Podcast appearances and mentions of Victoria Jamieson

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Newbery Honor-winning illustrator and author, Victoria Jamieson, about why quite a few publishing professionals know what a “doodly doo” is; what a graphic novel can be, and how it really is a lot of work; what perfection has to do with art; and more.

In this week's episode of Pages n' Pages, we answer all the fun summer book tags with lots of good book recommendations for you! Let us know what book you like to read during the summer! What We've Read and What We are Reading:  The Alpha of Bleake Isle by Kathryn Moon (Dragonkin #1) Wild Love (Rose Hill #1) by Elsie Silver The Dixon Rule (The Campus Diaries #2) by Elle Kennedy Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson and narrated by Almarie Guerra, full cast, Kate Reinders, Tara Sands, Hillary Huber, Jorjeana Marie, Cassandra Morris, P.J. Ochlan, Adenrele Ojo, Georgette Perna, Bahni Turpin, Various The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. Narrated by: Christopher Gebauer, Jennifer Blom, Rob Dircks Antimatter Blues (Mickey7 #2) by Edward Ashton and Narrated by: John Pirhalla, Katharine Chin Additional Book Mentions The Women by Kristin Hannah Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

More than 100 million people have fled violence and persecution around the world. But that's just a number. Who are these refugees? Meet Omar. Readers from Dorothy Hamm Middle School in Arlington, Virginia discuss When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohammed and Victoria Jamieson. Our celebrity reader is Matthew Saltmarsh from the UNHCR. Kitty Felde is host.

Children learn to read, so they can read to learn! But even more than an educational aid, reading is a pleasure enjoyed by millions of people every day. Today, we're joined by the Heritage Mom, Amber O'Neal Johnston, to learn how she chooses books for her homeschool and her family! SHOW NOTES: Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial! Like our page and join our group on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Amber's Book Recommendations: The Old Truck, by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey When Stars Are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed Saving Savannah, by Tanya Bolden Visit Amber's Website: Heritage Mom Buy Amber's Book: A Place to Belong Follow Amber on Social Media: Instagram, Facebook This episode featured: Deck the Halls B by Kevin MacLeod http://incompetech.com Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/deck-the-halls-b Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/RzjZ-WdVeyk The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway and our music is by The Great Pangolin. If you liked this episode, and you'd like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Searching for the perfect books to fill out your holiday shopping list? We've got you covered with recommendations from the owners of two independent bookstores in Ohio. Suzanne DeGaetano of Mac's Backs in Cleveland and Greg Kornbluh of Downbound Books in Cincinnati suggest books to gift readers of all ages and genres, from picture books to graphic novels, poetry, works of nonfiction, cerebral literary novels, and beyond.   We encourage listeners to visit (or order online from) Mac's Backs, Downbound Books, and other independent bookstores this holiday season.   Recommendations from Mac's Backs: The Voice in the Hollow by Will Hillenbrand Ain't It Fun: Peter Laughner & Proto-Punk in the Secret City by Aaron Lange Poem for Cleveland Anthology, edited by Ray McNiece Foster by Claire Keegan Starter Villain by John Scalzi How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett & illustrated by Jon Klassen When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed Refugee by Alan Gratz What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama Bonus: Settling Ohio: First Peoples and Beyond, edited by Timothy G. Anderson & Brian Schoen   Recommendations from Downbound Books: Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up by Jenn Bishop The Future of Rock and Roll: 97X WOXY and the Fight for True Independence by Robin James The Shade Tree by Suzy Lee Dragons Hoops by Gene Luen Yang How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney The Lost Subways of North America by Jake Berman The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holten Landings: A Crooked Creek Farm Year by Arwen Donahue The Guest Lecture by Martin Riker Open Throat by Henry Hoke     Page Count is produced by Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library. For full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit the episode page. To get in touch, email ohiocenterforthebook@cpl.org (put “podcast” in the subject line) or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

Today, our stack of books is tied together with a common theme of books that everyone else read and loved, and SOMEHOW we missed the boat on them…until now.  We will also share our books in hand.  We may be a little late to the party, but we are so happy we arrived!  Featured Books:Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (LP)Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (LH)Books In Hand:When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (LP)The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi (LH)Additional Books That Go Along With Our Theme:Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Shrines of Gaiety by Kate AtkinsonDaisy and The Six by Taylor Jenkins ReidLibertie by Kaitlyn GreenidgeBooks Mentioned In This Episode:All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. CosbySalvage The Bones by Jesmyn WardThe Men We Reaped by Jesmyn WardLet Us Descend by Jesmyn WardWays to contact us:Follow us on Instagram - @thebookbumbleFacebook:  Book BumbleOur website:  https://thebookbumble.buzzsprout.comEmail:  bookbumblepodcast@gmail.comHey Friends, please rate and review us!

Located on the east coast of Africa, Kenya is a fantastic place to explore Swahili culture and get close to exotic wildlife — lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, gazelles, warthogs, wildebeests, and so many birds. The capital city of Nairobi sits on a plateau between the Indian Ocean (hello, picturesque beaches!) and the Great Rift Valley (lush green hills, blue lakes, hot pink flamingoes). Nairobi hums with energy and everything you'd expect in a major capital. The city also gets a little wild — literally — with Nairobi National Park inside the city limits. As you might expect in Africa, Kenyan history is basically two big buckets: before colonialism and after. The rich influences that led to the Swahili culture — Arab, Persian, Indian, and African — are all on display in cities like Mombasa. Wander the narrow alleys and take in the romantic architecture, then cruise on a white-sailed dhow to the nearby island of Zanzibar.  Outside the cities, get ready for outdoor adventures with a jeep safari, a hike on Mt. Kenya, a cycling tour through Hell's Gate (!), or a visit to a Maasai village to experience their traditional lifestyle. In this episode, we daydream about safari animals, listen to African music, and explore why Kenyans are such fantastic runners. Then we recommend five great books that transported us to Kenya on the page. Here are the books about Kenya we recommend on the show: Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor West with the Night by Beryl Markham The Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o — and the audiobook When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed — and the audiobook A Guide to the Birds of East Africa: A Novel by Nicholas Drayson For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about, visit our show notes. Transcript of Kenya: Hurrying Has No Blessing. Do you enjoy our show? Do you want access to awesome bonus content?  Please support our work on Patreon! Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's podcast, Margarita shares a graphic novel for kids ages 8 to 12: When the Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. This is the true story of Omar and his younger brother Hassan, who live in a refugee camp. When Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day. Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1814339

On Today's Show "I think there's so much you can do. It's so rich because you have words, you have pictures. Sometimes they say the same things, sometimes they say opposite things. There's such an interplay between the two that I feel like there's so many possibilities." - Victoria Jamieson Victoria Jamieson was always an introverted child, but a move across states in middle school pushed her further inward and made her grasp for familiarity. She quickly found comfort in the local library after her mother became the regular host of their summer reading program. While Victoria was an avid reader, burning through Ramona Quimby stories, she also found herself deeply interested in the Sunday comics in newspapers, and eventually comics such as Calvin and Hobbes. This lifelong interest in artwork and storytelling would inspire her own career as an author-illustrator. But as Victoria discovered an additional gap in the comic industry for middle-grade literature, she was influenced to take a shot at writing her own graphic novel.Today, Victoria talks to us about why she loves illustrations in literature, authors that inspired her, and how a dream job rejection inspired her first book.This episode's Beanstack featured librarian is John Henry Evans, a school librarian at Walter T. Helms Middle School at West Contra Costa Unified School District in California. Today, John Henry shares a moving story about a student, a book, and an unexpected post-it note.As with all episodes, our author guest creates a unique reading challenge that is available on Beanstack and also at thereadingculturepod.com. Listen to the episode to learn more about Victoria's challenge of looking through some new “little windows”.ContentsChapter 1 - Owner of the library (2:04)Chapter 2 - Ramona and Beezus (6:57)Chapter 3 - From Ramona to Rollergirl (11:01)Chapter 4 - Astrid, The Likeable (15:07)Chapter 5 - The allure of Lego manuals (18:06)Chapter 6 - Omar's Story (24:40)Chapter 7 - Warm Welcomes (32:27)Chapter 8 - Little Windows (36:33)Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (37:45)Links thereadingculturepod.com https://www.victoriajamieson.com/ https://www.beanstack.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-childrens-book-podcast/ https://www.wccusd.net/

Victoria Jamieson is the author of the graphic novel and New York Times Best Seller Roller Girl, and she joins Josie to discuss how she became an author and illustrator and why graphic novels are great reads for kids. In this interview, you'll hear Victoria talk about her hit book Roller Girl as well as her most recent book When Stars Are Scattered. Josie and Victoria also share a few more of their best book recommendations for military tweens.Books mentioned in this show:Roller GirlWhen Stars Are ScatteredRamona and Beezus by Beverly Cleary and Jacqueline RogersWings of Fire by Tui T. SutherlandScience Comics: Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield by Falynn KochSmile by Raina TelgemeierSquish by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew HolmNew Kid, by Jerry CraftHuda F Are You? by Huda FahmyThe Terrible Two, by Mac Barnett, Jory John & Kevin CornellFind more information about Victoria JamiesonLearn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family's bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR's reading app Want to help keep military families reading? Support UTR todayWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know

Omar Mohamed und Vicoria Jamieson erzählen, wie Omar und sein kleiner Bruder als Kinder in einem afrikanischen Flüchtlingslager aufwachsen. "Wenn Sterne verstreut sind" ist eine mehrfach preisgekrönte Graphic Novel. Von Lili.

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Some of our highlights and learning experiences from Season 4. Who can believe we are four full years into the podcast? Giving you 12 additional presses to fill up your summer and fall TBRs. If you want more presses, an additional 30 will be made available to Patreon subscribers next week!. Join us over at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast ! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 2:50 - Reflecting on Season 4 3:50 - Season 4: Episode 21  4:19 - Season 4: Episode 26  4:31 - Season 4: Episode 34 4:39 - Season 4: Episode 25 5:29 - Season 4: Episode 1 5:33 - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 5:40 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 6:13 - Season 4: Episode 37 (the rainbow shelves episode) 6:53 - Season 4: Episode 26  7:12 - Season 4: Episode 42 w/Kenda Adachi 8:21 - Currently Reading Patreon 17:54 - Email us your suggestions for cap segments at currentlypodcast@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @currentlyreadingpodcast 18:39 - Currently Reading Patreon 19:23 - Listener Presses Part Two 19:34 - Lacy Eye by Jessica Treadway (Pressed by Beth) 23:31 - The Rent Collector by Camron Wright (Pressed by Mic) 26:49 - Five Little Indians by Michelle Good (Pressed by Francis) 30:08 - Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang (Pressed by Nicole) 30:45 - El Deafo by Cece Bell 30:46 - When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson 30:49 - New Kid by Jerry Craft 32:56 - Vicious by V.E. Schwab (Pressed by Katie) 34:37 - Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots 34:30 - An Unlikely Story  35:01 - The Hierarchies by Ros Anderson (Pressed by Amanda) 36:38 - I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 36:39 - The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin 36:40 - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 37:52 - All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Murderbot #1) 38:04 - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey 38:21 - Beach Music by Pat Conroy (Pressed by Tiffany) 38:25 - Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy 40:08 - Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy 41:24 - Answers in the Pages by David Levithan (Pressed by Avery) 44:38 - Afterlife by Julia Alvarez (Pressed by Amy) 46:22 - The Bottom of the 33rd by Dan Barry (Pressed by Michele) 48:13 - Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown 48:40 - The Diddakoi by Rumor Godden (Pressed by Mary Faith, amazon link) 51:24 - The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (Pressed by Madeline) 53:14 - Currently Reading Patreon Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

Our guest this week, Court Stevens is outreach director for a public library and the author of 6 young adult suspense novels.  Her most recent, We Were Kings, came out this past February and is her contemporary version of an Agatha Christie locked room mystery where our main character, Nyla King's dysfunctional family and juicy secrets means everyone is a suspect of a murder that took place 20 years earlier. You can find Court Stevens on instagram at @quartland or on her author website, www.courtneycstevens.com.   To find out more about Foxing Books, go to their Instagram at @foxingbooktore.                                                                                                                                                                                          Follow us on Facebook at The Perks of Being a Book Lover or on Instagram at @perksofbeingabookoverpod. For show notes for any episode, go to our website at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com.     Books Mentioned in this Episode: 1- Ruta Sepetys books 2- David Arnold books 3- I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak 4- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 5- Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak 6- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 7- Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 8- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 9- The June Boys by Court Stevens 10- We Were Kings by Court Stevens 11- Faking Normal by Court Stevens 12- When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed 13- The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen 14- Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson 15- Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss 16- On Animals by Susan Orlean   Movies mentioned-- 1- Knives Out (2019) 2- The Green Mile (1991) 3- The Life of David Gale (2003)

