Episode 1: Our Middle Grade Crushes

Heather and Margie, two KidLit obsessed moms, share their middle grade author crushes. The discussion quickly devolves as the BFFs defend fart jokes, thumb their noses at boring classics, and disparage men who take credit for the work of goddesses. If you’re a KidLit snob, you might want to give it a pass, but, if you’re in need of some good book lovin’, give it a shot. Eh, why not? 

Margie’s Top 5 MG Crushes:

Dan Gutman 

Not only for the most fun chapter books around, the Weird School series, but also for the Genius Files which are also, genius.

Carl Hiaasen 

For writing kid lit that is as fun, wild and exciting as his adult books, just without the naughty parts.

Margaret Peterson Haddix 

Because she challenges kids’ views of the world and makes them want to explore other worlds as well.

Jeff Kinney 

For making storytelling with graphics mainstream and making it ok to be a total nerd. Beyond that, for creating a bookstore – An Unlikely Story, in Plainfield, Mass. – that is a haven for kid-lit and the best place in the world to spend an afternoon.

Judy Blume 

For being the Grand Dame of telling important stories and making so many of us want to write for kids too.

Heather’s Top 5 MG Crushes:

Richard Peck 

For writing about my hood with humor, love and respect in the A Long Way from Chicago books and for writing about a mouse in England that made my little, anglophile heart happy. 

Madeline L’Engle 

For making this nerd think big thoughts that led to bigger worlds, ideas, and experiences than a farm girl ever could have imagined. 

Pam Muñoz Ryan 

For shining a brilliant light on the Latinx experience and for writing horse stories that a horse-loving girl like myself cherished. Can’t wait to read Mañanaland.  

Christopher Paul Curtis 

For saying, “I’m the kind of person who is excruciatingly slow to come to taking a risk but once I decide to, I’m all-in” and for creating Bud Caldwell and his Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. Can we hang out, Mr. Curtis? I seriously love the way your brain works.  

Margaret Peterson Haddix 

For using a journalism career as a jumping off point for a unique and fascinating children’s lit collection that captivated my son, as well as me.    

Show Reference Links:

One Question with Mr. Sharp YouTube channel 

Mr. Sharp interview with Margaret Peterson Haddix 

M. Night Shymalan vs. Margaret Peterson Haddix 

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson 

Storyteller Academy 

Arree Chung