The total eclipse (of the sun not the heart) inspired the Mamas to explore gilded worlds and travel through time (and party like it’s 1999) with new Middle Grade fantasy books for ages 8-12. As you may have suspected, the Mamas were once just two farm girls waiting to be picked from obscurity for a special quest like all the best main characters of their favorite fantasies, towel capes and all.
Book Chat:
In episode 86, the Mamas party like it’s 1999 with their favorite genre, mysteries. Heather brings you a new Middle Grade mystery and rebel Mama, Margie, shares one of her favorite newer grown up series. The Mamas also explore the mystery of the Middle Grade slump and follow up the book chat with a list of new Middle Grade books with boy main characters that will hopefully put an end to Margie’s whining.
Book Chat:
The World-Famous Nine by Ben Guterson (MG)
Suburban Dicks and Self-Made Widow by Fabian Nicieza (Grown Up)
Pick 6: New MG books with boy MCs
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
Walkin’ the Dog by Chris Lynch
Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
Show Links:
Post on fromthemixedupfiles.com
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
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
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:
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:
The Mamas shine in their diamond episode, geeking out over their favorite genre, mysteries. First, the Mamas fangirl about TV cozies, then they chat it up with two new mystery novels for kiddos, ages 8-12: one that Margie recommends for the classroom and one that Heather recommends for family car trips. At the end of the 75th episode, the Mamas discuss a new grown up murder mystery that honors three generations of strong women. Put on your sleuthing caps!
Middle Grade Book Chat:
No One Leaves the Castle by Christopher Healy
Grown Up Book Chat:
It’s a magical moment indeed when Margie realizes a book can have too many fart jokes. Heather didn’t even use her witch wand to open Margie’s eyes. Shocking! In the latest episode of the Two Lit Mamas podcast, the Mamas sprinkle fairy dust on their Middle Grade book chat to spin stories filled with the magic of Gullah conjurers and Norse gods – stories that have the Mamas wishing for broomstick guardians and talking alligators. The Mamas then compel you to listen until the end when they share their latest grown-up book pick, a very twisty turny non-magical mystery that will make you laugh and yell, “girlllllll, don’t do it!”
Middle Grade Book Chat:
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell
Conjure Island by Eden Royce
Grown Up Book Chat:
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
The Mamas boldly and happily leave Earth for an hour to stowaway with space pirates and explore mars with a sentient rover in the 73rd episode of the Two Lit Mamas Podcast. If your Middle Schoolers would rather blast into space than go back to school, then listen in for books that will help them escape. A special bonus for midlife Earthlings includes The Mamas first official grown up book chat about aging GenXers, there’s nothing more punk than that. Grab your moon boots, you’ll need them.
Middle Grade Book Chat:
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
Stowaway by John David Anderson
Grown Up Book Chat:
Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro
The Mamas are back from summer hiatus and fangirling hard for MPH’s newest book Falling Out of Time, a companion piece to Running Out of Time (for kids aged 8-12). They have a lot to say about the two Middle Grade novels but not until they get caught up after a month off. Hear how the Mamas got kicked out of puppy school and went on wildly inappropriate back-to-school shopping sprees. Stick around to the end, the Mama’s are mixing things up and hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Book Chat:
Falling Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
None of this Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive by Carolyn Prusa