It’s time for my favorite episode of the year – our Annual Kids/YA Gift Giving Guide. I asked a group of young people, ages 8-19, to tell me about their favorite book. As always, their answers were as smart, funny, interesting, and diverse as the kids themselves. I love talking to young people about books, and even if you don’t have any young people to buy for this year, I know you’re going to love hearing these interesting people tell me about their favorite books.
A note: as always, the interviews go in age order, and the older kids talk about books with some very mature themes.
Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website
Host: Julie Strauss
Website/Instagram
Discussed in this episode:
Hope, Age 8
Mysteries in Our National Park: Cliff-Hanger: A Mystery in Mesa Verde National Park by Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson
(This is part of a 12-book series all set in national parks across the United States.)
The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
(Both Hope and her twin sister Mackenzie talked to me about multiple Magic Tree House books in last year’s episode)
Henry, Age 8
Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
Holes by Louis Sachar
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger by Louis Sachar
Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar
Supernatural Bear, Age 10
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Dante, Age 10
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The One and Only Ivan movie
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
Odder by Katherine Applegate
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (series on Disney+)
Dorian, Age 10
Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Secret Service by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs
The Fun Jungle Collection by Stuart Gibbs
Kate, Age 12
My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
The Storyteller’s Death: A Novel by Ann Dávila Cardinal
Jack, Age 14
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Joey, Age 15
The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way and Gabreil Bá
The Umbrella Academy on Netflix
Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang
Paper Girls Series on Amazon Prime
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Terminator Genisys movie
The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Erin, Age 19
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Thrillers by the Book Club Pod
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
(Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bestbookeverpodcast.substack.com
