Books From the Basement

Send us Fan Mail Amy and Lisa tick off another four chapters of The MysteryOff Old Telegraph Road.  Somebody doesn't want the BWG's bike-a-thon to happen. Once Di Lynch's bike tires are slashed, Mr. Maypenny's game cart is destroyed, and Honey & Mrs. Vanderpoel receive threatening phone calls, the gang must consider if the fundraiser is worth the danger. Heads up: Sargeant...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy work their way through three more chapters of The Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road . The BWGs work to get the word out about the bike-a-thon while Nick Roberts and Ben Riker do their best to place obstacles in their path. Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts . It really helps us get the word out about the podcast! You can still listen on your regula...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy work their way through three more chapters of The Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road . The BWGs go into high gear as they plan the bike-a-thon fundraiser, but Ben Riker and Nick (the artist) are doing what they can to stand in the way. Also, Trixie and Honey are in a major junior high throwdown, revealing Trixie's insecurity in their relationship. In...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Holidays to all our amazing listeners ! Please enjoy our 2023 Annual Christmas Bonus episode.  It may only consist of one party, but it's much more than enough for your enjoyment! Can you help Lisa and Amy figure out the "Grand Opening" Party for "Big Luke's Discount House?" One of their questions is, how much of a party must be about Christmas...

Send us Fan Mail It’s time for Lisa and Amy to start another Trixie Belden Book! What’s in the queue? The Secret Off Old Telegraph Road . School’s almost out for the summer (again) and the BWGs want to help the art department with some well-needed supplies. Unfortunately, it looks like the return of Ben Riker, who is hanging around with the “bad boys” at Sleepyside Junior-Senior High, may throw a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy finish their analysis of The Secret of the Unseen Treasure. Despite this four-part series, many unanswered questions remain. Lisa and Amy make every effort to decipher all of it, but sometimes there are simply no answers. Toss some illegal drugs into a BWG mystery and everything goes a little bananas! In her ender, Lisa follows up her Halloween episod...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Halloween 🎃 to all our listeners ! It's time for our 3rd annual Halloween Episode! It's fright night, and Lisa has all kinds of scary tidbits to share. If you like haunted houses, this episode is for you. Enjoy Lisa & Amy's conversation as they discuss some very scary places that people are willing to visit in honor of the holiday. Also, if your own house...

Send us Fan Mail In part three of The Secret of the Unseen Treasure , Lisa and Amy wade their way through two more chapters. The BWGs carry out a midnight covert operation. Honey becomes an activist and finds her voice. Poor Brian has lost his botanical skills. Also, who is growing marijuana in Mrs. Elliot’s cornfield? In her ender, Lisa breaks out another overtly politically incorrect party. The...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy take you through the next few chapters of The Secret of the Unseen Treasure . Another mystery arises as Trixie and the gang continue investigating the stolen social security checks. Someone has sabotaged Mrs. Elliot's water pump! A few questions that Lisa and Amy address: Why is Mr. Belden spilling even more confidential bank information? Does Bo...

Send us Fan Mail Books From the Basement is premiering it's third season and Trixie Belden is helping to start it off right! We know you've been waiting a LONG time for another Trixie and this one won’t disappoint. In this episode Lisa and Amy take you through the first few chapters of The Secret of the Unseen Treasure . Social Security checks have gone missing, and Trixie is on the case...

Send us Fan Mail Lisa and Amy are back from their VERY long hiatus! This episode was recorded last October and is worth the wait! It’s the final part of Ramona and Her Mother you’ve been waiting for! Beezus wants to go to the hair salon rather than receive Mrs. Quimby’s version of a haircut. Ramona gets new pajamas and continues to deal with the angst of family stability. In Lisa’s ender, it’s a “...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Holidays to all of our listeners! It’s time for another bonus episode to celebrate this festive time of year! In this episode, Lisa digs out old copies of her family’s Christmas newsletter, The Burkett Gazette . Through the yearly rundowns filled with interesting and fun facts, you’ll gain even more insight into Lisa and Amy’s life growing up in the early 80’s. Also in this...

Send us Fan Mail Lisa and Amy continue their discussion of Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary. Ramona is desperately trying to adjust to living with a working mother. Her struggles are real when she and Howie’s art project goes terribly wrong, her parents fight about pancakes and her teacher tells her there’s no such word as can’t. What’s a Ramona to do? Listen and find out! Lisa has a surpri...

