Books and Bites

No matter the genre, when you read a book with a map, you're in for an adventure. This month, we share a YA historical fiction meets fantasy novel; a mystery set in 1920s Bangalore; and a dystopian novel set during a future American Civil War. Don't forget to turn in your bingo sheets for the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge by June 30, 2024! If you still need book sugg...

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with books by AAPI authors! It's one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge . Our suggestions include an action-packed adventure tale, a YA romance, and a comic but realistic immigration story. Michael's Pick The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin begins with Ming Tsu traversing the salt fl...

 On this episode, we discuss books set in or about the outdoors, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge . We recommend a memoir by a teenage naturalist and environmental activist; a popular YA dystopian novel; and a horror novel set in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Carrie's Pick Diary of a Young Naturalist is by Dara McAnulty, a young autistic writer,...

 On this episode, we celebrate Women's History Month with fiction and nonfiction about women's history, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge . From a graphic novel about Soviet women fighter pilots to a page-turning book about the evolution of female bodies, we'll show you that there's nothing dull about women's history. Michael's Pick The Night Wi...

 On this episode, we discuss romance novels, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge . This popular book genre has something for everyone, even the horror fans among us! Jacqueline's Pick Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a young adult fantasy novel. Seventeen year old Evangeline had loving parents who raised her on tales of magic, fates...

 On this episode, we ring in the New Year with the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge !  From now through June 30, 2024, keep track of books you read or listen to by writing the title and author in the matching bingo square. Complete all 25 squares for a chance to win a $100 Joseph-Beth gift card or an Amazon Kindle. You’ll also earn an enamel pin (while supplies last). ...

This month, we discuss books with magic, our final prompt from the 2023 Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks include an anthology of witchy tales; a novel about the magic of sourdough starter, robot arms, and the human who works with both; and a YA fairytale set in contemporary times. If you’re participating in Books & Bites Bingo, don’t forget to turn in your bingo card througho...

 In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we discuss books by Indigenous authors, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks are as varied as ever, with a ghost story set in a bookstore, a teen mystery, and, of course, horror! Jacqueline's Pick Firekeeper's Daughter is a young adult mystery by Angeline Bouley. The story mostly takes place on the Sault...

For October, we discuss Gothic fiction, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks have all the creepy mansions, women in the attic, and brooding characters you could possibly want. Not to mention fungi! Carrie's Pick O Caledonia is a little-known classic that, according to the publisher, “has been compared to the works of the Brontes, Edgar Allan Poe, and Edward...

This month, we discuss books about music or musicians, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. From mixtapes to AI, music memoirs to YA novels, we share our thoughts on both music and books. Michael's Pick Michael recommends The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl. This memoir describes the passion that Grohl has had for music since he was a kid and goes i...

 This month, we discuss adventure stories, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Choose your own adventure, whether it's with a group of teens on a road trip, on top of Mount Everest, or on a pirate ship! Jacqueline's Pick Jacqueline enjoyed Five Survive by New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson. Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends....

 In honor of this year's summer learning theme, Dig In, we're digging into some authors we already know with the Books and Bites Bingo prompt, read another book by an author you love. Carrie's Pick Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, a coming of age story that satirizes Gothic novels. Seventeen year-old Catherine Morland visits Bath with family friends, where she indulges in her love of reading Gothi...

 On this episode, we discuss books by LGBTQIA+ authors, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo . We've got a diverse group of characters and settings for you, including a Splatterpunk novel set in 1990s New Orleans, a Booker Prize-winning novel set in the United Kingdom, and a YA novel set in 1987 El Paso, Texas. Michael's Pick Michael read Exquisite Corpse by Billy Martin (formerly Poppy...

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about a place you want to visit, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo . Join us as we travel to Mexico City, Paris, and the English countryside--all with the help of some good books! Jacqueline's Pick If you dream of the City of Light, Jacqueline recommends The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor. The book has two strong female characters whos...

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about Appalachia, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo . Collection Access Associate John David Hurley, who is from Mount Vernon, Kentucky, joins Michael, Carrie, and Jacqueline to share some favorite books about Appalachia. John David recommends a Books & Bites favorite, Elizabeth Catte’s What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia . He sa...

On this episode, we discuss epistolary books, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Epistolary novels are told primarily through letters, but they can also include diaries, emails, instant messages, transcripts, and even post-it notes.  Prefer to read nonfiction? Collections of letters count for this prompt, too. Carrie shares some of her favorites. Our Picks To the Bright Edge of the Wo...

This month, we discuss the Afrofuturism/Afrofantasy square from Books & Bites Bingo . As Michael pointed out on the podcast, “Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy are sub-genres of science fiction and fantasy that are rooted in African cultures, myth, folklore, and the overall Black experience.”  Jacqueline enjoyed Raybearer by Jordon Ifeuko. This debut YA Afrofantasy novel was inspired by African fol...

We're starting the New Year with a new Books and Bites reading challenge, Books and Bites Bingo! You'll have more prompts to choose from, and more chances to win prizes. Plus, every time you get a bingo, you'll earn a fun, book-themed sticker. Complete a blackout of all the squares, and you'll earn your very own enamel Books and Bites pin!   We'll discuss a different bingo square on each episode o...

If you’re participating in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , it’s time to wrap up your reading! On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the books we read for the twelfth and final prompt, read whatever you want.  If you’ve completed ten of the reading challenge prompts, turn your entry forms in at the library or online for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite or a $100 gift card to Jo...

 On this episode, we discuss the eleventh prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , a nonfiction book about something you’re curious about. We hope we can pique your interest with books about octopuses, Sherlock Holmes, and cults! Book Notes Carrie recommends The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery. Jacqueline recommends Sherl...

On this episode, we discuss the tenth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , read a manga! Manga are comics or graphic novels that began in Japan. Since you read them from right to left instead of left to right, they can be challenging at first. But thanks to the wide variety of subject matter, you should be able to find something you'll enjoy. Book Notes Michael recommends Remina...

 On this episode, we celebrate the freedom to read with the ninth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , read a banned or challenged book. Dr. Ron Critchfield, JCPL's Executive Director,  joins us to discuss the importance of intellectual freedom, the role of parents in helping their children choose books, the problems with censorship, and more. What's the Difference Between Banned...

On this episode, we discuss the eighth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , novellas. These short novels of 200 pages or less are just the right size for reading in one sitting or trying something new. We’ve got something for everyone with cozy SciFi, a creature feature, and a dark fairy tale that both teens and adults will enjoy.  Book Notes Carrie recommends A Psalm for the Wil...

On this episode, we welcome our new co-host Jacqueline Cooper and discuss the seventh prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , books that take place near the ocean. To celebrate our summer learning theme, we have an ocean of possible reads for you, including horror, cozy mystery, and fantasy. Book Notes Michael recommends The Fisherman by John Langan Carrie recommends The Postscript...

 On this episode, we discuss the sixth prompt in the Books and Bites 2022 Reading Challenge , books that include Black joy. These books celebrate the richness and fullness of Black lives. Book Notes Michael recommends Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby. Shantel recommends Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. Carrie recommends Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. Bite Notes Pair Blacktop Wasteland wit...