I'm back, baby!

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After more than four years of not recording a new episode, I finally have the time (I hope) to start releasing episodes on a regular basis. So much has changed in my life in the last four years, but my love of middle grade stories remains the same. This episode focuses on books about social activism. Here is the modified transcript:

Show intro

Welcome to another episode of Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights and celebrates fabulous middle grade stories. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, a former 6th grade reading teacher and elementary librarian who’s currently working toward a Master’s in Children’s Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children at Simmons University in Boston, MA. I have been obsessed with children’s books since I was a kid and absolutely love recommending them to readers of all ages. I’m that person who eavesdrops on families in libraries and bookstores and then offers unsolicited advice on which books to take home.


For those of you joining me for the first time, each episode is formatted the same way. I summarize a
handful of books that fit a theme and read a short excerpt from each one so you get a sense of the characters’ voices and storyline. While I truly believe middle grade books can be enjoyed by people of all ages, they are generally thought of as a good fit for 8- to 12-year-old readers, although some books do skew younger, while others are classified as older middle grade because of mature themes. Not every book on this podcast will be appropriate for every reader, and occasionally I may recommend chapter books or young adult books that fit the episode’s theme. Now that you know what you’ve gotten yourself into, let’s get started!

“Amplify,” a reverso poem by Lindsay H. Metcalf from No Voice Too Small

I thought Metcalf’s poem was the perfect way to open this episode, since it spotlights five middle grade books

about young people challenging social structures and working toward change in their communities. A ton of middle grade

stories about activism have been published in the last few years, so the ones I feature are just a taste of what’s available

at your local library and bookstore. 

A Good Kind of Trouble

Our first book is A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée, published by Balzer + Bray in 2019. Here’s the summary from the dust jacket:

I’m going to share chapter 7 with you since its events spark Shayla’s interest in social activism.

Dress Coded

Our next book is Carrie Firestone’s Dress Coded, published in 2020 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. You can

probably guess from the title that it’s about challenging school dress code policy. The format of this book

is really interesting because it weaves together interviews, lists, texts, letters, and regular narration. The

chapters are generally short, which tricks you into thinking you have time for just one more section…or two

more….or maybe three more. I’ll share the book’s summary and then read a few different sections from the

beginning of Dress Coded so you get a sense of Firestone’s approach to the story.

Take Back the Block

Our third book centers around the effects of gentrification, particularly on communities of color.

Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles was published by Random House in 2021 and tells the story

of Wes Henderson, who, much to his surprise, becomes an activist when his neighborhood is threatened

by development. The book’s summary reads as follows:

And here’s chapter five, where Wes and his friends find out about the development deal.

Turn the Tide

Released by Clarion in 2022, Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulos is a novel in verse about

environmental activism. Here’s the summary:

Since Turn the Tide is written in verse, I’ll read a selection of poems that provide insight into the

inspiration behind Mimi’s crusade to ban plastic bags in her town.

Small Town Pride

The last book I’ll spotlight is Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper, which was published by Harper  in 2022. The book cover summary reads:

Much like Shayla in A Good Kind of Trouble , Jake is more interested in surviving middle school and

spending time with his friends than he is in making waves, until something happens to shift his perspective.

I chose to share part of chapter 7 since it sets the scene for Jake’s newfound commitment to transforming

his community into a place where everyone feels accepted. 

I hope you are as inspired as I am after hearing about these wonderful middle grade books. As I mentioned

at the start of this episode, there are tons of other great titles out there about kids and social activism, so

you are bound to find a couple stories that focus on whatever you’re passionate about.

Outro

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Happy Reading podcast. I hope you discovered some new books that you are excited to read or that you were reminded of some that have been hanging out on your TBR stack. If you know of other wonderful middle grade books that fit this episode’s theme, I’d love to hear about them. You can find me on Twitter as Wordnerd153 and on Instagram as Kidlit_Lover. You can also message me through the Happy Reading website at happyrdng.blogspot.com. If you enjoy this podcast and want to help other people discover it, please take a moment to rate and review it on Apple Podcasts. Thanks again for spending some time with me. Until next time, happy reading!

Exciting news!

