Escape, Grief and Growth. How Stories Help Kids & Teens Cope

On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two sets of guests whose books highlight just how powerful stories can be—for thrills, for connection, and for healing.

First, Jed chats with Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss, co-authors of the YA murder mystery The Escape Game. Set on a reality TV escape-room competition, the book follows Sierra, returning to the show where her sister Alicia was murdered—determined to unmask the real killer. Marissa and Tamara share how the idea was born from an art-heist escape room, how their 20-year friendship began with Sailor Moon fan fiction, and how writing across continents turned into a "24/7" drafting process. They talk about why teens—especially girls—are drawn to dark, twisty stories, the joy and challenge of co-writing, found family dynamics, and weaving humor and puzzles into a high-stakes mystery that keeps most readers guessing wrong.

In the second half, Jed welcomes debut picture book author and longtime teacher Dina Hardt to celebrate Catch of the Day. Inspired by a photo of her brother fishing, the story was first written over 20 years ago and lovingly revised after her brother Anthony's passing. Dina describes how bringing the story back became part of her healing, seeing her brother's spirit in both words and illustrations. She reflects on the bond between grandparents and grandchildren, perseverance on the fishing dock, and the quiet faith of knowing we're not alone. Dina also shares how she gets her fourth graders excited about reading and writing, and why family read-alouds—at any age—truly matter.