Today we're taking a trip back to the early 2000's when every girl was "not like other girls" as we visit one of Aracely's high school favorites "Model Spy" by Shannon Greenland. Aracely comes to realize with disappointment that nostalgia may have had a lot to do with her feelings on this book. And Sonya is infuriated by everything in this story but admits she may not have the right perspective to enjoy it. Join us as we cringe and rage at our teenage selves!

Have any memories of The Specialists you want to share? Or some of your teen favorites you want to suggest? Email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Next book on deck: The Cheerleader by Caroline B. Cooney

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Today we're taking a trip way back to the 1940's with one of Sonya's childhood classic favorites: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. This sweet, wholesome, wonderful story (okay, Sonya's VERY biased) takes a turn into a confusing, strange, and unexplained tale (Aracely doesn't see the point). Nostalgia mixes with ranting as always as we learn the greatest lesson of all: be grateful for what you have kids!

Have any memories of the Boxcar Children you want to share? Or some of your childhood favorites you want to suggest? Email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Next book on deck: Model Spy by Shannon Greenland

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Today we're taking a look at one of Aracely's childhood favorites The Outsiders by SE Hinton. Sonya finds Ponyboy to be a little hard to relate to, but both Sonya and Aracely agree that for a book written in the 60's it tackles a lot of material that's still had to address in today's day and age. Aracely also finds that she can appreciate more of the story now reading it as an adult!

Have some memories of The Outsiders you want to share? Or some of your childhood favorites you want to suggest? Email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Next book on deck: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Today we're taking a trip down memory lane to the hallowed halls of Sweet Valley High with the first book in the series by Francine Pascal, 'Double Love', and oh what a trip it was! Honestly, this episode is all over the place but to be fair so was the book! Sonya's nostalgia is nowhere to be found and Aracely finds the melodrama infuriatingly over the top. There's shouting and incredulity, but also praise for how far the genre of teen drama has come since the days of the wonderful Wakefield twins. 

Have some memories of Sweet Valley High you want to share? Or some of your childhood favorites you want to suggest? Email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Next book on deck: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Let us introduce you to Book Throwback! Our new podcast where we revisit some of our favorite books but with a twist! 

In this intro episode we reintroduce ourselves, talk about why we decided on a new start, and definitely show more of our personalities (which may be good or bad). We're excited and hope you are too, so follow along on this new journey!

Want to suggest some of your childhood favorite reads? Email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

In today's episode we are discussing the common book trope, secret romances. Sonya is struggling to find examples that she feels fits the category and Aracely is realizing that she reads this trope more than she thought! This is also a big trope for LGBTQ+ books!

Check out our Check Out Your Shelf Reading Challenge here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TmPI4omUZ8bGwT2r9DlPtuUNzIkmMCy9/view?usp=sharing

Tell us what other bookish content you would like to hear, and email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Happy new year everyone! We know that with the beginning of a new year many people want to try new things! So in this episode we hope to help you find a new series to start by recommending some of our favorite first books in a series! Sonya is surprised by one of her choices, and Aracely can't help but bring up some books she's mentioned before. 

Check out our Check Out Your Shelf Reading Challenge here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TmPI4omUZ8bGwT2r9DlPtuUNzIkmMCy9/view?usp=sharing

Tell us what other bookish content you would like to hear by emailing us at [email protected], or reach us on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Hello 2022!! We are very excited to announce our second year of our reading challenge! This time we're taking you on a Jewel Journey! This year's theme is birthstones! There is obviously a different birthstone assigned to each month but to go along with them we have also assigned a color to each birthstone! In this episode we go over the "rules" of the challenge and read out the prompts for each month! We hope you participate and have fun!!

If you want to share any reading challenges you're doing or what your planning on reading for this month's prompt you can reach us at [email protected] or on Instagram @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b. Also don't forget to use the #shelfcheckout on instagram to show us how you're doing all year long!

Download the printables here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TmPI4omUZ8bGwT2r9DlPtuUNzIkmMCy9/view?usp=sharing

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

Today we are discussing our more realistic reading goals for next year! Sonya wants to focus on tackling her aversion to thick books, and Aracely wants to revisit some old favorites! Also stay til the end to hear a wrap up of how we did on our Check Out Your Shelf Reading Challenge for 2021! 

Tell us what other bookish content you would like to hear, and email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Music:  www.purple-planet.com

It's game time! Aracely's bringing back an oldie (new to Sonya though) but a goodie with the R.I.P It or Ship It tag. Aracely has a great memory but can't let go of her grudges while Sonya completely mixes up most of the characters including her favorite. Join us as we discuss some of our favorite and most hated characters and determine if love is in the air or if it's destined for the grave.

(Disclaimer: Sonya is not hunting the children. She's just pointing out one option for children who taunt you and then run away. That's all.)

Want us to do more book tags? Tell us some of your favorites and email us at [email protected]. Or check us out on Instagram at @thebookishcactus and @thelibrarianin3b.

Music:  www.purple-planet.com