Book Club: 'Squad' by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Writer) and Lisa Sterle (Artist)

It's the final episode! The Bookstacked Team reunites for the last time to reflect on some of their favorite memories from running the website and podcast while also diving into what they learned after covering YA books for almost a decade. Thank you to everyone who's joined us on our journey — whether you were here for a short while or a long time, you've been appreciated. Books are better together.

It's our final YA book club discussion! In this episode, Saul and Brigitte return to the world of Tracy Deonn's Legendborn in the exciting sequel, Bloodmarked. We're excited to report that the followup is just as exciting and profound as its predecessor. We dive into how Tracy Deonn uses every aspect of storytelling to reinforce themes of ancestral bonds while also exploring the dark corners of familial and colonial heritage. This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked. Click here to get started. Get In Touch: Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode! Record and send us a voice message! Follow and talk to us through Twitter! Send us an old-fashioned email!

The YA book club returns with this Halloween-themed graphic novel from author Maggie Tokuda-Hall and artist Lisa Sterle. When Becca starts at a new school, the last thing she expects is to make friends with a pack of cool-girl werewolves. Entering their vicious world brings confidence and power, but it also sets Becca on a slippery slope that leaves her questioning her decision to join the pack at all. This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked. Click here to get started. Follow the hosts: Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ Spencer Miller: @yacanadabooks Eleanor Maher: @athenes.owl

Fall doesn't only provide the best aesthetic (brightly colored leaves! sweaters! ghostly vibes!) but it often provides some of the best reads too. Bookstacked writers Saul Marquez and Spencer Miller discuss the recent and upcoming novels that have caught their attention. There's plenty to choose from whether it be a spooky Halloween read, fantasy with epic stakes or even cozy a story next to the fire. Which YA books are you reading this fall? Get in touch with Saul: saul [at] bookstacked.com. Related Links: Podcast: Self-love and inspiring the next generation of writers with Kacen Callender ('Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution') REVIEW: ‘Babel: An Arcane History’ by R. F. Kuang plays on the familiar and the new REVIEW: ‘The Genesis of Misery’ by Neon Yang was one surprise after the other Follow the hosts: Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ Spencer Miller: @yacanadabooks

The podcast might be winding down at the end of the year, but we're still planning to fit in a couple more book club discussions, starting with a special Halloween-themed pick! This month we're reading a graphic novel: Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Lisa Sterle. Here's what you need to know from the blurb: Pretty Little Liars meets Teen Wolf in this sharply funny, and patriarchy-smashing graphic novel from author Maggie Tokuda-Hall and artist Lisa Sterle. When the new girl is invited to join her high school’s most popular clique, she can’t believe her luck—and she can’t believe their secret, either. When Becca transfers to a high school in an elite San Francisco suburb, she’s worried she’s not going to fit in. To her surprise, she’s immediately adopted by the most popular girls in school. At first glance, Marley, Arianna, and Mandy are perfect. But at a party under a full moon, Becca learns that they also have a big secret. Becca’s new friends are werewolves. Their prey? Slimy boys who take advantage of unsuspecting girls. Eager to be accepted, Becca allows her friends to turn her into a werewolf, and finally, for the first time in her life, she feels like she truly belongs. But then things get complicated. As their pack begins to buckle under the pressure, their moral high ground gets muddier and muddier—and Becca realizes that she might have feelings for one of her new best friends. ----- The book club discussion will be released at the end of next week — just in time for the Halloween weekend! Click here to read Squad's Storygraph entry.

To learn more about the closure of the website and podcast, click here. To send Saul your questions, email him at: saul [at] bookstacked.com.

In Kacen Callender's latest, self-love is its own type of revolution. Lark Winters is on the path to being a writer, but when they cover up a social media accident for a past friend, they find themselves under the scrutiny of hordes of online strangers. Finding a way out of this mess is going to require an inner struggle of self-discovery. Kacen joins Bookstacked writer Spencer Miller to discuss their personal ties to the story and the intersection of shame and accountability. Get in touch … Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode! Record and send us a voice message! Follow and talk to us through Twitter! Send us an old-fashioned email! Follow the guest and host: Kacen Callender: KacenCallender.com Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram)

There's no exaggeration in saying that Nickelodeon's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is one of the most popular animated shows of all time. For the generations that grew up with the show, it's a great time to be a fan. With more television series and movies on the horizon, there's a massive demand for Avatar content. YA book author F. C. Yee knows all about it. Yee has been part of the Avatar universe expansion since 2019, starting with the YA novel The Rise of Kyoshi. He joins us on this episode of the podcast to discuss his third Avatar novel, The Dawn of Yangchen. He shares some behind-the-scenes details about how the books came to be as well as his process of creating the characters and worldbuilding that fill the pages of his books. Purchase The Dawn of Yangchen Related Links: REVIEW: ‘The Rise of Kyoshi’ by F.C. Yee is essential reading for Avatar fans REVIEW: ‘The Shadow of Kyoshi’ by F.C. Yee reaches legendary status REVIEW: ‘The Epic Crush of Genie Lo’ by F.C. Yee REVIEW: ‘The Iron Will of Genie Lo’ by F.C. Yee is well worth the wait This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked. Click here to get started. Get in touch … Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode! Record and send us a voice message! Follow and talk to us through Twitter! Send us an old-fashioned email! Follow the guest and host … F. C. Yee: @yeebookauthor (Twitter), @yeebookauthor (Instagram), FCYee.com (Website) Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ

Jessica Goodman is no stranger to YA thrillers, and with the release of her third novel, The Counselors, it's clear to see that she has cemented her place as a master of the genre. In her latest novel, Jessica tells the story of Goldie as she returns to summer camp with her two best friends. Dark secrets begin to wash up on the shore of Alpine Lake — along with the body of someone from Goldie's very recent past. Jessica joins us this week to discuss her own history with summer camps, as well as why she is drawn to the thriller genre. This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked. Click here to get started. Get in touch … Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in the next episode! Record and send us a voice message! Follow and talk to us through Twitter! Send us an old-fashioned email! Follow the guest and host … Jessica Goodman: @jessicagoodman (Instagram) Michael Burns: @themichaelburns (Instagram)

We're re-introducing our YA book club! Sabaa Tahir's latest novel, All My Rage, is the first book we're kicking our 2022 book club off with. This newly-released contemporary might as well be crowned a YA classic. It's easily one of the best books we've read on the show. Exploring the lives of a Pakistani community through the eyes of two young protagonists, this book confronts trauma, grief, family and forgiveness in a way that rings authentic. We love this book! This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm. Buy audiobooks while supporting your local bookstore. Libro.fm has a special offer for Bookstacked readers. Get TWO audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership when using the code Bookstacked. Click here to get started. Related Links: Sabaa Tahir's interview with Elle Magazine Saul's 2016 interview with Sabaa Tahir Get In Touch: Let your voice be heard! There are several ways you can get in touch with us and interact with the show. Your messages might be included in a future episode! Record and send us a voice message! Follow and talk to us through Twitter! Send us an old-fashioned email! Follow the hosts: Saul Marquez: @SAULMARQ Spencer Miller: @SpencerBMiller (Twitter), @yacanadabooks (Instagram) Eleanor Maher: @words.and.wanderings (Instagram)