Our guest this week, Court Stevens is outreach director for a public library and the author of 6 young adult suspense novels.  Her most recent, We Were Kings, came out this past February and is her contemporary version of an Agatha Christie locked room mystery where our main character, Nyla King's dysfunctional family and juicy secrets means everyone is a suspect of a murder that took place 20 years earlier. You can find Court Stevens on instagram at @quartland or on her author website, www.courtneycstevens.com.   To find out more about Foxing Books, go to their Instagram at @foxingbookstore.                                                                                                                                                                                        Follow us on Facebook at The Perks of Being a Book Lover Instagram at @perksofbeingabookoverpod. For show notes for any episode, go to our website at www.perksofbeingabooklover.com.   Books Mentioned in this Episode: 1- Ruta Sepetys books 2- David Arnold books 3- I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak 4- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 5- Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak 6- The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 7- Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 8- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 9- The June Boys by Court Stevens 10- We Were Kings by Court Stevens 11- Faking Normal by Court Stevens 12- When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed 13- The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen 14- Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson 15- Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss 16- On Animals by Susan Orlean Movies mentioned-- 1- Knives Out (2019) 2- The Green Mile (1991) 3- The Life of David Gale (2003)

What book whisked you away into the wonderful world of reading when you were younger? What book written for young teens do you find yourself recommending over and over? This week, Meg is joined by Sorta Awesome's books and reading regular Katie Proctor, and they are here to shout out ten of their favorites from the middle grade genre of reading! From monkeys in Oklahoma to a magical harmonica and all kinds of beautiful, heart-soaring themes in-between, Meg and Katie will get you excited to check out a middle grade book for your family or for yourself! Want to join Meg and Rebekah in the 22 Tropes in 2022 Romance Reading Challenge?! Come join the Super Star Awesomes and get the reading challenge plus hundreds of hours of ad-free episodes you can binge-listen to right now. PLUS! Get full access to texting privileges with Meg and the Sorta Awesome team! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Olive and June: Visit oliveandjune.com/awesome for 20% off your first Mani System! Framebridge: Go to framebridge.com and use promo code AWESOME to save an additional 15% off your first order Care/Of: For 50% off your first Care/of order of $40 or more, go to takecareof.com and enter code “awesome50” Billie: Go to mybillie.com/awesome to get the best razor you will ever own and for free shiping always! Zocdoc: Go to zocdoc.com/AWESOME and download the Zocdoc app for FREE then start your search for a top-rated doctor. Factor: Head to go.factor75.com/awesome120 and use code awesome120 to get $120 off SHOW NOTES: AOTW: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir Amazon | Bookshop Foodbelly.com MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech Amazon | Bookshop Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech Amazon | Bookshop Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier Amazon | Bookshop A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat Amazon | Bookshop All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat Amazon | Bookshop Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan Amazon | Bookshop The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera Amazon | Bookshop Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls Amazon I Bookshop Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson Amazon I Bookshop Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper Amazon I Bookshop When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson with Omar Mohamed Amazon I Bookshop Pony by RJ Palacio Amazon | Bookshop You can find Meg on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can find Katie at her website or on Facebook and Instagram! And be sure to check out her latest book Hand in Hand! Visit sortaawesomeshow.com for show notes on this and every episode. And don't forget to find us in the Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook or @sortaawesomeshow on Instagram, and @sortaawesomepod on Twitter! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

On this week's episode: Dan is back from book leave and has an announcement. Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a wild question about a teen asking if her mom has “vanilla sex.” How should the parent respond to an intensely personal question like that? Then Elizabeth and Jamilah pepper Dan with questions about his time on the show, including his biggest regret. On Slate Plus, if you could swap bodies w/ your kid for a day—Freaky Friday style—would you?  Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson.  Dan recommends Turning Red.  Jamilah recommends season two of Love Is Blind.  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. 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 week's episode: Dan is back from book leave and has an announcement. Dan, Jamilah, and Elizabeth answer a wild question about a teen asking if her mom has “vanilla sex.” How should the parent respond to an intensely personal question like that? Then Elizabeth and Jamilah pepper Dan with questions about his time on the show, including his biggest regret. On Slate Plus, if you could swap bodies w/ your kid for a day—Freaky Friday style—would you?  Recommendations: Elizabeth recommends When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson.  Dan recommends Turning Red.  Jamilah recommends season two of Love Is Blind.  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. 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

Finley shares her review of When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson

On this episode of Booklist's Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table's Jessica Jenner about the Best Graphic Novels for Adults reading list, Audio Editor Heather Booth gives us the skinny on the Odyssey Award winners, and Adult Books Associate Editor Annie Bostrom and I figure out who is more of a Kristy. Here's what we talked about: 2020 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Year of the Rabbit by Tian Veasna, illustrated by the author, translated by Helge Dascher. Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Damian Duffy and Octavia Butler, illustrated by John Jennings. Come Home, Indio by Jim Terry, illustrated by the author. Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List nomination form. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, read by Bahni Turpin. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, read by Jason Reynolds. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte. When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, read by a full cast. Kent State by Deborah Wiles, read by a full cast. We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Growing Up Bookish and Bossy with the Iconic Series edited by Marisa Crawford and Megan Milks. Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder.

¡Y hasta un koala-mapache! Ya sabéis cómo somos en Menudo Castillo, nos encanta hablar de todo y conocer a todo el mundo. Y nos gusta seguir adentrándonos en la aventura de disfrutar de lo mejor de la Literatura Infantil y Juvenil. Esta semana hemos hablado con la editora de Maeva Young, Sonia Antón, sobre una de esas novelas gráficas que tenéis que leer sí o sí, Cuando brillan las estrellas, la historia de Omar y de Hassan, contada por Victoria Jamieson. También hemos conocido a Itzíar Miranda, Nacho Rubio y Jorge Miranda, que han venido a hablarnos de problemas y de aventuras, de preguntas y de respuestas, de cosas por hacer y cosas por mejorar, acaban de publicar los dos primeros números de la colección Miranda y Tato, y son muy recomendables. Hay quien piensa que el fútbol y los libros deben estar peleados, nosotros no, desde luego, por eso hoy hemos querido invitar a Menudo Castillo a la capitana del Atlético de Madrid, Amanda Sampedro, que acaba de publicar su primera novela, Campeona, en la que nos cuenta la historia de Mandy, una chica a la que le gusta mucho el fútbol. Y hemos terminado conociendo a María Graciani y a su Komache, una mezcla entre mapache y koala con un buen puñado de amigos y de amigas de todo tipo, ¿te apetece conocerlo? Deberías darte prisa, porque pronto nacerá su hermanita, Komachita. Ya sabéis, si queréis un programa fácil, directo y poco repleto id a buscar otra cosa, pero si queréis empaparos un montón, pues eso, no os lo perdáis.

Listen to youth and teen librarians Annamarie, Michala, and Lisa K as they share their favorite kid and teen books of 2020. Annamarie's recommendations: Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28your%20name%20is%20a%20song%29%20a%3A%28Jamilah%20Thompkins-Bigelow%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Ty's Travels Kelly Starling Lyons https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28Ty%E2%80%99s%20Travels%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Emma Everyday by C. L. Reid https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__S%28emma%20every%20day%29%20a%3A%28C.%20L.%20Reid%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold American As Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__S%28american%20as%20pie%29%20a%3A%28Supriya%20Kelkar%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Twins by by Varian Johnson ; illustrated by Shannon Wright https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sa%3A%28Johnson%20%20Varian%29%20t%3A%28twins%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Michala's Recommendations: Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1951737__S%28Kyi%20%20Tanya%20Lloyd%20%201973%29%20t%3A%28me%20and%20banksy%29__Orightresult__U__X3?lang=eng&suite=gold Eat, and Love Yourself by Sweeney Boo https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__SBoo%20%20Sweeney%20__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=gold Kent State by Deborah Wiles https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__S%28kent%20state%29%20a%3A%28deborah%20wiles%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__SHammonds%20Reed%20%20Christina%20__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=gold Lisa's Recommendations: Friday Night Wrestlefest by J.F. Fox ; illustrated by Micah Player https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28Friday%20Night%20Wrestlefest%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold InvestiGators Volume 1 written and illustrated by John Patrick Green ; with color by Aaron Polk https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28investigators%29%20%28green%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28sal%20and%20gabi%20fix%20the%20universe%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28when%20stars%20are%20scattered%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold

Narrator Shayna Small joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss her co-narration of Lesa Cline-Ransome’s historical picture book OVERGROUND RAILROAD. Shayna shares why she finds narrating audiobooks for children to be so important and about working on productions full of rich sound effects. Listen and discover a new family favorite. Published by Live Oak Media. 2020 Best Children’s & Family Listening Audiobooks: BEFORE THE EVER AFTER by Jacqueline Woodson, read by Guy Lockard KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES by Kacen Callender, read by Ron Butler OVERGROUND RAILROAD by Lesa Cline-Ransome, read by Shayna Small, Dion Graham, Lesa Cline-Ransome [Note] ¡VAMOS! LET'S GO EAT by Raúl the Third, read by Gary Tiedemann WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, read by Faysal Ahmed, Barkhad Abdi, Robin Miles, Ifrah Mansour, Bahni Turpin, Hakeemshady Mohamed, Sadeeq Al, Dominic Hoffman, Christine Avila, Dion Graham, and a Full Cast For the full list of AudioFile’s 2020 Best Audiobooks, visit audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of FRANKENSTEIN, a breathtaking full-cast original audiobook performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to why youth librarian, Lisa K, thinks you should read When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. Written For: 5th-6th Graders Genre: Non-Fiction; graphic novel Themes: poverty, hunger, refugee camp, education, family, own-vices Check it out here: https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28when%20stars%20are%20scattered%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold

Whether your family is doing e-learning, homeschooling, unschooling, striking, or hiding out in a bunker to avoid the latest natural disaster, you need The Creativity Project book to fill your time and sparkle your creativity. If you’re not sure if this book is for you, listen as the mamas give the hard sell (no, there’s no money in it for them although they’ll take your money if you’re offering) for literary advocate Colby Sharp and his unique prompt-response anthology along with tips to keep your kids learning, growing and creating. The Creativity Project, edited by Colby SharpThis collection of prompts and responses from dozens of well-known children’s authors is the brainchild of teacher and literary advocate Colby Sharp (5 Questions with Mr. Sharp), who invited some of the best storytellers in Kidlit to share a prompt. Then the artists swapped prompts and let their imaginations run wild. The results appear in The Creativity Project book in the form of stories, drawings, poems, and comics. A section titled Prompts for You, is a call to action at the end that encourages readers to create their own awesome works of art. The Mamas couldn’t call out every contributor in the book, but they did discuss the works of these authors and illustrators: Sherman Alexi, Kate Messner, R.J. Palacio, Dav Pilkey, Minh Le, Victoria Jamieson, Lemony Snicket, Jennifer L. Holm, Chris Grabenstein, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Adam Gidwitz, Sophie Blackall, Kate DiCamillo, and Kat Yeh. Pick 6: The mamas’ tips for sparking creativity at home or school1. Poetry Friday Anthology2. Scholastic Story Starter Scrambler3. Story Prompts from Think Written and Squibler4. Painting with ice5. Ice Play6. Airport Stories Episode Reference Links:Tomie’s Little Book of Poems by Tomie dePaolaWhere the Sidewalk EndsHank Zipzer by Henry Winkler

Welcome to a new episode of the Business School for Writers Podcast! How do you know when you're ready to publish your book? How do you go from the first draft to polished manuscript? We know the word "publishing" itself can be frightening, especially when you fear other people's judgment or you don't think you have the perfect manuscript. We know the struggle is real in the writer's life and also how important it is to confidently get your story out into the world. That is why in this episode, we want to share with you 3 editing processes that will help you make sure your book is fully developed and ready to go. We talk about the differences between line and content editing, the importance of having a second set of eyes go through your work, how and where you can find professional editors, and much more! If you haven't listened to episode 4 where I interview self-published author KishaLynn Moore Elliot, then go back and check it out! It's all about self-publishing, the healing power of writing, and how to create long-lasting relationships with your readers. I want to know who you are and where you’ve been! Come hang out with me in the Writers Squad Facebook group and over on Instagram @laurenmariefleming. I can’t wait to chat with you there! You can also stay tuned for new weekly episodes @businessschoolforwriters, and if you want to spread the love even further, consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing! Resources mentioned in this episode: Stop feeling overwhelmed when it comes to publishing your book! Get the step by step roadmap to help you get your story out into the world: www.businessschoolforwriters/publishing Interested in getting the list of editors I use on my books and my client’s books? Email me at info@laurenmariefleming.com Book recommendation of the week: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson. Grab a copy of this book from your local bookstore through this link: Shop your local indie bookstore Love audiobooks? Listen on Libro.fm and support independent bookstores. Plus, use this link and we both get a free audiobook: http://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm116869 Wondering why we don't link to Amazon? Check out Episode 2 of the Business School for Writers Podcast to hear all about how supporting independent bookstores helps you see more stories like yours out in the world.

