Marcia Thornton Jones's Blog, page 30

Reflecing Back

     The last few years have found me moving from place to place. Items get lost, others tossed or simply forgotten. Sorting through my writing papers (going back as far as elementary school!) in what I hope is our last moved for a long while,  I came across this newspaper clipping. To my left, the child in pigtails, is my lovely niece. In the crowd were family and friends, the largest book signing I'd had yet. My nephew was also there. It all meant a lot to me. 

    Taking a look at the details, I recall the friends I hadn't seen in a long time, asking for personalized novels of THE GREAT CAT NAP. A former teacher, a boss from nearly 10 years ago, my dad and grandmother. Even just cat and mystery lovers! Even the former editor of my first newspaper I worked for arrived. He was the one behind the camera. My niece eventually looped her arm with mine as I signed. She didn't like sharing me, and I can only hope those I signed for didn't take her protective and worried eyes. 

   Reflecting on our smiles, the books, the people, I didnt know this would be the last time I had both my niece and my nephew in one place. My nephew would tragically die of cancer a few months after. Inside, I carried the words of one of my best high school friends - she was in hospice, also dying of cancer. The sadness is a hard stone to swallow, even know. It will always ache. 

    However, I am so grateful I had had that time to celebrate my Middle Grade novel at my childhood favorite library, with so much support and love. My book brought that gem in my life. Truly one of my best every memories! I love children and young adults. It is truly my honor to write for these dynamic kids. 

Happy reading! 

AM Bostwick

My Magical Book Memory

In the elementary school where I am librarian, occasionally there are guests in the school. Whether it's a new student, a school board member or a visiting artist, the principal usually gives them a tour of the school and the library is one of the first stops. She introduces me and often says something along the lines of, "Kristen has this magical ability to know what kind of books each student likes, and even which books they currently have checked out." She gets a very personalized view of this too, because her two sons are students at the school, and I've often handed her a book, saying "Sam wanted to check this out, and it just came in, could you give it to him?"

If I have a superpower, I think this is it. Because it's true. In a school of more than 400 students, I can
usually tell you that information about each student. And of course, I always know which students have overdues. When I greet them at curb duty each morning, I'll often say something like, "Hey Grant, did you remember to bring in those Catstronaut books?" Sometimes they did and I end up at curb duty with a stack of books to bring in and sometimes it's a sheepish, "oh my gosh, I left them by the front door." Even if I'm nagging them about returning books, I think students like that I know which books they have, and it gives us something personal to talk about, beyond the usual, "how was your weekend?"

In our school district, the specialists (librarian, music teacher, P.E. teacher) are the only teachers that literally see all the kids in the school. Classroom teachers know their own students, other students in their particular grade level, and their former students. But I have the distinct pleasure of getting to know all the students in the school. Of course, I don't develop a close relationship with every single student - that would be impossible - but I know every name, their grade, usually their teacher, and definitely what kind of books they like. Sometimes I know that they don't really like books at all, and I make it my mission to find something that they will enjoy.

Though many people are amazed by this ability to remember all that information, it doesn't feel like a superpower to me. I love kids and I love books, and when you put the two together, my mind just clicks. I generally have a good mind for memorizing things, but it works better on things that you like and that interest you. Kids and their reading choices are something that interests me, and that makes it easy to put it all together. I like to think I'm pretty good at my job, and this is one of the abilities that makes it so.

When I run into a former or current student out in the community and can't remember their name it drives me crazy! Just yesterday I saw a current student from a distance at a public event and try as I might, I couldn't remember her name. But I knew her grade and her teacher, so I quickly pulled up my library software on the phone and searched until I found her name. I had a feeling I would run into her and I wanted to be able to say her name, because it is so important to kids to feel seen and known. My effort was rewarded, because I did indeed bump into her and was able to say, "Hi, Kailey!" and to see her face light up. 

Yes, memorizing the faces, names and reading preferences of all my students is most definitely a superpower, because it's a small thing that I can do that makes kids feel special.

In Prep for Surgery—Literar(ily)

 I know, there’s no such word. But recent events revealcontext, and human language is anything but stale.

 

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. 

–John Lennon

 

Life’s twists and turns. One too many twisty turns, and big fall later, I find myself replacing an old sad hip. As I prepare for surgery, I’veopted out of teaching for the first time in decades. It makes me a bit nervous,but sometimes life happens. I should be taking it easy and all that, but insteadI’m making lists and taking advantage of the down time < all puns intended.)

