcoming guests on Haunted Nights LIVE! and more. This is a copyrighted, trademarked podcast owned solely by the Authors on the Air Global Radio  

We know we teased a different book—our apologies for changing course—but this week begins our discussion of Rita Williams-Garcia’s “One Crazy Summer”. We’ve opened up comments on our website so please let us know what you think of the book. Happy reading! https://fatherdaughterbookclub.com/podcast/fdbc-experiences-one-crazy-summer-part-1

We know we teased a different book—our apologies for changing course—but this week begins our discussion of Rita Williams-Garcia’s “One Crazy Summer”. We’ve opened up comments on our website so please let us know what you think of the book. Happy reading! http://fatherdaughterbookclub.com/podcast/fdbc-experiences-one-crazy-summer-part-1

LitBit Episode 1: "Engagement with Young Adult Literature" by Ivey and Johnston Katie Thomas and Brooke Cunningham from the University of Tennessee PhD in young adult literature program discuss Ivey and Johnston's "Engagement with Young Adult Literature: Outcomes and Processes" as well as talk about what young adult literature they have been reading. *There are a few bugs in our audio, but we will have that fixed by our next podcast! Study Citation: Ivey, G., & Johnston, P.H. (2013). Engagement with young adult literature: Outcomes and processes. Reading Research Quarterly, 48(3), 255-275. Links to Books Mentioned: Mosquitoland by David Arnold http://www.amazon.com/Mosquitoland-David-Arnold/dp/045147077X Books by Rita Williams-Garcia http://www.amazon.com/Rita-Williams-Garcia/e/B00BJ8QIEE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1459115614&sr=1-2-ent

Aug. 30, 2014. Rita Williams-Garcia appears at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Speaker Biography: Queens, N.Y., native Rita Williams-Garcia says, "Writing stories for young people is my passion and my mission." Recipient of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, Williams-Garcia is known for her works' realistic portrayal of teens of color. For her New York Times best-seller "One Crazy Summer," she won the 2011 Newbery Honor Award, the Coretta Scott King Award and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. In her latest Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel "P.S. Be Eleven," the sequel to "One Crazy Summer," character Delphine Gaither returns to Brooklyn with her family and tries to "be 11" while she can despite the changing circumstances and responsibilities around her. This historical fiction tells the story of three sisters growing up amid the backdrop of the Black Panthers, Vietnam War and the overall radical change of the 1960s. Williams-Garcia teaches at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in the Writing for Children & Young Adults Program. For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6498

It's rare to find historical fiction that weaves rich period detail into the lives of memorable and endearing characters, but Rita Williams-Garcia's middle-grade novels One Crazy Summer and P.S. Be Eleven do just that. Tune in to hear Rita explain how she drew on personal and historical contexts to develop her characters and tell their story. You'll also hear about her great love for her work and her commitment to spending as long as it takes to get the story right.

Rita Williams-Garcia appears at the 2011 National Book Festival. Speaker Biography: In "One Crazy Summer," winner of the 2011 Coretta Scott King and Newbery Honor awards, Rita Williams-Garcia places her main character, Delphine, in Oakland, Calif., in 1968--a tumultuous period in American history. Nevertheless, Delphine triumphs over the adversity of having been abandoned by her mother seven years ago and being sent from her home in Brooklyn across the country to live. Williams-Garcia says, "I was born to write stories. When I'm not working, I'm daydreaming. Plotting out the next story. Listening to understand my character. Then I'll get excited because I learned something that I didn't know, and I start to write." For captions, transcript, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5433.