It’s Halloween…so who better to follow up our conversations about middle school reading than R.L. Stine? With over 400 titles to his name (the latest being The Last Sleepover In the Goosebumps House of Shiver series) this man has been scaring kids for decades and decades. And oh wow, are his stories worth the price of admission?! Join us as we talk to Bob (what he asked we call him) about what makes him tick, how he sees writing for middle school audiences and why horror keeps him in stiches.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
The Last Sleepover by R.L. Stine
The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine
Give me a K-I-L-L! by R.L. Stine
Little Shop of Hamsters by R.L. Stine
Welcome to Dead House by R.L. Stine
Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes by R.L. Stine
Blind Date by R.L. Stine
Bird Box by Josh Malerman
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
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Rick Riordan and Katherine Rundell Explore the Middle School Reading Crisis
We knew that reading levels were in fluctuation, but we had no idea there was a Middle School reading crisis. According to the NWEA (The Northwest Evaluation Association which measures academic and student standards) only 30% of 8th graders are reading at grade level or above. Why? How did we get here and how do we get back on track raising great readers who love literature? We are joined by Miah Daughtery,
VP of Academic Advocacy at HMH, NWEA’s parent company, to talk about their policy recommendations. We also talk to Rick Riordan and Katherine Rundell, two of the bestselling MS writers in the world about how to write for Middle Schoolers and why they think this audience needs attention. Join us for this important discussion (which expands on our GMA piece that aired on October 10th).
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Court of the Dead by Rick Riordan and Mark OshiroPercy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick RiordanImpossible Creatures by Katherine RundellThe Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell
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Lily King Writes her Heart
Lily King’s newest, Heart the Lover, is a sparing, funny, painful and beautiful novel about the first loves we have, and how they never really let go. The humanity, joy and sadness of the novel will keep you turning pages and keep the characters with you long after you have closed the book. We talk to her about her inspirations, her struggles in writing this book and how she triumphed over difficulty in how to end the novel (no spoilers, promise). We also talk to Dixon Books in Natchez Mississippi, less than 24 hours from their grand opening, a first for us. Join us to talk all things books and bookstores...
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Euphoria by Lily King
Five Tuesdays in Winter: Stories by Lily King
Father of the Rain by Lily King
The Pleasing Hour by Lily King
The English Teacher by Lily King
Coconuts for the Saint by Debra Sparks
Different Seasons by Stephen King
Independent People by Halldor Laxness
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Angela Flournoy’s Friendship Circle
Angela Flournoy’s newest, The Wilderness was on the long list of nominees for the National Book Award, and we believe if you read it,
it’s easy to see why. The story of four friends growing apart and together,
it’s a lyrical work of real beauty. Over a series of decades, these four
friends tell you in their distinct voices about the important turning points in their lives, giving readers a rich glimpse into what makes them who their are. We talk to Angela about her wonderful novel and then we pivot to Writer’s Block, a bookstore with two locations in Florida. Join us.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
Brown Girls, Brownstones by Paule Marshall
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Workhorse by Caroline Palmer
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
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The Book Case’s Best of Summer Review
Sometimes we look back on a season of great podcasts (humble podcasts hosts that we are) and consider what we like best within a season. Today, we look at the summer that was. From the great epistolary novel, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans to non-stop laughs with Dave Barry to the magical world of Leigh Bardugo, there is something for everyone in this episode. Join us as we look back on a truly great summer of reading. Plus we hear from the owners of the recently opened Cranford Bookstore in Cranford, NJ.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Six of Crows Duology: Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Class Clown by Dave Barry
Vianne by Joanne Harris
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst
Queen Esther by John Irving-On Sale 11/4/25
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Are you stuck in a reading rut? The Book Case makes the case for books outside of your usual genre. Wander the aisles of your local bookstore with Kate and Charlie Gibson and meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite to new categories while deepening your hunger for books. This weekly series will journey cover to cover through the literary world, featuring interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners. New episodes post every Thursday.
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