What if you could travel through time? Would you change the past, or might you discover that some things are better left as they are?
In this episode of The Reader's Heart, Jennifer LaGarde welcomes back author Greg Howard for a conversation about his latest middle-grade novel, The Travelers. Together, they explore the books that shaped Greg's reader's heart, from Stephen King to Pat Conroy, and how stories can help young people navigate grief, find belonging, and feel seen. Greg shares why he intentionally keeps social media in the background of his stories, how friendship helps Ben begin to carry the weight of his grief, and why he wanted to portray a queer kid who is comfortable with who he is. They also discuss the importance of librarians and the safe spaces they create, the unexpected connections among Greg's three novels about grief, and the creative choices behind The Travelers, including its two alternate endings.
Show notes, episode transcripts, educator activities, and other goodies can be found here.
Episode Chapters
00:00:00 | Welcome to The Reader's Heart with Greg Howard
00:02:57 | Finding Your Reader's Heart at Any Age
00:05:54 | Stephen King, Scary Stories, and the Power of Escapism
00:08:58 | The Power of Place: Stories That Make Us Feel Seen
00:12:23 | Inside The Travelers: Time Travel and Family Secrets
00:15:11 | Why The Travelers Makes a Fantastic Read-Aloud
00:19:27 | Unplugging, Imagination, and Childhood Adventure
00:24:55 | Queer Joy, Friendship, and the Weight of Grief
00:31:48 | Red Cat-Eye Glasses and the Librarians of The Travelers
00:35:25 | A Trilogy of Grief and the Art of Book Cover Design
00:41:34 | Alternate Endings and What's Next for Greg Howard
00:46:31 | Closing Thoughts and Credits
