The 2026 Newbery Medal winners are here, and we have thoughts. In this episode, we each spotlight a different honored title and break down what makes it award-worthy (or not!). From unforgettable characters to powerful themes, we’re sharing our honest reactions, favorite moments, and a few surprises along the way. Come chat books with us!

Titles mentioned in this episode:

The Trouble With Heroes by Kate Messner

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamilo

Little House on The Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil by E. Frankweiler

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly

Smokey The Cow Horse by Will James

On The Bank of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers Series by Karina Yan Glaser

All The Blues in The Sky by Renée Watson

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

In this episode, we dive into I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel, a heartfelt celebration of the reading life. Each of us chose a different chapter to explore, sharing personal takeaways and favorite moments along the way. From the joy of getting lost in a good book to the habits and quirks that make readers unique, this conversation highlights why reading matters and how it shapes who we are. Whether you’re an avid reader or just getting back into books, there’s something here for you.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

A Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Kingdom of Wrenley

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

LIttle House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

East of Eden b John Steinbeck

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Erasure by Percival Everett

James by Percival Everett

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Allen

Bear Town by Fredrik Backman

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

This week we are talking about banned and challenged books! What that actually means, why certain books get challenged, and whether those concerns feel fair or like an overreaction. Each of us picked a banned or challenged book to break down. We're discussing what it's about, why it was questioned, and where we personally land on it. We also dive into bigger questions about age appropriateness, school vs. parent choice, and whether banning books really protects readers or just limits conversations.

Titles mentioned in this episode:

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Lord of The Flies by William Golding

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Erasure by Percival Everett

Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Educated by Tara Westover

Ashes by Frank McCourt

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Skippyjon Jones by Judith Byron Schachner

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel