The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton – Episode 24 The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel by S. E. Hinton, first published in 1967.  The book takes place over about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider. The book shows how his views of the world and his enemies grow over the course of the book. Can Ponyboy overcome the struggles of the wrong side of the...

Episode 23 – Stolen Girl Nadia keeps getting flashes of memories that make no sense she has to put them back together to figure out her past. Recommended Age: 8-12 Our Scores: Your Scores: Amazon Link – Will need to link this The Outsiders Looking for more books like Stolen Girl check out or other Shows: Fever 1793  lord of the flies    

Episode 24 – Lord of the Flies This book is about a group of boys that are marooned on an island because of a plane crash. These boys are between the ages of 6 and 12 and must try to survive. Recommended Age: 12 and up. Our Scores: Your Scores: Amazon Link – Lord of the flies Our next book is Stolen Girl by Marsha Skrypuch  Looking for more books like Lord of the flies check out our other Shows: The Girl Who Owned A City  Episode 7 Hachet

Episode 23 – Game Changer This book is about a girl named K.T Sutton who is a softball obsessed 8th grader.  She is knocked out during a game and wakes up in a world where and sports and academics have switched places in the lives of students.  Classes are all athletics and sports are all acidemic competitions. The “Jocks” are called “Spocks” and KT doesn’t fit in at all.  Being a star athlete is much like being an academic “nerd”. Our Scores: Your Scores: Buy the book on Amazon Lord Of...

Episode 22 George Orwell- Animal Farm The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Recommended Age: 8-99   Our Scores: Your Scores: Amazon Link Our Next Book Game Changer check out or other Shows: Hunger Games  The Maze Runner

Episode 21 -Fever 1793 Laurie Halse Recommended Age: 8-11 This is a historical fiction book is about the yellow plague epidemic of 1793.  It is the story of a girl named Mattie Cook who lives in Philadelphia and helps her mother in their coffee house. When people in their town start falling ill to a mysterious disease everyone has there own ideas of what is causing it. Overall it is a good book there is nothing graphic nor is there any foul language. It was a good read it took about 6 or so...

Episode 20 – Etiquette and Espionage Etiquette and Espionage is the first book of the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger.  It is the story of Sophronia a fourteen-year-old girl who does not fit into the expected mold of a young lady of her class.  When she is sent to finishing school she realizes it is more than just a traditional education that is in store for her. Recommended Age: Reading Aloud 8+ Reading Alone 12+ Our Scores: Your Scores: What did you think of the book? Get...

Episode 19 Artemis Fowl This book is about a young boy named Artemis Fowl a young criminal mastermind. Who ends up finding a secret fairy society. Has he bitten off more than he can chew? Recommended Age: 8-12 Our Scores: Your Scores: Amazon Link – Will need to link this The next book is Etiquette and Espionage Looking for more books like Artemis Fowl check out or other Shows: Maze Runner Episode 8 Wrinkle In Time  Episode 4 Hunger Games Episode 6   Music credits District...

Episode 18 – 100 Cupboards This book is about two kids named Henry and Henrietta who discover cupboards to other lands. It starts out when Henry goes to live with his aunt and uncle, because his parents go missing. Then in his attic room he discovers portals to other realms. To find out what happens after that you might just have to read the book. Recommended Age: 9-12   Our Scores: . Your Scores: Amazon Link. Looking for more books like 100 Cupboards? Check out or other Shows: Maze...

Episode 17 – The Giver by Lois Lowry This book is about a kid named Jonas in a strange future world. The day when all the kids get their job Jonas is skipped and given a special job in the community and we learn what it means to be human. Recommended Age: 8 to 99   Our Scores: Your Scores: Amazon Link. Connect the Stars by David Teague and Marisa de los Santos Looking for more books like check out or other Shows: Maze Runner Wrinkle In Time The Hunger Games   Credits: District...

Episode 16 – The Hobbit This month’s book is the Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. It is a book about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who just wants to be left alone, when some homeless dwarfs come along and they take him on the adventure of his life. This book is a bit harder than some of our other book because of some of the language used and it was harder to get invested in. But other than that it was a good book I hope you in joy. And if you like this book you should also check out The Lion The...

We were lucky enough to get an interview with Margaret Peterson Haddix about her book Running Out of Time it was quite a fun experience. It was also very interesting to hear her side of thing including where the inspiration for the book came from. We talked about our latest review book Running of time.  Asking about certain character inspiration and plot points we were curious about.  We also talked about how her career began and her advice for potential authors.  You can hear our discuss...

Episode 15 – The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe is the FIRST(at least the first published) of the Chronicle of Narnia.  It is the story of four siblings sent to live in the country during the WWII bombing of London.  In this strange house they found a wardrobe which is a door to the magical world of Narnia where the children go to have wonderful adventures. This book has been a favorite in our family for many years, we read it and/or watch...

Episode 14 – Running out Of Time Running out of Time was written in 1996 by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  It is about a Jesse, a girl who is living a perfectly normal life in the village of Clifton except for the fact that she thinks that it is 1849. As disaster strikes and an epidemic plagues the children of Clifton Jesse becomes the last hope as she must go and face the trials of the modern world to find medicine and save her world. But there are forces out to stop her, how will she...

Episode 12 – City of Ember   City of Ember is about two kids Lina and Doon who live in an underground city where the supplies are running low and their only power is wavering. With the power going out more often and for longer periods at a time people are starting to worry. So when Lina thinks that she has found a way out she is ecstatic. But unfortunately no one believes her. Find out what happens by reading the book. Recommended Age: 8 and up.   Our Scores: Your Scores: Amazon...

Episode 12 – The Penderwicks:A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy The Penderwicks is a children’s novel by Jeanne Birdsall, published by Knopf in 2005. It won the annual U.S. National Book Award for Young People’s Literature The book about a family of a Father and four sisters as they take their vacation on the estate called Arendel. There they meet a boy named Jeffery, the gardener, two rabbits and a not so nice man named Dexter.  The girls have to solve...

Episode 11 – Mary Poppins Mary Poppins is a beloved classic children’s book published in 1934 by P.L. Travers.  The book tells the story of the Banks family, specifically Jane and Michael, as they are cared for by the mysterious Nanny Mary Poppins.  They are taken on a whirlwind of adventures until the wind changes and she leaves just as she came blown along by the wind. Recommended Age: We would say that for content this is and has been a book for all ages.  Although reading it may be...

Episode 10 – Oddity Ada Roundtree is your average eleven year old training for survival among aliens, zombie rabbits and the other mysteries of Oddity New Mexico.  She and her friends but fight for survival as they rise up against the dangers of their town.  Although those dangers may not be what they suspect. Recommended Age: Any age for content. Our Scores: Reader Scores: Get Oddity from Amazon. Next Month’s book: Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers   Looking for more books like Oddity...

Episode 9 – Ender’s Game Ender’s Game is a classic sci-fi book by Orson Scott Card.  It tells the story of Ender Wiggin a 6 year old boy who is part of a government program to develop the greatest military leaders possible.  The Earth is in dire need of these leaders after having been attacked by an alien race known as the Buggers. The book won the Nebula Award for best novel in 1985,and the Hugo Award for best novel in 1986.  It is listed on the US Marine Corps Professional Reading...

Bonus Episode 2 – Hunger Games – Book V. Movies With Alora out of town we had to pull forward a bonus episode we recorded a few months ago.  We will be publishing Ender’s game mid July so stay tuned.  Our family rule is to read the book and then watch the movie.  We then compare and compain.  Welcome to our world.  In this show we cover the book v. movie points of the first Hunger games movie and the remaining books in the series, you have been warned. Get the movies here There is still...

Episode 8 – Maze Runner Maze Runner is the first book in a young adult sci-fi serie, by James Dashner.  It is based in a dystopian future where a group of teen-agers are placed in the middle of an experiment called the Maze.  They are forced to survive on their wits and the strength of their relationships alone until the day Thomas arrives and and everything begins to change. * Both parents and kids at Common Sense Media give the book a 12+ age. * It has scenes of combat with strange...

Episode 7 Hatchet This month’s book is Hatchet written by Gary Paulsen and is also a Newbery winner . The book is about a boy named Brian who gets stuck in the wilderness with only a hatchet to survive. The book is well written and brings you inside the situation.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes outdoor books. Some scenes are a little intense. But overall is a great book. Our Scores Get Hatchet in whatever form you like from Amazon Our book for next month will be Maze...

Episode 6 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Game is a middle grade novel set in a dystopian future where children called tributes are forced to take part in the Hunger Games where they battle to the death as a punishment for their various districts rebelling against the capital.  These districts represent various areas of North America and their various industries which are intentionally starved by the Capital.  Katniss, our main character, tries desperately to survive while...

We just saw the Wrinkle in Time movie and wanted to do a bonus episode about it.  We love to talk about the book vs the Movie in our home and we invite you to do the same. There were some great things about this movie and some things we have concerns about and didn’t like.  Check out the show and see what we both thought.

Episode 5 – The School for Good and Evil The New York Times bestselling School for Good and Evil series is an epic journey behind the scenes of a dazzling new fairy tail world.  This story tell the beginning of the story of Sophie, Agatha, and everyone at school. “With her glass slippers and devotion to good deeds, Sophie knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and join the ranks of past students like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Meanwhile, Agatha, with her shapeless...