Soman Chainani wants reading to feel irresistible. The bestselling author of "The School for Good and Evil," series and the recently released graphic novel, "Coven," shares how his own reading life began—powered by Anne Rice, Michael Crichton, and a complete lack of adult supervision—and how those early obsessions shaped his belief that stories should be bold, boundary-pushing, and personal.
“I tell kids that books are not there to torment you. The author has to get you in the first ten pages. If they do not, they fail, because a book is like a lawnmower—you pull it, and either it starts or it doesn't start.”
–Soman Chainai
In this episode, “Touched for the Very First Time: Soman Chainani on Books That Turn Scrollers into Readers,” Soman explains why middle grade books can (and should) feel dangerous, how his grandmother’s glamorous storytelling shaped his imagination, and what a book needs to do in its first ten pages to hook a reader. He also unpacks the “moral grayness” that defines his favorite novels and his own writing, and makes a compelling case for why kids need more honesty, not less, in the stories we give them.
Tune in for a fast-paced episode that includes Madonna, hot takes, and tips for breaking (all) the rules.
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Soman’s reading challenge, Immersive, is all about getting lost in a story. The books he curated blur the line between fiction and reality, pulling the reader in so completely that you forget the world around you. Learn more and download Soman’s reading challenge below!
Listen to the full episode, "Touched for the Very First Time: Soman Chainani on Books That Turn Scrollers into Readers," on Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts. Like what you hear? Please leave a 5-star review, subscribe, and share with someone who will enjoy it!
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Download the free reading challenge worksheet, or view the challenge materials on our helpdesk.