Tag Archives: childrens books

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper – an interview with Susan Adrian

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Podcast #056

For my fifty-sixth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Susan Adrian about the middle grade fantasy novel The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.

First published in 1973, The Dark is Rising is the second book in a series of five books known as the Dark is Rising series. It tells the story of Will Stanton, who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is one of the Old Ones, a group of beings with extraordinary powers who are battling against the Dark. Drawing on English and Celtic mythology, The Dark is Rising is both a fantasy about the never ending battle between Good and Evil and a coming of age story of a young boy who must figure his place is in the world.

Susan Adrian is the author of the YA novels Tunnel Vision and The Dark at the End and the middle grade novel Nutcracked. Her latest middle grade novel Forever Neverland was just released June, 2019. You can find Susan’s website at susanadrian.net.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Kelly Jones, talking about the middle grade novel  The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater. It will be published on July 16th.

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan – an interview with Darby Karchut

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Podcast #055

For my fifty-fifth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Darby Karchut about the young reader’s fantasy adventure novel Ranger’s Apprentice (Book 1): The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan.

First published in Australia in 2004 and the in the United States in 2005 , Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan tells the story of fifteen year old Will and his apprenticeship under the gruff and mysterious Ranger Halt. Will is an orphan who dreams of nothing more than being a soldier, but when he is taken under Halt’s wing and shown the secret ways of the group of silent defenders of the kingdom of Araleun known as the Rangers, he finds his true calling. Whether he has what is takes to become a Ranger will soon be put to the test when the devious Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, sends out two creatures called Kalkaras to wreak havoc on the kingdom. The Ruins of Gorlan is full of interesting characters and fast-paced action, and is the first of a twelve book series.

Darby Karchut is the author of the YA series Griffin Rising, the middle grade Finnegan series, the middle grade book Del Toro Moon and its sequel The Red Casket, which will be release in the Fall of 2019. You can find Darby’s website at www.darbykarchut.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Susan Adrian, talking about the middle grade novel  The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. It will be published on July 1st.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: an interview with author Jasmine Warga

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Podcast #052

For my fifty-second Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Jasmine Warga about the  children’s middle grade novel Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.

Originally published in  1972, and awarded the Newbery in 1978,  Bridge to Terabithia tells the story of two friends, Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. They don’t feel like they quite fit in anywhere, or that anyone really understands them, so they invent a imaginary place they can go to be whatever they want to be: Terabithia.  But will Terabithia be enough when a tragic moment threatens to tear everything apart? Bridge to Terabithia is a novel that runs a gamut of emotions, from the giddiness of new friendship and imagination to the inexpressible pain of loss. 

Jasmine Warga is author of the YA novels Here We Are Now and My Heart and Other Black Holes, and in May, 2019  she will be debuting her first middle grade novel, Other Words for Home. You can find Jasmine’s website at jasminewarga.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Alison Gardiner, talking about the illustrated children’s novel  Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse, written by Chris Riddell. It will be published on May 16th.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume: an interview with author Michele McAvoy

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Podcast #050

For my fiftieth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Michele McAvoy about her favorite children’s book, the classic novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, written by Judy Blume.

Originally published in 1970, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret tells the story of eleven year old Margaret Simon, whose family has just moved from New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey. Margret must now navigate through the treacherous waters of finding new friends and dealing with puberty, all the while trying to figure out whether she should join the JCC or the YMCA. It’s all very confusing, and not even God seems to have all the answers. An honest, heart-warming, and very funny book, Margaret’s endearing story continues to find readers even after nearly fifty years who find her dreams and missteps and triumphs as relatable as ever.

Michele McAvoy is author of the picture books The Gorilla Picked Me and My Superhero Grandpa as well as Cookie and Milk, which will be coming out this fall. You can find Michelle’s website at www.michelemcavoy.com

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author and illustrator C. L. Fails, talking about the classic children’s novel A Wrinkle in Time, written by Madeleine L’Engle. It will be published on April 16th.

Watership Down by Richard Adams: an interview with author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

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Podcast #049

For my forty-ninth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez about her favorite children’s book, the classic novel Watership Down by Richard Adams.

Originally published in 1972 in the UK, the novel tells the story of group of rabbits trying to find a new home. When one of the rabbits, Fiver, has a vision of their warren being destroyed, his brother Hazel convinces several of the rabbits to join the two of them on a perilous journey to find a safer place to live. After several close calls, they finally find the ideal location in place called Watership Down. However, their troubles are not at an end. When they try to bring back some rabbit does from a nearly warren, they incur the wrath of the warren’s tyrannical leader, General Woundwort, who declares an all out war on the new rabbit colony. Watership Down is a amazing book that is at turns lyrical,
terrifying, tragic and exhilarating. It truly is a one of kind book.

Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is author  of several books for young readers including The Pet Washer series, the Guardian Herd  series,  and coming in May of this year, 2019, the novel Across the Dark Water, which is the first book of her new trilogy Riders of the Realm. You can find Jennifer’s website at www.jenniferlynnalvarez.com

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and now Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Michele McAvoy, talking about the classic novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, written by Judy Blume. It will be published on April 1st.