A Conversation with Varian Johnson

Does square dancing count as an athletic activity? Lupe Wong doesn't think so and is willing to fight the system to make her point. Readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, DC discuss the book with host Kitty Felde and interview the writer Donna Barba Higuera. Our celebrity reader is the former president of United Square Dancers of America. 

In 1925, newlyweds Pete and Gert packed up their lives and  headed west for California in a Model T Ford. Gert chronicled thejourney in a series of letters. Now, one hundred years later, a pair of cousins Kitty Felde and Marie Felde follow their route to see America through their eyes. Join us on a podcast journey at honeymoonroad.com.

Did Harry Potter make you wish you were going to boarding school? This week, we visit another extraordinary boarding school with invisible students and k'lepreechons. It's Hypatia Academy by Esther Goldenberg. It's the favorite book of this trio of Maryland readers. NPR's Morning Edition host Rachel Martin is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.   www.bookclubforkids.org  

Americans have a romanticized image of English boarding schools. RIBBLESTROP is the opposite of that. Writer Andy Mulligan has created what must be the most dangerous school on planet earth. And this trio of readers at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, New Jersey, debate whether they'd like to attend. Peter Sagal, playwright and host of NPR's quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!" is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.   Favorite books from Carolina, Jack, and Eleanor: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library - Chris Grabenstein The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls - Claire Legrand Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Andy Mulligan’s favorite books: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne Animal Farm - George Orwell

Thinking of writing a series? We ask New York Times bestselling writer Shannon Messenger about the 101 things a series writer has to think about. Kitty Felde is host.

We added up the numbers and found our NUMBER ONE top listened-to episode over the past decade of Book Club for Kids! It's Shannon Messenger's fantasy adventure Keeper of the Lost Cities. Readers from St. Elizabeth School in Maryland discuss The girls ask our writer to pick her favorite characters, something she hates to do. Our celebrity reader is host of the Roman on the Radio podcast  Nick Roman. Kitty Felde is host.

It was our fourth episode and Roald Dahl's first book for children. Number Two on our top ten list is "James and the Giant Peach" with Cash Peters as celebrity reader. Students from LA's Equitas Academy discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Free curriculum guide at bookclubforkids.org.

What makes a good mystery? We talk to writer Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance. Kitty Felde, who writes her own mystery series THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES is host.

We're happy to report that the number 3 most popular episode of Book Club for Kids is no mystery...actually, it IS a mystery: Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance. Do you love a mystery? Do you love playing detective, looking for clues on every page? This week’s novel is about a lot of things – segregation, bullying, and most of all, a family mystery.  This week's episode is "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson. Our readers are from Washington DC’s AIM Academy. Actress Sheila Collins is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. And by the way, if your school is in LA County, we'll come out and tape a Book Club for Kids episode in your classroom! Just have your teacher, parent, or librarian contact us at the website and click on the "Want to be on the show?" button.

Can you believe it? Book Club for Kids began ten years ago in the summer of 2015. And we’re celebrating by counting down our top ten most listened to episodes over the past decade. This week, just in time for the second installment in the Bad Buys series is the graphic novel that started it all: number four on our top ten list, Aaron Blabey’s The Bad Guys. Can bad guys turn over a new leaf? 5th graders at Kimball Elementary School in Washington, DC discuss Aaron Blabey's graphic novel The Bad Boys. Actor Steve DeVorkin is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. Book Club for Kids is the show where kids talk about books. Free reading tips at the website. You can be on the show, too. Info at the website.