[Amanda H]

Hello, 

My sixth grade students are a huge fan of yours. We have created a classroom podcast called Chapter Chats and our season 1 is live on Apple Podcasts. Students wanted to share the links to the podcasts that they featured your books in. We have also shared with other students in our district/state in hopes of promoting your books to others. Thank you for writing such engaging books, we hope you enjoy this student created podcast! 

Episode 2: Friendship Frustrations - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chapter-chats-season-1-episode-2-friendship-frustrations/id1797621469?i=1000734883282

In this episode of Chapter Chats, Kendra, Carly, Thomas, and Jai dive deep into friendship drama, family struggles and how they can relate to the characters with their own challenges. Thomas explores Rewind by Lisa Graff, where McKinley accidentally time travels to 1993 and learns big lessons about family and change. Carly discusses A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks, where Joy must navigate new friendships and family tension after a move. Kendra unpacks Masterminds by Gordon Korman, in which Amber discovers her entire life has been built on secrets and lies. Jai examines another Gordon Korman favorite, Linked, where Link Rowley confronts prejudice and courage after a shocking event happens at his school. Together, the hosts connect their characters’ worlds to uncover how friendship, trust, and perseverance shape who we become even when life doesn\\\\\\\'t go the way you think it will.

Episode 4: Action Packed Paperbacks - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chapter-chats-season-1-episode-4-action-packed-paperbacks/id1797621469?i=1000734884421

Get ready for adventure in this thrilling episode of Chapter Chats! Fiona, Jeremiah, Will, and Meghana dive into four high-stakes stories filled with courage, danger, and heart. Fiona explores War Stories by Gordon Korman, where 92-year-old Jacob Firestone revisits the battlefields of World War II to face the ghosts of his past. Jeremiah returns to Rewind by Lisa Graff, where McKinley O’Dair accidentally time travels to 1993 and must repair broken friendships, while learning about her family’s history. Will takes on Confessions of a Junior Spy by Rosaria Munda, featuring Bea, a daring young spy determined to protect her friends, even if it means breaking the rules. Finally, Meghana uncovers It Found Us by Lindsay Currie, where Hazel Woods faces a chilling mystery after her friend vanishes during a game of hide-and-seek in a graveyard. Together, the hosts compare how each character faces fear, friendship, and impossible choices and discuss how bravery comes in many forms! 

Episode 5: Fierce Family Emotions - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chapter-chats-season-1-episode-5-fierce-family-emotions/id1797621469?i=1000734884635

In this episode, “Fierce Family Emotions,” Zaina, Lexi, Ani, and Advitha explore four incredible novels where family struggles, identity, and resilience take center stage. Join them as they unpack Linked by Gordon Korman, where prankster Link Rowley uncovers a shocking truth about his family’s past; 24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling, a high-stakes desert adventure where Gus learns the power of courage and teamwork; The Island of Forgotten Gods by Victor Piñeiro, where Nico’s trip to Puerto Rico unearths family secrets and ancient mysteries; and Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, where Amal’s desire for education collides with her family’s hardships in rural Pakistan. Through conversation, humor, and powerful connections, these young hosts discuss how each character faces big emotions of fear, anger, love, and hope.

Hi,  Amanda H,

Thanks so much for sending me these excerpts. I'm pleased to see that some of my books and characters have been noted and examined by your students. Please let them know how much I admire their work, and also the creative assignment that produced such quality results.                                                                    -----Gordon Korman-----