Stifled is out! I’m so thrilled and grateful to have another book for you to read. This story is for any reader trying to figure out where they belong. Madge’s best friend Amelia gets involved with the Free Readers fighting against book banning. In jazz band, Madge finds the pressure to play perfectly is more than she expected. What if she’s not a Band Kid, after all?

“So many kids head into middle school with an idea of what it is going to be like. When things end up being a heck of a lot different from their expectations, the transition can be rough,” said Mr. Colby Sharp, a Michigan teacher and literacy advocate. “Stifled does a great job showcasing this very big move for kids. Loved this one!”

Are you the type to persevere or give up? There are things I’ve quit (piano) and things I’ve stuck with (writing). Tell me what you still do, despite the odds!

Reading recs

On top of everything else, Madge discovers a secret about her mother and father. Here are two books about great fathers, one for adults and one for young readers:

Whistler by Ann Patchett. This book (likely already on your to-read list) fulfills that yearning for a good story about complex people, the mistakes they make, and truths long buried. An old man follows Daphne in a museum, and as it unfolds, it explores love and marriage and most of all, stepfathers who love the kids even after the marriage fails.

Monster Down Deep by Amy Fellner Dominy. Cassie has to overcome her fear of the ocean in this action-packed treasure hunt. There’s Blue, a rare fish; a rival beachcomber who turns into a friend; and a sweet relationship with her father who runs an aquarium.

Book news

Follow me on instagram to see my upcoming appearances! And if you are a band teacher or librarian, please contact me for virtual or in-person school visits. I love talking about editing and how reporting skills can make you a better writer.

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: My first event is Sept. 16 at Ten Trees Books in Natick, MA! RSVP here.

This story is about Madge, Amelia’s best friend from Muffled. When Madge starts middle school, she’s not surprised to get into Jazz Notes—she was the best trombonist in fifth grade. But soon family secrets, friendship growing pains, and the stress of playing in the competitive jazz band wear her down.​ Worse, her best friend Amelia is fighting against book censorship at the school library, and Madge isn’t sure where she fits in. Will she find a way back to the sound of her own horn and heart?

Preorder now for $17.99!

Here’s what reviewers are saying:

• “Gennari realistically and sensitively explores tough topics including censorship and grief... Madge is occasionally overprotective toward Amelia in a way that’s well-intentioned but stifling, and readers will appreciate both Amelia’s growth and Madge’s gradual awareness of her own behavior. Poignant and insightful. —​Kirkus Reviews

• “Stifled by Jennifer Gennari is a thought-provoking story of shifting friendships, loss, intergenerational love, and boldly finding yourself. Readers will root for Madge as she shares her voice, her heart, and music.” —Elly Swartz, author of Same Page

• “This timely and honest novel hits all the right notes. … Gennari beautifully weaves together so many chords to show the highs and lows of transitioning to middle school.” —Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble

Readings

If you live near these areas below, I hope you will come see me!

• Sept. 16, 2:30 pm: Book Release Celebration, Ten Trees Books, in Natick, MA

• Sept. 26, 10 am to 4 pm: Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, in Chappaqua, NY

• Nov. 15, 11 am to 3 pm: Newton Children’s Book Festival, Newton, MA

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: Teachers and librarians, please contact me for school visits!

PPS: I’ve read the buzzy books Whistler and Yesteryear as well as several new middle-grade novels. I’ll send reading recs next month!

Reading recs

Here are two books about creativity, one for adults and one for young readers:

Writers & Lovers by Lily King. I had to read more by King after her latest, the fabulous Heart the Lover. This earlier work is about Casey, a young writer, who falls for two guys and is grappling with her ambition, waitressing woes, and big grief after the death of her mother. It’s a great exploration of writing—the competitiveness, craziness, self-doubt, and ego that goes into writing a book.

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk. Lucretia and her mom, a painter, move to an island off the coast of Maine for privacy and find instead that everyone knows everyone’s business. Lucretia, Murdock and Bastian (great names!) are three talented local kids who fight back against mean kids who summer on the island. Although this is a story about overcoming grief, it’s also about the power of free-range creativity.

Creative news

Stifled, my forthcoming novel, is a Junior Library Guild selection! We’re about two months out from publication, so it really helps to preorder the book now. Or ask your local library to shelve it.

Here’s where I’ll be in September:

• Wednesday, Sept. 16: Book Club and launch celebration! At 2:30 pm for younger readers at Ten Trees Books in Natick, Massachusetts.

• Saturday, Sept. 26: All day, I’ll be signing books and talking to readers of all ages at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival in Chappaqua, New York.

