Shelf Aware Podcast

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Material Monday! We're continuing our unit with the second book in the His Dark Material series with The Subtle Knife, a knife that is maybe not subtle at all, but actually super obvious? Also, definitely only has the one blade. Join us next week for the last book in Anna's unit on movie novelizations! And as always, don't forget to check out our 2022 re...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers! This week, we're continuing our listener slubmitted grabbag unit with a book sent to us from listener Sam: The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag. Is this book a fairy tale retelling even? Who can say. How old are the main characters? Who can say. Did we even like this book? Who can say. Recommended Reading: Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to a Material Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're starting our brand new mini-series on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, a YA fantasy series with demons, armored bears with opposable thumbs, and a truth-telling compass. Join us next week for the next book in our grabbag listener slubmitted unit, and make sure to check out our 2022 reading challenge...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware. This week, we're reading another book in Anna's movie novelization unit: Braveheart, a movie neither Anna nor Em have seen! Despite the Gary Stu and historical inaccuracies, was this a good book? And who would you recast as William Wallace? Next week, we're starting a brand new YA series before getting into our next lengthy middle...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware. This week, we're starting a bit of a grabbag unit, full of one-off slubmissions from our listeners. We're kicking off the unit with return author, Nicholas Sparks, and his book Every Breath, about two almost middle-aged people who meet at a beach and fall in love in the span of 48 hours. Don't forget that next week, there won't be...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to our FINAL Morph Monday. That's right, we made it all the way to the end of the Animorphs series, and boy, was it a ride. From mouths full of bees, to always being knives, and an appearance from an alien toilet, this series has really had its ups and downs, but how do we feel about its unexpected ending? Join us next week for our first book in our listeners grab...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're covering a new unit on novelizations of movies, and reading a book that child Anna did not realize was based on a movie at all: Clue by Michael McDowell. Does the book hold up to the movie? Join us next week for… the final Animorphs book. And don't forget to check out our 2022 reading challenge on either Twitter o...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're reading the last of the Animorphs Chronicles books to hopefully gain some insight to some of the behind-the-scenes machinations before heading into the finale. This book… absolutely went places. It's a wild ride, so strap in. Join us next week for the first book in Anna's new unit on movie novelizatio...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're wrapping up our M/M Paranormal Romance unit with a Lovecraftian/dark academia book: Widdershins. A soft, self-conscious nerdy boy and an ex-Pinkerton try to figure out who is making these animal/people crossbreeds and bringing people back to life. Recommended Reading: The Necromancer's Dance by S.J. Himes Lord of...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we've finally been given a book in which Jake… is a good character??? The penultimate Animorphs book is here and it does not hold back. Also it ends on a major cliffhanger. So not cool. Otherwise, absolutely perfect book. Join us next week for the final book on our M/M Paranormal Romance unit! Twitter: @she...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another holiday episode of Shelf Aware! This year, we're covering the third book in the Christmas Shoes series. If you are surprised that the song inspired one book, let alone an entire series, you are not alone. This particular book follows Patricia, the worst social worker, as she learns to love Christmas and her husband all over again.  Join us next week for...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're covering the last of the Ax POVs. Is this a book about forgiveness or did the Bandalites let Cassie off too easily? Cassie isn't alone in her little betrayal, though, because we learn Ax has been talking to the Andalites on the side, and they kinda want to blow Earth up. Join us next week for our year...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're continuing our unit on M/M Paranormal Romance with the book The Demon's in the Details. We've got a raven shifter named Poe who lives in Baltimore (get it?!), and a demon named Tommy who owns a salon called Rumpled Still: Skin, Hair, and Scalp (can you guess what his REAL name is?!) who fall in love and fight a sl...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware. This week we're covering the very last of the Marco books, and it is unfortunately very action-packed. Marco and his squad are out to inform the governor of (probably) California about the Yeerks invasion. What could go wrong? Join us next week for another MLM Paranormal Romance! Twitter: @shelfawarecast, @amdeebee, @...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week we are wrapping up Em's unit on psychological horror with T. Kingfisher's The Twisted Ones. We've got creepy deer, an excellent dog, and way too many dolls. An actual scary book, but maybe doesn't entirely fill the prompt. Oh well. Join us next week for another Morph Monday! Recommended Reading: Winter's Orbit by Everina...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week we're reading the 50TH book in the Animorphs series! Are we seeing the beginnings of an Animorphs spinoff? And honestly, Cassie committed the world's biggest, most unforgivable crime. Join us next week for the last book in Em's horror unit! Twitter: @shelfawarecast, @amdeebee, @emnoteliza Instagram: @shelfaw...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week we're starting a brand new unit slubmitted by listener and friend Kate from All the Good Dogs: MLM Paranormal Romance. And we finally have the correct version of the episode (iykyk). Join us next week for another Morph Monday! Recommended Reading: Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw Slippery Creatures by K.J. C...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're reading another excellent Tobias POV. We finally get the character appearance we've known was coming since The Andalite Chronicles. We also have a big parent evacuation, and perhaps the beginning of a Dark Jake arc? How is this series going to wrap up with just a few more books left? Join us next week...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're reading the second book in Em's unit, Rebecca. Which is one of Anna's favorite books of all time. No pressure, Em, but we'll have to cancel the podcast if you don't like this one. Join us next week for another Morph Monday! Recommended Reading: I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schell...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to a very special Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we are celebrating our 150th (!!!) episode by playing an Animorphs inspired TTRPG created and GM'd by Em. (G-Em'd?) This one truly went places. Thank you so much to our players! Shane Brad (@storybookweaver) Lori (@LunetteLore) And thank you to our playtesters! Mark (@BarkMarger) Chris (@Eternal_Prow...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! This week, we're covering a very special book that combines two of our recent units: time slip romances and prehistoric fiction. Also, you have to stick through to the end for the major reveal that Em keeps hinting at… Join us next week for our big 150th episode special!! Recommended Reading: Black Water Sister by Zen Cho Moon of...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! We're here with the last book of the Animorphs series narrated solely by Rachel, and boy, was it disappointing. We've got some returning characters, ROUSs (Rachels of Unusual Size), and a lot of dream sequences. Join us next week for a special wrap-up of two separate units: Time slip romances and prehistoric fiction....

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! In honor of spooky season, we're starting a new spooky unit on psychological thrillers, visiting an author that Anna and Em have both purposefully avoided over the years. We also dive in deep on some feelings about the horror genre in general and introduce our new Baby Driver podcast. Recommended Reading: Witch Hat Atelier by Kamo...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another Morph Monday episode of Shelf Aware! After the last two Animorphs books, the plot comes to a shrieking halt with some fun split perspective between Jake and his long dead Civil War uncle. Also enjoy some excellent beaver puns and just keep on rolling with our vast knowledge of water. Join us next week for the next book in Em's annual horror unit! Twitter...

Welcome back, Literary Slummers, to another episode of Shelf Aware! We are finally wrapping up our prehistoric unit with a book… told from a dinosaur's point of view. Imagine Planet Earth: Dinosaurs, and you've pretty much got the gist of this one. Wasn't expecting the romance angle, though. Join us next week for another Morph Monday Recommended Reading: Her Private Life (Netflix) The Space Betwee...