Person
Every book Maria Russo recommended on podcasts
Maria Russo’s most recommended books
- Edie by Jean Stein
- After the Fall by Dan Santat
- Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
- Far from the tree by Robin Benway
- Feather by Rémi Courgeon
- Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
- Good Night, Planet by Liniers
- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
- Inkling by Kenneth Oppel
Maria Russo is a prominent literary critic and editor who frequently appears on The Book Review podcast to discuss children's literature, young adult fiction, and influential classics. Russo brings a deep appreciation for storytelling across age groups, often highlighting picture books and YA novels that resonated with her. Among her favorites, she praised Jonah Winter's devastating picture book My Name Is James Madison Hemings, which explores the life of Thomas Jefferson's son, alongside Vera Brosgol's Leave Me Alone. She also championed Jory John's Penguin Problems, illustrated by Lane Smith, and Kate Beaton's King Baby, a picture book about the disruptive arrival of a demanding new infant. Transitioning to young adult fiction, Russo recommended Nicola Yoon's bestselling realistic fiction novel The Sun is Also a Star and A.S. King's inventive YA novel Still Life with Tornado. Furthermore, during a broader discussion on fan culture and the enduring legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Russo enthusiastically brought up Wendy McClure's memoir The Wilder Life, in which the author chronicles her own obsession by visiting all the historic homesteads. Through these diverse recommendations, Russo showcases her expertise in navigating the rich landscape of youth and adolescent literature.
Books recommended by Maria Russo
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Edie
Edie by Jean Stein is a landmark modern oral history that chronicles the dramatic life, rise, and tragic fall of Edie Sedgwick within the vibrant cultural landscape of 1960s America.
Discussed“it's by Jean Stein who also her her first really popular oral history was called Edy American Girl published in 1982”
Where to get it
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After the Fall
After the Fall by Dan Santat is a celebrated picture book that explores what happened to Humpty Dumpty after his famous fall from the wall.
Recommended“another picture book that I especially love reading with my youngest child because it has a lot of humor in it is Dan and tats after the fall how Humpty Dumpty got back up again”
Where to get it
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Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx
Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx by Sonia Manzano is a poignant memoir detailing the author's challenging upbringing and her eventual path to creative success.
Recommended“but I really loved Sonia manso's Memoir becoming Maria love and Chaos in the South Bronx Sonia monsano of course of Sesame Street Fame and you know I for one am always surprised when someone who is so talented in one area can also write”
Where to get it
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Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone is a bestselling young adult fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi that draws heavily on West African mythology, culture, and Yoruba traditions.
Recommended“um and then I would say if you're looking for a fantasy a fantasy the book of the year is Children of Blood and Bone by Tommy adami”
Where to get it
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Far from the tree
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway is a poignant young adult novel that explores adoption, sibling bonds, and identity through the lives of three teenagers.
Recommended“the realism we have the one I really liked a national book award finalist called far from the tree by Robin Benway”
Where to get it
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Feather
Feather by Rémi Courgeon is a moving children's picture book about a young boy who dreams of flying and overcomes bullying with the help of family and determination.
Recommended“Remy kjan has a adorable book called feather of course beatric almana on a magical do nothing day”
Where to get it
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Fuzzy Mud
Fuzzy Mud is a suspenseful middle-grade eco-thriller by Louis Sachar that investigates the dangerous consequences of a secret biological experiment gone wrong in a rural community.
Recommended“yeah we have a great review of Louis saar's new book fuzzy mud which has already made its appearance for weeks on the bestseller list a middle-grade book The Plot involves a corporate conspiracy to pollute and poison uh the environment that these two children have to discover and try to thwart that it's very timely and I think kids”
Where to get it
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Good Night, Planet
Good Night, Planet by Liniers is a charming children's picture book that follows a little toy rabbit as it experiences the nocturnal world after its human child falls asleep.
Recommended“the Argentine Comics artist leners has a fantastic picture book I love this book I know it's called good night Planet”
Where to get it
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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L.
Recommended“then there's one other National book award finalist in our coverage I am not your perfect Mexican Daughter by Erica Sanchez that I really liked too really beautifully written”
Where to get it
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Inkling
Inkling is a delightful middle-grade novel by Kenneth Oppel that tells an imaginative story centered around a young protagonist and a living ink drawing, featuring illustrations by Sydney Smith.
Recommended“well I have to say My overall favorite middle-grade novel is called inkling it's by Kenneth oel and it's illustrated by one of our favorite illustrator Sydney Smith”
Where to get it
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King Baby
King Baby by Kate Beaton is a humorous picture book about a demanding infant who rules over the household like an absolute monarch.
Recommended“and then my other favorite picture book is King Baby written and illustrated by Kate Beaton”
Where to get it
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Leave Me Alone
Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol is a children's picture book about a grandmother who seeks solitude away from her many demanding grandchildren in order to finish her knitting.
Where to get it
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Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a classic autobiographical children's novel chronicling pioneer life on the American frontier.
