Students from Washington DC's Jefferson Academy reflect on desegregation sixty years after the Little Rock Nine. They discuss Kristin Levine's novel The Lions of Little Rock. The author describes how she came to tell the story. Former U.S. Education Secretary of Education John King is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

Ever wonder what it's like to write one of the American Girl novels? We get the inside scoop from Lisa Yee.

We explore an immigration story: a Chinese immigrant who ends up in Minnesota. It's the Newbery Honor Award winning tale "Maisie Chen's Last Chance." Writer Lisa Yee tells readers at Overland Elementary School that the book is based on her own family's history. Our celebrity reader is public radio journalist Josie Huang from LAist.

Favorite Books from Overland Elementary School:

Rick - Alex Gino

Amulet - Kazu Kibuishi

The City of Ember - Jeanne Duprau

Lisa Yee's Favorite Book:

Honestly Katie John - Mary Calhoun

Josie Huang's Favorite Book:

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

And check out our other podcast The Fina Mendoza Mysteries!

Can a book be funny and deal with one of the toughest topics around? "Milo: Sticky Notes & Brain Freeze" is writer and illustrator Alan Silberberg's tale of 7th grade angst and dealing with the loss of a parent. Seventh graders from Eliot-Hine Middle School in Washington, D.C. discuss the book and ask questions of author Silberberg. Actor Joshua Malina ("West Wing," "Scandal," the "West Wing Weekly" podcast) is our celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

NOTE: the phone number mentioned in the episode doesn't work anymore. But if you want to be on the show, email us for information about how your school or library can be featured on a new episode: [email protected].

Holes - Louis Sachar

The Girl Who Fell - S.M Parker

Out of My Mind - Sharon M. Draper

Half Magic - Edward Eager

Busy, Busy World - Richard Scarry

Writer Edward Bloor talks about the biggest lesson he learned about writing and how to handle criticism with host Kitty Felde.

A story about family divisions, economic divides, history, and growing citrus trees. It's "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor. Our readers from the Laurence School in Los Angeles discuss the novel and interview our writer. Actress Jovita Molina is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

www.bookclubforkids.org

We had a longer conversation with Jack Gantos at the Nantucket Book Festival - too much to include in Episode 36, our discussion of DEAD END IN NORVELT. Jack talks about his first 36 rejections, his switch from teaching to writing full time, and about his beloved hometown of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. It's a conversation we had at Mitchell's Book Corner on Nantucket Island.

Jack received the 2012 Newbery Award and the Scott O'Dell Award for Best Historic Fiction for "Dead End in Norvelt." His other works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert honors; Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book.

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.

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

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."

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.

Agatha Christie mysteries

FunJungle series - Stuart Gibbs

The Maze Runner - James Dashner

Charmed Life - Diana Wynne Jones

Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak