The Reader's Heart | Guest: Katherine Marsh

In this conversation, Jennifer LaGarde and Katherine Marsh discuss the power of children's literature and the influence it has on shaping readers' hearts. They explore Katherine's own reader's heart and how it informs her writing. They also delve into the themes and characters of Katherine's book, Medusa, and the importance of representation and empathy in literature. They discuss the challenges of getting kids to read and the need for books that cater to different reading levels and interests. Finally, they touch on Katherine's upcoming projects and the role of books in mother-daughter relationships.

Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here. 

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background   01:12 Katherine's Reader's Heart   05:02 The Importance of Middle Grade Literature   06:25 Representation and Empathy in Books   09:10 Book Talk: Medusa   16:10 The Characters of Medusa   21:32 Ava's Character Development   23:51 Mother-Daughter Relationships in Medusa   24:12 Medusa as a Read-Aloud   28:26 Writing for Different Reading Levels   29:22 Motivating Kids to Read   33:01 Upcoming Projects   36:06 Conclusion