Recommended“and a great book by Wendy McClure a few years ago the Wilder life where she you know talks about her Obsession and she went and visited all the homesteads”
Where to get it
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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is a dark, imaginative fantasy novel that incorporates historical elements and striking visual media into its narrative.
Recommended“we should say if you if you haven't read uh The Peculiar Children Trilogy uh that is that is one that really hits home and it's just uh also beautifully written and dark it's incredibly dark and it has a little bit of a visual it's got these crazy vintage uh postcard photos in it that kind of tell the”
Where to get it
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My Name Is James Madison Hemings
My Name Is James Madison Hemings by Jonah Winter and Terry Widener is a picture book biography that tells the story of the son of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.
Recommended“there's another one that I really like that was absolutely devastating called my name is James Madison hemings”
Where to get it
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On a magical do-nothing day
On a magical do-nothing day by Beatrice Alemagna is a charming children's picture book that captures the experience of a child spending a rainy day disconnected from screens and immersed in nature.
Recommended“Remy kjan has a adorable book called feather of course beatric almana on a magical do nothing day”
Where to get it
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Penguin problems
Penguin Problems by Jory John and Lane Smith is a humorous picture book that follows a grumpy penguin dealing with everyday grievances in the Antarctic.
Recommended“and then my other favorite picture book is penguin Problems by Jory John illustrated by the great Lane Smith”
Where to get it
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Secret Coders
Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang is an educational graphic novel series that combines mystery, adventure, and foundational computer programming logic for young readers.
Recommended“one last comic book since we love that genre so much um or graphic novel but for readers a little bit older this one is uh it's called secret coders also the beginning of a series uh by the brilliant um Gan Len yangang”
Where to get it
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Still life with tornado
Still Life with Tornado by A.S.
Recommended“still life with Tornado by as king”
Where to get it
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The birchbark house
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich is a celebrated children's historical novel that chronicles the life of an Ojibwa girl named Omakayas living on Madeline Island in Lake Superior during the mid-nineteenth century.
Recommended“in the interum we have a great series by the the novelist Lise erdrich called birchbark house also for middle grade you know 8 to 12 readers”
Where to get it
The other 33 books Maria Russo recommended or discussed, ranked
- The boy and the whale by Mordicai Gerstein
- The explorer by Katherine Rundell
- The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
- The Party and Other Stories by Sergio Ruzzier
- The stars beneath our feet by David Barclay Moore
- The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
- The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
- The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
- The wall in the middle of the book by Jon Agee
- The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshi
- The wild boy by Mordicai Gerstein
- The Wilder life by Wendy McClure
- This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
- Waiting by Kevin Henkes
- Who is Rich? by Matthew Klam
- A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins
- A year without mom by Dasha Tolstikova
- Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
- Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan
- In the Shadow of Liberty by Kenneth C. Davis
- Jesus' son by Denis Johnson
- Life on Mars by Jon Agee
- Milo's hat trick by Jon Agee
- Mr. Wolf's class by Aron Nels Steinke
- Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine by Mark Twain
- Sachiko by Caren Stelson
- The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss
- The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt
- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
- The Plot to Kill Hitler by Patricia McCormick
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
- West of Eden by Jean Stein
- When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin
Appearances
Other mentions (17: passing, ad reads, own books)
“The Book Thief for example have been bestsellers for years and still have a devoted following”
“Vera brasal wrote a really terrific graphic novel for older readers called Ana's ghost a few years ago”
“she was the author of everything everything which another bestseller”
“we have a pregnant 16-year-old and we don't necessarily see the sex but release by Patrick NES which is on the fantasy”
“uh well I think this was probably written in 1958 The Cat in the Hat was published in 1957”
“and um and then in 1960 was One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”
“it's a new novel by Rebecca St who uh is the author of When You Reach Me Newberry winner from a few years back”
“Hank is of course the author of Lily's Purple Plastic Purse of the penny and the marble Series”
“one of the biggest hits from recent years was The Day the Crayons Quit uh in the picture book world”
“one last comic book since we love that genre so much um or graphic novel but for readers a little bit older this one is uh it's called secret coders also the beginning of a series uh by the brilliant um Gan Len yangang who wrote um American boorn Chinese and the secret the boxers and Saints series”
“and you really see um you know that a little bit more of a subversive take on uh the parent child relationship Marlo frzy Illustrated um everywhere babies which I think is like one of the go book she has so many great ones”
“and Saker wrote holes which was turned into a movie”
“and the review is by Elliot Sher who our readers might know is the author of endangered right he has he writes um really well about environmental issues for children”
“you know Jane air and um ivanho are are books that are kind of embedded in the plot of this novel The heroine wants to better herself through literature”
“you know Jane air and um ivanho are are books that are kind of embedded in the plot of this novel The heroine wants to better herself through literature”
“okay people know Jesse Andrews because he's the author of me and Earl and the dying girl”
“won the governor general award uh last year for the her 13B”