 

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing thegame. – Babe Ruth

 

I’ve already piled my TBR list. As you can see, some are oldfavorites, and some are ancient time travels. I’ll be reviewing some of myfavorite craft books again, applying them to my WIP, too.

If life were predictable, it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. – Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Or, perhaps a better way of summarizing recent events, with a nod to Forrest Gump, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

But at least it's chocolate!

Thank you for lending me your shoulder!

-- Bobbi Miller

Interview with Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer, Authors of THE JULES VERNE PROPHECY

 

Short and sweet: Give usthe elevator pitch for The Jules Verne Prophecy :

Iva-Marie Palmer: Three kids finda book that leads them on a madcap and exciting hunt to find a treasure JulesVerne supposedly hid in the city of Paris. 

 

I’m always interested inwriting partnerships. How did the two of you get together to write the book?Who initially came up with the idea for the Jules Verne Prophecy? Or did youbrainstorm it together?

IMP: Larry’s agent, who I’d workedwith before, introduced us because she thought we had similar sensibilities. Westarted out working on a different project of Larry’s, and our editor for thatliked Larry’s idea for The Jules Verne Prophecy. I was much more of a JulesVerne novice when we began this book – the overarching idea was definitelyLarry’s – but as we talked about it, we developed the story and adventure inParis together.

 

Larry Schwarz: I was in an oldbookstore in Paris and saw gold embossed set of Voyages Extraordinaire JulesVerne works and I was amazed by how many stories he wrote and then I thought,“wouldn’t it be cool if someone discovered yet another one that no one knewabout before.” I told Iva-Marie, and we worked on the story from there.

 

The two of you have workedtogether before–this is obviously a pairing that works. How do you approachworking together? What tools do the two of you rely on?

IMP: We try to develop an outlinewe both like before we start writing, which I think helps a lot – we may changethings as we go along but it keeps things moving to plan ahead a bit. As far astools we use, there’s nothing fancy in terms of the writing but I think whathelps a lot is that neither of us is a person who freaks out to take anunplanned phone call. In general, I hate texting and emailing and waitingaround when you have a great idea you want to run by someone, so it’s nice tojust be able to call Larry and hash things out instead of gettingstalled. 

 

LS: When we see each other inperson, it’s really just to eat and we can’t let writing get in the way ofthat! 

 

Y ou’re both storytellers,but the two of you have somewhat different backgrounds. Iva-Marie, you’vewritten several MGs, and Larry, you’ve worked in animation. What do yourbackgrounds bring to your writing partnership?

IMP: Larry’s television backgroundhas helped me a lot in terms of thinking about set pieces in books and thosebig plot moments. I’ve always had an affinity for character and dialogue, butmy stories can meander sometimes. Working with someone who’s done televisionreminds me that you can “cut to” new scenes without letting the previous scenedrag on too long. Readers are smart, and they don’t need to see every decisionor thought on the page.

 

LS: For whatever medium I’mwriting for, it’s important for me to create great characters first that kidscan really relate to, and I want the stories to keep moving at a pace that’llmake a reader want to turn the page and will make a viewer not want to turn thechannel. And that pace doesn’t just mean action sequences, suspense and cliffhangers. It means a steady reveal and build of who the characters are and howthey relate to one another.

 

As a child of the ‘80s, Ilove the fact that this is something of a modernization of The Goonies. How so?What will Goonies fans love about The Jules Verne Prophecy?

IMP: I’ve seen the movie countlesstimes, as well as other ‘80s kids’ fare that is fast-paced and funny. I lovethat this book feels like a summer blockbuster for kids. I think we’ve gottenaway from those at theaters – now summer blockbusters are mainly comic bookmovies or new entries in existing franchises – and you don’t get to see atotally fresh and original adventure where kids get to go on an adventuretogether and the adults in the story are there but not the central characters.I’m hoping this book satiates Goonies fans who long for more movies like it,and it would be great if there was a film version, too. Adult Goonies loverscan bring their kids! 

 

LS: I’m definitely very much aproduct of those 80’s movies, too. I think what made them so special was againunique characters that you still remember today and that felt like real kidswho you would want to hang out with and be part of their adventure. And thoseadventures were also grounded in real world kid relatable experiences to startwith and then became fantastical.

 

This is an action-packedbook. I find action to be really challenging. How do you approach writingaction? 