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: As a guest on Smack Dab in the Middle, I wrote “Great books move us. That’s what I’m looking for as a reader—to be touched by a character’s triumph over adversity and their transformation.” Read on. What do you hope for?

I’ve been taking a class with Cordelia Jensen through Boyds Mills, and it’s been wonderful to be a student again, learning the craft of writing novels in verse. Poetry connects us with what makes us human.

May Reads

Here are two books that ponder the role of poetry in our lives, one for adults and one for young readers:

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan. A fascinating book from the perspective of an academic, Tom, in the year 2119 (after the Inundation). Tom is an expert on the poet Blundy and he’s determined to find Blundy’s lost poem, “A Corona for Vivien.” McEwan provides biting commentary on our times (the Derangement) and everything recorded, but it’s the love stories (one in the past and one in the present) and the question of what happened to the poem that kept me turning the pages.

Truth Is by Hannah Sawyerr. This National Book Award finalist and novel-in-verse is about Truth Bangura and her complex relationship with her mother, her absent father, abortion, poetry, friendship, love, and second chances. I loved it, from the poetry craft to the affirmation that her body is hers. Truth is figuring out who she wants in her life, from her best friend who opposes abortion to her father who didn’t reach out until she was 18 to her ex-boyfriend who still wants to be friends. Powerful.

Creative news

My next book Stifled received two lovely blurbs from authors Elly Swartz and Lisa Moore Ramée. I am so grateful for such kind words from two accomplished authors. I hope you’ll read their books and preorder your copy of Stifled now!

If you live near Maryland, I’ll be at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 16. My noon workshop — Notice, Ask, Listen: Be a Reporter to Improve Your Stories — will be geared for young people but useful for all ages!

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: Are you curious about the subplot on book banning in Stifled? I chat about that on Jan Milsuvich’s blog, Writer-Reader-Teacher.

Reading recs

Here are two books about our capacity to evolve and change, one for adults and one for young readers:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. Written entirely as letters to and from Sybil, a woman in her seventies, this novel is a gem. Slowly, we become invested in Sybil and her relationships through letters with her children, her best friend, her brother. I kept turning pages for the moment when the emotional walls come down. This one is worth the hype!

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson. This verse novel, which won the Newbery, is a moving exploration of grief, through the voice of 14-year-old Sage whose best friend was killed by a drunk driver. Sage awakens to the persistence of sadness and how, slowly, happiness returns to live side-by-side with it. And it’s okay to feel all of it.

Creative news

TA-DA! Here is the cover of Stifled, coming September 1, from Beach Lane Books! Some of you may wonder about that fuzzy mute, and yes, it’s an echo back to the cover of Muffled. Huge thanks to Javier Pérez, who is the artist of both! Remember Amelia’s loud friend, Madge? She gets to tell her story now, as the two begin middle school.

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: If you are a teacher, librarian or bookseller, please let me know if you’d like an advanced reader copy. If you are on goodreads, please mark Stifled as want-to-read! And if you plan to buy it, it helps create buzz if you pre-order the book.

January reads

Here are two powerful books, one for adults and one for young readers:

Flashlight by Susan Choi. An immersive, gripping, and moving book about a Korean American, his wife, and their daughter. Confidently told between different perspectives, Choi unfolds the story of their lives following the disappearance of the father and husband. It explores the notion of “home” when you’re from two countries and the forgotten (or unknown to me) history of the North Korean kidnapping campaign.

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinken. For a hopeful story of resistance, this great story follows Jakob and Lizzie who live in England’s Bletchley Park of WWII codebreakers. The two must solve the mystery of where their mother is (dead or alive after a dangerous mission in Poland) as well as help crack the encrypted messages from Germany before the first London attack.

Creative news

Before September, when Stifled publishes, I’ll be doing podcasts and other fun things to introduce you to Madge, my trombone-playing sixth grader. First up: A cover reveal in February on Instagram! I’ll also share the preorder link, which helps the publisher (and me!) know how sales are going.

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: You’ll notice that I’ve turned on pledges. There’s no pressure to switch to a paid subscription, but if you like my book recommendations, every bit helps.

Read more

Whatever the season brings, I hope you’re surrounded by good books. There’s nothing better than an engrossing story during these darker days. I’d love to know what you’re reading or gifting to loved ones. Add a comment with your favorite read from 2025!

December reads

Here are two climate fiction stories, one for adults and one for younger readers:

Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan. Bo is living in a dystopic future San Francisco, where people are stuck in high-rise buildings and shop on the roofs. I was hooked by its authentic descriptions of the interior life of an artist as well as the exterior world in a climate catastrophe. Bo, who is caring for Mia, a centenarian, keeps waffling about whether to stay or not in a drowned city. Learn more here.

