During this week's episode of The Reader's Heart. Katherine Marsh mentions this photo of herself as a kid. She describes the scene (surrounded by books, on a couch, with a snack) as her "happy place" and I'm not sure I've ever felt so seen in all my life! Coincidently, (or not!) Katherine's latest book, Medusa: The Myth of Monsters, is also about what it means to be seen and heard - particularly in a world that often privileges some voices over others. During our conversation, she also mentions this article, from The Atlantic, in which Katherine explores some of the reasons why many kids no longer identify as readers. I can't help but feel like both the photo and article capture a big part of who Katherine Marsh is: As she mentions in this week's episode, as a kid, Katherine found a home and a sense of belonging and connection in books and stories. And as an adult, Katherine is passionate about making sure other kids are able to find that same safe place to figure who they are and what kind of mark they want to leave on the world. Katherine Marsh writes stories that capture kids' imaginations while also helping them navigate what can often be a dark and discouraging world. It was an immense joy to chat with her this week. I loved our conversation so much and I hope you do, too!
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Katherine Marsh is an award-winning author of novels for middle-grade readers including The Lost Year; Nowhere Boy; The Night Tourist; Medusa: The Myth of Monsters and more. Among her honors are National Book Award finalist, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, winner of the Jane Addams Award for Children’s Chapter Books, and winner of the Middle East Book Award. Her books have also been Junior Library Guild Gold Selections, New York Times Notables, American Library Association Notables, Bank Street Best Books, on numerous state lists, and have been translated into sixteen languages. A former magazine journalist, Katherine lives in Washington, DC with her husband, two children and an astonishing array of pets.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Note: episode transcripts are generated by AI and are likely imperfect. Still, I hope you find them useful.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Please enjoy a special discount of 20% off the titles mentioned in this episode (or others of your choice) by visiting Bookelicious and using the code JENNIFERLAGARDE. Note: I do not make any money from the sales, but I am delighted that you get to save some!
Medusa: The Myth of Monsters by Katherine Marsh
The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh
Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
Connect with Katherine
MORE ABOUT THE READER’S HEART
Rooted in the belief that our world needs the magic of children’s literature now more than ever, the Reader’s Heart podcast captures conversations with authors and illustrators about children's literature as a vehicle for empathy and joy in a dark world. I'm so excited about this project and it's my wish that it brings you as much light and hope as it has brought me.
Special thanks to Corinna Luyken for creating the beautiful illustration that will serve as the show's logo. I've always found Corinna's art so moving and she perfectly captured the spirit of what I am trying to do, which is to put warmth and love into the world during a time when so many are working to limit kids' access to the warmth and love inherent in children's literature. (Also, don't forget, you can use the discount above to buy Corinna's books from Bookelicious, too!)
Weekly episodes will drop on Tuesdays. Once you've had a chance to listen, I hope you will consider leaving The Reader's Heart a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review! Podcast reviews are one of the best ways to support your favorite shows and help others find these conversations.
WHERE TO LISTEN:
Wherever you listen to podcasts!