IMP: It is hard! At least for meit is. So much of writing is spending time alone and somewhat sedentary thatthere’s a danger of having characters who talk and think more than they do.That’s where planning ahead comes in handy, I think – deciding at the start whereyour characters might go and what might happen there, even loosely, is likehaving an itinerary. And then once you get them there, you become achoreographer or stunt coordinator – we’re in this space, and how are mycharacters going to move through this space, what’s something funny,terrifying, or exciting that can happen to them here, and so on? Then I writein layers … the first draft is just really sometimes awful and skeletal sketchof what can happen, the next is refining the details of the scene – who’s doingwhat and the action around the characters, and the final stage is making sureyour characters are still acting like themselves in scene – that’s where itgets really fun because Owen, for example, is going to act different in anaction sequence than Nas or Rose. 

 

LS: It’s in the action sequencesthat I really draw on my experiences I have as a visual storyteller in liveaction and animated TV series. I try to make sure the reader is really able tovisualize the scene. I also think a bit of comedy and even a little vaudevilleschtick is really important in action sequences even if they’re very seriousones.

 

Voice is also crucial toMG work. How do you tap into that MG voice? How do you keep voice consistentwith a writing partnership?

IMP: Writing for this age groupmeans never losing hold of what it’s like to be a kid. I don’t want to be theadult trying to make kids think I’m cool, I want to be myself at age 12 or 13trying to make sense of the story my characters are in. I hope it comes acrossas authentic, and I do sometimes run things by my own kids, who are 12 and 8,to see if it seems off. As for consistency, Larry and I will be blunt with oneanother if we think something sounds way off base – I think for anypartnership, you have to be able to say, “Okay, I hate this” as often as you’reable to say, “Okay, I love this.”

 

LS: The Jules Verne Prophecy isabout a group of friends who go on an incredible adventure together followingsecret clues across Paris in the hopes of finding an awesome treasure, but It’simportant that the characters relate to each other in a way that real kids doand sound like real kids do when they are just going to school or hanging outand going to the mall in the real world. Having a writing partner (especiallyIva-Marie) really helps so much in this because when we’re writing together,we’re also hanging out on the phone and just talking like friends.

 

What do you hope youngreaders take away from The Jules Verne Prophecy?

IMP: That the Catacombs areincredibly creepy but also worth visiting for that exact reason. But seriously,I want young readers to feel alive to the possibilities of the real world. Ithink this book – though set in modern day – is a throwback to the excitingstories I grew up with, and even if the scenes are over-the-top, they’re set inplaces that really exist with the characters moving through those spaces. Iknow technology and screen lives aren’t going away but I’d love for a kid whoreads our book to decide they’d like to see more of the world or find anadventure in their own neighborhood – just get out of their comfort zone andsee what happens.

 

LS: Jules Verne wrote, “All thatis impossible remains to be accomplished.” That was something that inspired mefrom reading Jules Verne stories as a kid and I hope that our readers will feelthe same way from reading The Jules Verne Prophecy.

 

 

What’s next? Are the twoof you going to work on another project together?

IMP: We’re working on the sequelas we speak!

 

Where can we find the twoof you online?

IMP: Most of my book relatedpresence is on Instagram (@ivamarie).

 

LSS: I’m on Instagram @zoomschwarz.

 

A Superpower For the Tech Age by Darlene Beck Jacobson

 By now, most of you have probably gotten a funky and suspicious email that was supposed to be from me asking for gift cards or some other nonsense. Well...it WASN'T me. I have been busy spending the last week fixing the hacking mess that took away control of my email account and my Face Book account. 

I am happy to say that I now have a safe, new email installed on my laptop along with a butt load of anti malware programs. As far as FB goes...I can friend myself, but otherwise, my account is bust.

So...if I were to ask for a super power at this moment? It would definitely be the ability to banish malicious hackers to a deserted island that has no internet, WiFi, or electricity. They would live the rest of their lives writing messages in sand or stuffing them in bottles and tossing them into the sea.

On another day...I would love to be able to fly. 

Darlene Beck Jacobson has survived the hacking of her email and now spends her time enjoying the slower days of summer in NJ.

Interview with Katryn Bury, Author of Drew Leclair Crushes the Case

Thanks so much for joining us at SmackDab, Katryn. I always start with the obvious: Please tell us a bit about yourlatest book, Drew Leclair Crushes the Case (and also the Drew Leclair series).

