The Mamas are flying high with two lower middle grade books that helped them escape into fun fantasy worlds filled with talking parrots and pigeons who cooed and plucked their way into the Mama’s hearts. If you have a bird loving 8–12-year-old or just want to flip birds in your mind, join our flock and get carried away with the Mamas.
Book Chat:
The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo
Pick 6:
Six spring activities to get you and your kiddos outside
The Mamas went in search of lighthearted, feel-good reads to balance out the important yet difficult Middle Grade stories they’ve been consuming lately. Luckily they found them in a fantasy story and an historical fiction book. So, if you (or your kiddo aged 8-12) need some balance in your reading diet, join the Mamas for a laugh, a little harmless murder, and some happily ever afters.
Middle Grade Book Chat:
The Swifts, a Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
Bonus Book Chat: Big Girl Books
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick
Episode 62 of the Two Lit Mamas podcast hits all the feels, including the good, the sad and the funny, with a book chat about two important diverse stories for middle grade (ages 8-12) that plumb the depths of tragedy and adversity through the agony of racism and classism. The Mamas hope you will not back away. Then, the Mamas move on to a fun new game called Two Books and a Fake. Will you be fooled?
Book Chat:
The Mamas fight censorship and much more with the help of special guest, Staci Schwarz, who dazzles the Mamas with her witty book critique and the scrumptious details of her new Middle Grade Book subscription box. Listen in to get the deets. (Please ignore Margie’s violent tendencies. We’re blaming it on her new Hag-itude!)
Book Chat:
Attack of the Black Rectangles by A.S. King
Middle Grade Book Subscription Box:
Chapters Reading Club Book Box
Next up on the Two Lit Mamas 2023 Reading Challenge:
Go on a grand adventure!
The Mamas are excited to have listeners join them in their quest to read 24 books or more in 2023! So if you’ve resolved to read more Middle Grade books with your kids or on your own, check out the list below. The challenge follows the podcast topics for each month so you can add to the fun by listening to the Mamas as they share their reads and discuss current trends in books for your favorite 8-13 years olds.
January
Book 1: Choose a new series and read the first book in that series
Book2: Walk on the wild side with a banned book.
February
Book 3: Go on a grand adventure with a fantasy book
Book 4: Who did it best? Read any book that was made into a movie
March
Book 5: Read a Classic written before 1950
Book 6: Get off the planet with a Science Fiction or STEM book
April
Book 7: Read a book written during the pandemic
Book 8: Short and Sweet, read a short story collection
May
Book 9: Read a book from your childhood that influenced you
Book 10: Read a book by your favorite author
June
Book 11: Go on an epic journey
Book 12: Find a book with food in the title
July
Book 13: Find a book with an MC who has your dream job
Book 14: Read about aliens, any kind
August
Book 15: Work some magic with a book of magic
Book 16: Whodunit? Grab a mystery and find the perp
September
Book 17: Read a graphic novel
Book 18: Game on! Read a book that involves a game
October
Book 19: Read a Latinx author
Book 20: Read something spooky
November
Book 21: Go international with a book set outside the U.S.
Book 22: Listen to a good audiobook while you’re warming up for the Turkey Trot
December
Book 23: Get in the spirit with a book about the holidays
Book 24: Free Choice!
The Mamas started the New Year on the right foot with middle grade book series about gothic water parks, bubble aliens, and fart jokes! 2023 may or may not be a good year – the Mamas are sneaking in quietly so as not to provoke it – but, whatever the year brings, you can count on the Mamas to bring you book recommendations that the 7-12 year olds in your life will love!
Book Chat:
The Area 51 Files Series by Julie Buxbaum and Lavanya Naidu
The Sinister Summer Series by Kiersten White
Two Lit Mamas 2023 Reading Challenge:
Be a Rebel! Find a banned or challenged middle grade book and give it a read. We know you won’t be disappointed. Then listen to the next episode as the Mamas discuss censorship in middle grade.
Happy Holidays! For the last episode of 2022, the Mamas are leaving listeners with a special gift – a visit from journalist Masha Rumor, the author of the new nonfiction book for adults titled, Parenting with an Accent, How Immigrants Honor Their Heritage, Navigate Setbacks, and Chart New Paths for Their Children. Laugh along with the Mamas as they dig into the importance of food, community and house slippers to cultural identity. You’ll definitely be Googling Herring Under a Fur Coat by the end of the episode.
Treat yourself and listen in!
The Mamas are shopping again, and the books are piling up. This episode, our two favorite surly elves offer up gift buying guides for the Middle Grade (ages 8-12) and Young Adult (ages 13-18) readers in your life. So, eat until your fat pants are tight and then take advantage of Black Friday and Small Biz Saturday deals to snatch up some great books that will leave your big kids asking for more please, Oliver Twist style.
Holiday Gift Guide:
Middle Grade (ages 8-12) books
Quest Kids and The Dragon Pants Gold by Mark Leiknes
The Kwlade series by Emily Chenowith
The Confessions of a Dork Lord series by Mike Johnston
The Switch by Roland Smith
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
The Secret Letters by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Odder by Katherine Applegate
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Spaceboy by David Walliams
Big Rig by Louise Hawes
Young Adult (ages 13-18) books
Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy Lin
Once Upon a Broken Heart and The Balland of Never After by Stephanie
Gabe in the After by Shannon Doleski
I Must Betray You – Ruta Sepetys
Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid
It’s beginning to look a lot like Giftmas and the Mamas are here for it with board book, picture book, chapter book, and activity book recommendations. Grab a hot toddy and fill your shopping cart while sharing a few laughs with your two BFFs.
Board Books
Activity Books
Picture Books
Chapter Books
Join us next episode for Holiday Gift Guide Part 2: book recs for Middle Graders and Teens.
The Mamas celebrate spooky season with three books perfect for middle graders (ages 8-12) to read in the dark even if the two middle-aged Mamas read them in bright daylight (insert chicken noises here). The Mamas chat about witches, night beasts and ghosts. Oh my! And, debate if its okay to kill books by DNF-ing them. Listen in to find out who is a serial killer and who is a brain sucking zombie.
Book Chat: