Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Writer Jack Gantos has his own unusual take on a childhood in the town named after Eleanor Roosevelt - the real-life place called Norvelt, Pennsylvania. Readers from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia discuss DEAD END IN NORVELT with host Kitty Felde. Wenzel Jones is celebrity reader. Favorite books from Belvedere Elementary in Virginia: The Fault in Our Stars - John Green Candymakers - Wendy Mass Wereworld - Curtis Jobling Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis Warriors series - Erin Hunter Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland Hatchet - Gary Paulsen Jack Gantos' Favorite Book: Moby Dick - Herman Melville "Hard to find another classic on my shelf that I reread every five years - the language, themes, journey, spleen and spine of it are very satisfying." Wenzel Jones' Favorite Book:  Onions in the Stew - Betty MacDonald

What makes a great book? Readers from Loyola Village Elementary School in Los Angeles have some answers.

Sophie's quest to find her mother takes her from London to Paris - mostly rooftop to rooftop. Katherine Rundell's novel "Rooftoppers" is our book this episode. Students from the British International School of Washington discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Director and audio book actress Stevie Zimmerman is celebrity reader. Katherine Rundell talks about writing for the stage vs. writing books for kids. Favorite Books from the British International School of Washington: Agatha Christie mysteries FunJungle series - Stuart Gibbs The Maze Runner - James Dashner Katherine Rundell's Favorite Book: Charmed Life - Diana Wynne Jones Stevie Zimmerman's Favorite Book: Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak

Katherine Marsh says her son helped a lot with the creation of "The Door by the Staircase." She also offers some writing tips.

This week, we get a new look at an old fairy tale – the story of the Russian witch known as Baba Yaga. A boys book club in Portland, Oregon met us at Powell's Books to discuss Katherine Marsh's novel "The Door by the Staircase" with host Kitty Felde. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who represents Portland on Capitol, is celebrity reader.

How does a White House speechwriter turn into a writer for kids? How do you become a Washington speech writer to begin with? We speak to Sean O'Brien, former speechwriter to then-Vice President Joe Biden. Kitty Felde is host.

Former White House speechwriter Sean O'Brien takes us inside the building to a secret passageway to the past in his mystery "White House Clubhouse." Readers from Oak View Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia discuss how Theodore Roosevelt's mantras are still relevant to them today. Actress Elizabeth Logun is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. FAVORITE BOOKS FROM OAKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: The Chronicles of Whetherwhy: the Age of Enchantment - Anna James Echo - Pam Munoz Ryan Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech Wonder - R.J. Palacio The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare SEAN O'BRIEN'S FAVORITE BOOK: All the King's Men - Robert Penn Warren ELIZABETH LOGUN'S FAVORITE BOOK: Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

If you've listened to the show before, you know that we ask everybody our favorite question: What's your favorite book and why. We ask it in classrooms, we ask it in libraries, and we ask if of YOU. A pair of twin brothers from Washington state picked up a phone and recorded their answers on the voice memo app of a smartphone and sent it to us. We also visit the National Book Club in the other Washington: Washington, D.C. Kitty Felde is host.

We have a conversation with "A Little Wicked" author Janet Macreery about two kids of writers: plotters and pantsers. Kitty Felde is host.

We have a conversation with "A Little Wicked" author Janet Macreery about two kids of writers: plotters and pantsers. Kitty Felde is host.