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    The Children's Book Review

    Donna Gephart’s In Your Shoes | Meet The Characters

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Best Kids Stories Interviews Novels for Kids and Teens
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    The Children’s Book Review | October 30, 2018

    Get To Know Miles Spagoski—slightly neurotic, bowling enthusiast—from Donna Gephart’s In Your Shoes, the story of two middle school students who discover that it’s not always clear who could use a friend the most.

    The Children’s Book Review: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

    Miles Spagoski: My ambition to bowl a perfect game. Love spending time on the lanes, so a game or two before school is always my reason for getting out of bed in the morning.

    I see you have a bag with you. Will you tell us what you keep inside of it?

    My lucky bowling shoes, of course. Except when one of those shoes connected squarely with Amy Silverman’s forehead, I began to doubt the “lucky” part.

    Are you hungry right now? Can we fix you anything to eat? Maybe we could make you your favorite dish?

    I’ll just have a root beer . . . and try unsuccessfully not to spill it on Amy Silverman’s lap. It’s not easy being a neurotic bowling enthusiast, who is also a little clumsy when he’s nervous. And who wouldn’t be nervous around a cute new girl at school?!

    Do you like to read?

    The one thing that relaxes me is reading about strange ways people throughout history have died. One man was killed when a tortoise was dropped on his head by an eagle flying over. People believe the eagle thought the man’s head was a rock. (And that’s not the weirdest story I discovered!)

    Do you have a favorite song?

    I listen to the oldies station through scratchy speakers at my family’s bowling center.

    Are you a rule follower or rule breaker?

    I’d like to say I’m a rule follower, but the truth is I swindle kids for cash on the lanes. But I’m definitely going to stop doing that . . . as soon as I have enough money for my grandfather’s very special 75th birthday present.

    When was the last time you felt embarrassed?

    When do I not feel embarrassed. It was pretty bad when I spilled my drink on Amy’s lap, but there were other humiliating incidents with her as well. It’s a wonder she ever came back to the lanes, but I’m so glad she did.

    If you weren’t answering the questions in this interview right now, what would you be doing?

    I’d be hanging out with my friends at the bowling center, sitting at the snack counter, chowing down, or teasing them about their lack of bowling skills as I strive for my perfect game.

    Do you have any secrets you would like to share with us before you go?

    You might like to know the grand gesture I came up with for my new friend, but of course you’ll have to read the end of In Your Shoes to find that out. Now won’t you?

    —

    In Your ShoesIn Your Shoes

    Written by Donna Gephart

    Publisher’s Synopsis: The critically acclaimed author of Lily and Dunkin delivers another heartfelt story that will remind readers you never know who needs a friend the most, about two imaginative tweens who help each other find new beginnings.

    Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family’s bowling center even if though he could be killed by a bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo on the way there.

    Amy is the new girl at school who wishes she didn’t have to live above her uncle’s funeral home and tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after.

    Then Miles and Amy meet in the most unexpected way . . . and that’s when it all begins. . . .

    Ages 9-12 | Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers | October 9, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1524713737

    Available Here: 

    Text, logoBuy on AmazonLogo

    About the Author

    Donna Gephart
    Donna Gephart

    Donna Gephart’s award-winning novels are packed with humor and heart. They include Death by Toilet Paper; Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen; How to Survive Middle School; and As if Being 12-3/4 Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President! Donna is a popular speaker at schools, conferences, and book festivals. For reading guides, resources, writing tips, and more, visit donnagephart.com. Follow Donna on Facebook and Twitter.

    This interview with Miles Spagoski, a character from In Your Shoes, was conducted between Donna Gephart and Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Anxiety, Character Development, Character Interviews, Donna Gephart, and Friendship.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Erin Soderberg’s Daring Dreamers Club: Milla Takes Charge | Meet The Characters
    2. A Heart-To-Heart with Stella Glass from Jaleigh Johnson’s ‘The Quest to the Uncharted Lands’
    3. Beth Vrabel’s The Reckless Club | Meet The Characters
    4. The Astonishing Maybe, by Shaunta Grimes | Meet the Characters

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Anxiety Character Development Character Interviews Delacorte Books for Young Readers Donna Gephart Friendship Middle Grade Books
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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