 The Happy Reading podcast has morphed into the Happy Reading channel on YouTube where I will share videos of myself reading a bit from fabulous middle grade books, with the occasional early reader and YA books thrown in. Check it out here: Happy Reading Channel 

Four Recent Reads

Four Fabulous Middle Grade Titles

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Welcome to another episode of Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights excellent middle grade fiction. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, an elementary school library, former 6th grade reading teacher, and self-proclaimed book nerd. In the previous seasons I chose a theme for each episode, but this season I am going to share books with you that I straight up love. Three of the books I’ll read from today are ones that I tore through in the last two weeks; I didn’t want to put them down. The other book is one I read a few months ago and can’t get out of my head. So, without further ado, here are four fabulous books aimed at readers ages 8 to 12.

The Unteachables by Gordon Korman

The Unteachables, Gordon Korman’s latest novel, might be my favorite of his, which is saying a lot because I adore his books. It’s the story of one burnt out middle school teacher named Mr. Kermit and a class of seven eighth graders who have been labeled ‘unteachable’ by previous teachers, administrators and other students. Kiana is the newest addition to the class, but she isn’t actually supposed to be there. In fact, she isn’t even enrolled at the school! Mr. Kermit is so checked out that he doesn’t realize Kiana isn’t one of his students. He never checks the roster and doesn’t bother to learn anyone’s name. Then something happens during Spirit Week that changes the teacher’s opinion of his class and the shift will affect not just the unteachables, but the entire school. Told from multiple perspectives, this funny and fast-paced story will have fans of realistic fiction laughing out loud and cheering for this group of forgotten kids. Here’s part of a chapter written from Parker’s point of view.

Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy

I tore through the next book in about 24 hours; it is intensely honest and heartbreaking, but also manages to feel hopeful. Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy is the journal of Riley, a 12-year old who has just checked in to a residential treatment program for eating disorders. For the last year she has been eating as little as possible and running everyday in order to lose weight and avoid taunts from her classmates about her size. Anorexia has enabled Riley to meet her goal, but at a terrible price. She is hungry all the time, she can’t concentrate, she skips social events because she’s terrified of eating, and she’s lost her parents’ trust. Will Riley commit herself to healing and fully participate in the program or will she relapse into her old habits until she loses everything that matters? Here’s an excerpt from Riley’s second day in the program.

The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods

My favorite part about the next book is the narrator’s voice, which is funny, introspective and oh-so southern. The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA is a historical fiction story that takes place in a small South Carolina town in the early 1940s. Gabriel Haberlin receives a brand new Schwinn Autocycle Deluxe for his twelfth birthday and can’t wait to show off his new wheels to his best friend. What he doesn’t  expect is almost being run down by Mrs. Babcock’s yellow Buick Roadmaster and having a stranger save his life, which leads to an unexpected friendship with Meriweather Hunter, an African American man who served in the army’s all-Black 761st Tank Battalion in World War II. Over the course of a few weeks Gabriel’s eyes are opened to the racial inequality that is rampant in the south at the time and he starts to question societal norms and expectations. Here is chapter two of this fast-paced and thoughtful story.

after zero by Christina Collins

Growing up, I didn’t talk much at school. Well, at least not during classes. I’m pretty sure every teacher wrote something like “Sarah needs to participate more” on every progress report I ever received in middle and high school. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say; rather, my brain took awhile to sort through everyone else’s comments and then figure out what I wanted to contribute and by the time that happened the conversation had already moved on to a different topic. In after zero by Christina Collins, Elise is so nervous to speak up at school that she actually makes a tally mark in her notebook for every word she speaks out loud. The best days are when she doesn’t make a single mark in her notebook. What happened to make Elise choose silence over personal connection and what happens if she goes so long without talking that no words come out of her mouth when she finally has something important to say? This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I never quite knew if I could believe Elise’s version of the truth. I have recommended this to several 5th graders and all of them said the same thing - they couldn’t put it down. Here’s an excerpt from chapter one.

Well, middle grade fans, that wraps up another episode of Happy Reading. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to celebrate some truly marvelous books with me. I hope you discovered something new that you are dying to read. If you enjoy this podcast and want to help spread the word, it would be amazing if you left a review on iTunes. I would love to know which middle grade titles you are currently enjoying! You can always find me on twitter as WordNerd153 and contact me through my website at happyrdng.blogspot.com. Whatever else you do today, I hope you get to spend time with a good book. Until next time, Happy Reading!

Happy 2019!

Season 3, Episode 1 - Recent 5-Star Reads

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Welcome to Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights fabulous middle grade fiction. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, a K-5 librarian outside of Seattle and a former 6th grade reading teacher. Middle grade is, hands down, my favorite type of book to read and it is a privilege to geek out with you. Whether you’ve listened to every episode or this is your first time, I really appreciate you devoting a chunk of your day to finding out about books aimed at kids ages 8 through 12.