Nicole and Matthew talk about #ownvoices representation in comics, pocket culture, and we reflect on Black Panther and the late Chadwick Boseman. Joining is special guest Paul Meyer, co-author of Under the Cottonwood Tree: El Susto de la Curandera, a graphic novel with Carlos Meyer and illustrated by Margaret Hardy. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O’Neill and Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, and This is a Flying Rat by Andrew Cangelose and Josh Shipley and Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: Under the Cottonwood Tree (website) Under the Cottonwood Tree (book trailer) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Listener Recommendations New Kid by Jerry Craft (recommended by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, Urania Smith, and Angie Moore) Class Act by Jerry Craft (recommended by Eric Carpenter) El Deafo by Cece Bell (recommended by Angie Moore) Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi (recommended by Lisa Stringfellow) Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware The Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Brooke A. Allen, and Grace Ellis (recommended by Laura Jimènez, PhD) When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (recommended by Kim Bongiorno) Twins by Varian Johnson; illustrated by Shannon Wright (recommended by Paula Willey) Guts by Raina Telgemeier (recommended by Kellee Moye) Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka (recommended by Kellee Moye) (*Young Adult) March: Book One by John Lewis,Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (recommended by Nancy Castaldo) (*Young Adult) More Graphic Novels Stargazing by Jen Wang Snapdragon by Kat Leyh Flamer by Mike Curato (*Young Adult) This Place: 150 Years Retold from Highwater Press (*Young Adult) Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny). See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

When war broke out in Somalia in the 1990s, Omar Mohamed’s dad was killed and he was separated from his mum. Omar, who was only four at that time, picked up his disabled younger brother Hassan and started running. The brothers eventually ended up in Kenya’s vast Dadaab refugee camp - the biggest refugee camp in Africa. For years, they never stopped looking for their mother. Until one day, rumours spread around the camp that a woman was looking for them. Could this stranger be Omar and Hassan’s mum?    Omar's extraordinary story has been turned into a graphic novel co-written by Victoria Jamieson, and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy. It’s called When stars are scattered. Omar has set up his own charity called Refugee Strong.   Presenter: Jo Fidgen. Producers: Katy Takatsuki and June Christie. Picture: Omar Mohamed. Credit: Patrick Blain.

Nicole and Matthew discuss the creation and use of the #OwnVoices hashtag, representation of diversity in kidlit, and the value of storytelling through lived experience. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life Libro.fm Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: #ownvoices (blog post by #ownvoices hashtag creator Corrine Duyvis) Picture This: Diversity in Children’s Books 2018 Infographic The Diversity Gap in Children’s Publishing, 2018 BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Picture Books: Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina; illustrated by Sonia Sanchez Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal Dreamers by Yuyi Morales When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson; illustrated by Julie Flett The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu Middle Grade: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh El Deafo by Cece Bell Prairie Lotusby Linda Sue Park When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte Rick by Alex Gino Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).

Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Penguin Young Readers. In today's special Graphic Novels in Libraries Month installment, we have the pleasure of hearing from Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed about their graphic novel When Stars Are Scattered. Victoria Jamieson is the creator of the graphic novels All’s Faire in Middle School and Newbery Honor winner Roller Girl. She received her BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and worked as a children's book designer before becoming a freelance illustrator. Omar Mohamed spent his childhood at the Dadaab camp, after his father was killed and he was separated from his mother in Somalia. He devoted everything to taking care of his younger brother, Hassan, and to pursuing his education. He now lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with his wife and five children, and works at a center to help resettle other refugees. He is the founder of Refugee Strong, a nonprofit organization that empowers students living in refugee camps.

Jen is joined by Mitali Perkins and Erin Wasinger to discuss the reading life of children. They talk about the power of stories in the lives of kids, as well as the surprising tension and conflict in the discussion concerning what literature children should have access to, as well as how to encourage a love for reading as children grow. This is a fantastic conversation for those readers who have little ones in their lives!Books Mentioned in this Episode:Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins and Sara PalaciosWe We Loved Books by Mitali Perkins (forthcoming)Little Women by Louisa May AlcottThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienA Little Princess by Frances Hodgson BurnettYear of Small Things: Radical Faith for the Rest of Us by Sarah Arthur and Erin WasingerThe Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Little House (series) by Laura Ingalls WilderEmily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart LovelaceAnne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud MontgomeryThe Silver Chair by C.S. LewisMiracles on Maple Hill by Virgina SorensonHeidi by Johanna SpyriHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingNew Kid by Jerry CraftWhen Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar MohamedForward Me Back to You by Mitali PerkinsThe Adventures of Tintin by HergeThe Story of Babar: The Little Elephant by Jean De BrunhoffThe Voyages of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh LoftingThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainCharlotte's Web by E.B. WhiteDog Man (series) by Dav PilkeySweet Valley High (series) by Francine PascalThe Baby-Sitter's Club by Ann M. MartinThe Crossover by Kwame AlexanderThe Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee StewartThe Chosen by Chaim PotokThank You, Omu! by Oge MoraMom's Sweater by Jayde Perkin

This episode Cordelia reviews one of her favorite graphic novels, Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. It tells the story of a girl becoming a fan of roller derby, joining a camp, and negotiating new and old friendships.

Victoria Jamieson (@JamiesonV) and Omar Mohamed (@dantey114) share WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED, a graphic novel based on Omar's experience as a Somalian refugee Kenya. Omar's story is one that you won’t soon forget. It is a story about family and about surviving. It’s a story about education and advocating for yourself. In Omar’s experience, he says “the worst part about being in a refugee camp is that it’s monotonous and boring.” This is where Victoria’s skills as a storyteller and cartoonist shine. The comic has a strong sense of setting, helping give purpose to all of it’s characters and how their lives intersect. WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED is the first book since safe-at-home that I’ve connected over with a student. Emma, one of my 3rd graders, share it over Zoom during one library class and we each immediately fell into a moment of book love as we realized we were each reading the same story. Emma and her sister Hannah are mentioned throughout this conversation, as well as the amazing ways these readers were touched by Omar’s story, a glimpse of how readers are connecting with the book across the country. I’ll end with Omar’s words, as they’ve been on my heart since recording this interview. “The simple thing we do for a human being may change their entire life.” You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/blog. Get a copy of this book and support independent bookstores (and this podcast) by visiting our BookShop Store.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Bookclub (Patreon) Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons.

Skillful soundscaping and a full cast heighten the atmosphere and emotion in this audiobook inspired by the childhood of coauthor Omar Mohamed. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the audiobook that captures the intensity and tedium of life in a refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. Faysal Ahmed is extremely emotive as Omar, an 11-year-old boy who fled Somalia as a 4-year-old with his younger brother, but was separated from his mother after his father died. The full-cast narration helps listeners imagine the lively and warm community surrounding him throughout his childhood in the camp, where he finds joy in school and tries to balance the hope of resettlement against grim reality. It’s a moving and memorable listening experience. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of the audiobook of Richard Adams’ classic tale WATERSHIP DOWN. This May Blackstone is celebrating the centenary of the author's birth. This is a great moment to reflect on the novel and experience it all over again, as well as introduce it to a new generation of listeners. Read by the actor Peter Capaldi, WATERSHIP DOWN is an exciting adventure story and an engaging allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature. A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, the beloved classic continues to be discovered by readers of all ages. WATERSHIP DOWN from Blackstone Publishing is available wherever you get your audiobooks, including Downpour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Liberty and Vanessa discuss The Unsuitable, Braised Pork, The Happily Ever Playlist, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by Book Riot Insiders; Tundra Books and Lucy Crisp and the Vanishing House; and Literati. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: The Unsuitable by Molly Pohlig Redemption Prep by Samuel Miller Braised Pork by An Yu Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths by Helen Morales Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles What You Become in Flight: A Memoir by Ellen O'Connell Whittet The Eighth Life: for Brilka by Nino Haratischvili, Charlotte Collins (translator), Ruth Martin (translator) The Happily Ever Playlist by Abby Jimenez WHAT WE'RE READING: The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole MORE BOOKS OUT THIS WEEK: Art Life by Catherine Ocelot, Aleshia Jensen (translator) Comics and Stuff by Henry Jenkins The Unsettling Stars (Star Trek) by Alan Dean Foster The Multi-Hyphen Life: Work Less, Create More, and Design a Life That Works for You by Emma Gannon Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators by Susanne Tedrick The Spiral Shell: A French Village Reveals Its Secrets of Jewish Resistance in World War II by Sandell Morse Mountain of Full Moons: A Novel by Irene Kessler Anti/Hero by Kate Karyus Quinn, Demitria Lunetta, Maca Gil (Illustrator) The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask Year of the Dog (American Poets Continuum) by Deborah Paredez Yogi: A Life Behind the Mask by Jon Pessah Fifty-Two Stories: (1883-1898) by Anton Chekhov, Richard Pevear (translator) Illuminating History: A Retrospective of Seven Decades by Bernard Bailyn The Eyelid by S. D. Chrostowska Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin and Kate Alizadeh Ingredients: The Strange Chemistry of What We Put in Us and on Us by George Zaidan This Is Big: How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World -- and Me by Marisa Meltzer Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties by Mike Davis and Jon Wiener Apsara Engine by Bishakh Som Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life by Ozan Varol Bring Now the Angels: Poems (Pitt Poetry Series) by Dilruba Ahmed Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen by Anne Nesbet The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty by Ethan Sherwood Strauss Bronx Heroes in Trumpland by Tom Sciacca and Ray Felix Die Next by Jonathan Stone The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann, Jen Calleja (translator) Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher Old Food by Ed Atkins Not in the Job Description: The Unspoken Roles That Women Must Play at Work by Alana Massey The Betrayal of the Duchess: The Scandal That Unmade the Bourbon Monarchy and Made France Modern by Maurice Samuels A Shadow Intelligence by Oliver Harris You Are an Artist: Assignments to Spark Creation by Sarah Urist Green Heaven by Emerson Whitney The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: Discover the Joy of Spending Less, Sharing More, and Living Generously by Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller The Good Family Fitzgerald by Joseph Di Prisco Elysium Girls by Kate Pentecost Why Fish Don't Exist : A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller Cars on Fire by Mónica Ramón Ríos, Robin Myers No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram by Sarah Frier Witchlight by Jessi Zabarsky Beast: Face-To-Face with the Florida Bigfoot by Watt Key When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, Iman Geddy What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st-Century Memoir by Madeleine Albright Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit, M.D. A Strange Country by Muriel Barbery, Alison Anderson (translator) The Last Emperox (The Interdependency Book 3) by John Scalzi This Boy by Lauren Myracle What Is the Grass: Walt Whitman in My Life by Mark Doty Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui Vagabonds by Hao Jingfang, Ken Liu (Translator) No Justice in the Shadows: How America Criminalizes Immigrants by Alina Das I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider For Joshua: An Ojibwe Father Teaches His Son by Richard Wagamese Miss Aluminum: A Memoir by Susanna Moore The Planter of Modern Life: Louis Bromfield and the Seeds of a Food Revolution by Stephen Heyman Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace by Carl Safina Deeplight by Frances Hardinge Simantov by Asaf Ashery The Lightness of Hands by Jeff Garvin Don Tillman's Standardized Meal System: Recipes and Tips from the Star of the Rosie Novels by Graeme Simsion The Coyotes of Carthage: A Novel by Steven Wright The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum Man of My Time: A Novel by Dalia Sofer Synthesizing Gravity: Selected Prose by Kay Ryan The Essential T.S. Eliot by T.S. Eliot Bubblegum: A Novel by Adam Levin The Broken Heart of America: St. Louis and the Violent History of the United States by Walter Johnson The New Husband by D.J. Palmer The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey Notes from an Apocalypse: A Personal Journey to the End of the World and Back by Mark O'Connell A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Joy McCullough Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba, Lisa Dillman (translator) Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982: A Novel by Cho Nam-Joo, Jamie Chang (translator) The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels Lake Like a Mirror by Sok Fong Ho, Natascha Bruce (translator) A Girl in Three Parts by Suzanne Daniel On Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What It Means to Disappear by Lynn Casteel Harper Finally, Something Mysterious by Doug Cornett The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World—and Globalization Began by Valerie Hansen Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan Expectation: A Novel by Anna Hope Department of Mind-Blowing Theories by Tom Gauld Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder No Going Back: A Novel by Sheena Kamal This is My Brain in Love by I.W. Gregorio St. Ivo: A Novel by Joanna Hershon The Rock: Poems (Counterpoints) by Wallace Stevens A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese Blood Moon by Patricia Kirkpatrick Odetta: A Life in Music and Protest by Ian Zack The Diary of a Drag Queen by Crystal Rasmussen Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons The Book of Koli: The Rampart Trilogy, Book 1 by M. R. Carey Mosquito Supper Club: Cajun Recipes from a Disappearing Bayou by Melissa M. Martin Primitive: Tapping the Primal Drive Powering the World's Most Successful People by Marco Greenberg Dolly: An Unauthorized Collection of Wise & Witty Words on Grit, Lipstick, Love & Life from Dolly Parton by Mary Zaia Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night by Graham Annable Everyone Can Bake: Simple Recipes to Master and Mix by Dominique Ansel The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, Yuko Shimizu (Illustrator) Plan for the Worst by Jodi Taylor Coffee (Object Lessons) by Dinah Lenney Bulletproof Vest (Object Lessons) by Kenneth R. Rosen The Girl in the Tree by Şebnem İşigüzel, Mark David Wyers (translator)

