Author Archives: heatherkauffmanpeters

Episode 85: Middle Grade March

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Happy Middle Grade March! The Mamas are in their element, celebrating new Middle Grade book releases that cover a roller coaster of categories from Emily Post’s etiquette tips and environmental activism to Dungeons & Dragons style quests and cryptid monsters from other dimensions. Margie follows up the MG book chat with six grown up March releases you won’t want to miss. 

Book Chat: MG New Releases

Emily Posts by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

The Doomsday Archives – the Wandering Hour by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos


Pick 6: Grown Up New Releases

  1. Finlay Donavan Rolls the Dice by  Elle Cosimano
  2. American Spirits by Russell Banks
  3. The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski
  4. How to Solve Your Own Murder by Krisitn Perrin
  5. Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women  by Victoria Smith
  6. The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

Episode 84: Spies & Heists

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In episode 84, the Mamas go full fangirl swooning over beloved spymaster James Ponti, author of the bestselling City Spies series and Crime Fighters series for middle grade (ages 8-12). The Mamas fell for Ponti back in 2020 with the first City Spies book and were eager to reinvestigate the series with the newest release while also snooping into Ponti’s previous series. Grab your grappling hooks, brush up on your Russian, and synchronize your watches, because the Mamas are taking you into the world of espionage. 

Book Chat: James Ponti

City Spies: Mission Manhattan

Crime Fighting Series: Framed, Vanished, and Trapped 

Episode 83: Hot Off the Presses

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The Mamas have burned their little mom fingers to bring you the hottest new books for 2024. From grown up books in the book chat to picture books in the Pick 6, the Mamas are sharing the latest books that grabbed them in a world with so many books and too little time. What do you think of their tastes? Too weird? According to Margie, that’s what the Mamas are here for! Heather can’t disagree. 

Book Chat: New Releases for Grown Ups

The Fetishist by Katherine Min

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins


Pick 6: New Picture Books

Treehouse Town by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charlie Mylie

Not a Monster by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez illustrated by Laura Gonzalez

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by by David LaRochelle illustrated by Lian Cho

Today is For You by Sally Lloyd-Jones illustrated by Kevin W’aldron

Habitats: a Journey with Nature by Hannah Pang, illustrated by Izobel Lundie 

Teeny-Weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris 



Show links:

Nowhere Bookshop

Episode 82: Graphic Novels R Cool (Who Knew!)

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In this episode of the Two Lit Mamas podcast, the Mamas get graphic but Tipper Gore can chill – no warning label required for this bundle of sweet, fun, and entertaining Middle Grade (ages 8-12)and Young Adult (ages 13 and up) novels in comic form! That’s right, the mamas are chatting about graphic novels and *spoiler alert* they are loving them.   

Book Chat:

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz
Inked by Dominic Bustamante, Colored by Eleonora Bruni

EVE by Victor LaValle
Illustrated by Jo Mi-Gyeong, Colored by Brittany Peer

Break by Kayla Miller

Doom’s Day Camp by Joshua Hauke

Animal Rescue Friends by Meika Hashimoto and Gina Loveless
Illustrated by Genevieve Kote, Breakdowns by Axelle Lenior

World Class byJay Sandlin 
Illustrated by Patrick Mulholland, Colored by Rebecca Nalty

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier 

Episode 81: Books for Grown Ups

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The Mamas want to help you through the dark days of winter with recommendations for the grown up books they plowed through over the holidays. Don’t worry, they’ll be back with  kid book recs next time around, but for episode 81, all you parents, teachers, and writers out there, prepare to get your read on. Happy New Year! Here’s to hoping 2024 isn’t a hot mess.  

Book Chat:
See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

Margie’s Winter Break Reads:
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
The Forgotten Girls by Monica Potts

Heather’s Winter Break Reads:
Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
Divine Rivals & Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
Galatea by Madeline Miller

Episode 80: Mystery & Mayhem for the Holidays

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The Mamas get festive for the last episode of 2023 with a holiday-themed short story collection for 8–12-year-olds filled with murder, mystery, and mayhem. If you enjoy a holiday haunted house, listen in as the Mama’s say good-bye to 2023 with a book chat about creepy funhouses, famous cat burglars, and conspiracies meant to silence the most benevolent among us. Happy Holidays!  

Book Chat:

The Very Merry Murder Club edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens

Episode 78: Holiday Gift Guide, Part 2

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Stuff your mouth with turkey while the Mama’s share their opinions on funny, sexy, and murdery Grown Up books that made the top of their lists in 2023. Heather went for fantasies filled with dragons and angry gods, while Margie nabbed myths, space murders, and, of course, zombies. 

You can’t go wrong when a nerd and an outcast team up – that’s when the Two Lit Mamas are at their finest. Happy Thanksgiving! And, don’t forget to hit your local bookstores on Small Business Saturday or you’ll end up on the Mamas’ naughty list.

The Mamas’ Top Just-for-Fun Reads

Heather’s Faves:

Circe by Madeline Miller 

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Margie’s Faves:

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica


Holiday Gift Guide Grown Up & YA Recs:

Heather’s Picks:

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

Accountable by Dashka Slater

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Fourth Wing  and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Margie’s Picks:

Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos

Into The Light  by Mark Oshiro

The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie 

Daughters of Sparta and The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

Starter Villain by John Scalizi

The Midsolar Murders by Mur Lafferty

Episode 78: 2023 Holiday Gift Guide, Part 1

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The Mamas have once again donned their pointy hats and elf ears for another Holiday Gift Guide Extravaganza-ganza-ganza! As a special treat, they’ve also included an highlight reel for 2023. Get out your pen or open an app so you can make your list. Don’t forget to check it 500 times. Happy Shopping!



2023 Highlight Reel
Heather’s 2023 Faves:

Margie’s 2023 Faves: 

Our Series Faves with New Books in 2023


2023 Holiday Gift Guide 
Margie’s List:

Heather’s List

bookopolis.com

Episode 77: Ghost Stories for Spooky Season

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It’s the Mamas’ favorite time of the year when they happily scare themselves silly with ghost stories that are not only bone-chilling but also life affirming. The Mamas start the book chat by chanting Bloody Mary’s name three times in the dark so watch out – she might be coming for you with a hearty Clamato drink garnished with chicken wings. You’re welcome. After the Mamas gush over middle grade ghosts, they dig into a sweet grown up ghost story with even more bone-chilling life affirmations. Drink it down, just don’t spew it as your head slowly rotates 180 degrees. Happy Halloween!

Middle Grade Book Chat:

The Clackity and The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora Senf

The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies

Grown Up Book Chat:

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Episode 76: Game On!

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The Mamas want to help get your Middle Schoolers off screens with game-themed novels for 8-12 year olds! Join the book chat as the Mamas share two new fantasy/sci-fi novels that will appeal to gamers: one book is set in a haunted woods and includes three sixth-graders who play a game to save the town, and the other book is set in a floating fun park that is taken over by androids and only the owners’ son and friends realize it. Both books are sure to satisfy your little gamers as much as they did the Mamas. And, if you know a few adults who struggle with putting down the gaming controls, the Mamas have a grown-up, gaming-themed book that will give their screen-weary eyes a break too. Now, get out of that gaming chair, take your dog for a walk, and bring the Mamas along.

Middle Grade Book Chat:

The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien

Futureland: Battle for the Park by H.D. Hunter

Grown Up Book Chat:

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin