Required Reading

Writer Chad Morton (Abbott Elementary) joins me to discuss the most banned book of the 21st century: Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey.

Fourth graders George and Harold accidentally hypnotize their terrible principal into actually becoming Captain Underpants, the comic book hero they drew!

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Krista Moy returns to discuss William Golding's 1954 classic Lord of the Flies! Also it's EPISODE 75!! We did it babes!

A group of boys crash-land on an island and all hell breaks loose.

Check out Krista's previous episode about A Streetcar Named Desire!

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This week Justine Engel joins me to read our first American Girl DOLL book: Meet Samantha! In 1904 wealthy orphan Samantha Parkington realizes the injustices that exist in the world around her, including child labor, segregation, and women's suffrage.

Next week is our 75th episode! We will be reading Lord of the Flies - come prepared!

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Filmmaker Molly McGlynn joins me to discuss our first poetry collection - Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS! We ask the critical question: was Shel Silverstein hot? Let us know.

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Longest episode title ever? Perhaps. You're welcome.

Teaching artist Sara Childrey joins me to discuss TWO movies: The Swan Princess (1994) and Barbie of Swan Lake (2003)!

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Check out some other movie episodes:

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Poet and author Erin Taylor joins me to discuss Kate Chopin's 1899 novel THE AWAKENING.

Edna Pontellier struggles between her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood with the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century Louisiana. (Wikipedia)

Erin Taylor's book Bimboland!

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Author Alex Brunkhorst joins me to discuss what was almost our very first book - The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. It just turned 100!

Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire with an obsession to reunite with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. (Wikipedia)

Read Alex's novel The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine!

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Another solo episode! Do you like these? Please let me know.

Goosebumps book 3 follows Evan Ross when he discovers a can of "Monster Blood" in an old toy store. And it's got an appetite.

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Listen to Goosebumps Book 2!

Listen to Goosebumps Book 1!

Book two in our Goosebumps deep dive! Something weird is going on with Dad ever since he got fired from his job - and why is he wearing that hat all the time? Could be he's a mad scientist!

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Listen to Goosebumps Book 1!

Zannah Schorer returns to discuss Brandon Mull's absolutely buck wild novel: FABLEHAVEN.

Kendra and Seth discover their grandparents live on a nature preserve for all the world's mythical creatures (a haven, you might say, for fables...)

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Listen to Zannah's previous episode about The Tail of Emily Windsnap!

I love this one :) Writer Christin Campbell joins me to discuss the 1982 Rankin/Bass film THE LAST UNICORN!

A unicorn leaves the protection of her enchanted forest to discover if she really is the last of her kind.

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Another Required Viewing episode: The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Rachel Moss joins me to discuss Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo from 2002! Many write it off as a Harry Potter rip-off but - hear this - it might be a whole lot better.

When Charlie Bone discovers he can hear the voices of people in photographs he is whisked away to the Bloor Academy to train his powers, where he becomes entrenched in a generations-old battle for power.

AND: Erin is in last week's episode of Mythic Quest (season 4 episode 8 around 17 minutes in) on Apple TV!

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It's just me this week! I am debuting a new intermittent series where I read all of RL Stine's immaculate Goosebumps series!

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Madeline Douglass returns and this time we've got a third: former co-worker Luke Henke! We all worked in a Girl Scout Museum in college. Jealous?

From Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 comes one of the first mass-produced books of all time: The Scarlet Letter. The novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter with a man (minister Arthur Dimmesdale) to whom she is not married. As punishment, she must wear a scarlet letter 'A' (for "adultery"). Summary from Wikipedia (which Luke gives a lil speech about!)

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Not to be biased but this is a really good one!

Author Gretchen Schreiber joins me to discuss two-books-in-one, Crown Duel and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith from 1997/1998/2002?

The first book follows the adventures of young Countess Meliara "Mel" Astiar of Tlanth as she and her small group of forces rebel against the greed of King Galdran; along the way the mysterious Marquis of Shevraeth aids her, though she distrusts him. With the king now dead, the second part focuses on Mel's journey to the court in Remalna-city, where she must navigate court intrigues surrounding...

Its a long one because its STEPHENIE MEYER!!!! It's what she would want.

Repeat guest Jess Woodworth returns to discuss The Host!

The book is about Earth, in a post-apocalyptic time, being invaded by a parasitic alien race known as "Souls", and follows one Soul's predicament when the consciousness of her human host refuses to give up her body. (Wikipedia)

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More episodes with Jess!

Author Darrin Simpson (Abby's Big Debate) joins me to discuss Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY in our 60th episode!!

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This week it's French! Kelsey Buckley joins me to discuss Antoine de Saint Exupery's 1943 classic The Little Prince!

There's a little "easter" "egg" in this episode - I hope you like it!

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This week we are all eating dirt - comedian Carter Hambley joins me to discuss Brian Jacques' sword-toting-mice-fantasy series Redwall!

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Writer Lena Kouyoumdjian (Welcome to Flatch!) joins me to discuss the immaculate Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier!

A young bride discovers herself haunted by the reputation of her husband's dead first wife Rebecca.

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Merry Happy! Professor Carly O'Brien returns for her third episode (!) to discuss A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from 1843.

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In the new year: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier! Redwall by Brian Jacques! And then... who knows!

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Trish and I have known each other since 6th grade, and this week we revisit the first book we read in 6th grade!!!!! The Giver by Lois Lowry from 1993. Trish is an incredible educator and radiant light.