The previous two seasons I chose a theme for each episode and talked up titles that fit the theme. Between working full-time, raising a toddler, and trying to be a responsible adult (which is highly overrated), I’m finding it pretty challenging to produce this podcast as often as I’d like, so I am going to try something new. Yes, I know change can be painful and terrifying, but I think it will be good for us. Instead of picking a theme for each episode, I am simply going to tell you about books that make me happy or deserve some attention and then read excerpts from them. I hope you enjoy the new format and that I end up releasing new episodes more than once every three months. So, without further ado, here are four books I read in the last month that earned 5-star reviews.

Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard

Sometimes procrastination pays off. I put off writing this episode for so long that I managed to read another incredible book to spotlight. I finished Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard last night after staying up way past my usual bedtime. This is a beautifully-written, complex realistic fiction novel about grief, family, friendship, and finding strength in unexpected places. Rain has recently moved to New York City from a small town in Vermont because her family needs a fresh start after a tragic accident. Despite there being only a handful of days left in the school year, Rain is forced to enroll in 6th grade, where she sticks out like a sore thumb among Spanish speaking city kids, none of whom are white. Through running, poetry, and community service, Rain starts to feel more at home, but will she ever move past the secret she’s been hiding for almost a year? This book doesn’t come out until February of 2019, but I highly suggest you pre-order it or put a library hold on it immediately. Here’s an excerpt from Right as Rain.

Pages 20-21

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

When she was eight, Lucy was struck by lightning. As a result, she is a math savant who struggles with anxiety and social interactions, so she has been homeschooled by her grandmother for the past four years. But that is about to change. Lucy is attending 7th grade at a public school and she is less than thrilled about it; she’d much rather enroll in college. If Lucy can survive an entire school year, make at least one true friend, and join one school activity, her grandmother will rethink the situation. Will Lucy survive or will she be stuck eating lunch in the bathroom while counting down the minutes until summer vacation? This book is funny, thought-provoking, and full of authentic and entertaining characters. It made me laugh out loud and cry my eyes out. Here’s chapter four, Lucy’s first day of 7th grade.

Pages 24-30

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

If you love books (and I bet you do since you are listening to this podcast), you are going to adore Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes. June is a library-loving, rule-following, book-devouring middle schooler who has never gotten in trouble, but when her dad confiscates a fantasy book that she’s reading because he deems it to be too scary, June thinks it may be time to push back against the rules. Before she knows it books are being weeded willy-nilly from the school library and the incredible librarian is placed on leave, all because a group of parents are appalled by some of the titles on the shelves. As if Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is going to turn kids into murderers. Sheesh. When June stumbles upon a Little Free Library she has an epiphany - maybe she can supply her classmates with banned books on the down low. In no time at all books that are supposed to be off limits are being passed from student to student, but how long can they get away with such anarchy? Much like Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, Property of the Rebel Librarian will have readers cheering on the protagonist’s budding librarianship and shaking their fists at the idiotic adults who are terrified when young people think for themselves. Here’s an excerpt from chapter 3 when June comes home to a terrible surprise from her parents.

Pages 29-31

It Wasn’t Me by Dana Alison Levy

Six middle schoolers, two acts of vandalism, one week spent in a Justice Circle trying to get to the truth. When Theo’s self-portraits are defaced and his pinhole cameras are trashed, the school principal wants to suspend the five students who were found at the scene, but Ms. Lewiston convinces her to try something different - have the five kids and Theo meet in her classroom over Spring Break to repair the damage that has been done and build trust amongst the classmates. Through daily reflection sheets filled out by each participant, as well as traditional prose, readers learn bits and pieces about each character and how they are involved in the destruction of Theo’s artwork. Clues about the truth are dropped like breadcrumbs, until everything clicks into place. Much like John Hughes’ masterpiece The Breakfast Club, It Wasn’t Me explores concepts of truth, forgiveness, judgement and friendship between people who have more in common than they realize. This is a brilliant portrayal of middle school life that tweens won’t want to put down. Here is each student’s answer to the first reflection question on the first day of the Justice Circle.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about these marvelous middle grade titles and that you pick up one or all of them in the near future. I’d love to know what you have read lately that you couldn’t put down. You can find me on Twitter as WordNerd153 and you can message me through my website, www.happyrdng.blogspot.com, where you can also find a transcript of every episode. Until next time, happy reading!

You say 'Yes," I say 'No'...

