Aiden Tyler, Quaran-teen - A Weekly Webcast “Serial” with Author Rex Ogle
This Webcast Serial took place March 24 - June 2, 2020
While the live event has ended, all of the episodes and downloadable chapters are still available!
Aiden Tyler is your typical middle school student. Rides the bus. Likes comic books. Tolerates his sister. But, his life is about to be turned upside down by the Coronavirus. Yes, you heard that correctly. Aiden Tyler, Quaran-teen is a new and original middle-grade serial written and read in real time by author Rex Ogle (Free Lunch). That means as YOU experience things, Aiden will be experiencing them too. Rex shares Aiden's story that's full of laughs, facts, hearts, and farts. Target audience is grades 4-8 but all are welcome!
Week 1: Chapters 1-3
In the first 3 chapters, we meet Aiden Tyler and discover (alongside him) that COVID-19 is a thing! He experiences pandemonium at the toilet-paper-free grocery store. He goes through mixed feelings about school closures. And he admits to farting when he's nervous. Hear Rex read the first 3 chapters and engage with student viewers on ideas for plot twists, Aiden's age, and more!
Week 2: Chapters 4-5
In chapters 4-5, Aiden, his siblings, and their parents struggle to get used to being stuck at home. Even the parks & hiking trails are closed! Between mom's worries and the kids' boredom, this quarantine life is the pits. But special packages from Uncle Josh brighten their mood! Hear Rex engage with audience questions and suggestions—including names for characters in future chapters!
Week 3: Chapters 6-7
For Aiden, online classes are bleh (except for getting to "see" his friends), mom's stress about money is worrisome, and the fate of comic books lays in the COVID balance. But, Aiden still finds a way to encourage us all to find joy in our predicament. Hear Rex read & talk about a LEGO giveaway you're gonna want to get in on!
Week 4: Chapters 8-9
Tensions rise at Aiden's house, sending Sophia on a cleaning frenzy and mom on a mission to make exercise part of everyone's boring day. A class ZOOM call ends with frustration for Aiden thanks to online bullies, but a call with Abuela helps him put gratitude over grumpiness. Hear these chapters AND find out who won last week's "Happy Place" LEGO giveaway!
Week 5: Chapters 10-11
Sophia’s got a lot on her emotional plate this week, but Aiden and the family rally around her, hoping board games, movie nights and a family bike ride will perk everyone up. As if this lockdown isn’t bad enough, a health scare at the end of this cliffhanger episode leaves us all wondering what’s next.
Week 6: Chapters 12-13
Amid worries about the results of Mike’s COVID testing, making ends meet and their near-empty pantry, the whole family is tense and distracted. When everyone (but the class bullies!) forgets his birthday, Aiden finally crumbles under the stress and disappointment—but a special new friend has Aiden thinking his luck may be changing.
Week 7: Chapters 14-15
After a pretty rotten week, things really start looking up for Aiden. He's got a brand-new dog (find out what viewers name him during this webcast!), his sister surprises him with a belated birthday "party," and his Abuela pays the family a long-awaited visit. There may be some downsides to this quarantine, but there are some definite upsides too.
Week 8: Chapters 16-17
Aiden's got his hands full trying to potty-train Stormy, cleaning up his accidents and taking him for countless walks, but it's a nice distraction from quarantine boredom. When his concerns about the COVID crisis and the unknown get to be too much for him, though, Aiden has a panic attack and it takes mom, his Happy List and some slow, deep breathing to regain his peace.
Week 9: Chapter 18
Aiden realizes he's not the only one with secret worries when he learns about uncle Josh's challenges with anxiety, Sophia's medical concerns, and even bully Randy's home-life dilemmas. Plus, get a peek at Rex's new look—and the funny mustache viewers voted for in week 8!
Week 10: Chapter 19
The Memorial Day weekend reminds Aiden just how lonely and bored he's feeling during the quarantine. Mom even wonders if Aiden has a case of FOMO (which worries him until he learns it means "fear of missing out"). FOMO sounds about right... but when Aiden meets a new friend from Brooklyn, it really starts to feel like the tide is turning.
FINAL WEEK: Chapter 20
It's a bittersweet moment with Aiden's story comes to a close, but what a wonderful experience it's been to get to know Aiden, his family, and all of his many friends, YOU included! Join Rex for one final chapter, as Aiden and pals create a time capsule to capture the "roller coaster" of COVID quarantines, and the positive things we learn from challenging times.
Illustrate Aiden’s Story
What color is Aiden’s hair? What does Sophia’s Coronavirus crown look like? Let’s have some fun illustrating Aiden’s story! Share YOUR illustrations of Aiden’s fun and fear (and farts?) with us on social (tag @JrLibraryGuild) or email them to us at jlgwebcast@gmail.com.
Be sure to also tag Rex on Twitter (@RexOgle) or Instagram (@thirdrex).