Reading in The Middle

What happens when you bring together two legendary storytellers, decades of friendship, and a shared passion for making children laugh? You get Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver! In this special episode of Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries welcomes Emmy Award-winning actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Henry Winkler, alongside New York Times bestselling author,...

What happens when the very thing that makes you different becomes your greatest strength? On this episode of Reading in the Middle , Annisha Jeffries welcomes Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Pura Belpré Award and the Eisner Award, for a magical conversation about friendship, identity, belonging, and the unforgettable world of Witchlings #5 . With The Sea Wit...

What happens when growing up means leaving someone behind, even if that someone is a ghost? This week on Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries welcomes award-winning author Wendelin Van Draanen for a lively conversation about storytelling, imagination, and her novel Ghosted . Wendelin, the Edgar Award-winning author of the beloved Sammy Keyes mysteries, Flipped , and the Schneider Family Book Aw...

New York Times Bestselling author Jasmine Guillory joins Annisha Jeffries on Reading in the Middle to discuss her debut young adult novel and the excitement, uncertainty, and possibilities of growing up. Known for her beloved adult romances, Jasmine brings her signature warmth, humor, and unforgettable characters to a new generation of readers. In this conversation, we explore her journey into wri...

What happens when a little rabbit discovers that being different might just be her greatest strength? Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Pixar animator, and author Alan Barillaro returns to Reading in the Middle to talk about the next chapter in Bunns Rabbit's extraordinary journey. Best known for his Oscar-winning animated short Piper , Alan has a remarkable gift for telling stories that captur...

Author Zanni Louise and illustrator Susie Oh discuss Sunny Gets to Work on Reading in the Middle, exploring its themes of big ideas, determination, creativity, and adapting when plans change. They share insights on illustrating Sunny’s world, the harmony between text and images, and the inspiring message about persistence, problem-solving, and faith in one’s ideas for young readers. Hosted on Acas...

National Book Award-winning author Shifa Saltagi Safadi joins Reading in the Middle to discuss her new middle-grade novel in verse, *Sisters Alone*, as well as her book *Kareem Between*. Shifa explores themes of grief, anxiety, faith, sisterhood, and survival, emphasizing the importance of providing young readers with stories that are both honest and hopeful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

In Robin Easter’s new graphic novel, Middle School Monsters , that feeling becomes wonderfully literal. Jamie is beginning seventh grade in a new town and wants nothing more than a normal year. That means hiding her hairy legs, keeping her emotions under control, and making sure no one discovers the werewolf she believes is lurking inside her. Then Jamie meets Vee, the school’s so-called vampire....

A polluted industrial dumping ground. Nearly 400,000 tons of contaminated soil. And, after decades of restoration, a thriving national park. In this special episode of Reading in the Middle , Annisha Jeffries guest-hosts the Ohio Center for the Book’s Page Count podcast for a conversation with author Diane Muldrow and illustrator Amy Jindra Hodgson about their nonfiction picture book, Once a Waste...

When a single garden party splits into two, everyone faces the choice of where to belong. On this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries discusses with author Judith Jacques her children’s book, Gardenland: The Peas' and Carrots' Party Shake-Up, illustrated by Trevor Pacelli. The story captures Gardenland's excitement for its annual celebration, which is disrupted when Peas and Carrots...

What if the March sisters were hiding more than just family secrets? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries interviews author Máire Roche about her new middle-grade novel, Little Monsters, a spooky, humorous reinterpretation of Little Women. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are sisters with a very unusual secret: they are monsters. While Meg strives to protect her family and keep their s...

What if the ghost you’re searching for isn’t the only story waiting to be uncovered?  In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries chats with award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson about her new middle-grade novel, Ghost in the Night. Twelve-year-old Harmony Roundtree enjoys photography, ghost tours, and the idea that those we've lost might still linger. After her beloved grand...

What would you risk for a chance at a better future? In this episode of  Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries interviews Irish author  Kieran Fanning  about his middle-grade science fiction novel,  Ticket to Mars . They discuss the inspiration for the story, Veon Windbourne's unforgettable journey from a flooded Earth to the Martian city of Harmonia, and explore themes...

