Tag Archives: middle grade

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

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

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.

Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell: an interview with author Alison Gardiner

Children's Book, Graphic Novel, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

Podcast #053

For my fifty-third Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Alison Gardiner about the  illustrated children’s novel Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell

Published in  2013, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse tells the story of Ada Goth, who’s feeling a bit lonely clumping around in big boots at Ghastly-Gorm Hall, especially since her grieving widower father insists that children should be heard and not seen. But Ada soon befriends a ghostly mouse named Ishmael, and together, with the help of part chameleon boy named William Cabbage and his sister Emily, as well as a governess who might possibly be a vampire, they try to uncover a sinister plot in the works at the annual Ghastly-Gorm indoor hunt. Full of sly literary references, gorgeous Victorian illustrations by the author, and a whole lot of silly, over-the-top humor, Goth Girl is a comic gothic mystery that is just as much fun to look at as read.

Alison Gardiner is author of the fantasy novels Alchemy, The Serpent of Eridor, and coming soon The Goblin’s Curse. You can find Alison’s website at alisongardinerauthor.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 Roshani Chokshi, talking about the middle grade novel  The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander and the YA novel Tithe by Holly Black . It will be published on June 1st.

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

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

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.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: an interview with author and illustrator C. L. Fails

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS


Podcast #051

For my fifty-first Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author and illustrator C. L. Fails about the classic children’s novel A Wrinkle in Time  by Madeleine L’Engle.

Originally published in 1962, A Wrinkle in Time tells the story of Meg and her brother Charles Wallace and their encounter with three strange woman named Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. But these are no ordinary women, and they will take Meg and her brother on a journey across time and space to find their missing father and, with any luck, save the world. A classic fantasy sci-fi adventure novel of a battle between good and evil, as well as a journey of self-discovery, A Wrinkle in Time, as well as the four other books in what is known as the Time Quintet, has remained a favorite for many generations.

Cynthia Fails is an educator, podcast host and publisher who writes and illustrates under the name C. L. Fails. She is author and illustrator of the Ella series, including Ella and the One Big Dream and Ella and One Tiny Thing, The Christmas Cookie Books, the Raine the Brain book series, of which the first one The Secret World of Raine the Brain: Quindaro Adventures was published August, 2018 In addition, Cynthia is founder and CEO of Launchcrate Publishing, a hybrid publishing company, and host of the LaunchCrate Podcast. You can find Cynthia’s website at www.clfails.com and her LaunchCrate website at www.launchcrate.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 Jasmine Warga, talking about the classic children’s novel Bridge to Terabithia, written by Katherine Paterson. It will be published on May 1st.

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

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS


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.