In this episode, we consider books that we'd recommend to students as great choices to read independently. As the world around us has drastically changed and continues changing, we decided on this topic and talked about some of our favorites, including R. J. Palacio's Wonder, Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before series, Nicola Yoon's books, and anything by Jason Reynolds, as well as some other favorites. We focus our discussion on books we think students can access without teacher support and on books that are not extremely heavy but leave the reader with a sense of hope. (We shared our long list on our Bookish Faves post this past Monday.) Be sure to let us know ones you'd recommend on the comments here or on our Instagram posts.   Our Recommendations R. J. Palacio’s Wonder Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Ep 90) Jason Reynolds’s Track series or When I Was the Greatest (or any of his other works) (Ep 34) John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star (Ep 75 - book-to-film adaptation) Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl Cece Bell’s El Deafo Raina Telgemeier’s Drama and Guts Julie Murphy's Dumplin’  (Ep 63 about the book & Ep 64 about the adaptation) David Yoon’s Frankly in Love   Other Mentions Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman’s Dry R. J. Palacio’s Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories (including The Julian Chapter), White Bird: A Wonder Story Click here to view the discussion between Jason Reynolds and Laurie Halse Anderson from Virginia Festival of the Book 2019   Give Me One - Something that Makes Us Happy Jen - flowering trees and spring Sara - red wine Ashley - roller coasters   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.       Please note that we a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Victoria Jamieson (@JamiesonV), Newbery honor-winning cartoonist of ROLLER GIRL is joined by audio producers Kelly Gildea (@gildeak) and Julianna Wilson (@JuliannaNWilson) to share the process of adapting a graphic novel for the audiobook format. ROLLER GIRL tells the story of Astrid, who decides that this summer she’s going to forego the camp she’s attended year after year with her best friend in order to try out roller derby camp. The book has a ton of heart and a fair share of bangs and bruises around the derby court. The ROLLER GIRL audiobook was produced by Kelly Gildea and Julie Wilson and they each join us to share a peek behind the scenes of casting and accomplishing a graphic novel adaptation for listeners. But wait?! Doesn’t removing the visual element go against  what a graphic novel is at its core? Oh believe me, dear listener, what we discuss in terms of serving the listeners and expanding access in this conversation is just awesome! You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy  And to the generous support from our Patrons.

Malcolm and I read an excerpt from Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson for March is reading month. Malcolm also talks about what lessons he's learned from being on roller skates. Thank you Victoria Jamieson for writing such an amazing book. We read it often and talk about the lessons Astrid learned from the wonderful community that is roller derby. ♥️ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/derbyfromthebalcony/message

