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Episode 45 – Dodger By Terry Pratchett Summary from the Guardian: Dodger is a tosher who scavenges in the sewers and earns a living selling what he finds. All the poverty stricken people on the streets know him as a friend in times of need. But when he rescues a girl from a beating his life changes dramatically forever… Soon he becomes accidentally famous, discovers a dark plot against him, enters the world of the rich and learns the truth about the girl he rescued. Recommended Age: 13   Our Scores: Your Scores: Haven’t read the book yet?  What are you waiting for? Next month’s book is Looking for more books like Dodger check out our other Shows: The School for Good and Evil Artemis Fowl The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 tells of a future where books have been banned and entertainment is designed to dull the senses of the masses.  A fireman named Montag goes from burning books to discover what has been lost by his society.  He must make a choice of what he will do with his discovery and it could cost him everything. What can I say, we love dystopian sci-fi books.  At almost 70 years old this book holds up almost too well as we see a vision of our own future.  Disconnected by their earbuds and their reality TV, this book serves as a warning of things possibly to come. Listen to our discussion on Farhenheit 451 here on Reading Radio. For the record Jason was not making up words: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/prescient Recommended Age: 13+ based on the complexity of language and darkness of some topics covered. Our Scores: Your Scores: If you haven’t picked it up yet you can buy it here: Next Months Book Looking for more books like Fahrenheit  451  check out or other Shows: Animal Farm – George Orwell – Episode 22 City of Ember – Jeanne DuPraul – Episode 13 The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness –  Episode 36

Episode 43 – The Inheritance Games In the Inheritance Games we learn that Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why — or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into a sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch — and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con artist, and he’s determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive. Recommended Age for The Inheritance Games: 13+ * Mild romantic content * Inference and results of domestic violence * Murder is always a possibility Our Scores: Your Scores: Get Inheritance Games from Amazon: Next Month: Looking for more books like The Inheritance Games?  Check out our other Shows: Running Out Of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix – Episode 14 The Similars by Rebecca Hanover – Episode 41

Episode 42 – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy One Thursday lunchtime the Earth is unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun, and the galaxy is a very strange and startling place. Recommended Age: 13+ Our Scores: Your Scores: If you still need to pick up the book you can get it from Amazon, here Our Next Book The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – You can get it from amazon here Looking for more books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (as if there are any) check out our other Shows: Mary Poppins

Episode 41 – The Similars When six clones join Emmaline’s prestigious boarding school, she must confront the heartbreak of seeing her dead best friend’s face each day in class. The Similars are all anyone can talk about at the elite Darkwood Academy. Who are these six clones? What are the odds that all of them would be Darkwood students? Who is the madman who broke the law to create them? This book was a great rollercoaster ride.  Once you hit the top of the lift hill you are all set for a great thrill. Recommended Age: 13+ due to some darker context 10+ based on vocabulary Our Scores: Your Scores: If you haven’t already you can buy THe Similars on Amazon Next month we are reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for our 42nd episode! Get it and read it now! Looking for more books like The Similars check out or other Shows: Running out of time Asgardian Exchange – Referenced in the show Etiquette and Espionage – Referenced in the show

Dracula – Episode 40 Dracula represents our 4th year and our 40th show!  It has been wonderful to read and grow with all of you please continue to share us with your friends and form your own Reading Radio book clubs across the country. Dracula is the classic gothic tale that made the vampire so famous.  Written in a unique format using journals and newspaper clippings you feel as if you are solving the mystery along with the main characters. Join Jonathan Harker and Abraham Van Helsing as they try to solve the mystery of the original vampire before it is too late to save their beloved Madam Mina Recommended Age: 15+ There is no explicit content but the language is this book is archaic as it was written in 1897.  It could be hard to physically read while the audiobook would make it much easier. Our Scores: Your Scores: Join us for our next book The Similars by Rebecca Hanover Looking for more books like Dracula check out or other Shows: Etiquette and Espionage The Hobbit  

Episode 39 – Dune by Frank Herbert Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family — and would bring to fruition humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction. About the Author Frank Herbert is the bestselling author of the Dune saga. He was born in Tacoma, Washington, and educated at the University of Washington, Seattle. He worked a wide variety of jobs—including TV cameraman, radio commentator, oyster diver, jungle survival instructor, lay analyst, creative writing teacher, reporter and editor of several West Coast newspapers—before becoming a full-time writer. In 1952, Herbert began publishing science fiction with “Looking for Something?” in Startling Stories. But his emergence as a writer of major stature did not occur until 1965, with the publication of Dune. Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune followed, completing the saga that the Chicago Tribune would call “one of the monuments of modern science fiction.” Herbert is also the author of some twenty other books, including The White Plague, The Dosadi Experiment, and Destination: Void. He died in 1986. Recommended Age: 14+ Our Scores: Your Scores: Tell us what you thought of Dune! Get the book on Amazon While you are there pick up Dracula for our October book! Looking for more books like Dune? Check out or other Shows: Shadow and Bone The Hobbit

Episode 38 – Shadow and Bone The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka. Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unraveling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free? The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, is the leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her danger. But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him? Recommended Age: 14+ Our Scores: Your Scores: Get this book on Amazon Our Next book is Dune by Frank Herbert, the sci-fi classic.   Looking for more books like Shadow and Bone?  Check out or other Shows: Keeper of the Lost cities The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

This show didn’t get nearly the love we thought it should.  If you didn’t read running out of time with us then please check it out, and give Margaret Peterson Haddix some love!

Season 3 has come to an end, but if you are looking for a great little classic book, you can’t go wrong with The Secret Garden.  We read the book this past season, both of us for the first time. It is a coming-of-age story with a touch of magic set at the turn of the 20th century in the Yorkshire Moors. For all the original show notes check here You can get the book here at Amazon   From Goodreads: “One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children’s literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911. The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home, Misselthwaite Manor located in the gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised. Once when he’s away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens when she hears sounds of sobbing from somewhere within her uncle’s vast mansion. The kindly servants ignore her queries or pretend they haven’t heard, spiking Mary’s curiosity.”

Episode 37 – Rich Dad Poor Dad Written in 1997 but updated for the newer times Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, is a book that teaches valuable lessons about money in ways that are easier to understand than your standard finance book.  Though this book is not intended for children at age 15 I had no problem understanding it and am almost positive a bit someone younger could understand as well. Jason and I found that this book was a good tool for bringing up questions we could talk about together. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to further their knowledge in finance and how money works.   Recommended Age: 13 and up   Our Scores: Your Scores: Tell us what you thought of the book? Rich Dad Poor Dad  Our next book is A Tale of Two Cities. We’ve never done a non-fiction book before, we’d love to hear what you thought about it in the comments below. In the mean time while we are off on summer break check out some of our previous shows… The book that started Chaos Walking – The Knife of never letting go. Or a classic like To Kill a Mocking Bird

Episode 36 – The Knife of Never Letting Go The Knife of Never Letting Go is a science fiction book set in on a planet where every man’s thoughts are broadcasted out loud for anyone to hear, and it is impossible for secrets to be kept.  Young Todd Hewitt finds a place where there is no noise and discovers something he has never seen before a girl. After things go awry he has to go on the run to protect himself and the girl from a past he is yet to discover.   Recommended Age: 13 and up.   Our Scores: Your Scores: Our next book is Rich Dad Poor Dad. Looking for more books like The Knife of Never Letting Go check out our other Shows: Game Changer By Margaret Peterson Haddix  Hunger Games Episode 6