When Jonas turns 12 he is assigned a job: to become the next Giver, the only person in the perfect community to retain the memories of a life before things were perfect.

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Talent manager Elle Potruch of EP Talent joins me to discuss Kate and M. Sarah Klise's 1998 epistolary novel Regarding the Fountain. And I somehow managed to bring up Monica Lewinsky. Classic.

Eccentric artist Florence Waters designs a new water fountain for Dry Creek Middle School while Sam N's 5th grade class uncovers a secret lurking just beneath the school...

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Comedian Dylan Adler joins me to discuss Jon Krakauer's 1996 book Into the Wild about the life and death of Christopher McCandless. And also Wicked.

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Book influencer Madeline North joins me to discuss William Goldman's The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, The "Good Parts" Version from 1973 and, yes, of course, the movie adaptation.

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Actually this could be a coven meeting right now...

Fellow Welcome to Flatch cast member Taylor Ortega joins me to discuss the first book of the Sweep series from 2001: Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan!

Seventeen-year-old Morgan thinks witchcraft is laughable when her best friend Bree drags her to a meeting of the Cirrus Coven. But during a cermony led by new kid Cal, Morgan feels a shock. Morgan doesn't want to get involved with witchcraft--but she feels like witchcraft is choosing her. (Google Books)

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This episode was recorded November 4 2024

Comedian and writer Niles Abston joins me to discuss Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, often referred to as America's first (and greatest?) novel.

Young Huckleberry Finn escapes his abusive father and embarks on an adventure down the Mississippi. Beside him is the escaped enslaved person Jim.

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Support the podcast - this is our 50th episode!

Actor and writer Olive Lorraine joins me to discuss a perfect misanthropist’s heaven: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë from 1847.

Summary: Lockwood, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange on the bleak Yorkshire moors, is forced to seek shelter one night at Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord. There he discovers the history of the tempestuous events that took place years before: of the intense passion between the foundling Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and her betrayal of him. As Heathcliff's bitterness and vengeance is visited upon the next generation, their innocent heirs must struggle to escape the leg...

This might be the most I've ever laughed in an episode? Slay.

Adriene Vento joins me to discuss several entries into the Mercy Watson series written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. We cover Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (book 2) and Mercy Watson Fights Crime (book 3), a series about a pig who loves toast and the people who love her.

Check out an excerpt of the book! To see the illustrations!

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Rishi Mahesh joins me to discuss Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture from 2008. Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch delivered a "last lecture" of life lessons for his young children in the months preceding his death due to pancreatic cancer.

I'm really eager to hear thoughts on this episode!

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John Paul Sarni of Stampede Ventures and the Page and Screen podcast joins me to discuss Michael Crichton's 1990 staple: Jurassic Park!

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Sometimes mosquitos get in the pancakes and you have to eat them anyway. Writer Emily Schmidt walks me through one of the most popular and traumatizing series of the late 90s/early 00s: Dear America and in particular its Oregon Trail diary Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie from 1997 by Kristiana Gregory.

Summary: After the death of her 2 sisters, 13-year-old Hattie and her family make for a fresh start on the Oregon Trail. Hattie's diary chronicles the hardships of such a harrowing journey, but also captures the small moments, the friendships and celebrations of life, that keep...

I wouldn't have predicted that I would ever say the phrase "acquiescence mushrooms," but here we are. Bailey Benningfield joins me to discuss Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. And yes we discuss the movie, don't you know my passion for Anne Hathaway?

Synopsis: At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift - the "gift" of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her...

What's this? A bonus episode? This week Jess Woodworth returns to discuss a seasonal staple that I had never seen before: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS from 1993.

The film tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of "Halloween Town", who stumbles upon "Christmas Town" and schemes to take over the holiday. It was directed by Henry Selick and written by Caroline Thompson.

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Check out Jess' previous episode on The Tale of Despereaux!

It's a picture book - with lore. Delaney Circe joins me to discuss Chris Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick from 1984.

In an encounter between a children's book editor named Peter Wenders and an author and illustrator named Harris Burdick – who says he has 14 stories that he has written – Burdick brings one picture from each story with a caption. He leaves with a promise to deliver the complete manuscripts if the editor chooses to buy the books. The next day, Burdick did not show up. Burdick had mysteriously disappeared. Over the years, Wenders tried to find out...

Shelby Copple joins me to discuss a book about lovin books: INKHEART by Cornelia Funke.

The story follows bookish twelve-year-old Meggie, who learns that her bookbinder father Mortimer or 'Mo' has a special gift: he can bring fictional characters to life.

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Get your freak on theater kids, we're doing Shakespeare. Kylie Brakeman joins me to discuss William Shakespeare's immortal classic: Macbeth.

Listen to Kylie's podcast Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists!

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Kevin T Porter joins me to discuss the second book in Louis Sachar's Wayside series: Wayside School is Falling Down!

Our original Wayside episode with Jenny Cavallero!

Listen to Kevin's podcast Good Christian Fun!

Support the podcast! I'll send you MAIL!!

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Natalie Ortega (Wicked!!!) joins me to discuss Scott Westerfeld's 2005 library staple: UGLIES. Also, a movie of this 19 year old book is coming to Netflix in a few weeks. That's called serendipity, baby.

Uglies is a 2005 science fiction novel by Scott Westerfeld. It is set in a future post scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is considered an "ugly," but then turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery when they reach the age of 16. (Wikipedia)

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Grace Bahler joins me to discuss the first book in Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You from 2006!

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of learning about the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it’s a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what...