The full-cast audiobook adaptation of the Newbery Award-winning graphic novel ROLLER GIRL is full of the best kind of punk rock energy. Astrid falls in love with roller derby and loses her best friend to a mean girl all in one summer. Bright voices and sound effects, including tumbles, bottles of hair dye, and lots of roller skates, create vibrant scenes to help kids imagine the hard work and laughter that goes into learning a new tough sport. Middle school listeners will love this story of learning to be “tougher, stronger, fearless,” and a good friend. Published by Listening Library. Read the full review of ROLLER GIRL at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Support for AudioFile's Podcast comes from GraphicAudio, featuring series such as The Stormlight Archive, Deathlands, Smoke Jensen, Demon Cycle, and over 1,000 more A Movie In Your Mind full cast productions available only at www.GraphicAudio.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intro Hi 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 5th grade teacher, a mom of two girls, and enjoying my extra reading time over the holiday break and the chance to relax. This is episode #66 and today we are celebrating some of the best middle grade books published in 2018. Main Topic - The Top 20 Middle Grade Books of 2018 I’m a bit of a data nerd, and I have always been into tracking my reading - from my color-coded index card system in high school to my alphabatized Excel Spreadsheet in the early 2000s to now where I do a mix of Goodreads and a bullet journal. So looking back over the last couple of years since I started doing this show, in 2016 I read 60 middle grade books with 31 of those published in 2016. And my top three books of that year were Booked, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, and The Wild Robot. (You can find that list here.) Last year, I read 79 middle grade with 55 of those published in 2017. A jump I will totally attribute to the intensity of being on the CYBILS committee. And my top three books of 2017 were Posted, Refugee, and Orphan Island and my top three graphic novels last year were Real Friends, Pashmina, and All’s Faire in Middle School.  (You can find the full list here.) This year, I read 59 middle grade books with 41 of those released in 2018. Before I start - a quick caveat. Selecting ONLY 25 titles was almost impossible.  I enjoyed just about every book I read this year, and I know each one will find it’s reader.  So how to choose the top twenty-five? I have two criteria - the writing is immersive (a book I couldn’t put down) and the story has that something special - unique character, an intriguing plot twist, or a thought-provoking theme (a book I can’t forget).   And again this year, I decided to separate out the graphic novels so be on the lookout for another best of podcast soon featuring just the middle grade graphic novels.    Okay, let’s get to it!  Here are my Top 25 middle grade novels of 2018: Granted by John David Anderson From the author of the soon-to-be movie, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day and last year’s amazing Posted is this story about Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets - one of the few remaining fairies entrusted with the job of Granter - a fairy who ventures into the dangerous human world to grant a wish. Ophelia’s increasingly difficult quest to grant a little girl her wish of a purple bike will keep you turning the pages. And her reluctant friendship with the slobbery dog Sam - along with some other hilarious touches like Ophelia’s special song - will make this novel one you won’t forget.   Where the Watermelons Grow by debut author Cindy Baldwin This book - better than any I’ve read - captures the heat and the swelter of a scorching-hot drought-ridden summer. Our protagonist, Della, is feeling the weight of that and also the burdon of her mother’s re-emerging schizophrenia. But this novel is also laced with the sweetness of friendship and watermelon and hope and a touch of maybe magical honey.     Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen & Laurie Morrison This dual narrative novel is about Lauren and Sierra.  The two girls end up living next to each other and becoming friends when Lauren’s neighbors become Sierra’s foster parents.  As Lauren starts to become more aware of her priviledge, she comes up with a - shall we say “ill-advised” Robin Hood scheme that quickly starts to spiral out of control.  Watching Lauren and Sierra get deeper and deeper and deeper into that pit and wondering how on earth they were going to dig themselves out is what kept me turning those pages. And what makes this book unique and fresh was the strength of the two perspectives - Lauren’s chapters in prose and Sierra’s in verse.   The Three Rules of Everyday Magic by Amanda Rawson Hill Believe. Give. Trust. With those three magical rules passed on to her from her grandmother, Kate tries to grapple with the changes in her life. Divorce, faltering friendship, and her grandmother’s worsening dementia. Along with the typical difficulties of a 12 year old! I loved this book for its blend of beautiful prose and realism.   Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya This middle grade coming of age novel tells the story of 8th grader Marcus Vega who ends up traveling to Puerto Rico with his mom and younger brother in search of the father who seemed to abandon them years ago. And yes, his journey is about discovering family, but it’s also about discovering his culture. This book is a beautiful homage to Puerto Rico and a story that captures the experiences of many kids with family connections that represent multiple languages and backgrounds.  It reminds me a bit of the graphic novel Crush with a twist of Torrey Maldonado’s Tight.   The Frame Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight This novel was not only unforgettable but it utterly changed the way I experience walking into a musuem forever. And to me - that is the mark of an excellent book. It makes you see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Frame-up is set in a real-life place - the Beaverbrook Gallery in New Brunswick, Canada. And the art director’s son soon discovers that the paintings are…. alive. And they can travel into other paintings - which is completely fascinating when you consider that this museum includes art from different eras. And multiple paintings of the same person.  What the author does in this world is spell-binding. But things start to get dicey when suddenly the art director’s son and Mona, a young girl in one of the museum’s prized paintings, find themselves desperately trying to stop both an art heist and a plot to destroy their community forever.   Everything I Know About You by Barbara Dee This book was a fun mix of humor and history intermixed with realistic depictions of issues that young people are coping with - like body shaming and eating disorders and figuring out that whole friendship thing while staying true to yourself and your values.  What made this book stay with me long after that last page was read was the main character, Tally, whose self-confidence and style and body positivity are inspiring.   So Done by Paula Chase This upper middle grade coming of age story centers around friends Mila and Tai.  The girls have spent the summer apart and as fall starts, it has become more and more clear that their friendship is sputtering out. And yes, part of that is typical things like finding new interests and more focus on boys, but there is this one massive secret hanging over both girls’ heads that threatens to not only destroy that friendship, but could destroy families, too.The slow, shocking reveal of what that secret really IS kept me turning the pages and what made this book stick with me so long afterward are the voices of the characters that are so fresh and unique and real!  During the first chapter, I had a huge smile on my face because I was so happy to be reading a book that sounds like some of my students when they are talking to each other - and don’t think any adult is within earshot. Chase has this incredible knack for voice, and I cannot wait to see what other middle grade books she has coming our way!   The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson Johnson has expertly woven together multiple storylines across two different eras that are beautifully fused together in the final chapters.  The main character, modern-day Candice, discovers a decades old mystery that takes her and the quiet bookworm boy across the street on a quest for a long-lost treasure. But to figure out the clues, they have to delve into some long buried town history that some folks would rather keep hidden. This book is rich with details and touches on topics that are not common in middle grade - like the end of segregation and its impact on black schools and the concept of passing. It’s beautifully written and if you have older middle grade kids who loved The Westing Game and who love mysteries, this is a great book to put in their hands.   You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino Alex Gino’s second novel for middle grade readers is a sweet story about Jilly, White and hearing, who befriends a Deaf Black ASL user on a fandom website where they connect over their mutual love of a fantasy series. When Jilly’s new baby sister is born Deaf,  she and her parents struggle with which expert advice to follow and everyone makes some missteps along the way. Based on reviews from those in the Deaf community, Gino does seem to get that representation right. To me this book is one to have in your classroom or library because it shows one character’s pathway through learning about incredibly important but tricky topics like white priviledge, racism, micro-agressions, and abelism. And done in a way with warmth and heart.   Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez I’ll admit - this one almost got past me!  I was at school and had forgotten my book at home. And so on a whim, I picked up this book from my classroom library and promptly forgot that any other book existed and promptly fell for Stella’s sweetness and charm. Stella is a third grader, born in Mexico, but now living in Chicago with her mom and older brother. She’s struggling with being in a different class than her best friend, Jenny,  and dealing with the accompanying worries that Jenny might be forming a closer relationship with another girl. Stella is also figuring out where she fits in with her outgoing family since she is more quiet and is working through some speech difficulties. Three things stand out to me about this book - its utter realness, the excellent illustrations sprinkled throughout, and also the fact that this novel intersperses Spanish in the most organic and well-executed way that I’ve ever encountered before. They pop up frequently and naturally, and yet I feel confident that most non-Spanish speaking readers can fairly easily figure out what those words mean from the context.   Takedown by Laura Shovan I LOVE books that immerse me in a subculture - like Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl, and the Irish dancing in Kate Messner’s The Seventh Wish. I was fascinated to learn about wrestling moves and the tournament process in this novel. And of course it doesn’t hurt that the two main characters - Mikayla (known as Mickey) and Lev are written so vividly and honestly. Told in alternating point of view chapters, Mickey and Lev are each dealing with their own middle school difficulties of faltering friendships and dicey family dynamics. When they both wind up wrestling for the same elite traveling team, Lev needs to cope with having a new wreslting partner (a girl), and Mickey has to deal with a wrestling culture that isn’t exactly keen to accept her. How these two characters grow and how their stories intertwine have stayed on my mind - months later.   Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart Another incredible story from a favorite author of so many of my students. Good Dog is told from the point of view of Brodie - a dog who we meet just after he’s entered the great beyond after his death. And as our sweet, noble Brodie figures out the rules of this new place, and makes some friends, he remembers more of his past life on Earth. And remembers the danger that his boy, Aidan, is still in. And Brodie has to decide whether to move on to that ultimate Forever or if saving his boy from that threat is worth the awful price he’ll have to pay to even attempt helping him.  I love this book for so many reasons - but mostly for how it quietly but powerfully connects with Gemeinhardt’s previous novel, The Honest Truth.  I don’t want to say more, but…. if you have a kid who has read and loved that book - give them Good Dog right after.   Escape from Aleppo by N. H. Senzai This is another novel that snuck up on me and then wouldn’t let go of my heart. For the last couple of years, my 5th graders and I have read Home of the Brave together as the first read aloud. This year I decided to have their book clubs centered around refugee and immigrant stories - with a focus on #ownvoices novels. And Escape from Aleppo was the only book club choice I hadn’t yet read - and so I read along with the kids in that club and followed their reading schedule and joined their discussions. And I completely agree with their assessment - this book is fabulous. It’s about 14-year-old Nadia, who we meet as her family is evacuating their home in Syria in an attempt to flee to Turkey. But in the carnage, Nadia ends up separated from her family and has to make her way through the city of Aleppo in a dangerous effort to reunite with them and to figure out who in the war-torn city she should trust to help her. What stands out to me most is the searing depiction of modern-day war and how much my students saw themselves in Nadia’s flashbacks to pre-Arab Spring Aleppo. Scenes were everything seems stable and Nadia is all about the latest episode of her favorite reality TV singing show and what color she should paint her nails. If you are looking for a companion book to Alan Gratz’s Refugee, this is an excellent choice. And one that will stay with you for a long, long time.   Rebound by Kwame Alexander This is the much-awaited prequel to the much-loved and much-awarded, novel-in-verse The Crossover. This book is all about Josh & Jordan’s father - Chuck “Da Man” Bell. But - this is an origin story. So when we first meet him, he is just Charlie - an 80’s kid reeling from a family tragedy and trying to find his way forward and trying to find his smile again. When home becomes tense, he is involuntarily shipped off to his grandparent’s house for the summer where he starts to find that path forward. I loved this book for it’s awesome illustratations and all those great 80s references.   Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson Esteban, Tiago, Holly, Amari, Ashton, Haley - these six kids are brought to an abandoned art room each Friday, left on their own, and allowed to simply talk. And eventually - their stories unfold. Stories of deportation, of harassment, of parent death and incarceration. Of hope and of despair.  And by the end of that year, they have formed a bond and a vow to harbor each other. It’s Jacqueline Woodson so you know it’s gorgeously written, but it also speaks to a great need for empathy in our country right now. And I can attest that it’s not just one of those “important” books that kids don’t really like. It was one of the top requested book club selections and currently has a huge waiting list in my room, so I can vouch for it’s kid appeal.   Small Spaces by Katherine Arden Okay - this book creeped me the heck out! And it was glorious! This paranormal horror story is about a young girl named Ollie whose mom tragically died last year, and understandably - Ollie is withdrawn and rather raw.  One fall day, Ollie disovers this strange book that tells the legend of two local brothers who come under the influence of The Smiling Man - with horrific results. When Ollie takes a field trip to a nearby farm, she and her friends Coco and Brian end up in an other-wordly battle to survive the lure of those mysterious forces. This book is so immersive and atmospheric and has one brilliant twist at the end that has me shuddering just thinking about it! Oh - and if you’re the type of person that isn’t at all freaked out by scarecrows - read this book and that will change.   Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed There has been sooo much love for this book this year - and if you haven’t yet read it, I will add my voice to all the others telling you…. it’s incredible.  This novel is about a young Pakistani girl whose dream is to finish her education and to become a teacher. But when her mother is struggling with depression after having her fifth baby - another girl - Amal ends up staying home to take of the household. And then, to make matters far worse, she ends up insulting a poweful man in her village and be forced into indentured servitude to work off her family’s debt to him. It was this section of the book and Amal’s complicated relationship with man’s family and other servants that was the most compelling to me.  Amal Unbound was the  middle grade pick for the 2018 Global Read Aloud and is worthy of a spot in any middle grade collection.   Blended by Sharon Draper As 2018 came to a close, I started scouring the social media feeds of readers whose taste I rely on to see what books from the previous year I may have missed. And by far the one that I kept bumping into… was Blended. And oh were they right to push me to read it! And...confession time - this is the first Sharon Draper book I have read! You may already know her work from Out of My Mind or Copper Sun.  This novel is about an 11-year-old girl - Izzy to her mom but Isabella to her Dad.  Her parents are divorced and every week Isabella has to switch - switch households, switch bedrooms, switch backpacks, switch expectations…. and sometimes feels like she has to switch identities. Her father is black and and lives a far more swanky lifestyle now and Isabella’s mother is white and their home definitely has a more casual vibe. I loved this book because I know how many students can relate to Izzy’s frustrations with parental tug-of-war and that awkwardness with people coming into their lives. But this book had so many more themes that will definitely strike a chord with kids today - racial profiling, school threats, micro-agressions, police shootings, and the myriad other things that make up children’s day-to-day experiences. The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden Ahhh - this book!  I just…. Okay - plot first. This is the story of Zoey - a seventh-grader whose primary goals in life are to keep her two young siblings quiet and out of the way of her mom’s boyfriend and his father, to scrounge up enough for them to eat, and to stay completely invisible at school. But all of those things become tricky when her teacher pushes her to join the Debate Club after school. This book is about rural poverty, the nuances of the gun debate, domestic vioience… but the way those threads play out are not at all what I had expected - and so much better. This is the novel I wish I had read as a young middle school teacher when I thought that giving an hour’s worth of homework that required colored pencils, a ruler, and internet access was a perfectly acceptable thing to do.     Front Desk by Kelly Yang Another stand-out debut! And every time I see another starred review or another reader gush about this book, it just makes me heart a little more happy. Front Desk is about Mia Tang whose family - recent immigrants from China - wind up running a motel under less than ideal circumstances. Mia’s expectations of life in America - juicy burgers, a pet dog, a yard, and big pool - differ A LOT from her true life, which she keeps hidden from her classmates. Her life is tough. But once she starts to harness the power of her writing, Mia starts to realize that even the big injustices in life can start to change. Front Desk was another fall favorite of my students and a perfect book club book.  And the last time I checked, it was offered through Scholastic for a great price. The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown When a sequel comes out to a book that you adored - characters who have found a home in your heart - it’s with trepidation that you crack open that cover and start a new journey with them. Oh but thank you Peter Brown because you did not disappoint and in fact…. I may love this story even more than the first. It’s hard to say anything without giving away the first book if you haven’t read it yet. (And if that’s the case - get on that!) But I will say that this sequel has more action, more human interactions, and therefore - more personal connections that kids can latch onto. And it deals with some big moral and ethical questions!  It’a a brilliant story with a touch of the Iron Giant, a sprinkle of The Odyssey, and a little dash of The Good Place.     Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes This is the story of Jermone - a young black boy playing outside his home with a small toy gun. A black boy who gets shot and killed by a police officer in the first pages and whose presence haunts the rest of the pages - and whose story - along with the other boys - haunts me still.  And I can see in my classroom the impact it makes on the young kids who read it. There are instantly caught by that first title page - “Dead” - and those first words - “How small I look. Laid out flat, my stomach touching the ground. My right knee bent and my brand-new Nikes stained with blood.”  Jerome is the first ghost boy we meet, but later there will be Emmett Till and others who get to tell parts of their stories. This book was both completely immersive and has that quality of staying with you long after you’ve read it. And it’s a rare book that deals honestly with racism and police violence in a way that is age appropriate and clear.  And so many people have said, “This is an important book.” It IS - but don’t get it just because of that - get it and read it with kids because it’s an excellent book. Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo This is, I believe, the first sequel that Kate DiCamillo has ever written. And if this is the quality of a DiCamillo sequel then I hope she writes a TON more - because this book ripped me apart and put me back together again. And I mean that in the best possible way! This book is the follow-up to Raymie Nightingale and focuses on Raymie’s quirky friend - Louisiana Elefante. Lousiana’s grandmother wakes her up in the middle of the night, piles her into the car, and is off to face her reckoning with the curse that has hung over their family’s head. Well, they end up in a Georgia Motel run by a cranky lady - where Louisiana has to take on more than anyone her age should have to.  But also learns a lot about grace and the goodness of humankind as well. Raymie Nightingale was a book I liked pretty well, but nothing compared to this. It’s like this story sat in a rock tumbler until all the extra grit fell away and this sparkling gem emerged at the end.   Tight by Torrey Maldonado This book was fast-paced, fresh, and had such a…. bite to it!  It’s the story of 6th grader, Bryan, who loves comics, who loves drawing superheroes, and who loves his mother and a life of no drama. His dad brings enough of that into their life. Money in their family is… tight. So he worries about that and worries about being perceived as “soft” - not tough enough. But then his parents, sort of... set him up with a friend - this neighborhood kid named Mike. And at first, Bryan resists. He gets  weird vibe from this kid. But then the boys bond over comics and Netflix shows and spend more and more time together. They’re tight. But that friendship turns toxic when Mike starts luring Bryan into skipping school, hopping the turnstiles in the subway...and worse. Tight is an exceptional books - raw and real. If you have kids who like Jason Reynold’s Ghost and who liked the Miles Morales Spiderman - this is the book for them!   Alright - those are my top 25 middle grades books of 2018. Now - I want to hear from YOU! What were your favorite reads of the last year and which ones should I make sure to read in the year ahead? Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about 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. Books Between is a proud member of the Lady Pod Squad and the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well.   Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!

