BookWorthy Chats with Amanda Cleary Eastep

Summary
In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Amanda Cleary Eastep, author of the Tree Street Kids series. Amanda shares her inspiration for her recent trip to India and how it influenced her writing. She discusses the fifth book in the series, The Beastie of Brambly Bald, and the themes of family dynamics and curiosity that are explored. Amanda also talks about engaging middle-grade readers and the importance of playfulness and humor in children's literature. She shares her favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time, and the impact they had on her. Finally, Amanda discusses her future projects and where to find more information about her and her books.

Takeaways
Travel experiences can inspire and influence writing.
Engaging middle-grade readers requires playfulness and curiosity.
Children's literature should explore themes of family dynamics and different perspectives.
Books have the power to impact and inspire readers.
Future projects include continuing the Tree Street Kids series and exploring new adventures.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Random Question
01:25 Inspiration for Trip to India
03:40 Inspiration for Book: The Beastie of Brambly Bald
07:05 Engaging Middle Grade Readers
10:27 Writing Playful and Curious Stories
15:07 Themes in The Beastie of Brambly Bald
17:01 Exploring Relationships and Different Perspectives
18:26 Favorite Books: To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time
21:36 Impact of Books and Writing
23:36 Future Projects
25:03 Where to Find More Information
26:00 Conclusion

Let's discover great books together!

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