FVRL ReadRadio Podcast

In today's podcast, Jessica tells us about three fantasy books for young readers: Willodeen by Katherine Applegate When the annual migration of hummingbears, a source of local pride and income, dwindles and no one knows why, Willodeen, armed with a magical birthday gift, speaks up for the animals she loves and vows to uncover this mystery. https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1846060 The B...

In today’s podcast, Sally tells us about the Ben Packard mystery thriller series. The first two novels are "And There He Kept Her" and "Where the Dead Sleep." Book three, "A Long Time Gone," will be published in 2025. Personal tragedy has sent former police officer Ben Packard back to the small Minnesota town of Sandy Lake in search of a fresh start. Now a sheriff's deputy, Packard is leading the...

In this episode, Charlotte introduces listeners to the fantasy novel Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll. Ramya Knox is used to feeling cursed. People only notice her long enough to call her a troublemaker. Except Grandpa. He sees Ramya and her neurodiversity as enchanting. But when Grandpa dies, Ramya's world loses its charm...until she discovers he left behind one big secret: that magic is real and Ra...

This episode of Read Radio dives into the first novel of Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series. This witty, fast-paced adult mystery series follows struggling suspense novelist and single mom turned-amateur-sleuth Finlay Donovan, whose fiction begins to tread dangerously close to the truth. Find Finlay Donovan Is Killing It in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C18399...

Are you interested in learning new facts about the world around you? Do you like reading about real life and looking at photos of places, animals and people? Then check out the Super Readers book series for kids at all reading levels – available at your library! Find these books in the FVRL catalogue: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=DK+Super+Readers&searchType=keyword

In today's Podcast, Jean discusses the In Death series by author Nora Roberts, writing under the pseudonym J.D. Robb. These futuristic suspense novels, set in mid-21st-century New York, follow detective Eve Dallas, a tough cop with a dark past who solves chilling crimes while navigating a complex personal life. Find books by J.D. Robb in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/searc...

In this episode, we learn about Ash Van Otterloo's Cattywampus. Magic is strictly forbidden in the McGill house, but Delpha McGill has found the family book of spells and plans to use it to make things a little easier for herself and her mother. Katybird Hearn comes from a rival family of witches, but her magic has been slow to emerge. She thinks a spell book is just what she needs to help things...

In this episode, Laurel tells listeners about Melissa Wiesner's fun, light-hearted romance, The Second Chance Year. Sadie Thatcher's life has fallen apart in spectacular fashion. In one fell swoop, she managed to lose her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend-all thanks to her big mouth. So when a fortune teller offers her one wish, Sadie jumps at the chance to redo her awful year. Find this title...

In this episode, Linda tells listeners about a selection of thrillers that explore art crime. Find these titles in the FVRL collection: The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession — by Michael Finkel https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1893876 The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century — by Kirk W. Johnson https://fvrl.bibl...

In this episode, Charlotte dives into the adventurous and magical world of Coral's Reef by David Lumsdon. Meet Coral, a sweet-natured girl who lives with her parents, kid sister Maki, and pet sea otter in the seaside town of Reef Beach. She's no different than any other teenager — except like all inhabitants of New Lemuria, she's not quite human. Coral is a sea sprite, and when not at school, or h...

In this podcast, listeners learn about three titles that explore the subject of magical herbalism. Dawn recommends three books from the FVRL collection: Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants — by Juliet Diaz https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1829207 Wild Witchcraft: Folk Herbalism, Garden Magic, and Foraging for Spells, Rituals, and Remedies — by...

Looking for a graphic novel series to read to add to your summer reading? In this episode Laura-Lea tells us about Kazu Kibuishi’s page-turner, Amulet. In this nine-volume series, a mysterious amulet opens the door to a beautiful but dangerous world of new friends, giant robots and shadowy enemies! Find the Amulet series in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?custom_edit=...

In today’s podcast, Mieke tells us about Christina Baker Kline’s The Exiles. This powerful, emotionally resonant novel captures the hardship, oppression and hope of four women’s lives — three English convicts and an orphaned Aboriginal girl — in nineteenth-century Australia. Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1821874

Do you have questions about what the future might look like? Do you wonder how you will fit into this new world? In today’s podcast, Thurza tells us about the audiobook 21 Lessons for the 21st Century written by Yuval Noah Harari and read by Derek Perkins. This book provides a kind of instruction manual for the present day to help readers find their way around the 21st century, to understand it, a...

In today’s podcast, coworkers Charlotte and Jessica get together to talk about Mister Magic, a '90s nostalgia-filled horror written by Kiersten White. Who is Mister Magic? In this dark supernatural thriller, former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show and discover the secret of its enigmatic host. Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2...

Jean tells listeners about a recent favourite audiobook listen, the fascinating autobiography of Elton John. In his first and only official autobiography, music icon Elton John reveals the truth about his extraordinary life, from his rollercoaster lifestyle as shown in the film Rocketman, to becoming a living legend. Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/...

Mieke tells listeners about The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet, a deeply moving collection of personal essays from John Green, the author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down. The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded f...

Did you know that otters add air bubbles to their fur to help keep themselves warm? In this episode, Brenna tells listeners about Katherine Applegate's free verse novel, Odder. Learn all about otters in this environmental tale! Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practising her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she's known. She's a fearless dare...

In this episode, Kaori tells listeners about a science fiction adventure: This Is How You Lose the Time War. From award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone comes an enthralling, romantic novel spanning time and space about two time-travelling rivals who fall in love and must change the past to ensure their future. Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/...

In this episode, Charlotte shares an exciting middle-grade fantasy novel: Abeni's Song by P. Djèlí Clark. Abeni, a reluctant magical apprentice, and a team of spirit kids set out to save their village from the evil Witch Priest who captured and marched off everyone toward ghost ships bound for distant lands. Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C19000...

In today’s podcast, Joys shares two children’s books about home. In these books, families seek home and redefine their home as they deal with tough realities and challenges together. Find these titles in the FVRL collection: Home by Tonya K. Lippert This lyrical story is timely and thoughtful, depicting the life of two children thrust into homelessness and uncertain housing situations as they move...

In this episode, Diane tells listeners about one of her favourite young adult series, Caraval by Stephanie Garber. This series will thrill readers as it explores a world of wonder, whimsy, adventure, mystery and romance. Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarle...

In this episode Jennifer introduces listeners to one of her all-time favourite books, Circe by Madeline Miller, a narrative that transforms a minor Greek goddess into a complex heroine. In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child — neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world o...

If you like the classic novel Anne of Green Gables, you might like Anne: An Adaption of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of) by Kathleen Gros — a kids’ graphic novel that takes place in the present day. Anne Shirley has been in foster care her whole life. So when the Cuthberts take her in, she hopes it's for good. They seem to be hitting it off, but how will they react to the trouble that Anne can somet...

In this episode we are introduced to a picture book series called "How Do Dinosaurs" by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague. Each story begins with an example of silly, not-so-perfect dinosaur behaviour, followed by the polite ways dinosaurs (and kids) *should* act — whether it's at school, bedtime or dinner. This series will help your child become a confident reader, all while teaching them...