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Welcome to Reading in the Middle, where we explore the stories that help kids understand themselves and the world around them. I’m your host, Annisha Jeffries.
Today’s episode centers on a book that speaks directly to children who feel different, unheard, or unsure where they belong. Jonathan Del Arco and Trisha DiFazio join me to talk about Freddy the Alien.
Inspired by Jonathan’s experience immigrating from Uruguay to New York City, Freddy the Alien follows a young boy who feels like an outsider in a new country, a new school, and a new language. Trisha brings her background as an educator to the story, grounding Freddy’s experience in what many multilingual learners face—especially the quiet, often misunderstood “silent period” of language acquisition.
Together, Jonathan and Trisha have created a story about identity, patience, empathy, and the power of adults who truly see and support children as they find their footing.
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I’m your host, Annisha Jeffries, and today’s guest is one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary literature. Angie Thomas’s debut novel, The Hate U Give, not only debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list, but also received significant recognition from the American Library Association — including the William C. Morris Award for a standout debut, and honors such as the Michael L. Printz and Coretta Scott King Honors for its literary achievement and cultural impact.
Her novels have won Goodreads Choice Awards, been adapted into major films, and become classroom staples — all while giving voice to young people worldwide. Today, I start with Angie’s newest work for middle-grade readers — the Nic Blake and the Remarkables series, including The Manifestor Prophecy and The Book of Anansi — before exploring how her YA work continues to influence readers of all ages.
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In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries talks with Lance Rubin, author of the brilliant new middle-grade novel Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend, a hilarious, relatable story about a kid who’s terrible at making friends but finds himself knee-deep in high-tech chaos and real-world feelings.
Lance and Annisha dive into Zed’s world from MonoTown’s quirky tech to the ups and downs of middle-school friendships and explore how humor and heart can reveal big truths about connection, identity, and growing up. You’ll also get some fun lightning-round moments that are as unpredictable as a tech-savvy friendship app.
Lance’s middle-grade work includes Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend and Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan, books full of quirky characters and big laughs that middle-grade readers love. Find more about Lance and his books at lancerubin.com.
Whether you’re a reader, a teacher, a parent, or just someone who’s ever wondered what it means to make a friend, this conversation is packed with insight, laughter, and the kind of awkward honesty only middle grade can deliver.
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In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries sits down with poet, mentor, and author Rian N. Jenkins to talk about her debut middle-grade novel Reverse (Book One) — a story that captures friendship, family, and the first sparks of love between two kids who’ve known each other their entire lives.
Rian shares how she weaves poetry into fiction, what inspired Monica and Donovan’s story, and how Reverse reflects the courage it takes to grow up, make mistakes, and come home to yourself.
And yes, she gives us a hint about Book Two.
✨Honest. Funny. Heartfelt. This conversation is for anyone who remembers the moment when friendship started to mean something more.
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In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries sits down with poet, mentor, and author Rian N. Jenkins to talk about her debut middle-grade novel Reverse (Book One), a story that captures friendship, family, and the first sparks of love between two kids who’ve known each other their entire lives.
Rian shares how she weaves poetry into fiction, what inspired Monica and Donovan’s story, and how Reverse reflects the courage it takes to grow up, make mistakes, and come home to yourself.
And yes, she gives us a hint about Book Two.
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Step backstage with us on this episode of Reading in the Middle as I welcome Lindsay Champion, lifelong theater geek, NYU Tisch graduate, former Features Editor at Broadway.com, and the author behind the middle-grade series Cast vs. Crew: Setting the Stage and the YA novel Someday, Somewhere.
Lindsay made her onstage debut as a tiger in her second-grade musical… and never left the theater world behind. She’s built sets, run the light board, operated the spotlight, and her favorite- stage-managed. Her deep love for behind-the-scenes magic shines through every page of Setting the Stage, the first book in a trilogy that celebrates the kids who make the show happen.
In this episode, we talk about:
🎭 What inspired her unforgettable cast of backstage kids
🎭 Why middle school is the perfect place for stories about belonging
🎭 The delicate art of writing friendship, conflict, and courage
🎭 Behind-the-scenes secrets from her own theater days
🎭 What readers can expect from Tech Week (coming 2026)
Whether you’re a theater kid, a book lover, a librarian, or an educator looking for your next great read-aloud, this conversation is full of heart, humor, and backstage brilliance.
