Smack Dab in the Middle

It's time for some new middle grade reading! Here are three excerpts from interviews I did on my blog Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb .   First up, there's Terri Libenson's new graphic novel Seriously, Celia? , the latest in her Emmie & Friends series. I asked Terri about the relationship between the book's two protagonists, Celia and Grace, and she said , "I would describe it as toxic. There’s an imbalance their relationship. Celia seemingly has all the power and Grace – although she cares about Cee – can’t seem to break away from their friendship. She is worried she’d be all alone and unpopular without Cee. The story asks the question: are some friendships worth it or not? Readers get to see that play out."   Next, we have another graphic novel, The Cloak from Baghdad by Carol Isaacs. When I asked about the inspiration for the book, she said , " Over the years, it seemed to me that the history of Iraqi Jews is not so well known. On hearing I am Je...