Episode Outline:

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Intro

Hello everyone! Welcome to Books Between – a podcast for teachers, librarians, parents, and anyone who loves middle grade books!

I believe in the power of stories to change our mood – make us laugh, cry, or… creep us out in the best possible way!  My goal is to help you connect kids with those fabulous books and share inspiring conversations with the authors and educators who make that magic happen.

I am your host, Corrina Allen – a mom of a 9 and 11 year old, a 5th grade teacher in Central New York, and spending a few hours each week phone banking!   

This is episode #61 and today I’m booktalking three recent paranormal reads that will get you and your kids in the perfect fall mood, and sharing a conversation with Pablo Cartaya about his latest novel, Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish!

Before we jump into things, a few updates:

The Middle Grade at Heart Book Club pick for October is The Three Rules of Everyday Magic by Amanda Rawson Hill and The Hotel Between by Sean Easley is the November pick. And – I just got sneak peek at the first four MG at Heart picks for 2019 and they’re fantastic. In fact, one of the authors, was recently featured on the show.

Also remember to check out #MGBooktober to check out all the great discussions around middle grade and connect with other educators, librarians, authors, and fans.

And remember that Monday nights at 9pm EST is the #MGBookChat Twitter chat!  This month some of the topics are: Building Vocabulary with Middle Grade Books, and Taboo Roll Call: Does anything go in Middle Grade now?  We always have a great time a leave with tons of suggestions for the kids in our lives. And…of course, ourselves!

Book Talk – 3 New Paranormal Releases

This week I am sharing with you three new paranormal releases that are perfect for the fall – or anytime, really! They are Edison Beaker Creature Seeker by Frank Cammuso, Sheets by Brenna Thummler, and Small Spaces by Katherine Arden.

Edison Beaker Creature Seeker

Let’s start with Edison Beaker Creature Seeker. This full-color graphic novel is the first in a new series by Frank Cammuso – author of The Knights of the Lunch Table series and the Misadventures of Salem Hyde series.  This book is about a young boy named Edison who has always been afraid of the dark. When his mom has to go out of town, Edison and his little sister, Tesla, go to stay with their Uncle Earl. Uncle Earl is an exterminator and he reluctantly takes the kids on a late-night “emergency” job where they end up going through a door to a shadowy other-worldly place where Edison has to confront his fears and lots of bizarre creatures!  Here are three things to love about Edison Beaker Creature Seeker:

1. Tesla’s hamster, Scuttlebutt! He is so stinking cute!! And gets into so much trouble – or rather, gets everyone else into trouble when he rolls away in his ball into the darkest, most dangerous corners.


2. How FUNNY this book is!  I was at the park with my daughters when I finished it last week, and I just could NOT help laughing out loud – even though I knew I was getting weird looks. The word play, especially, is so much fun. Already the names Edison and Tesla are awesome – but another example, the portal to the other realm is through the Night Door which is found in an old building called the Wherehouse. And so the creatures call their underworld – the UnderWhere. And as you can imagine – the conversations around that are THE BEST.


3. This intriguing little creature called Knox who is this fierce, cute little purple scavenger with a blue mohawk. I. LOVE. HER. She’s complicated and tough and vulnerable – and clearly has a much bigger part to play in future books.

Edison Beaker Creature Seeker is a fantastic graphic novel that you will definitely want to add to your collection. It’s sort of like a mix between HiLo and Amulet. So if you have kids who loved those two series, this is one to introduce them to next.

Sheets

Next up this week is another graphic novel – Sheets by Brenna Thummler. This story is about 13 year-old Marjorie who is responsible for running her family’s laundromat. She has a lot going on – dealing with her father’s depression, taking care of her little brother, middle school drama – and the horrid Mr. Saubertuck who is trying to close down the family business. And then, in floats Wendell – a ghost (sheet and all) who accidentally ends up in Marjorie’s laundromat and creates his own complications.  Here are three things to love about Sheets:

1. The ghosts! Even though they all wear a sheet, they each have their own personalities – some wearing hats, or glasses.


2. The parts about the laundromat business. I love stories that get you behind the scenes of how things run.


3. Brenna Thummler’s illustrations!  Such a gorgeous color palette in shades of blue, pink, and green. I love her backgrounds – the buildings, all the little details of the interiors, and especially her trees!  I noticed this in her illustrations for Anne of Green Gables, too – Brenna’s trees and leaves are stunning.

Sheets is a great suggestion for kids who might be looking for a realistic fiction graphic novel with a twist of paranormal that it’s too scary.

Small Spaces

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