Why Kids “Live in Books” -- James Ponti on City Spies: Europa and the Power of Middle Grade Readers

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What happens when a bestselling middle grade author joins you on World Read Aloud Day -- and opens the episode with a live read-aloud from his brand-new release?

In this return conversation, James Ponti celebrates the book birthday of City Spies: Europa (Book 7!) and takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to write page-turning mystery-adventure that kids don’t just read, they inhabit.

We talk about the research rabbit holes that make a story feel real (including the world's most expensive cup of tea!), the craft of writing dialogue that flows, and why the read aloud shouldn’t stop in early elementary, especially for books that beg to be heard.

You’ll also hear why James believes hope lives in the reader community itself: kids who show up dressed as characters, remember details from five books ago, and prove, again and again, that middle grade readers are powerful.

Favorite Takeaways

• Kids don’t just read books, they live in them.
• The best middle grade is never “dumbed down.” Kids notice everything.
• The read aloud is still one of the strongest tools we have for motivation, stamina, and connection.
• Hope lives in communities of readers who show up, reread, and care deeply.

Timestamps

• 01:46 Special Read Aloud from the first chapter
• 07:43 Behind-the-scenes research and inside jokes that add “richness” to the writing
• 10:46 Middle grade growth: Sydney + Paris, insecurity, and learning to share what we carry
• 12:57 Writing by ear: dialogue, flow, and reading drafts aloud 30+ times
• 15:27 “Kids live in books”: fandom, rereads, deep questions, and catching mistakes
• 28:35 Touring with author friends + building a wider reading life
• 36:39 Hope: readers, community, and stories that model how people solve problems together
• 40:36 What’s next: Sherlock Society: Art Attack (graffiti in Miami!)

Connect + More

• Learn more about James Ponti and check out his appearances on episodes 69, 98, and 119 of the Adventures in Learning podcast
• Check out all of James Ponti's books
• Sign up for Dr. Diane's 365 Day Picture Book Read Aloud calendar

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.