3PP 19 Life Cycles of a Children's Book Projects: Will: Still working on the Painting Color and Light class. I’m gonna be working on it for a while. Loves working on classes, and loves having them. Loves it. It takes a long time but is very satisfying. Lee: Going into the last week of his basic painting class, and it’s amazing the progress people have made between weeks 1 and 10. Started a bunch of projects, and is working on a big series of book covers for his agent, he is trying to move into that genre, because children’s books take a long time, so he is trying to find things to do to supplement his children’s books. Working on classic novels right now, and just did Lord of the Flies. His goal is to do 1 cover a week. Be willing to move without the ball. No one is paying Lee to work on this book cover project, but he is doing it because he feels that it will be good for him. Good things happen to those who take initiative. Jake: Working on coloring his Inktober drawing. It’s a challenge, but it’s satisfying. Also is working on his Inktober book. Life Cycle of a Children’s Book Today we talk about where a book starts, what it does in its lifetime, how it ends, and all the hands that touch it. There are two different branches to children’s books, and they are: Author, illustrator combo. Or an Author who is also the illustrator. We’re going to focus on the first, and talk about how a book is made and published going through a publisher. Not self publishing. The Manuscript After a writer has gone through all of their ideas, and has a manuscript nailed down, they then submit that manuscript to their agent. The agent reads through the manuscript and decides if it’s something they think they can sell. Then the agent usually will give notes back to the author. If the agent is good, then they should know the market and what’s selling right now. Once that stage is over, then the agent will take it to publishers and start shopping it around. Should you chase what’s hot? If you really believe in the story, then you can tell your agent to try and shop it around. But maybe you aren’t super attached, and you don’t mind making the suggested changes. Pick your battles. Usually Jake defers to people with more knowledge and experience than him. Often an agent’s suggestions are very valuable because that is their job and normally they have so much experience with this than you do. The Agent Takes it to the Publishers She takes it to publishers and gauges their interest. more often than not they will have a list of go to editors that they will show it to first. The publisher level might want to get on board too if it’s a really good idea. The editor takes it to the publisher and they bounce it around and see if it’s a book that this publisher wants to publish. They will talk to all sorts of people about schedule, etc. And if it all works out and is a good fit then they will come back with an offer. There is a lot of work that goes into this and it’s something you may not see. Victoria Jamieson, Roller Girl She’s an author illustrator now, and she used to work in publishing. She had a wonderful slideshow that walked people through the process of how a book is made. There are like 100 people working on deciding if a book should be done or not. There are a lot of people that have to give their stamp of approval. It’s good to not know about all of the near misses because then you will be beating yourself up over them and spend way too much time worrying. The money you are offered is a fraction of the money that will be spent making the book. There is printing, marketing, sales, etc. all involved. They all need to have a say to make sure it will work across all departments. Would you trade this for a less free but more stable job? Jake loved animation, but he is happier with the independence that his lifestyle offers now. Will would get into lively discussions with his wife, because she was wanting him to have a “real” job. She was tired of gaps between checks and the uncertainty. But now she is grateful and is glad that Will stuck with being an independent artist. Will has lived long enough to see people with regular jobs experience plenty of layoffs. If there was a house style for picture books, it would take a lot of creativity out of the market. The Publisher Strikes a Deal With the Illustrator. Once the light is green. Once you get the green light, an offer is made, and you are in a good position if you are getting offers from multiple publishers. Then once the offer is made they will start looking for an illustrator. If you are an author then they will have a short list of Then if you are an illustrator then you will get to look at the manuscript and decide if you want to take this project on. Is this something I want to spend months on, will it align with my style and my brand. Is it enough money? Then if you choose to accept the book offer then they will give you a real offer. They will give you a loose schedule and an offer. You need to know your process inside and out. You really need to understand how long things take, comps, scanning ,etc. At this point you should be thinking about your schedule. If everything feels good to you and looks good to you then you accept the offer. Then your agent and the publisher will go back and forth about the money, royalties, do you have rights to the artwork, etc. Usually you want to retain rights to use it in your portfolio, and on your website. You want the rights in case the book takes off and they decide to make other products, like pajamas, mugs, posters, etc, so that you can get royalties. Receiving Your Advance, and Getting to Work Once all of this is squared away then you sign the contract and at that point you get an “advance”, this is upfront money. This protects you as an artist because you get money upfront to see you through the creative process. This is how an advance works: Let’s say you have a $20,000 advance. There are two options: ⅓ signing, ⅓ delivering final files, ⅓ book is printed. ½ siginign, ½ delivering finals (more common). The advance is against the royalties, so you would start making royalties after making the $20,000. Then you get a check and it feels really good depositing it. We like to be real in this podcast. And you don’t get the check immediately upon signing the contract. When you sign it, it still usually takes 1-2 months for you to actually receive the advance. Publishing is weird, horses still bring you your checks. This speaks to the idea that you need to be good with your money and learn to budget and plan ahead. Also in the contract, it should outline the game plan for the actual production of the book. It is usually around a year or 2 years later. The reason is that once you have started creating some art, then they can use that artwork to start selling the book to bookstores, libraries, etc. This all happens well in advance. Stores and libraries all are projecting and trying to predict what will sell or what will not sell in the future.All of this starts to happen as you start sending them files. Usually your production time is 6 months to a year. It takes forever. If you just sat down and just worked on the book and nothing else, you could get it done in maybe two months, but there is all sorts of back and forth, getting feedback, receiving notes, and making changes. Marketing people usually give lots of their feedback on the cover, they judge books by their cover. Production Process Process in a Nutshell Send in initial rough sketches, get feedback. Then do a final illustration and get that approved for the finished look of the book. Receive approval. Then once that is approved, final sketches. Then do the rest of the final artwork. Then turn it all in. Then there are notes on the finished artwork. Then make any necessary changes. Then they get all of the work and they have a lot they need to do on their end with it. It’s so simple, right? It sounds complicated but they are directing it, and so all you need to do is meet your deadlines and respond to their emails. You are working intensely with other people and so there are people skills. You work back and forth with a lot of different departments and people. You are apart of a team, and it’s not like you are just creating an image for a class. Final Check on the Proofs After all the art is in their hands, then they will go through and format it, they will format the type. They will prep everything for print. At the same time, you will start bugging them and telling them that it is time for that second check. You aren’t quite done yet. A few months later you will get proof back, usually you will get prints of the book, physically. And you will see what the book will look like in print. They are larger and are not cropped at all. You look through it and make sure that the color that they are printing is matching your screen. If it all looks good then you let them know or you can ask them Lee will try and send in a couple of finished images and also color swatches of where the color should be. Lee sends a hard copy proof, and then they can match it as best they can. He sends them his intention for how it should be printed. Because if everyone is looking at screens, then they might all be getting something a little different, they are trying to hit a moving target. After the proofs then you get the FNG’s, short for Folded and Gathered. These are the folded sheets, and it is what the book is really going to look like. This is where you can go through and double check everything. It’s probably too late to fix minor things but if there are major things then you can try and catch it before the book is printed. True Story: First time Will went to ALA, his publisher was sending him out there. His editor told him that he will see those “FNG’s”, and he couldn’t tell what was going on and if she was mad about something. FNG’s. There is this lingo, and little terms that get thrown at you that you never learned in school. Book Reviews After the FNG’s are approved then you will receive some advanced copies. The finished book. Not just you but other people like librarians with a book review audience, book reviewers, other publishers and agents, all people who are connected to this book somehow will get the books so that they can start reviewing them and telling people what they should think of the book. What you are looking for at this stage is for good reviews. A starred review on Kirkus is usually a good sign. The reviews are usually heavily focused on the writing and is not as focused on the illustrations. If you do not get a “starred review” not a 5 starred review, but a starred review, then people will look at the book as a miss, and it most likely won’t be a commercial success. Reviews. A lot of reviews are kind of arbitrary because the people reviewing them aren’t artists and the reviews are being given by individuals. Lee did a book and the review was saying that the book was quite poignant, and full of emotion, great. However, he drew a girl without a helmet, and got a bad review because on one page Release Day Book comes out, you are tweeting, and posting on Instagram about the book deal. There is some marketing that you need to do as author or illustrator and it all leads up to the launch of the book. If they want to and if you can, then you may be sent on a book tour. This is quite rare though. Book tours are more reasonable when you are both the author and illustrator. Publishers are hoping that at least one of the books they published will get an award. Every eighth or twelth book they publish is paying for all the others. You go on a book tour, and then you go home, or your book goes onto a best-seller list. You usually find this out, a week or two after the book is published. These accolades are not essential but feel good. Getting onto the The Best Seller Lists, sometimes it’s really easy to gain your way or you can sneak your way onto their lists. Even more important than the Best Seller Lists for how your book is selling is the Amazon seller rank. If you are anywhere under 10,000 for best selling books on Amazon, then you are Bonaparte Falls Apart is seasonal but it was in the 700’s. David Hone’s Christmas book gets into the teens on Amazon’s seller ranking. Basically he is receiving off the charts royalties. Periodically you will receive a royalty statement. Gives you a break down of how many books sold in different areas. It tells you how much you still need to pay off of your advance. And if you have paid off your book’s advance, then you get a royalty check. Death or Eternal Life for a Book Then your book will either die and go out of print. Or it will continue to get royalties. If it goes out of print, then you retain all of the rights and you can self publish it or you can find another publisher. If it never goes out of print then you continue to receive royalty checks for it. You never know what’s gonna happen. The publisher does a lot of work. They do a lot of heavy lifting. So you can look at it this way, you are getting paid to create and you are also receiving free advertising. Big advance or big royalty? Your sales record follows you around, if you have a big flop then it can hurt your future deals. There is a balance between advances and royalties. If they can’t get a bigger advance, then you could ask for a bigger royalty. School visits, Jerry Polada does a lot of school visits, the fact that he does school visits every week and that volume of visits and work he does can help him with getting books sold to publishers. LINKS Svslearn.com Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44 Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt Lee White: leewhiteillustration.comInstagram: @leewhiteillo Alex Sugg: alexsugg.com Tanner Garlick: tannergarlickart.com. Instagram: @tannergarlick If you like this episode, please share it, subscribe, and we’d love it if you left a review! These podcasts live and die on reviews. If you want to join in on this discussion log onto forum.svslearn.com, there is a forum for this episode you can comment on.

Have you ever dreamed of publishing a children's book? This episode is for you! Hear from Paul Rodeen, president of Rodeen Literary Agency, as he explains what it takes to be a children's author. Paul represents artists Peter Brown, Ryan Higgins and Victoria Jamieson and many more! Learn more about Rodeen Literary Management at www.rodeenliterary.com

One of the first titles we ever reviewed was Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Lis and Nathaniel figured they were due to look at another of her works with this story of chivalry and early teen drama. The PUNCH LIKE A GIRL Podcast is a Council of Geeks Production! You can get the Nic Buxom designed Punch Like a Girl Logo on a t-shirt now! Click right over here: https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/2519589-punch-like-a-girl Follow the PUNCH LIKE A GIRL Podcast: Subscribe via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/punch-like-a-girl/id1161149489 Follow us on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PunchLikeAGirl1 Like our FACEBOOK page: https://www.facebook.com/punchlikeagirlpod This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK: Visit the Fire & Water WEBSITE: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com Follow Fire & Water on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FWPodcasts Like our Fire & Water FACEBOOK page: https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork Use our HASHTAG online: #FWPodcasts

Discussing the graphic novel, Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson with SEJH 8th grade student Maddy and IC Bruisers derby member aka "Hermione Granger"

Victoria Jamieson talks about her graphic novel ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

The babes are rollin’ into 2018 with the graphic novel Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Listen as they hip check each other and discover a shared childhood passion as they come of age with main character Astrid…oh, and they get tipsy too. Tipsiness brought to us by: Lawson’s, Half Full, Orkney, and AleSmith. Warning: book […]

