{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/693f42a89278bf5c1cfffc32/69a63fe6864e4f4dbec6dd89?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"What Does It Mean to Win? | Donna Galanti on The Secret Winners Club","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/693f42a89278bf5c1cfffc32/1772502412105-9f8ee610-b03c-4c95-8a78-cec586afc5f9.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>What happens when kids who feel overlooked finally discover their power?</p><p>In this episode of <em>Reading in the Middle</em>, Annisha sits down with Donna Galanti to discuss her middle-grade novel, <em>The Secret Winners Club, </em>a story about belonging, visible differences, bullying, and the true cost of winning.</p><p>At the heart of the novel is Sunny, a girl with alopecia who joins a group of kids determined to rise above being underestimated. But as competition heats up—from swim team rivalries to social power struggles—the question shifts from <em>how to win</em> to <em>what winning is really worth</em>.</p><p>Together, Annisha and Donna explore:</p><ul><li>Subtle and competitive forms of bullying</li><li>The emotional drive of “beating your bullies.”</li><li>Complex family dynamics, including single-parent households and the return of an absent father</li><li>Why middle grade is the perfect space for moral gray areas</li></ul><p>This episode is for librarians, educators, caregivers, and anyone who believes middle-grade books face the biggest questions with the most honesty.</p><p><br></p><p>✨ Listen, subscribe, and keep reading in the middle.</p><p>Visit Donna on her website: <a href=\"http://www.donnagalanti.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">donnagalanti.com</a></p>","author_name":"Annisha Jeffries"}