What occurs when an entire town becomes eerily perfect? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, Annisha Jeffries interviews debut middle-grade author T. C. Kemper about her haunting new mystery, The Ginghams. When twelve-year-old Joni Bird returns from summer camp, Olive Springs no longer feels like the town she knew. Her best friend May has swapped her wild curls and drums for a neat bun and be...

Award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez joins Annisha Jeffries on  Reading in the Middle  to talk about her new bilingual middle-grade graphic novel, Offside, illustrated by Mari Costa. The story features the Jackson Middle School boys’ soccer team going co-ed for the first time, though not everyone is happy about it. Christina discusses creating characters like Nicky, Fabiola, Palm...

Award-winning author Emma Otheguy returns to Reading in the Middle to discuss her new middle-grade novel, Adventure in the City of Stories , illustrated by Poly Bernatene. Camila, Jorge, and Siggy are back for another journey through time. After valuable artifacts connected to pioneering librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré mysteriously appear in Tía Xía’s closet, the cousins are transported to N...

Show Notes Reading in the Middle with Annisha Jeffries In this heartfelt episode of Reading in the Middle , Annisha Jeffries welcomes author Winsome Bingham to talk about her upcoming picture book, On Fridays , illustrated by Jason Griffin and published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House. On Fridays follows Jamar, a young boy who spends Fridays with his mother at the residential building where she...

What happens when science, imagination, and friendship collide? In this episode of  Reading in the Middle , Annisha Jeffries talks with  Matt Manning  and  Matt Loux , the creative team behind  The Spark Experiment , to delve into the engaging world they’ve built for middle-grade readers. Together, they discuss: The inspiration behind The Spark Experiment Creating memorabl...

What happens when a family story becomes an award-winning graphic novel? In this episode of Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries talks with Ringo Award-winning author and educator Jason Douglas about Jane American , a powerful coming-of-age graphic novel inspired by his grandmother's life in Southeast Michigan during and after World War II. Together they discuss family history, identity,...

What happens when compassion and fear collide? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries sits down with Trevor B. Spisto, author of The Tiger and the Crane , a compelling middle-grade novel set in Qing-era China. Together, they explore the story of Mung, a young crane who discovers an orphaned tiger cub just as his village prepares to choose its next leader. Trevor discusses...

What happens when a family trip to Japan turns into an adventure filled with yokai, samurai, festivals, and magical portals? In this episode of Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries talks with author and illustrator Matthew Loux about his newest graphic novel, My Journey to Japan: Escape to Yokai Mountain . Together they discuss Japanese folklore, cultural exploration, graphic novel storyt...

What happens when an ordinary middle school kid suddenly becomes internet famous? In this episode of Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries talks with bestselling author Matthew J. Gilbert about his new middle-grade novel, The New Norm , a funny and relatable story about viral fame, friendship, identity, and surviving middle school. Matthew shares how his career evolved from an award-winnin...

What do scouting, hidden treasure, coal mines, and dragons have in common? In this episode of Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries welcomes New York Times bestselling authors Candace Lee and Eric Newman to discuss their thrilling new middle-grade fantasy adventure, George Goodwin, Dragon Slayer: A Scouting Legend . Candace and Eric bring an impressive storytelling background to the page....

In this heartfelt episode of  Reading in the Middle , host Annisha Jeffries speaks with co-authors Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka about their touching middle-grade novel,  Roxie in Color , launching on June 2. The discussion covers Roxie’s journey through friendship, anxiety, art, and identity as she faces seventh grade while hiding a personal secret: both her parents are blind. Anni...

What would happen if middle school students got the chance to travel to the Moon? In this episode of Reading in the Middle , Annisha Jeffries welcomes Jennifer Ann Richter back to talk about her exciting new middle-grade novel, The Star of Moon Village. Set in 2079, the story follows twelve-year-old Priscilla Cobb, an aspiring Black scientist selected for the first student research voyage to Moon...