Thanksfor having me! The Drew Leclair mysteries started as a seedling of an idea:what if Harriet the Spy wasreimagined in the age of social media? From there, Drew Leclair was born--ahighly observant seventh grader who dreams of being a criminal profiler for theFBI and creates profiles on her classmates as if they were notorious criminals.

Inthe first book, Drew Leclair Gets a Clue,Drew is reeling from her mother suddenly leaving the family after runningoff with the guidance counselor from her daughter’s middle school. When ananonymous cyberbully releases the rumor with a mean post about Drew and herfamily, she sets out to unmask the bully. In Drew Leclair Crushes the Case, we find Drew making up for some ofthe mistakes she made in her first mystery. She’s promised herself that schoolmysteries are too much trouble, but gets sucked back in when her best friendsask her to solve the mystery of a nasty locker thief at Ella Baker MiddleSchool.

Withthe Drew Leclair mysteries, I really tried to create books that deal withsocial issues as well as mysteries. I wanted a real kid dealing with realproblems—growing along with the series, learning more about herself, andfinding ways to correct past mistakes.

As a true crime nerd (and with degreesin sociology and criminology), I’d think you’d be a perfect fit for adult crimefiction. Why MG?

It’sfunny you should ask, as I just finished writing an adult crime novel that I’mreally passionate about! I tend to read more children’s books as a lifelong fanof books for the 8-18 range. Truthfully, I don’t find as many adult mysteriesthat suit my tastes, as I love books with a strong sense of humor but also aliterary feel. I love Agatha Christie, of course. And, if they wrote a seriesof Benoit Blanc mysteries, I’d read them in a second! I’m excited to writebooks in the future that look like the books I’d want to find in the adultsection but, in the meantime, I truly love middle grade. One of the mainreasons is that I love writing about kids discovering who they are. Often, YAis presented as the real age category for “coming of age.” I actually think thereal start comes in middle school. It’s at this age that you face some of yourbiggest social challenges as you define yourselves outside of your family unitfor the first time.

I’m a sucker for voice, and DrewLeclair’s voice immediately sucked me in. It’s just a perfect mix of havingpersonality and being youthful without sounding like an adult trying to writelike how they think a kid would sound. It’s such a hard task to master–voice isactually maybe the the hardest aspect of writing. How did you tap into Drew’svoice?

Ithink it comes down to two things. First, as I said, I love reading middlegrade. I’ve made it a habit to read as much as I can, studying the voices thatI find the most authentic. Second, I was a school librarian at this level formany years before switching to public libraries. When I was writing Drew Leclair Gets a Clue, I was stillworking at a middle school and always taking notes about how kids that agespeak--always observing, just like Drew!

What’s your writing process? How do youapproach series writing?

Ithink that a part of me always hopes the books I write will turn into a series,for the same reason I read series books: I get too attached to the characters!That said, I have to approach each book as if it might be a standalone or thelast in the series. I would never want to leave readers with too much of acliffhanger. Of course, my third-grade daughter was very upset when she got to the end of Drew Leclair Crushes the Case and there wasn’t a book three yet.She wanted to see how a certain relationship panned out. I can’t say whichbecause it’s a big spoiler!

Asfor my writing process, I’ve changed a lot since getting a book deal. Before, Iwould labor over a chapter over and over until it was perfect. Now, I like towrite a draft as fast as possible so that I don’t end up polishing somethingI’ll cut later. It’s really hard to leave bad writing behind, but I’ve found Ishine in revisions and write much better books because of it!

I have to ask about the attempt to banDrew Leclair. This issue hits home for me first because I’m also a writer andalso because I’m a Missourian, where a law was recently passed that could putlibrarians in jail for providing “sexually explicit material.” I’m just goingto give you the floor on this one and ask you to speak about it a bit.

Endingbook bans is a passion of mine on two fronts since I’m both a queer kidlitauthor and a librarian. When I found out that Drew Leclair Gets a Clue was facing an active challenge for LGBTQIA+ content, I was shocked. The representation in thebooks isn’t front and center and Drew (who questions if she is ace or bi, andfinally settles on bi) isn’t remotely interested in physical content. While herstraight friends are suddenly interested in holding hands and kissing, Drew ispretty grossed out by it all. In book one, all she says is that she has crusheson fictional characters from more than one gender. Pretty tame!