Into the Rapids by Ann Braden. Addy wants to go to camp, but a superstorm and a swollen river wipe out the bridge connecting Addy and her mom to town. This heartfelt adventure story explores the edge between self-reliance and isolation as the family confronts grief and the limits of going it alone. Learn more here.

Creative news

Stifled, the story of Madge who is overwhelmed by middle school, has a publication date: September 1, 2026! Look for a cover reveal in February.

Inspired by new climate fiction, I’ve returned to a middle grade novel I wrote years ago about a girl trying to stop the sea from flooding the only home she’s ever known. This time, I’m going to let Sienna tell her story in verse.

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: Catch me at Highlights in this mini webinar Dec. 2 and 4!

Fall is also awards season! I love discovering new authors and hearing which books have captured hearts. I’ve highlighted two favorites, and I urge you to check out all the nominees for something new to read. Here are the lists for the 2025 National Book Award (winners announced Nov. 19) and the Booker Prize (announced Nov. 10).

October Reads

The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life by Helen Whybrow: This lyrical nonfiction book describes the rhythm of life on a 200-acre farm in Vermont. Whybrow takes us through raising her children, grazing sheep, growing the right grasses, and the integrated web of people who make the system work. Longlisted for the National Book Award, The Salt Stones dives into what it means to belong to and care for a piece of land.

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri: Set in Iran during WWII, this is both an adventure story and an illumination of that country’s history. The two orphans are resourceful and clever, highlighting the power of language to connect people. This book is a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

Creative News

I can’t wait to share the cover of Stifled, my next middle-grade novel. One of the things I’m proud of in this story is that the students fight an effort to ban books in their school. Three things you can do: use your library card weekly, read a banned book, and thank a librarian for protecting our freedom to read.

Keep reading,

Jen

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It’s been a hot summer and I’ve eaten the last blueberries from my young (and not so productive) blueberry bushes. Fortunately, the farmers near me in Vermont have pints and pints.

August reads

As summer peaks, take time to immerse yourself in another world. Here’s an adult novel and a young adult book I loved for giving me perspective:

Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson. This is a story of dreams and maternal love-longing and rising up from Kingston, Jamaica. I was moved by Pumkin's persistence to pass a French competency test; Robinson captures the dichotomy of skin hues and class perfectly in this exquisite novel. I felt the heartbreak coming... in the best way. Learn more here.

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay. A multigenerational story that explores masculinity as it traces father-son relationships from Francisco to Emil, Emil to Chris, and Chris to Enzo. It’s ultimately hopeful, though it delves into the harsh treatment of Filipino laborers, the Watstonville Riots, on through to the pandemic. Learn more here.

Creative news

I’ve been exploring different points of view in Heartaches and Stomachaches, a new middle-grade novel I’m writing that features three voices. Set in California, it’s a story about flooding and friendships that alter. It’s a pleasure to stretch my writing skills in new directions. Are you trying something new?

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: I’m teaching Editing for Impact with my co-teacher Lisa Moore Ramée at Highlights online beginning Oct. 8!

It’s been a cool spring in Vermont, and yet the wrens and cardinals call me outside. I’ve seeded my garden with arugula and mixed greens and built a new raised bed (from old staircase treads) for sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos.

In these times, I find that I read more—more books to escape news and more books to challenge me. After more than a year hiatus, I’m reviving this newsletter to connect and share my love of books. I hope this newsletter is a place where we can share recommendations. What are you reading?

June reads

This Pride month, support LGBTQ writers! I loved both of these books:

Woodworking by Emily St. James. The author took me inside the world of trans women in this emotional journey set in South Dakota. The story begins with Abigail, who is living with her sister and fleeing her conservative family, and her high school English teacher, who is only just beginning to let Erica (herself) live her life. I learned what the term woodworking means, and so much more; I hope you read it! Learn more here.

How It All Ends: A Graphic Novel by Emma Hunsinger. Have you read a graphic novel yet? This award-winning book was amazing fun! Tara has skipped a grade straight into high school, and we follow her through anxiety about fitting in, getting lost, and experiencing her first crush. The author created authentic sibling relationships, from imaginative playtime with her little brother to the close (and sometimes fractious) ties with her older sister. Learn more here.

Creative news

I’m in the revising and editing stages of Stifled, my next middle-grade novel. It’s the story of Madge, who loses her confidence as she experiences friendship changes, book banning at the middle school library, and the stress of playing in a competitive jazz band. Some of you may remember her as Amelia’s friend in Muffled. Simon & Schuster’s Beach Lane Books is publishing Stifled in fall 2026!

Happy reading,

Jen

PS: If you’re a teacher (or know one), please email me to schedule a school visit this fall or spring! You can read about my interactive workshops here.