Tune in, the curtain is rising. 🎙️✨
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Join host Annisha Jeffries on Reading in the Middle for a candid conversation with Carolyn Leiloglou, award-winning author of the middle-grade fantasy trilogy Beneath the Swirling Sky, Between Flowers and Bones, and the brand-new release Beyond the Far Horizon.
In this episode, we cover:
📖 The inspiration behind the Restorationists universe
🎨 How Carolyn’s background in art and a creative family life shaped her storytelling
🧠 Behind-the-scenes of crafting middle-grade fantasy that loops in adventure, heart, and meaning
📚 What to expect from Beyond the Far Horizon
💡 Tips for librarians, educators, and readers engaging with her work
Want to dive deeper? Visit Carolyn’s website for author news, teaching guides, and book-club resources: www.carolynleiloglou.com
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Today on Reading in the Middle, we hop into imagination, wonder, and the tiniest big emotions with Oscar-winning filmmaker and author Alan Barillaro, whose newest book Bunns Rabbit is a quiet, luminous triumph.
In this conversation, we explore:
🌱 How Bunns Rabbit grew from a spark of curiosity into a tender, emotionally rich story
✏️ How Alan blends animation, storytelling, and the smallest gestures to capture big feelings
🐇 Why rabbits, shadows, silence, and courage matter so much in his work
🎬 What he brings from his years at Pixar into writing for children
💡 How he approaches creating picture books that feel like soft lanterns in a noisy world
This episode is for librarians, educators, families, and every young reader who has ever felt a little unsure—but took a brave step anyway.
Curl up with us, grab Bunns Rabbit, and let’s talk about how stories help us find our way.
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Join host Annisha Jeffries talks with author-musician Garrett Ryan Oyama about his beautifully crafted picture book, Rumi and the Ocean of Awe. In this episode, we explore how wonder and awe find their way into stories, why an underwater fable can speak to middle-grade readers and adults alike, and how
Garrett’s background in music and language shapes his creative voice.
Plus: Garrett is also a musician; his companion album “Rumi” brings an auditory dimension to this story and pairs perfectly with the book.
► Listen to the album here: Rumi – Garrett Ryan Oyama
Whether you’re a librarian planning a storytime, a teacher searching for an engaging read-aloud, or a reader who loves to dive into meaning, this episode will leave you thinking about what awe really means and how we rediscover it in our busy world.
Don’t forget to subscribe, share with your fellow book-lovers, and join us for more in the middle.
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Get ready to go into a world of mayhem, imagination, and unapologetic weirdness with New York Times Bestselling author Michael Buckley (yes, the mind behind The Sisters Grimm and N.E.R.D.S.). His newest middle-grade novel, The Weirdies, introduces ten-year-old triplets Barnacle, Melancholy, and Garlic, whose eccentric lives take a wild turn when they’re accidentally abandoned by their parents and sent to an orphanage that’s nothing like you’ve ever seen, especially when the kids themselves are very weird.
In this episode, we talk with Michael about:
• Where those wonderfully odd ideas come from
• How he builds characters & worlds kids can’t resist
• Why weird-and-wonderful stories matter in middle-grade
And how The Weirdies pushes the edge of his storytelling
This is a must-listen for librarians, teachers, story-lovers, and any middle-grader who’s ever felt like the odd one out (or gloriously so). So press play, grab your favorite reading nook, and let’s jump into the wonderfully weird.
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When aliens invade and toilet paper starts to move on its own, you know it’s going to be a wild read! In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries chats with author Kevin Garone about his laugh-out-loud and delightfully spooky Alien Survival Guide series, including I Know What UFO Did Last Summer and Night of the Living Toilet Paper.
Kevin shares how he turns everyday objects into out-of-this-world adventures, what makes middle-grade humor work, and why a little weirdness can get kids reading.
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Tune into Reading in the Middle as I chat with Kate DiCamillo, a New York Times bestselling author, two-time Newbery Medal winner, and Newbery Honor recipient, whose classic Because of Winn-Dixie marks its 25th anniversary. We discuss her latest novel, The Lost Evangeline (Book Three of the “Norendy Tales” trilogy), beautifully illustrated by Sophie Blackall, a two-time Caldecott Medalist.
🎧 Now available. Subscribe now to listen and share!
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Get ready to fold, flap, and roar! 📚 Join host Annisha Jeffries for a lively chat with Tom Angleberger — creator of the iconic Origami Yoda series, the wildly imaginative Two-Headed Chicken: Chaos in the Cosmic Library, and the poetic dinosaur debut Dino Poet.
