Author Susan Stoderl ( @writer_susanstoderl ) is reading an excerpt from Chapter 8 of Mission 1: All in a Day's Work, the first book in her Sophia of the Bright Red Sneakers Series. In this excerpt, Brad Whitewood a.k.a. Brad-the-Block, tries to intimidate Pedro and Sophia, but ends up getting a "Creative Steaming." #middlegradebooks, #storytelling, #girlpower, #middlegradeanimalbooks, #middlegradefriendshipbooks

High above Fifth Avenue, Wahoo the Raven daydreamed on his string bag hammock. His iridescent black feathers sparkled in the sun. What now? Should he return to typing his memoir on his BlackZip™ typewriter, which he had designed, assembled, and trademarked under his BlackRaven™ brand? He could only write RavenSpeak in hieroglyphics, which no human could read, so he was forced to type his memoir in English. Maybe he should just idle away an hour until it was time to go visit J

Many people find middle school difficult since it encompasses the pre-pubescent years through puberty. Most of us don’t even want to remember that. Remembering that you survived it, and can laugh about it now, makes being an adult that much easier. You can escape into a world where the cringe-worthy news cycles are simpler and solvable. Children who are the oldest may not get to be children. Single-parent homes need extra help to make ends meet or provide childcare for younge