Intro Hi everyone and welcome to 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 5th grade teacher, a mom of an 8 and 10 year old, and oh so ready to welcome 2018!   This is Episode #40 and today we are celebrating some of the top middle grade graphic novels 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 10 Middle Grade Graphic Novels of 2017 On the last episode, I shared with you my top 20 middle grade novels published in 2017 and unlike last year, where I had only one list, I decided to separate out the graphic novels since I read so so many more of them this year. And also - this way, I can share 30 books with you instead of just 20, so…. More love for more books is a good thing, right? Okay - let’s dive in! Here are my Top 10 middle grade graphic novels of 2017! One Trick Pony by Nathan Hale If you already love Nathan Hale’s work from his fabulous Hazardous Tales series, then you’ll want to check out this book where he ventures into the realm of science fiction! This novel is set in a post-apocalyptic future where these creeptastic alien invaders are devouring every last trace of human-made metals and electronic devices. The only people keeping the flame of civilization going are a small band of survivors trying to outwit and outrun the aliens.  The main character is a girl named Strata who finds a beautiful and rare robot pony named Kleidi which makes her a target of the aliens who are soon chasing after Strata and her brother. One Trick Pony is kind of like a blend between A Canticle for Leibowitz and an Hieronymus Bosch painting - both thought-provoking and beautifully creepy. NewsPrints by Ru Xu This is a gorgeous graphic novel with a 1920s flavor and a twist of steampunk that features a young orphan named Blue who is disguising herself as a newsboy for the newspaper called The Bugle. That paper is the only truth-telling news left in the war-torn city of Nautilene. When Blue meets a mysterious boy named Crow, they both need to decide whether to take the path of who they really are or take the path of how others see them. This is a powerful story about truth and ethics and humanity - and the warm, light-infused illustrations are just phenomenal. Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson This debut graphic novel tells the story of the quiet, un-noticed, hero-in-waiting Emmie Douglass who is dealing with the challenges of seventh grade. Things like finding time to go to the bathroom between classes, the awkwardness of changing for gym, not having a cell phone and feeling left out of things, and…. being completely embarrassed in front of your crush. What makes this book stand out is that the chapters alternate between the main narrative of Emmie and the secondary story of Katie. And I loved how Emmie’s parts are text with lots of illustrations in softer blues, and tans, and mauves. And the sections from Katie’s point of view are that more traditional graphic novel format with panels in bright yellows and pinks and greens. The blend of those two styles is really well done and I loved the surprise twist about how they connect at the end. Swing it, Sunny by Jennifer & Matthew Holm This is the sequel to Sunny, Side Up, and this book picks up with Sunny’s life right after her summer spent in Florida with her grandfather. She is now back home, it’s September 1976  and this story takes her through the school year, her complicated feelings about her brother Dale, who is now in boarding school, and the challenges of middle school. This is a book that is quick to read but has a lot of nuance to explore on rereads. Many of my students have read this one multiple times. It’s full of small slice of life seasonal stories and the 1970s nostalgia made me smile. Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke This series has totally won my class over - with this second installment having quite the waiting list. This fantasy/fairy tale blend has a lot of humor, heart, and cool characters. In this book, Jack, Lilly, and Maddy have ventured up the beanstalk into a world of goblins and giants and dragons who at turns harm and occasionally help. This is a great adventure story that I especially recommend to kids who want something fun. And I just loved the title character - the Goblin King - and that cameo at the end of this book. Anne of Green Gables adapted by Mariah Marsden, Illustrated by Brenna Thummler This classic, I’ll admit, was one that got past me!  But after reading this graphic novel, I know I missed out on something special - this story is wonderful! And Brenna Thummler’s illustrations in vibrant greens with seasonal splashes of pinks and lavenders and oranges are softly stunning. I especially love her scenes of Anne and Diana in the woods with the sunlight dappling the trunks of the trees - it’s just enchanting! If you are already familiar with Anne of Green Gables - you’ll love reliving the magic of her story through this graphic novel.  And if you are NOT yet familiar or have kids who might find the classic text a bit daunting, this is a perfect introduction to this beautiful story about resiliency and imagination. Brave by Svetlana Chmakova This book is set in the same universe at Chmakova’s debut middle grade graphic novel Awkward, which is also awesome, but this novel is centered on the character Jensen. In his daydreams, Jensen is a swashbuckling hero with dreams of becoming an astronaut or saving his schoolmates from the zombie apocalypse! But, in real life, he’s having a hard time in middle school - math class is difficult, his art club friends seem to be ditching him, and he’s being harassed by two boys at school. I love this book for its diverse set of characters and for a realistic exploration of harassment - both from bullies and from friends. This one is a must-get for classrooms and libraries serving kids 9 and up. Real Friends by Shannon Hale with artwork by LeUyen Pham This one took me a while to get to - mainly because my ten year old daughter made off with it as soon as it entered the house and then stayed up half the night reading it in bed with a flashlight. And - the two copies I brought into school were immediately snatched away - and I have no clue whose hands they’re in now and can only trust they’ll find their way home. Real Friends is an autobiographical novel in a similar vein as Raina Telgemeier’s Smile and Sisters or the Holm’s Sunny Side Up. This book tells the story of young elementary school Shannon as she struggles to break out of her middle child loneliness and make good friends at school and at home. I think what makes this book so powerful and appealing to kids is that Hale clearly understands those seemingly small but socially HUGE details that happen in the lives of friends. Who sits next to who at lunch, who gets invited to whose house, the intentional but unseen-by-the-teachers jabs in gym class, the ranking, and the lying.  And after Shannon’s first Kindergarten friend Adrienne moves and then comes back, she gets attached to what’s called The Group - these popular girls lead by Jen and her friend Jennifer.  Adrienne is clearly IN, but Shannon is sometimes OUT.  I also really loved the sections about Shannon’s family - especially her sometimes contentious relationship with her older sister, Wendy. And how this book is also about learning how to BE a real friend as well as FINDING real friends. Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani Oh - how I LOVED this book!  The swirling reds and oranges with shimmers of gold contrasted with those deep blues are simply a gorgeous feast for your eyes. Oh, and the story is pretty awesome, too! It’s about an Indian-American teenage girl named Priyanka. She finds a beautiful red pashmina hidden away in her mother’s old suitcase. A pashmina is an Indian shawl made of finely woven cashmere.  After wrapping herself in this mysterious pashmina Priyanka is transported to a mythic India of her imagination filled with both light and an subtly encroaching darkness. Her journey uncovers the line between fantasy and reality and she discovers some truths about herself, her family, and her future. I really loved how the sections alternate between panels in black and white and the rich, vibrant colors. If you want some behind the scenes info about this book, absolutely check out Matthew Winner’s interview with Nidhi Chanani on All the Wonders, Episode 393 ! All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson And - my number one most favorite graphic novel of the year is All’s Faire In Middle School!  I have been waiting for a full-length follow up from Newbery honor author Victoria Jamieson and I gotta say - I might even like this one better than Roller Girl. She has a knack for digging deep into the heart and soul of a subculture. First roller derby and here - renaissance festival!  This novel is about Imogene - an eleven-year-old girl who has grown up and been homeschooled within the Florida Renaissance Festival community. Her father works as a knight and she helps her mother run their family’s arts and crafts store there. She also has a little brother and a main thread in this book is a fracture in their relationship centered around his stuffed rat? Skunk? Ferret? Also - there’s tension around the fact that she starts her training as a squire, which mean more responsibility at the faire. And she’s going to public school for the first time and starting middle school. I loved this book so, so much - for the behind the scenes secrets of renfaire life, the fun banter of the Elizabethan speaking characters, the chapter introductions that look like illuminated manuscripts. It was just a full on pleasure to read! And absolutely please check out Jamieson’s conversation with Matthew Winner on Episode 386 of All the Wonders. So - those are my top 10 middle grade graphic novels of 2017!   And as I said in the last episode, this list, just like any other, is flawed. It reflects my own preferences and biases. And the constraints of time. So I’ve probably missed lots of amazing graphic novels from 2017 so which ones were your favorites? Closing Alright, that’s it for today! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about 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 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. Or even better - tell a friend about us! 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!

Join us as we say "Bye Felicia" to 2017 and ring in 2018. We decided to recount the books that got us through 2017. So the gang discusses their faves whether they were published this year or not. Amy in her Is It Teen Enough debut discusses Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn, Cliff Chiang, and Matt Wilson. (That new Archie Amy talks aobut is by Mark Waid—who did an awesome Daredevil Run—and Fiona Staples). Katie discusses Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Molly sent a recording and suggested a barrage of titles: Scythe by Neil Shusterman, The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Real Friends by Shannon Hale, Tell Me How it Ends by Valeria Luiselli, The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (which we totally did NOT discuss on the podcast; what were we thinking missing out on that one?), and Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard! Kim's favorite of the year was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (she also mentions The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, which we'll discuss in a future episode, The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (which I think she accidentally calls The Color of Magic because of her love of Terry Pratchett. R.I.P.), and Turtles all the Way Down by John Green. Cash Money discusses the Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry. Nate discusses You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie. Lindsey discusses Far From the Tree by Robin Benway. Nathan discusses All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson: Book Report by Sienna

Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they will love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of two daughters and a 5th grade teacher in Central New York. My goal is to help you find fabulous books for your kids and help create a community where we all can support each other as we build those readers. This is Episode #36 and today is all about graphic novels! Before we start the show today, I am excited to tell you that this month’s episodes are sponsored by WriteAbout.com - a writing community and digital platform that is tailor made for students of all ages.  Their school platform can connect all your classrooms for shared writing topics. So if your school is like mine and has certain themes for each week, Write About for Schools makes it really easy for every class to read and respond to each other’s published writing.  So, if you or someone you know is looking for a way to bring your school together by celebrating student authors, definitely check out WriteAbout.com. And at the end of the show, I’ll share with you what my class plans to write about this week. Main Topic - CYBILS Before we jump into the book talks for the show - a little bit of news. I am so excited to be a round one judge for the CYBILS this year in the graphic novels category, so I am taking a deep dive into as many middle grade graphic novels published in the last year as I can get my hands on. Phew! So if you are not familiar, the CYBILS are the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards.  This award started in 2006 and aims to recognize the children’s and young adult authors and illustrators whose books combine the highest literary merit and popular appeal. There are about a dozen categories and subcategories within Picture Books to Middle Grade to Young Adult.  Nominations take place from October 1st - October 15th so you still have time to go to cybils.com and nominate your favorite books. Finalists in each category are announced on January 1st and winners are revealed on February 14th. So be on the lookout for those. Last year’s middle grade winners included Ghost by Jason Reynolds, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan, Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, and Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, Book 2 by Cathy Camper and Raul the Third. So, some pretty fabulous choices. I’ve been following the CYBILS for a long time and using their lists as a resource, but this is my first time participating as a judge, and I’m honored to be working alongside a great team, including our very own Mel Shuit from All the Wonders! So, in other words, expect to be hearing a lot more about the great graphic novels of the past year. Starting…. now. Book Talk - Three Fresh New Graphic Novels In this section of the show, I share with you three books centered around a theme and discuss three things to love about each book. This week - as promised - it’s all about graphic novels! And since my aim is to keep you up to date on what’s new and fresh and really good in the world of middle grade, here are three new graphic novels to introduce to your readers.  They are Swing It, Sunny by Jennifer & Matthew Holm, Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson, and All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson. Swing It, Sunny First up is Swing It, Sunny - the much-awaited sequel to Jennifer & Matthew Holm’s Sunny, Side Up. This book picks up with Sunny’s life in September 1976 - right after the summer she spent with her grandfather down in Florida in the first book. This story is all about Sunny’s life back at home, her complicated feelings about her brother Dale, who is now in boarding school, and the challenges of middle school. Here are three things to love about Swing It, Sunny: Seasonal Slice of Life stories. Unlike the first book which was set just in the summer, here we have Sunny starting school, getting fall allergies, reluctantly dressing up as nurse for Halloween, making loom potholders for Christmas gifts…. And small but poignant moments of that year in her life. My 10 year old was wishing for bigger events with a stronger resolution at the end. And for that reason she said she prefered the first book. But, personally, I liked the rhythm and pacing of this book with small moments told over the course of a year. How it explores a complicated relationship between siblings, and the impact that has on the rest of the family. After her older brother, Dale, ends up in a military boarding school for doing drugs and getting into big trouble - at one point Sunny says to her mom, “I miss him. But I don’t miss what it’s like when he’s here.” And I think a lot of kids - in some way or other - can connect to that. I LOVED all the 1970s details!!  I will out my age here and say that I was born in November 1976, a bicentennial baby, so this book felt like stepping back into the avocado green and rust brown and orangey yellow shades of my childhood. When having a TV dinner (cooked in the oven by the way!) was cause for excitement. I’m sure that qualifies this book for “Historical Fiction” status, and kids are obviously not going to have that nostalgic feeling that I had, but I loved all the TV shows referenced - Six Million Dollar Man and Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch and General Hospital… there are so many tiny little details from the antennas on the tvs to the Jiffy Pop pan, to the vintage Golden Grahams cereal box…  Ahhhh….. There’s so much more. But I’ll let you discover all of it. Swing It Sunny is absolutely a must-have graphic novel for kids 8-12.  And they don’t have to have read Sunny, Side Up to enjoy this one, but if you have the first book on hand, I’d recommend starting there so you have the background about what happened the summer before. Invisible Emmie Another great new book is Invisible Emmie by debut author Terri Libenson. This book tells the story of the quiet, un-noticed, hero-in-waiting Emmie Douglass who is trying to deal with the challenges of seventh grade. Things like finding time to go to the bathroom between classes, the awkwardness of changing for PE class, not having a cell phone and feeling left out of things, and…. being completely embarrassed in front of your crush.  Here are three reasons to love Invisible Emmie:   How relatable Emmie is - especially for girls! From the frustration with your curly hair to that anger at yourself for not speaking up in your own defense. I think most girls (and boys!) feel that pressure of fitting in and comparing yourself to your peers, your friends, and to that perfect version of yourself that you wish you were. How this book alternates between the main narrative of Emmie and the story of Katie. And I loved how Emmie’s parts are text with lots of illustrations in softer blues, and tans, and mauves. And the sections from Katie’s point of view are a more traditional graphic novel format with panels and done in brighter yellows and pinks and greens. The blend of those two styles is really well done. How Emmie’s and Katie’s stories come together in the end! As I was reading, I kept theorizing how they were going to connect, and then I started to notice some of the same characters show up in both sections.  That ending and the message of that ending was powerful. Loved it! Terri Libenson’s  Invisible Emmie is funny, heartfelt, and great for kids who love books like Raina Telgemeier’s Drama or Bubbles by Abby Cooper. And I can’t wait to see what this author does next! All’s Faire in Middle School Our final graphic novel is one that my students and I have been anticipating for a long time - and oh was it worth that wait!. It’s All’s Faire in Middle School - by Victoria Jamieson. You might know Ms. Jamieson from her incredible Newbery Honor book - Roller Girl.  This novel is about Imogene - an eleven-year-old girl who has grown up and been schooled at the Florida Renaissance Festival where her father works as a knight and she helps her mother run their family’s arts and crafts store. But - this year two things are changing. One - she starts her training as a squire, which mean more responsibility at the faire. And two - she’s going to public school for the first time and starting middle school. I loved this book so much I am completely breaking my rule of three things. So, here are six things to love about All’s Faire in Middle School: The behind-the-scenes look at the renaissance festival. The jousting, the human chess game, the mud pit, the juggling, and the sword play.   And how Imogene is taught by the other actors to do what’s called “street” -  how to walk and talk and pull visitors into the fun as though they were all REALLY living in a Renaissance village filled with colorful characters. The Elizabethan flavored talk at the fair is so much fun to read. Here, let me give you a sample for you.. This is from page 27. This is when Cussy, an actor who plays a hermit, is teaching Imogene how to interact with the shopkeepers as she walks around the faire. “Good Morrow, and well met, baker! Prithee, hast thou any fresh loaves this morning?” The gorgeous chapter introductions that are in the style of an illuminated manuscript. They are so beautiful!   How this is a story about a family that is poor. Imogene is always a bit torn between her pride in her Ren Faire lifestyle and embarrassment that her family is picking her up in a beat-up old car. Or that she gets dropped of at the shabby apartment complex. Or that they can’t really afford those cool shoes and jeans that would help her blend in more at school. Yeah - relatable. For many many kids. The nuanced struggles and mistakes that Imogene deals with in middle school and at home. She makes BIG mistakes. At one point she harnesses her talent of drawing to be cruel in order to make others laugh. And has to deal with how much she hurt people.  At point she lies to her parents about school work, and gets in huge trouble.  And then - she does something so mean to her little brother that overcoming that one rash act is going to take a lot. But, you know - I see sibling conflict and peer conflict up close every day. And Jamieson gets it right. The small thread about the romance novel. There’s a scene where Imogene and her new friends sneak read part of a romance novel and later she writes the word sex in her journal and then quickly crosses it out. The words from the novel aren’t explicit at all but the context of that thread is so relatable for a lot of preteen and teenaged kids. That impulse to want to know more and yet not feeling really ready for that is handled so well here with a light touch that I’d say would probably be appropriate for most kids in grades 5 and above.   Honestly, I could go on and on about all the reasons I loved All’s Faire in Middle School but instead I think that time would be better spent having YOU just go get it and read it and put it into the hands of kids who are going to love it. And if you ever have the chance to go to a Renaissance Festival - please do it!!  My family always attends the Sterling Renaissance Festival in northern New York, and it is such a blast. We get our hair braided, enjoy a giant turkey leg, and just have fun transporting yourself to another era.  And make sure you check out Matthew Winner’s interview with Victoria Jamieson on episode 386 of the All the Wonders podcast where they talk about All’s Faire and her inspirations for this story. It’s so good! Closing Okay - that wraps up our show this week. We have some great interviews and book talks coming up this fall.  I’ll also be chatting about flexible seating, Shelley Johannes’ Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker, Shannon Hale’s Real Friends - and of course - even more great new graphic novels. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get find a transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com.  And, if you like the show, please help others find us too by telling a friend, sharing on social media, or leaving a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. And thanks again to WriteAbout.com for supporting the podcast this month - when you visit their website you’ll find fantastic ideas to get your students excited about writing. My school is doing the Positivity Project this year where each week we focus on one character strength. So my students will be writing about how they and others show Perspective. See you in two weeks!  Bye!