WhenI saw the news, it hit me hard. I only recently came out, and this kind ofresponse is exactly why I didn’t for so long. And if it hit this hard for me,how would it be for kids? The amazing Kelly Yang, spoke recently about bookbans and how people often respond by saying it’s a “badge of honor,” or thatyour “sales will go through the roof.” This last statement isn’t true (a bookthat is already a bestseller will do great, but not a book that is stillfinding its audience), but it’s also about so much more than that. Librariansand teachers may not carry these books out of fear for parent backlash. Thoseparents will claim that it’s not a real ban, simply a removal. But what aboutthe kids whose parents can’t afford to buy books? More importantly, what willkids learn from the books on these lists? Like I felt growing up, they mightfeel the sting of shame and erasure. Kids listen to us, and the last message Iwant them to get is that they are not enough. In my day job and my writing job,I want to uplift kids for exactly whothey are.

In addition to writing, you also host apodcast in which you pull back the curtain on the publishing industry, givingtips to those who are just beginning their publishing journey. What inspiredyou to start the podcast?

Mycritique partner, Eva DesLauriers, and I decided to dothe podcast because we were both struggling with where we were in our process(I had just published my first book, and she was about to go on submissionafter her first book with our agent didn’t sell). While we saw a lot of helpfulblogs and videos about the nuts and bolts of the industry, both of us felt thatwe wished we were more mentally prepared for the struggle of being in thisindustry. For me, my debut year was one of the hardest of my life, and I wantedto be really transparent about that for other authors who may feel the sameway. Now that she’s a debut with an impressive two-book deal with MacMillan(our amazing agent, Chelsea Eberly is just the best agent two ladies could askfor!), we’re both learning and growing with the process. When we realized thatour journeys were helping other authors with their mental health through thisprocess, we knew we had to keep going.

Do you have any words of advice forauthors who have found themselves with a challenged book?

Ithink it will vary from author to author, but I would definitely say to giveyourself a few days to feel the entire roller coaster of emotions you’ll gothrough. When you emerge, be honest about those feelings and fears. I think somany use the “badge of honor” line and, in a lot of ways, it’s true! We knowwe’re on the right side of history here because what we’re doing is telling thetruth. But sometimes boiling it down to a simple slogan can diminish the otherfeelings involved. I want to be very clear about the possibly catastrophicimpact that book bans could have on our youth. These groups really hang theirhat on “protecting children” as a way to bolster their argument, and we need tobe honest about how what they’re doing is hurtingchildren in so many ways. Showing a kid that other types of kids exist (inbooks dealing with racism, queer issues, and more) will build empathy. Showingkids their reflection in a book couldsave their life.

What do you hope that young readers willtake from the Drew Leclair series?

Ithink that I always approach a story because I see an injustice. Drew Leclairis a fun character and solves mysteries that are equally fun! But, there isalways a bit of a social story happening too. In Drew Leclair Gets a Clue, I would want the readers to learn thatmaking mistakes is an opportunity, and that standing up to bullies sometimesmeans standing up to the systems that create them. In Drew Leclar Crushes the Case, I pull the curtain back on wealthdisparity (a big problem in my/Drew’s hometown of Oakland and how the wealthysometimes use their money against people who don’t have it. With both of thesestories, I wanted to write a satisfying conclusion to social stories that oftendon’t have neat endings. Truthfully, I just love comeuppance!

What’s next for Drew?

Ihave a whole plan for Drew that continues her friendship with Trissa, Zora, andAlix on spring break at a sleepaway camp for nerds. I just hope they let mewrite it! I think, because I make Drew age, there can only be so many mysteriesfor her (it certainly won’t be in the hundreds like my other favoritedetective, Nancy Drew) but I do have more stories in me in the Drew Leclairuniverse!

Where can we find you?

I’mmost present on Instagram, but you can find me on Twitter andTiktok as well, all under @katrynwrites. Also, check out my website (katrynbury.com) for events, a subscribable newsletter and other updates. Iwould also love if people would check out me and Eva on Spotify, Apple, andmost other platforms in our podcast, Write Where it Hurts. I don’t quite have a cover yet, but I also have a new bookcoming out next fall, We Are Not Alone.I’m so excited about this one as it has big contemporary middle grade feels anddeals with kids who look for the secrets of UFOs and aliens. Find me on Goodreads and add it while you do!

