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Welcome to Reading in the Middle, where we explore the stories that help kids understand themselves and the world around them. I’m your host, Annisha Jeffries.

Today’s episode centers on a book that speaks directly to children who feel different, unheard, or unsure where they belong. Jonathan Del Arco and Trisha DiFazio join me to talk about Freddy the Alien.

Inspired by Jonathan’s experience immigrating from Uruguay to New York City, Freddy the Alien follows a young boy who feels like an outsider in a new country, a new school, and a new language. Trisha brings her background as an educator to the story, grounding Freddy’s experience in what many multilingual learners face—especially the quiet, often misunderstood “silent period” of language acquisition.

Together, Jonathan and Trisha have created a story about identity, patience, empathy, and the power of adults who truly see and support children as they find their footing.

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I’m your host, Annisha Jeffries, and today’s guest is one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary literature. Angie Thomas’s debut novel, The Hate U Give, not only debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list, but also received significant recognition from the American Library Association — including the William C. Morris Award for a standout debut, and honors such as the Michael L. Printz and Coretta Scott King Honors for its literary achievement and cultural impact.

Her novels have won Goodreads Choice Awards, been adapted into major films, and become classroom staples — all while giving voice to young people worldwide. Today, I start with Angie’s newest work for middle-grade readers — the Nic Blake and the Remarkables series, including The Manifestor Prophecy and The Book of Anansi — before exploring how her YA work continues to influence readers of all ages.

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In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries talks with Lance Rubin, author of the brilliant new middle-grade novel Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend, a hilarious, relatable story about a kid who’s terrible at making friends but finds himself knee-deep in high-tech chaos and real-world feelings.

Lance and Annisha dive into Zed’s world from MonoTown’s quirky tech to the ups and downs of middle-school friendships and explore how humor and heart can reveal big truths about connection, identity, and growing up. You’ll also get some fun lightning-round moments that are as unpredictable as a tech-savvy friendship app.

Lance’s middle-grade work includes Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend and Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan, books full of quirky characters and big laughs that middle-grade readers love. Find more about Lance and his books at lancerubin.com.

Whether you’re a reader, a teacher, a parent, or just someone who’s ever wondered what it means to make a friend, this conversation is packed with insight, laughter, and the kind of awkward honesty only middle grade can deliver.

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In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha Jeffries sits down with poet, mentor, and author Rian N. Jenkins to talk about her debut middle-grade novel Reverse (Book One) — a story that captures friendship, family, and the first sparks of love between two kids who’ve known each other their entire lives.

Rian shares how she weaves poetry into fiction, what inspired Monica and Donovan’s story, and how Reverse reflects the courage it takes to grow up, make mistakes, and come home to yourself.
And yes, she gives us a hint about Book Two.

✨Honest. Funny. Heartfelt. This conversation is for anyone who remembers the moment when friendship started to mean something more.

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