The Eagle has landed! Check out these middle grade spy books.

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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 just earned my Master’s degree in Children’s Literature from 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!

Music

(Mission Impossible theme song vocalization) Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to listen to excerpts from four middle grade novels about young spies. This podcast will not self-destruct at any point, so do not panic. 

Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire: A Recipe for Trouble

A Recipe for Trouble, the first book in Sarah Todd Taylor’s Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire series, was published by Nosy Crow in 2022. I picked it up on a recent trip to Dublin, Ireland, so  it might not be easy to track down in the states. The summary on the back reads:

You can see why I had to smuggle this baking-centric book back into Boston. I mean, how could I resist a line like “Armed with her whisk”? I’m going to read ch. 3 where Alice has just been challenged by her uncle, a spy for the British government, to help him complete a mission on the Sapphire Express, an opulent train that caters to wealthy clientele.

City Spies

Once in a while a series comes along where each book is just as captivating as the first. The characters continue to evolve authentically, the plotlines don’t feel stale or convoluted, and it’s obvious that the author has a stake in each story. Such is the case with James Ponti’s City Spies series. The first title in the series was released in 2020 by Aladdin and since then three more books in the series have been published, with each one narrated by a different young MI6 agent. Here’s the summary from City Spies, the first book in the series:

I’m going to share part of ch. 2, jumping in where Sara decides to trust Mother during her court appearance.

N.E.R.D.S.

Our next book is one I used to read aloud when I taught 6th grade and it was always a big hit with my students. N.E.R.D.S., which stands for National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society is the first book in a series by Michael Buckley. It came out in 2009 from Amulet Books, which makes me feel very old. Similar to City Spies, N.E.R.D.S. relies on the premise that kids make excellent spies because adults constantly underestimate and ignore them. Packed with quirky, endearing characters and tons of humor, N.E.R.D.S. is great for readers who enjoy their action with a large side of comedy. Here’s the flap summary:

You probably noticed the narrator speaks right to the reader, which is another fun aspect of this book. I’m going to read the intro, which sets up the story, and then read the prologue, which will definitely pique your interest and have you dying to know what happened with Greenland.

Undercover Latina

Our last book is Undercover Latina, written by Aya De León and published by Candlewick Press in 2022. This upper middle grade book was on display at one of my local libraries last year and I am so happy a librarian decided to highlight it because I might not have discovered it otherwise. I  absolutely loved the narrator’s voice, the concept of a spy family, and the commentary on racism in the United States. The summary reads: 

Oh my gosh, this book is so good! Since the first chapter is fairly long, I’m going to start us at a natural break where Andréa fills the reader in on how she got into the family business.

Read pp. 10-15

Show outro

Well, there you have it. Four middle grade stories about spies that will have you on the edge of your seat and digging out your secret decoder ring and binoculars so you can check on your neighbor’s suspicious behavior. 

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!

Let's get baking!

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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 from 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!

Transition music

Fudgy brownies stuffed with Andes mints. Golden snickerdoodles. Giant chocolate chip cookies. Triple chocolate cake. Chocolate peanut butter cheesecake. These are just a few of the treats you'll find in my house on a fairly regular basis. I grew up baking with my mom and have continued the tradition with my daughter, who often joins me in the kitchen for weekly bakes. In an alternate life I would love to own a combination bakery and children’s bookshop so I could be surrounded by two of my favorite things and share them with the world. For now, I’ll share some of my favorite bakery-themed middle grade books with you instead. I hope this episode leaves you craving a few new books and a tasty treat or two. 

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

Janae Marks’s debut novel, From the Desk of Zoe Washington, published by Katherine Tegen Books in 2020, centers around Zoe, a twelve-year old baking-obsessed kid living in Boston whose world turns upside down when she receives a letter from her father, a man she has never met because he has been in prison her entire life. I mean, how could you not want to read this after a description like that? Here are more details from the book’s summary: (read from book)

I’m going to share chapter one with you because it sets up the story so perfectly.

The Great Peach Experiment: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie

Published in 2021 by Pixel and Ink, Erin Soderberg Downing’s When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie is the first title in The Great Peach Experiment series, which chronicles the lives of the very endearing Peach family. The summary reads: (read from book)

Truth be told, I am not a fan of fruit pie, but this book left me reconsidering my stance and had me dreaming about starting a food truck that only sells cookies. Here’s chapter one:

Summer of a Thousand Pies

I’m not sure how many pies the Peach family ended up baking, but I’m guessing they came close to a thousand, which is Cady Bennett’s goal in Summer of a Thousand Pies, a beautiful story of self-discovery, newfound friendship, and complicated families written by Margaret Dilloway and  published by Balzer and Bray in 2019. Here’s the book’s summary: (read from book)

I thought I’d share chapter four with you since this is when Cady learns about her Aunt’s pie shop.

Recipe for Disaster

Aimee Lucido’s 2021 release from Versify, Recipe for Disaster, explores the intersection between religion and baking, which is interesting in itself, but what makes the book especially unique is the way it blends together three different formats. The majority of the story is written in prose, but recipes and free verse poems are sprinkled throughout, giving the reader a level of insight into the main character’s life that she may not usually get. The summary from the flap reads as follows: (read from book)

I’m going to share two sections that are separated by a piecrust recipe, which I won’t read because it’s just really awkward to read aloud a recipe. The first section is called “The Big Book of What’s Cooking” and the second section is titled “Pretty Please Pie.” I think these excerpts will give you a strong sense of the conflicts in Hannah’s family and the power of baked goods, which should never be underestimated.

All You Knead is Love

Our last book, All You Knead is Love (knead spelled like kneading dough–I’m a sucker for a punny title) written by Tanya Guerrero and published by Farrar Straus Giroux, is one of my favorite reads of 2021. It is beautifully written, packed with fascinating characters, and it explores a lot of important issues that middle grade stories often overlook. All You Knead is Love also takes place in Barcelona, Spain, where I spent a week at my dad and stepmom’s home right before the global pandemic shut everything down. My dad was diagnosed with brain cancer shortly thereafter and passed away about a year later, close to when I read Guerrero’s book. Being able to revisit several places in Barcelona while reading All You Knead is Love was such a gift and helped me feel close to my dad. That, my dear listeners, is the power of story. But enough about me, here’s the summary: (read from book)

Ok, now I want to read the entire book to you! In the interest of time (and due to copyright law), I’ll just share the first chapter. While it doesn’t touch on baking at all, the opening does immediately transport you to Alba’s world and make you curious about what happens next.

Closing

And there you have it, five fabulous middle grade stories that center around baking. If you happen to be a kid who loves to bake and is looking for a kid-friendly cookbook, my daughter highly recommends the Delish Kids Cookbook. Our favorite recipe is Nilla wafer Boston cream pies–yum! And if you’re hungry for a chapter book series about baking, Freddie’s Amazing Bakery by Harriet Whitehorn is pretty darn fun. 

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!

I'm back, baby!

Link to episode: click here

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

(click on title to listen podcast)

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!