Episode 6 - Multiple Perspectives
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Italian journalist Oriana Falacci is quoted as saying “There are three points of view to everything - yours, mine, and the truth.” As an educator, I am constantly reminded that the way I see the world isn’t everyone’s reality. One student’s experience in the library, classroom, hallway or lunchroom can be completely different from what I witness and believe to be true. In most books, readers are privy to only one perspective, usually that of the protagonist. Thankfully, several middle grade authors have taken on the challenge of writing stories from multiple points of view. I’m going share four of them with you today.

Welcome to Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights wonderful novels aimed at 8-12 year-olds that center around a common theme. I’m your host, Sarah Threlkeld, an elementary librarian, former 6th grade reading teacher, and someone who occasionally needs a gentle reminder to consider other people’s view of the world before jumping to conclusions. Ever since I read Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen (which I happened to gush about in episode 9 of the podcast’s first season), I have been drawn to books written from multiple perspectives. Here are four more titles I adore and I hope you will too.

Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison

Not only is our first book written from two different perspectives and by two different authors, it is also written in two different styles. In Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison, Sierra’s story is told in verse while Lauren’s is told in traditional prose. Using alternating styles of writing was a brilliant move since it clearly distinguishes the two characters and reflects their personalities.  Lauren lives a privileged life and has never wanted for anything, yet she feels unfulfilled. Sierra and her mother struggle to make ends meet, yet she is happy and grateful for the love and support she feels. When Sierra’s mom ends up in jail, Sierra moves in with a foster family that lives across the street from Lauren and the two girls slowly form a friendship that will challenge and change them. Here are three poems written from Sierra’s perspective and part of a chapter from Lauren’s point of view.

The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea

High-stakes testing has been controversial for decades, but in recent years it seems like students are starting to question the need for and validity of these state-mandated tests, which is wonderful to witness. What happens when young people push back against testing? Who is helped and who is harmed? What are the consequences? These questions are explored in The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea, author if the Mr. Terupt series and master of writing middle grade books from multiple perspectives. In The Perfect Score five very different middle schoolers  band together to push back against a system that to them seems unnecessary and even harmful. Will they succeed in changing their school’s approach to testing? Will their carefully crafted plan be a success or will they be punished with never ending detention? Here’s the first chapter of this thought-provoking novel that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick

As a child of divorce, I know how difficult it can be for kids and parents to work through the pain, confusion and guilt that often results from familial separation. It is especially challenging to move forward and accept that your mom or dad will probably start dating and may even remarry. Oh, the horror! As you can probably tell from the title, Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick, is about two girls named Naomi, both of whom have divorced parents. They end up meeting when Naomi Marie’s mom and Naomi Edith’s dad start to get serious about their relationship. Despite having a lot in common, the girls are not interested in becoming friends and struggle to work together on a video game project for a class their parents forced them to enroll in. Will the two Naomis ever get along or will they chip away at their mom and dad’s newfound love until no one is happy? You’ll have to read the book to find out. Here are excerpts from each girl’s perspective that will give you insight into their different personalities and views of the world.

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy

My husband and I have one child and feel like life is pretty crazy, so I can’t imagine having four kids, let alone four rambunctious, active, outspoken boys like the two dads do in The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy. Ranging in age from six to twelve, the Fletcher boys are looking forward to a new school year, especially Frog who is starting Kindergarten. As the weeks pass, however, it is clear that the year is not going according to plan. From a grouchy new neighbor to a disastrous camping trip to a Halloween party that doesn’t go as expected, life is never dull in the Fletcher house and that’s exactly what makes this book so much fun to read. The characters are interesting and entertaining, and readers will easily relate to the various everyday challenges of being a family. The different voices of the four boys are well-written and, thanks to chapters written from each character’s perspective, it is easy to keep track of each person’s storyline. The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher is the perfect book for upper elementary readers who enjoy realistic fiction stories and crave diverse characters. The first chapter is written in third person, which will give you a sense of each family member’s personality.

There you have it, four fabulous middle grade novels written from many different  points of view. If you are looking for some amazing picture books that explore the idea of different perspectives I highly recommend Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel. If YA is more your thing you can’t go wrong with the books that David Levithan has co-written with other beloved authors. If you know of other middle grade titles that fit this episode’s theme I would love to hear about them. You can always contact me through my website, happyrdng.blogspot.com, and find me on Twitter as WordNerd153. Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to celebrate middle grade fiction with me. Until next time, happy reading!