 

 

To the Rescue! by Jody Feldman

My writing superpower, you ask?
Wordsmithing.
Understanding rhythm and flow. 

Trusting my instincts to choose words and construct sentences in such a way to underscore the reflective nature, the intimate intricacies, the slow-dance mood of any moment that may need to meander through the minds of my readers. 

Or put pedal to the metal. Truncate. Punctuate. Build up tension. Up, up, up, to a blood-rushing speed.

When my editors come at me with changes, it’s hardly ever to point out bumps in the reading road. It’s more to rethink character or plot or setting. And yes, to clarify. 
But redundancies? Filter words? Repeated thoughts. Rarely.
Because, my superpower. Wordsmithng to the rescue!

Until it comes to commas.
Just when I think I know everything about them, my superpower meets its kryptonite.

Jody Feldman, who just wrote 'The End' on a new MG, expects to hear how well-written it is. But she’s holding her breath in anticipation of other issues. Meanwhile, if you or the kiddos in your life haven’t checked out The Gollywhopper Games, you may want to give it a whirl. It’s now in its 15th year and still going strong.

IMAGINATION IS A SUPER POWER by Jane Kelley

 

This is Clint McCool. He's a typical kid. He's not that keen on school. Or following rules. He's obsessed with Super Heroes. And having super powers. His best friend Marco made him that cap with buttons to control his super powers. Sadly, Clint McCool learns that real life isn't like the comics or movies. The buttons are just buttons. They can't really make him invisible. Or go back in time. Or translate what grown-ups are talking about. How can Clint McCool ever save the day -- and get out of trouble?

Actually Clint McCool HAS a super power. He has an imagination. 

That's not a super power, I hear you say.

You're wrong. It is the most powerful of all. 

I'll prove it. What super power would you like to have?

Healing ability -- Some people used their imaginations to see mold as a powerful medicine. To attach adhesive to strips of plastic. And decorate them with cartoon characters. To think of the right words to say to someone who is suffering.

Time manipulation -- Do you want a particular day to last forever? Write it down. Take a picture. Conjure it back whenever you are stuck in a day that you wish would end. 

Talking to animals -- Use your imagination to find the meaning in a meow or the wag of a tail.

Clairsentience -- What??? The ability to know an object's history by touching it. 

That, my friends, is what writers do all the time. 

I could go on and on. You get my point. 

You have a powerful mind. You can nurture those powers. Feed it with new ideas. Give it space to grow. Give it a purpose. And then you, like Clint McCool, will be able to save the day. 

JANE KELLEY used her super power to write many novels for kids, including The Escapades of Clint McCool, which has fantastic illustrations by Jessika von Innerebner.

Ode to a Post-It Note by Irene Latham

 

Here at the Purple Horse Poetry Studio & Music Room, I keep things pretty simple. Computer, notebook, pencil...and post-it notes! I use them for everything from bookmarking to plotting to middle-of-the-night musings. What a marvelous invention! 

Ode to a Post-It Note

you are both blazing flag
and quick net

you catch ideas
fragments
phrases
to do lists
and dreams

you stick—sometimes

I love your happy
predictable face

you offer no judgement,
only encouragement

you are a writer's best friend

thank you!

- Irene Latham

A New Project!

A New Project!

Somehow I never thought I'd move into the world of podcasting. I've always been more of a behind-the-scenes person. Shy rather than outspoken. Print journalism rather than broadcast. But when my wonderful longtime friend Mary Grace McGeehan suggested we do a podcast focusing on rereading books from our childhood, how could I say no? Especially given that I spent most of my childhood glued to one book or another (and nothing has changed since then!).

So we launched our new podcast, Rereading Our Childhood, on May 18, with an episode focusing on Judy Blume's classic Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Going back in time to the early 1970s with Margaret and her friends, complete with the unforgettable chant, "We must, we must, we must increase our bust!" was eye-opening. I had the pleasure since then of seeing the new movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Next up was Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth, by the great E.L. Konigsburg, followed by another favorite, Henry Reed, Inc., by Keith Robertson. And our most recent episode featured Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy, a true masterpiece of middle grade (or any age) literature.

Interested in rereading these or other childhood favorites, or listening to Mary Grace and me talk about the impact these books had on our lives, plus information on the authors and (if relevant) illustrators? Tune in! And we have more episodes ready to go, so feel free to sign up for updates through our website.

Thanks so much, and happy listening!

--Deborah Kalb