Send us Fan Mail A new episode is finally here! Lisa and Amy begin their discussion of Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary. Christmas is over and as the new year sets in, Ramona must contend with an obnoxious Willa Jean and a stuffed elephant that needs slacks. In Lisa’s ender, it’s a Beat the Heat Party from A Calendar of Parties by Edith and Jack B. Fellows. Please rate, review and subscribe...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Halloween! For this year's spooky Halloween episode, Lisa and Amy throw you a podcast party complete with invitations, decorations, games and yummy treats. Featured are ice breakers from the Fellows' Social Kit and recipes from 250 Ways to Cook Meat . We hope you have a Halloween filled with good food, candy & fun! 

Send us Fan Mail Lisa and Amy conclude their discussion of Beverly Cleary’s Ramona and Her Father . The second half of the book is all about a sheep costume Ramona needs for the annual church Christmas pageant. With Henry Huggins as Joseph and Beezus as the virtuous Mary, Ramona struggles to find a way to feel important in her own right. In Lisa’s ender, it’s time for yet another Hobo Party. This...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy start their fourth book of Beverly Cleary’s Ramona series. In the first part of Ramona and Her Father , Ramona has her hands full taking care of a dad that suddenly finds himself without a job. There is much tension in the Quimby household, and even Picky-Picky the cat is out of sorts. Not only is Ramona trying to figure out a way to supplement the fa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy finish their discussion of Ramona the Brave . Ramona continues to find first grade to be less than exciting. However, the challenges of sleeping alone in her new room, expressing anger appropriately and facing down a large German Shepherd help her to find the bravery she’s been trying to find. In Lisa’s ender, it’s time for another inappropriate India...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa and Amy continue their discussion of Ramona the Brave . Ramona finally starts first grade but is disappointed when things don’t go as expected. Her new teacher is nothing like Miss Binney, and Susan is up to her old tricks. If that weren’t enough, Howie abandons her and takes all his bricks away. In Lisa’s ender, she and Amy hop back to Gertrude Crampton and...

Send us Fan Mail Lisa and Amy dig into the next book in the Ramona series, Ramona the Brave . It’s August and Ramona can’t wait to start first grade. While waiting for the big day to come, there’s a big surprise at the Quimby house. Plus, Ramona preaches a sermon at the park and plays “brick factory” with Howie. In Lisa’s ender, she and Amy discuss a “Hunting Time Party.” from Any time is Party Ti...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa & Amy complete their revisit of Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary. During the last half of the book, Ramona faces even more challenges as she negotiates her way through kindergarten. To her dismay, she has a rain boot crisis, is scared by her own Halloween costume and misses out on trapping the tooth fairy. As if that weren’t enough, Ramona finally gives...

Send us Fan Mail Watch out Kindergarten, here comes Ramona! In this episode, Lisa & Amy start one of Lisa’s very favorite books, Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary. Ramona’s starting school and she can’t wait to get there. Falling in love with her teacher, Miss Binney, is easy. Catching poor little Davy to kiss him and keeping her hands off Susan’s boing boing curls prove much more difficult....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa & Amy finish up their review of Beverly Cleary’s Beezus and Ramona . Ramona is up to even more trouble as Beezus waits with excitement for her birthday to arrive. Luckily, a crate of apples and an impromptu party distract Beezus as she edges closer to that magic age of 10.  Know somebody who’s about to retire? Tune in for Lisa’s ender as she lays out a “T...

Send us Fan Mail It’s time for a new series, and Lisa has chosen the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. First up is Beezus and Ramona published in 1955. Four-year-old Ramona knows just how to antagonize her older sister, Beezus. In this episode, Lisa and Amy revisit some of Ramona’s creative antics and reminisce about their own childhoods.  For Lisa’s ender, there’s a perfect party for Tax Day. It’s...

Send us Fan Mail In this extra-long episode, Lisa and Amy dig into the second half of The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper. Sleepyside is in an uproar when everyone's favorite weathervane, Hoppy, is stolen from the top of the town hall. If that wasn't bad enough, a valuable coin collection is stolen from a school classroom. Can Trixie and the BWGs solve both of these crimes before Sgt....