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Victoria Jamieson (@JamiesonV), cartoonist of All's Faire in Middle School, stops by the podcast to talk about childhood nuances, bringing things to a low point, and just wanting to fit in.

Victoria Jamieson has written books for kids and teaches children's literature at Pacific Northwerst College of Art, but in her spare time, she skates with the Rose City Rollers Wreckers team under the name of Winnie the Pow. So perhaps it was just a matter of time before she wrote a graphic novel for middle-grade readers about a girls who get in touch with their deeper selves by skating around and hitting each other called "Roller Girl." The The book is also about the very messy social geometry that happens when kids move beyond their elementary school friendships.The book became a "New York Times" best seller and recently won a Newberry Honor.State of Wonder host April Baer sat down with Jamieson to discuss the subtle but salient messages running through the story and how much of "Roller Girl" is a reflection of her own experience.Read the full story: http://www.opb.org/radio/article/victoria-jamieson-roller-girl

Summer came early this year, and it has us already dreaming of weekends at the beach or up in the mountains, kicking back in a hammock with a book between our hands. So we put together a show to highlight some of the season's top reads, in case you're thinking of packing your knapsack and heading for the hills (or at least the park)."Every Anxious Wave" by Mo DaviauMo Daviau is a former college radio DJ who dreamt up her novel, "Every Anxious Wave," over the turntable. It centers around a middle-age dive bar owner named Karl Bender, who’s only kind of hung up about the loss of his glory days playing guitar in an indie rock sensation. When a super-smart friend opens up a wormhole in the space-time continuum, Karl does what any self-respecting middle-aged hipster would do: he starts going back in time to see his favorite shows. And he meets his match, a brainy physicist named Lena.Remembering Katherine Dunn, the author of "Geek Love" - 11:34We remember writer Katherine Dunn with Willamette Week editor and publisher Mark Zusman. Dunn, best known for her 1989 award-winning novel “Geek Love,” passed away Wednesday at the age of 70. (This story replaced the interview with Katie Chase about "Man and Wife" in the original podcast. It will air next week.) "On the Folly of Loving Life" by Monica Drake - 20:24Monica Drake is one of Portland’s better known contemporary bards. Her 2007 novel, "Clown Girl," followed a young woman navigating a scene not unlike Northeast Portland’s famous Alberta Street Clown House. "The Stud Book," which followed in 2013, was a scathing, hilarious, and surprisingly tender meditation on how we create family. This week we had Monica in to tell us about her newest adventure — into the world of interconnected short stories — with "The Folly of Loving Life.""Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight - 30:28The notoriously private Nike founder and philanthropist Phil Knight has taken to the court and the spotlight with the release of his memoir, "Shoe Dog." "Complex" magazine called it “more like 'The Lord of the Rings' than a typical mogul memoir,” and it brought ESPN’s Darren Rovel to tears. Earlier this month, Knight sat down with “New Yorker” writer and essayist Adam Gopnik at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to talk everything from the origins of the swoosh to going to school with Ken Kesey. You can hear their full conversation at the Literary Arts' Archive Project."Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson - 39:10Victoria Jamieson has written other books for kids and teaches children’s literature at Pacific Northwerst College of Art, but in her spare time, she skates with the Rose City Rollers Wreckers team under the name of Winnie the Pow. So perhaps it's no surprise her graphic novel for middle-grade readers, "Roller Girl," is a coming-of-age tale in which girls get in touch with their deeper selves by skating around and hitting each other. The book is also about the very messy social geometry that happens when kids move beyond their elementary school friendships. The book was published last year, and this year was listed for a Newberry Honor.

Victoria Jamieson is the author and illustrator of Roller Girl, a graphic novel about a twelve year old girl and her new found love of roller derby!

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson Our roller derby names: Adrienne: Jett Banshee Cathie Sue: Joy Graffitti Jenny: Pussycat Meat Make your name here, read Book Riot’s “39 Killer Literary Roller Derby Names.”

Epigraph For our inaugural episode, we took the #SEABookstoreDay Challenge on Independent Bookstore Day and visited 17 bookstores in/around Seattle, WA. So, without further ado, we are pleased to present you with Drunk Booksellers Episode 1: #SEABookstoreDay!   Bitches in Bookshops Our brilliant theme music, Bitches in Bookshops, comes to us with permission from Annabelle Quezada. The video is pure genius. B*tches in Bookshops (a Jay Z-Kanye West parody) from Annabelle Quezada on Vimeo. Performed by La Shea Delaney (@lashea_delaney) & Annabelle Quezada (@annabelleqv).  Director / Producer / Songwriter - Annabelle Quezada Director of Photography / Editor - Eliav Mintz Song Recorded / Mixed by - Stephen Galgano Introduction In Which Emma and Kim Explain What the Hell This Podcast Is, What They Are Currently Reading, And Make a Rather Tasty Beverage Out of Items Scavenged From Kim’s Nearly-Empty Fridge [3:15] Dare Me by Megan Abbott Also mentioned: The Fever by Megan Abbott [3:53] The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris Also mentioned: Chocolat by Joanne M. Harris, Zombies, Run, The Avengers [5:08] Sisters of the Revolution: A Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer [6:10] Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique [7:04] Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill [7:24] Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater Chapter I In Which Our Heroes Begin Their Epic Quest for #SEABookstoreDay, Traversing Land and Water to Visit the First Five Stores [11:40] Liberty Bay Books, Poulsbo Suzanne Droppert recommends Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel [13:15] Eagle Harbor Book Company, Bainbridge Island René Kirkpatrick recommends The Martian by Andy Weir [14:55] Seattle Mystery Bookshop, Pioneer Square Fran Fuller recommends The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black Also mentioned: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch [16:50] Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, Georgetown Larry Reed recommends Black River by Josh Simmons [19:03] Queen Anne Book Company, Queen Anne Wendy Wieking recommends Bettyville: A Memoir by George Hodgman Chapter II In Which Our Heroes Continue to Circumnavigate Seattle, Discover Booze in a Globe, and Meet #TeamSasquatch [21:18] Island Books, Mercer Island Roger Page recommends Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery [23:53] Parkplace Books, Kirkland Rebecca Willow recommends Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon [25:28] Bonus Sasquatch Sighting! Haley Stocking, Publicist at Sasquatch Books, recommends Little Kunoichi, The Ninja Girl by Sanae Ishida Also mentioned: Book Lust by Nancy Pearl, Larry Gets Lost, Elliott the Otter: The Totally Untrue Story of Elliott, Boss of the Bay by John Skewes Check out #TeamSasquatch’s Independent Bookstore Day Storify, tracking their shenanigans throughout the day. HOW DID WE MISS THE MIMOSAS AT LIBERTY BAY? [26:53] Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park Robert Sindelar recommends Barefoot Dogs by Antonio Ruiz-Camacho [28:44] Edmonds Bookshop, Edmonds Mary Kay Sneeringer recommends The Painter by Peter Heller Also mentioned: Seattle Reads Also mentioned: My Body is a Book of Rules by Elissa Washuta [31:14] Book Larder, Fremont Lara Hamilton recommends A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones Also mentioned: Short Stack Editions [32:40] Open Books: A Poem Emporium, Wallingford John W. Marshall recommends Sorrow Arrow by Emily Kendal Frey Chapter III In Which Our Exhausted Heroes Make Brick Music, Drink a Well-Deserved Beer, and Are Crowned Indie Bookstore Champs [36:26] University Bookstore, U District Brad Craft recommends How I Shed My Skin: Unlearning the Racist Lessons of a Southern Childhood by Jim Grimsley Also mentioned: Serial Doodler by Brad Craft [37:22] Mockingbird Books, Greenlake Jesse Miller recommends El Deafo by Cece Bell Also mentioned: The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove, Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson [39:26] The Secret Garden Bookshop, Ballard Kelsey recommends The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins Also mentioned: Ms. Marvel Vol 2: Generation Why by G Willow Wilson [42:30] Phinney Books, Phinney Ridge Tom Nissley recommends Fierce Attachments by Vivian Gornick Also mentioned: The Odd Woman and the City by Vivian Gornick, Phinney by Post [45:30] Third Place Books, Ravenna Alex recommends Butterflies in November by Auour Ava Olafsdottir Also mentioned: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell [48:32] The Elliott Bay Book Company, Capitol Hill Kenny Coble recommends Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Also mentioned: My Ideal Bookshelf by Jane Mount Epilogue In Which the Drunk Booksellers Go Out Dancing, Visit More Bookstores, Befriend Cats, And Realize They Forgot About Kenny Bonus bookstores! Phoenix Comics & Games, Twice Sold Tales Also mentioned: Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente Endnotes Corrections & Clarifications - Small Beer Press is Kelly Link’s press, not her publisher (though Small Beer Press was the original publisher of Stranger Things Happen and Magic for Beginners, which means Emma now has a new quest to find a Small Beer Press edition of Magic for Beginners). - Maggie Stiefvater’s last name is pronounced Steve-Otter. Proof: - We mentioned a Tomb Raider display on multiple occasions. The display is actually for the TombQuest series by Michael Northrop, rather than the Tomb Raider video game & movie franchise. Here’s a picture from The Secret Garden Bookshop: As opposed to:

An interview with Victoria Jamieson, also known in the roller derby world as Winnie the Pow. Her book, Roller Girl, is a graphic novel for middle grade readers about the world of roller derby.