Tom has sent middle-grade readers on insane multiverse adventures, unexpected poetry journeys, and laugh-out-loud creative breaks — and this episode uncovers his process, humor, and heart.
Also featured: his collaboration with award-winning graphic novelist and illustrator Cece Bell (El Deafo) and how two powerhouse creators join forces to make magic for readers of all ages.
If you're a student, teacher, librarian—or just someone who loves a fantastic middle-grade story—this episode is packed with ideas, laughs, and inspiration. There’s always room in the middle for another story.
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Newbery Medalist Meg Medina joins Reading in the Middle to talk about courage, culture, and her latest novel, Graciela in the Abyss. From Merci Suárez Changes Gears to sea-deep fantasy, Meg shares how stories help readers find their light and build empathy.
Hear Meg reflect on balancing humor and heart, writing girls who speak their truth, and why she believes every reader carries their own light even in the deepest waters.
Listen if you love: stories that celebrate identity, family, and friendship; interviews that feel like coffee with your favorite librarian; and conversations that meet you right in the middle.
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What if changing the way words look on the page could change the way kids feel about reading?
In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries sits down with Sarah K. Blodgett, founder and CEO of Noah Text, an innovative reading format designed to make reading easier, more accessible, and more joyful, especially for those who struggle with dyslexia or reading fluency.
Sarah shares the story behind Noah Text, the inspiration that sparked her idea, and how she’s helping readers everywhere discover that reading doesn’t have to be painful; it can be empowering.
Listen in for a conversation about literacy, innovation, and hope for the next generation of readers.
Learn more: noahtext.com
🎧 Reading in the Middle — hosted by Annisha Jeffries
#ReadingInTheMiddle #NoahText #LiteracyInnovation #AnnishaJeffries #DyslexiaAwareness #MiddleGradeReaders #PodcastForEducators #InclusiveReading
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Page Count Podcast is celebrating its 100th episode!
In this Bonus Episode!
I had the pleasure of being a special guest—alongside one very opinionated and charming toucan named Sammy—for a lively conversation about puppets, children’s literature, libraries, and (of course) the eternal cat vs. dog debate.
In this milestone episode, Page Count partnered with the Indiana Center for the Book to feature Sammy, a corduroy puppet and veteran interviewer who has spent more than a decade chatting with Indiana authors. Sammy is sassy, smart, and surprisingly philosophical about the nature of puppets—and I was thrilled to join the discussion from the Cleveland Public Library to talk about my love of cats, why puppets are powerful tools for young readers, and how picture books like Bill Cotter’s Don’t Push the Button! can spark joy and curiosity.
It’s a celebration of storytelling, reading, and a little bird who refuses to stay in his drawer!
🎧 Listen to “Escaping the Drawer with Sammy and Annisha” here:
👉 https://cpl.org/podcast-episode/escaping-the-drawer-with-sammy-and-annisha/
Congratulations to Laura Maylene Walter and the Page Count team for reaching this incredible milestone of 100 episodes of sharing Ohio’s literary voices with the world!
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What is it like growing up as the only girl in a house full of five brothers? In this episode of Reading in the Middle, I sit down with Beth York to talk about her new memoir, Growing Up Beth (illustrated by Ana Latese), launching October 21, 2025. We dive into stories of sibling chaos, finding your own voice in the noise, and the moments — big and small — that shape us.
In This Episode You’ll Hear:
A hilarious and heartfelt portrait of childhood in a loud, loving family
How Beth navigated identity, confidence, and belonging
The adults and moments that offered unexpected encouragement
Why telling your own story can be an act of courage
Links & Resources:
🎯 Preorder Growing Up Beth (ill. Ana Latese) — releasing October 21, 2025
🎙️ More from Reading in the Middle — @reading_in_the_middle
💬 Stay in touch:
Press play, share with someone who’s ever felt lost in the shuffle, and join us in celebrating the messy, vibrant journey of growing up.
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Beloved author Karina Yan Glaser (The Vanderbeekers, A Duet for Home) returns with a breathtaking new story: The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli. Set across ancient China and Depression-era New York’s Chinatown, the novel blends history and fantasy in a moving tale about family, survival, and the courage to face the unknown.
Host Annisha Jeffries talks to Karina about her creative process, her first experience writing historical fiction, and why middle grade remains a space where magic, history, and heart collide.
Shownotes
A conversation with Karina Yan Glaser about her newest novel
The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli at the crossroads of history and fantasy
How Karina balances cultural depth with kid-friendly storytelling
The themes of resilience, belonging, and imagination that drive her work
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