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Season 6, Episode 3: Front Desk by Kelly Yang

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Front Desk is the story of a young Chinese immigrant, Mia Tang, who helps her parents manage a hotel and uses her ever-improving English skills to help just about everyone around her. If you’re looking for books that feature diverse characters and tackle inclusion themes (and you should be), this lovely little book deserves a spot in your stack.

Nora and I both loved this story.

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 6, Episode 3: Front Desk by Kelly Yang – Review and Story Structure Analysis

The first part of the episode will tell you WHY you should read this book, then the second part is a bunch of spoilers as we deconstruct the book to find out what makes it SO good.

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Story Fix for more details on the four act structure.
  • Story Grid for all things related to genre.
  • Story Genius by Lisa Cron for how our brains are wired for story and why backstory is important.
  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material.

And, don’t forget, you can now, buy, read and enjoy my book: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap & the List. (And leave a review when you’re done, pretty please.)

Disclosure: By the way, all of these links are affiliate links, so if you buy something, you pay the same, but Nora gets a few pennies for her big 8th grade trip fund.

Season 6, Episode 2: ONE MIXED-UP NIGHT by Catherine Newman

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I’ve been wanting to review this book since we started the podcast.

It’s a funny, sweet and silly story by one of my favorite writers—but she usually writes memoir and essays.

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 6, Episode 2: One Mixed-Up Night by Catherine Newman – Review and Story Structure Analysis

The first part of the episode will tell you WHY you should read this book, then the second part is a bunch of spoilers as we deconstruct the book to find out what makes it SO good.

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Story Fix for more details on the four act structure.
  • Story Grid for all things related to genre.
  • Story Genius by Lisa Cron for how our brains are wired for story and why backstory is important.
  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material.

And, don’t forget, you can now, buy, read and enjoy my book: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap & the List. (And leave a review when you’re done, pretty please.)

Disclosure: By the way, all of these links are affiliate links, so if you buy something, you pay the same, but Nora gets a few pennies for her big 8th grade trip fund.

Our Summer Middle Grade Reading List

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Prime reading season is almost here! School gets out for us in a few weeks, so Nora and I are already making our middle grade reading lists.

Here’s what we have so far, in case you want to crib off of us:

How to Stage a Catastrophe

This one had us at the title. Plus, I’m a sucker for books that feature catastrophic theater productions by kids (see a slew of John Irving novels—which are, of course, NOT middle grade).

Hello Universe

I’m seeing this book everywhere and now it has one of those gold award stickers on it, so I have to read it. Plus, a bully gets a comeuppance, which is always delightful.

See You in the Cosmos

This book features a kid who wants to document his life on his ipod so he can launch it into space. And his dog is named Carl Sagan. Nuff said.

The Unbreakable Code

Nora chose this one because, she says, “It’s about codes and I wish I knew more codes.” I don’t know that I want her to know more codes, but I guess education is never a waste. Even if you use it against your mom.

Well, That Was Awkward

This is a Nora pick, too. “It sounds interesting,” was all I could pull out of her. I’m sure it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that it’s a book about a girl having a crush on a boy who likes her best friend, so she pretends to be her best friend, Cyrano-style.

Midnight Without a Moon

Nora’s adding this to her list because “people were reading it last year and they said it was good.” Nothing like word of mouth.

Step Up to the Plate

Nora gave this one a thumbs down: “It has sports in it, so I don’t want to read it.” But it’s on my list because the main character has immigrant parents, one from India and one from Mexico and it’s set in post-war America.

The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes

Nora wants to read this because the book description talks about an “Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children.” Which is, admittedly, pretty compelling.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

This is a fantasy book and the plot sounds intricate as all get out. I want to read it to see if it works. I’m guessing it does, because: gold sticker. Maybe we’ll cover it on the podcast.

Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White 

This one’s on my list because I adore E.B. White so what could be better than reading a middle grade bio of him?

That’s what we’ve got so far! Hope this helps round out your summer reading list. Of course, you should also add my middle grade novel…

The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List

Here’s what one reader had to say:

As a mom & book lover, the adventure and anticipation in this story is so much fun to read!
As a teacher, the use of rich, delicious, never-dumbed-down vocabulary is SO necessary in this “Captain Underpants” era. I loved patiently waiting for Kennedy (8) to sound out words like “preposterous” and “undaunted.”
BUY. THIS. BOOK.

By the way, all of these links are affiliate links, so if you buy one, you pay the same, but Nora gets a few pennies for her big 8th grade trip fund.

Michelle Obama told me her whole life story

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I listened to the audio book version of Becoming in stolen moments. Usually after my youngest had fallen asleep or early in the morning when I was making lunches before the kids woke up.

This is a wonderful book for many reasons. I loved learning about her lower-middle class background, that her father suffered from multiple sclerosis, how she was a driven student who knew education was her path to a better life, and the adorable story of her meeting and falling in love with Barack. And — of course — I hung on her every word as she described their political lives, the racism they encountered, and the difference they tried to make. 

But the parts where I found myself nodding the most, where I felt closest to her, were when she described her life as a working mom: the love she had for her children, the need she had for meaningful work, and what it took to help her (sometimes) feel she was successful at both.

If you’ve been meaning to read this book, I urge you to make time for it. It’s well written and has great narrative drive, despite the fact that we know how it all turns out. 😉

S4, E7: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Full Story Structure Analysis

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This season we’re tackling one of the most beloved series of all time: Harry Potter.

In this episode, we look at the four-act structure of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pointing out the first plot point, midpoint shift and second plot point.

Then we analyze the scene where Ron saves Harry from drowning while being strangled by a horcrux.

Finally, we talk about the term “epilogue.”

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 4, Episode 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Structure Analysis

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material and artwork, including an advance copy of my forthcoming novel, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List.
  • Story Fix for more details on the four act structure.
  • Story Grid for all things related to the Five Commandments.
  • Pottermore for all the glorious official content for Harry Potter.

This post was lovingly sponsored by our Patreon supporters (you can become one too!). 

S4, E6: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince Full Story Structure Analysis

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This season we’re tackling one of the most beloved series of all time: Harry Potter.

In this episode, we look at the four-act structure of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, pointing out the first plot point, midpoint shift and second plot point.

Then we analyze the scene where Narcissa gets Snape to make the unbreakable vow to help Malfoy with this “task.” *SOB* 

Finally, we talk about the term “archetype.”

You can also listen using any number of podcast platforms and apps including Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Season 4, Episode 6: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Structure Analysis

Things we mention (or forget to mention) that you should check out:

  • Our mailing list! Sign up today and you’ll get cool subscriber only perks like bonus material and artwork, including an advance copy of my forthcoming novel, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List.
  • Story Fix for more details on the four act structure.
  • Story Grid for all things related to the Five Commandments.
  • Pottermore for all the glorious official content for Harry Potter.

This post was lovingly sponsored by our Patreon supporters (you can become one too!).