Episode 21: Force of Nature

Blue Spaces, Green Spaces, and the State of Publishing with special guest Elisha Miranda from the Lansing Libraries. 

Cheryl’s Books:     
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst 
Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship by Dana A. Williams 

Mentioned: 
Barack Obama Releases Summer Reading List | Kirkus Reviews (link is in article) 
2025 Summer Reads - LSJ | Capital Area District Libraries 
The Owl Diaries (series) by Rebecca Elliott 

Jessica’s Books:    
Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being by Marc G. Berman  
The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar 

Mentioned: 
One Grand Read Official Site 
Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper (Ep. 5 and Ep.20, Cheryl's take in RR Ep. 82) 
Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a Nation by Tiya Miles (Ep. 3) 
Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille T. Dungy  (RR Ep. 74) 
Holes by Louis Sachar  
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar 

Mari’s Books:    
Tall Water by SJ Sindu 
Chapter Books: 
Willow’s Woods series by Suzanne Selfors
Hut! Hut! Hike! by Andrew Maraniss
Pet Sitter (Miles Lewis series) by Kelly Starling Lyons
Arco’s Little House by Jess Fogel (Actually closer to a picture book)
Shuri Takes Control (Marvel After-School Heroes) by Terrance Crawford 

Mentioned: 
Branches Chapter Books by Scholastic Inc.
Check out our 100 Books Under 100ish Pages list for new, independent readers 

Elisha’s Books: 
Kaya of the Ocean by Gloria L. Huang 
Bhai for Now by Maleeha Siddiqui 
Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay (Mari’s take, Ep. 10)