S3 Ep 8: Rebecca Bendheim illuminates the teenage experience of conformity and identity in her debut upper-middle grade novel, When You're Brave Enough

Rebecca Bendheim, a poet and author, released her debut middle grade novel, When You’re Brave Enough, on April 7, 2026. Rebecca is also a former middle school teacher and types her poetry with Austin’s Typewriter Rodeo poetry troupe. We talked with Rebecca about the overall journey of this book and her career as well as how she crafted the “little” things throughout the story that made it come together at the end so beautifully. We also asked her what part of writing this novel brought her the most joy. Make sure to listen to hear her answer! Keep reading to learn more about the book and Rebecca. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readtowritekidlit.substack.com