We continue our series highlighting episodes that feature books that have been banned or challenged. This week, it's Walter Dean Myers' tale of a kid on trial for murder "Monster."

In 2021, parents in Signal Mountain Middle/High School in Tennessee complained about mature language and sexual content in some 7th grade reading club selections. In response, a teacher told parents she was removing "Monster" from the reading list.

Myers reacted to the book ban by saying,"I think that most often the people wanting to censor books are well-meaning and concerned about the welfare of their children. But I suggest that children will be exposed to the world in spite of their efforts, and that exposure is best handled in a school setting. I write to establish the humanity of the children I identify as my major audience. I'm not trying to push any boundaries."

Give a listen as a group of readers from Washington,DC discuss the book and make up your own mind.

Last week, we took a trip to Hawaii to discuss "Lei and the Fire Goddess." This week, we talk to author Malia Maunakea about using Google maps as a writer, the difference between writing fiction and non-fiction, ADHD, even tax write-offs! Kitty Felde is host.

This week, we talk about myths – whether it's on Capitol Hill or Hawaii. Our book is "Lei and the Fire Goddess" by Malia Maunakea. Our readers are members of the Page Turners Book Club at East City Bookshop in Washington, DC. Our celebrity reader is playwright Kiki Rivera. Kitty Felde is host.

The kids mention Keeper of the Lost Cities

I mention a book with the DC myth about the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill: Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza

Favorite Books from the Page Turners Book Club at East City Bookshop:

Hooky - Miriam Bonastre Tur

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Mac B. Kid Spy - Matt Barnett

A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes

Who Was...

Sisters - Raina Telgemeier

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

Dragon Masters - Tracey West

Malia Maunakea's Favorite Book:

The Far Side - Gary Larson

This week we talk to some older readers at the Culver City book Festival about their favorite books. Once again, fantasy seems to be the fan favorite. Give a listen.

Once and Future - Cory McCarthy & A. R. Capetta

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Big Nate - Lincoln Peirce

Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Jewell Parker Rhodes, winner of the American Book Award, talks about the difficulty of writing "Ghost Boys" and about her own reading journey with host Kitty Felde.

bookclubforkids.org

. We continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, it's Jewell Parker Rhodes' tale of a young black boy shot by a white police officer "Ghost Boys." The book was temporarily banned in Florida's second largest school district over a complaint that the book was "propaganda" against the police. A rural school district in California removed the book from curriculum after a parent complained about political views in the book. Give a listen to our discussion of "Ghost Boys."

Last Saturday was the culver city book festival and book club for kids was there, gathering great suggestions for your next favorite read. We've got a different take on Shakespeare, a it of underwear humor, and a debate about which does a better job of telling the story; the book or the movie.

Favorite Books from the Culver City Book Festival:

The Apothacary - Sarah Penner

These Violent Delights - Chloe Gong

Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey

The Wild Robot - Peter Brown

Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

Angels and Demons - Dan Brown

If you're a teacher or librarian in LA County and you'd like your readers to star on a Book Club for Kids podcast, send us an email to [email protected] and we'll send you all the information.

For Black History Month and Valentines Day, we have a special love story – part fiction, part fact, based on a landmark US Supreme Court case. It's called "Loving Vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case" by Patricia Hruby Powell. It's the story of an interracial couple who only wanted to marry the person they loved. Our celebrity reader, actress Crystal West. Readers from Virginia discuss the book and the legal case that took place in their own state. Kitty Felde is host.

We polled readers at the City of Stem/LA Maker Faire about their favorite books. (By the way, Book Club for Kids will be taping more book suggestion interviews at this year's event on Saturday, April 12th at Exposition Park in Los Angeles.) Kitty Felde is host.

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE CITY OF STEM/LA MAKER FAIRE:

Orphan, Monster, Spy - Matt Killeen

Wonder - R.J. Palacio

Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Never-Ending Day - Wanda Coven

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

The Fourth Closet - Christopher Hastings, Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley

Felix and Phoebe's Robot - Team 4 Element

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney

We speak to Israeli writer Ofir Lobel, author of "101 Ways to Lose Your Homework: the Snotty Snail" about the difference between writing in graphic novels and writing a screenplay for a movie. He also talks about writing in a country at war. Kitty Felde is host.