Rooted in the belief that our world needs the magic of children’s literature now more than ever, the Reader’s Heart podcast captures conversations with authors and illustrators about children’s literature as a vehicle for empathy and joy in a dark world.
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Rooted in the belief that our world needs the magic of children’s literature now more than ever, the Reader’s Heart podcast captures conversations with authors and illustrators about children’s literature as a vehicle for empathy and joy in a dark world.
Summary
In this conversation, Jennifer and chat's with Paula Yoo about her love for writing narrative non-fiction and how her background in journalism influences her work. They also explore the power of literature for young people in shaping their hearts and understanding the world. Paula shares her experience as a reader, starting with her childhood love for Charlotte's Web and how it influenced her writing style. They discuss the importance of tackling tough topics in books for young people and the need for nuance and context in storytelling. Paula also talks about her latest book, Rising from the Ashes, which explores the 1992 LA uprising, and the importance of amplifying lesser-known stories and challenging stereotypes in media coverage.
Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing Paula's books from Bookelicious, can be found here.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Paula's Writing Journey
04:42 Charlotte's Web and the Influence of Setting
08:19 Tackling Tough Topics in Books for Young People
15:02 The Importance of Nuance and Context in Storytelling
26:34 Protesting Unfair Media Coverage
28:52 The Power of Collective Action
33:01 Exploring 'Han'
36:32 Emotional Journeys: Han, Hwa, and Jung
45:18 Future Projects
The Reader’s Heart Podcast
Rooted in the belief that our world needs the magic of children’s literature now more than ever, the Reader’s Heart podcast captures conversations with authors and illustrators about children’s literature as a vehicle for empathy and joy in a dark world.
