WOW Reads

Worlds of Words Center Middle School and Teen Reading Ambassadors discuss the past academic year as they read and promoted reading together.

For us, books and bagels are a natural pairing. Bruegger's by the University of Arizona, if you're listening, know that once a month since January of 2018, multiple bagel bundles fuel our reading discussions. This is not a paid announcement, just facts. But... if you have cheddar to share, we'll take your dough.

Meanwhile, each Reading Ambassador studied four novels this year. We met at least eight authors, participated in the Tucson Festival of...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley by Melissa Marr.

In a special combined group of middle and high school readers, the Reading Ambassadors came together where story worlds collide -- in this case, DC Comics, the gothic world of Robert Lewis Stevenson, and author Melissa Marr's imagination. We thoroughly enjoyed Melissa's second visit with us, especially she shares her writing process and thoughts on book challenges. We also give a shout out to illustrator Jenn St-Onge.

Program note: Melissa discussed Dissociative...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Dear Manny by Nic Stone.

Nic Stone is open and warm, just like her favorite color -- orange. We discuss her commentary on lies (fiction is truth through the lens of a lie), her degree in psychology (understanding human experience helps with character development) and the habit of pursing discomfort (helps us grow and staves off boredom). 

Authors mentioned in this episode:
Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Jacqueline Woodson and Terry J. Benton-Walker.

Additional authors and the b...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Reading Ambassadors (middle and high school) as we recap our experience around University of Arizona Museum Day.

Twelve cultural and science collections on the U of A campus offered free or reduced admission and special programming on Saturday, March 29, 2025. In this bonus episode, we briefly discuss... 

The UA Museum of ArtCenter for Creative PhotographyGreivenkamp Museum of OpticsLaboratory of Tree-Ring ResearchWorlds of Words Center

Worlds of Words shared three experiences for U of A Museum day: our original exhibit "Cepeda Stories: Everyone Has a Story to Tell," art from our a...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga.

In this episode, we discuss... 

How are we seen in real life and in books? How do we see ourselves?In what ways do we help or hinder our relationships with friends and family?The tight nature of writing in the mystery genre. And Emaline takes a clear stance on graphic organizers.

Bonus Book Mentions:
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Thanks to th...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow.

In this episode the Teen Reading Ambassadors talk about perceptions of love and life as idyllic, though the reality of most people's experiences aren't always so tidy. We also appreciate Kathleen's writing advice, which could also help with college applications, and found Kathleen's experiences traveling for book events in different countries interesting.

Books mentioned in this episode:
The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
Dear Manny by Nic Stone
Guides for Dating...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg.

Wherever our destination is, we will enjoy the music! In this episode the Teen Reading Ambassadors talk about the joys of banter between friends, complicated family interactions, and how music connects us regardless of the decade. We, like Bill, hope everyone finds love in a beautiful way.

Band mentions:
Bad Sons
Fiona Apple
Green Day
INXS
Lil Peep (specifically "Star Shopping")
Missing Persons -- Dale Bozzio, do you know about this...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around predicting the 2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal winner for picturebook illustration.

In this episode, we discuss... 

Our understanding of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Caldecott committee's criteria and process for selection.How we used those understandings in determining our nomination and final voting.Our selection for the winning and honor books.How the experience informed our view of picturebooks.

We also would like to make a pitch to ALSC to include at least one youth member on t...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan.

In this episode, we discuss... 

Our connections with the main character, Summer, and the fun we have when we reunite with distant family.How Buffalo Dreamer is the first formal introduction for the Reading Ambassadors about Residential/Industrial Schools for Indigenous children in North America, and how we can carry this new information forward. We consider the idea of "moving forwards, backwards" (sourced from University of Arizona faculty member, Sheilah Nicholas), and how even w...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we recap our experience around Miracle by Karen S. Chow.

In this episode, we discuss... 

Everyone needs an editor -- and multiple kinds! SO to the copy editor who led Chow to her eventual decision to have the characters play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild throughout Miracle.Relationships and mind reading and how we can short ourselves and those around us when we start to guess what other people are thinking.And Rebecca gets corrected by Emaline. Chow says, "Oh, yeah, y...

"We had ups." - Gabriel

Worlds of Words Center Middle School and Teen Reading Ambassadors discuss the past academic year as they read and promoted reading together.

As each group read their four novels, we encountered issues around banned books, school libraries, and talking to grownups. We learned about the process of creating and promoting books for young people and are grateful for the diversity brought to us by authors who shared their work with us. Finally, we explore stereotypes of high school and share strategies for time management around reading for fun.

...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School and Teen Reading Ambassadors as we discuss A Little Like Waking by Adam Rex.

We open the episode by describing our time with Rex as "meeting a legend in person." We chat about dreams and love and the duality of both. We also discuss getting back on the proverbial bike and whether we need a push off a cliff or to jump on our own.

We failed to talk about the book illustrations in this podcast, so watch for that in our bonus year-end recap episode. Listeners...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we discuss Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera.

In this episode, we discuss

Other books mentioned in this episode:
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

We will post Higuera's graph on our Instagram account at the end of the season. Watch for it there at @WOWTeenAmbassadors.

Special shout out to Tucson Festival of Books! Watch for a bonus episode about our experience with the book festival. We are grateful for their work.

This podcast was recorded i...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh.

Meeting Oh sparked our thinking around diversity in books for teens, book bans, ghost stories, and how far we are willing to go with research in service to story telling. There's plenty of Ellen Oh love in this group.

