Wonder World Book Cafe'

This heavily illustrated novel (mostly) in verse follows 7th grader Will, who is navigating some tough issues around disordered eating and body dysmorphia. Even though Will is in middle school, his thoughts and feelings will resonate with readers far beyond middle school. 

16 year old Quill is devastated about the break-up of his parent's marriage due to his dad's alcoholism. Money is tight, really tight. Quill needs a way to feed his new hungry pet, a bearded dragon. and to help his mom pay the bills. In comes Quill's cock rorach breeding business (based a true event in the author's life!).

Fallon is one strong 13 year-old girl dealing with a heavy past, family secrets, and events that will impact her for a lifetime. Yet, there are some comical moments, along with healing, and an ending that will 100% impact you! Transcript here

If you've ever felt like you didn't fit in, or like you were losing yourself trying to be someone else, this book is for you. Yasha is dealing with a new home, new so-called friends, and his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. The only thing that seems to be going well is his continued love of baseball, but even this is getting messy. Transcript here

In this novel written in verse, Gao and her family make a harrowing escape from her beloved country, Laos, after the Vietnam War. Ending up in a Thai refugee camp, a reminder that refugees are not just headlines. They’re kids who miss their pets, families who tell jokes even when they’re scared, and people who want and deserve to be safe. Transcript here

Hey Gen Alpha. You're the first kids who’ve always had social media and are super tech‑savvy. That’s a major strength, and lots of screen time can make it harder to focus and hang out with friends in person. Break up with your phone? Probably not. You can make decisions to "use technology as a tool and not let technology use you." Transcript here

Meet Mariam. She’s in sixth grade and starting at a new school in a small California farm town. It’s a Catholic school, and Mariam’s Muslim. Her mom thinks it’s fine, even helpful, to learn about a different religion. Mariam? Well, she’s not so sure. Transcript here

Set in San Diego, 1931. Based on a true story about a school board and local chamber of commerce pushing segregation by creating a separate school for the Mexican children. It’s filled with families with a fighting spirit, traditions and holidays, music, food, pinatas, and plenty of Spanish phrases. 

Sisters Mattie and Olive are inseparable but couldn't be more different. One thinks in words, and the other in pictures. This makes for a playful (yet serious) tale as each shares their part of the story differently: Mattie with doodles and drawings, graphic novel style, and Olive with free verse poetry and her specially created crossword puzzles. Transcript here

Hilariously written about a serious topic! J.J. is living with a hidden disease, Chron's. In this story, the disease is an actual character (funny and sarcastic) named Norm--a 7 foot ogre and motorcycle gang member. Filled with tons of illustrations, middle grade readers will LOVE it. Transcript here

Mira has ONE big goal for her 6th grade year: start talking at school. A talented stop motion film producer, Mira is comfortable creating in her bedroom/studio/sanctuary. But social situations cause anxiety and the inability to speak. A serious story with many comical moments. Readers gain insight into situational mutism. Transcript here

Living in California, 8th graders Finn and Rabbit are not strangers to wildfire danger. It's not IF, rather WHEN. And, when one devastates their community, these two friends think they know the cause and are ready to use their voice to tell others. Will the community listen? Transcript here

Overcome with grief over his father's death, 7th grader Finn is given a chance to make amends for an act of vandalism by hiking the 46 highest peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Transcript here

Zarina is a young girl navigating challenges of identity, family and culture during the political turmoil of the Partition in 1947 when India gained independence from the British. What does Zarina and her family do when they're told they no longer belong in their ancestral country, one they deeply love? Transcript here

Welcome back to a new season! Here, I shine a light on the top three listened to episodes of ALL TIME! Want a sneak peak? Okay! Ep. 46 Solito by Javier Zamora, Ep. 1 Unsettled by Reem Faruqi, and Ep. 6 T his Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda Transcript here

Inspired by a true story in the 1970s. A group of high school girls just wanted to play basketball, like the boys. There is no funding and no fans in the stands, no uniforms, no coach at first, and no bus for their away games. With plenty of determination, the "Lady Bears" show how a small group of young people can make a big difference. Transcript here

In Whale Eyes , author James Robinson and illustrator Brian Rea collaborate to provide readers with an interactive experience--inviting them to experience how James’ "Whale Eyes" work. Robinson empowers readers to appreciate the impact of words, helps them confront the discomfort of recognizing disability, and ultimately fosters meaningful human connections.

A prime suspect for burning down the house of a long-time bully, Ezra find comfort in learning his Ojibwe ancestral traditions of hunting and trapping in the wilderness. There is plenty of action, mystery, and suspense to keep YA readers turning pages. Transcript here

Discover a simple, special method to recommend books that requires NO time on your part while making a significant impact on readers' next book choices! Transcript here Spark Creativity Podcast interview with Betsy and Spark Creativity on Instagram Current top pick for a novel in verse: Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi podcast

It's 1913. Teen Matilda Young wonders if she's brave enough to join the many suffragists fighting for something so simple: women's right to vote in the U.S. The work is difficult, exhausting, and exhilarating. While we know the final outcome (ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920), Matilda serves as a reminder: take action for what matters. Transcript here

8th grader Ajay is navigating being the only Sri Lankan in his new community. He has numerous family rules to uphold, and now he's stolen a candy bar that makes him a millionaire. He has to tell one lie after another in attempts to not disappoint his parents, deal with a bully, make friends, and possibly claim the life-changing prize money. Transcript here

7th grader Vale is THE best athlete in her gym. After a devastating accident, Vale is determined to come back stronger than ever as she strives to realize her dream of being a pro international fencer. Transcript here

Surrounded by her supportive family, ten-year old Cooper is growing up in 1963, a time marked by the Civil Rights Movement. She's dealing with issues close to home like a bully and racism plus tragic events in the U.S. like JFK's assassination and the bombing at a Black church in Alabama. Cooper's story resonates with the past and the present. 

On 13 year old Sage's birthday, her best friend was hit and killed by a speeding driver as she crossed the street. . . on her way to Sage's. Now, Sage is filled with grief and guilt. This emotionally resonant novel, written in verse, is an honest and raw telling of living with the rollercoaster of grief. Transcript here

In this middle grade graphic memoir, Jay Jay has grown up with an incarcerated dad, and now he's home. Dad is a program developer and wants to use technology to connect kids with incarcerated parents. When stumped by a programming problem, he turns to his brilliant, math loving daughter, Jay Jay, for help. Transcript here