In this episode, we also mention:
Sunshine: a currently unpublished webcomic by Quin
A-Ha's Take On Me video
We Need Diverse Books
Spirit Hunter by Ellen Oh

Special sh...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Up In Flames by Hailey Alcaraz.

We talk retellings in general and this one specifically as well as new-to-us information about the auction process in publishing in this episode of WOW Reads.

Books and other retellings mentioned in this episode:
Anna K by Jenny Lee
Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Amerie
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Iliad by Homer
Malice by Heather Walter
S...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we discuss our experience participating in a mock Randolph Caldecott Medal award event to determine our winner for the most distinguished artist of an American picturebook.

The mock Caldecott event was held in Worlds of Words by Dr. Kathy G. Short and Dr. Desirée Cueto. The American Library Association announced the awards on January 22, 2024, two days after we recorded this episode.

Books mentioned in this episode:
An American Story by Kwame Alexander and Dare Coulter (illus.)
Big by Vashti Harrison

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we discuss The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi.

We tested out some new podcasting equipment, so our sound levels aren't that great. You may want to adjust your volume as you listen.

In this episode, we discuss how we came to read both the U.K. and U.S. versions, the differences we noticed, and how the versions might affect the reader's experiences. We share our perspectives on how children (real and fictional) can be impacted by an adult's choice to w...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we discuss Clarice the Brave by Lisa McMann.

In this episode, the Reading Ambassadors talk about the theme of separation. We also butcher the word "anthropomorphism" to discuss how human characteristics are attributed to the animals in Clarice the Brave. In our off-air literature discussions, we considered anthropomorphism as a basis for banning/challenging books.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

...

Join the Worlds of Words Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss The Broke Hearts by Matt Mendez.

This episode gets personal as we elaborate on Matt's suggestion that we never stop becoming something.

It was reported in this episode that the book launch had just under 30 attendees, but it was actually over 30 attendees. This matters because the Middle School Reading Ambassadors challenged the teens to see who could get more people to their author event. Did they? Didn't they? That part hasn't been reported.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital...

Join the WOW Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we recap our year together.

The novel in verse that Alessa refers to in this episode is Your Heart, My Sky by Margarita Engle. Other books specifically mentioned include Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro and Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert.

The Tucson Festival of Books deserves multiple shout outs!

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Co-Producer: Rebecca Ballenger, WOW Center...

Join the WOW Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors as we discuss Distress Signal by Mary E. Lambert.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Co-Producer: Rebecca Ballenger, WOW Center Associate Director
Co-Producer: Sara Logan, WOW MSRAP Literature Discussant and COE Graduate Student
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, WOW Student Employee and Radio, TV, Film Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, WOW Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Middle School R...

Join the WOW Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe García McCall.

Special shout out to Tucson Festival of Books!

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Co-Producer: Rebecca Ballenger, WOW Center Associate Director
Co-Producer: Sara Logan, RAP Literature Discussant and COE Graduate Student
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, Student Employee and Radio, TV, Film Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, WOW Student Employee and Nursing Major

Join the WOW Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP) as we discuss The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Co-Producer: Rebecca Ballenger, WOW Center Associate Director
Co-Producer: Sara Logan, WOW MSRAP Literature Discussant and COE Graduate Student
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, WOW Student Employee and Radio, TV, Film Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, WOW Student Employee and Nursing Major

For...

Join the WOW Center Middle School and Teen Reading Ambassadors as we discuss the 2023 Outstanding International Books from the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) and the International Board on Books for Young People's (IBBY) 2020 and 2022 Illustration Honor Book.

The Reading Ambassadors specifically mention the following books in this podcast:
This is Our Place by Vitor Martins (USBBY OIB)
Last Week by Bill Richardson and Emilie Leduc (USBBY OIB)
The Invisible by Tom Percival (IBBY Honor List - Illustration)

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning...

Join the WOW Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz and We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade as part of the National Endowment of the Arts' (NEA) Big Read Tucson.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Co-Producer: Rebecca Ballenger, WOW Center Associate Director
Co-Producer: Sara Logan, MSRAP Literature Discussant and COE Graduate Student
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, Student Employee and Radio, TV...

Join the Worlds of Words Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) to meet Guadalupe Garcia McCall, author of Echoes of Grace, at the 2023 Tucson Festival of Books. Our session takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 4 in room 349 of the UArizona College of Education.

For more information on TRAP, please visit wowlit.org.

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a book to share with their school librarian, ELA/English teacher, or...

Join the WOW Center Teen Reading Ambassadors (TRAP) as we discuss A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin.

This podcast was recorded in the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL) in the UArizona College of Education with assistance from the UA COE Tech Team.

Co-Producer: Rebecca Ballenger, WOW Center Associate Director
Co-Producer: Sara Logan, MSRAP Literature Discussant and COE Graduate Student
Audio Engineer: Liam Arias, Student Employee and Radio, TV, Film Major
Coordinator: Vianey Torres, WOW Student Employee and Nursing Major

For more information on the WOW Teen...

The WOW Center Middle School Reading Ambassadors invite you to join us in meeting Daniel Nayeri, author of The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams, at the 2023 Tucson Festival of Books. Our session takes place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 5 in room 351 of the UArizona College of Education.

For more information on the WOW Middle School Reading Ambassadors (MSRAP), visit wowlit.org.

We Can Promote Global Literature Together!

The Worlds of Words Reading Ambassador program is completely free for participants who receive a book for themselves and a...