Wait… is that new?

Hey hey hey!

How’s it going Big Kids Book Club fans? Now, no doubt the eagled eyed among you might realise that somethings have changed around here at the BKBC HQ?

Well, since the last few months and 2022 in particular, the podcast has bumped up a notch in terms of viewership, followers, and our partnerships with publishers meaning that it was time to turn this little side hustle into a full blown thing!!!

Additionally, my amazing friend, Emma, is picking up a lot more solo interviews and effectively has become the podcast’s full official co-host, as well as TikToker extraordinaire…

Yes. I did just say TikTok… We’re on TikTok peeps!

Check us out: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigkidsbookclubpodcast

So, this whole upscaling of the podcast has meant that we’re making more content for you to enjoy, as well a slick brand new look for the website, podcast, and all our social media; including this beautiful brand, spanking new logo!

Isn’t it beautiful?

We think so 😊

But it’s super exciting for what’s coming up for the podcast. We’re looking at more ways to engage with more authors, fans, bloggers, and other industry reps.

We’ll also be looking at how we can do more for the listeners, and we’ll have more information coming very, very, very soon about some very exciting ideas and opportunities 😆

We’ll be updating all our social media over the next few weeks, so anything currently not updated will be, and we’ll be putting out a load more content which we’d love to have your feedback on.

I’ll finish here with a very cute photo of myself, Emma, and friend of the show Rab at the recent NYALitFest up in Preston at the University of Central Lancashire, with the amazing publishers UCLan Publishing. An amazing weekend we’ll always remember.

But that’s all for this weekend – have a great one. Don’t forget to check out our bookshop, where you can support us and help us grow. Additionally, if you’re not already, follow us on Twitter and TikTok.

But until next time…

Take Care, Stay Safe, But most importantly, Keep on Reading.

Episode 128: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – David Valdes

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, David Valdes, joined Emma on the show to talk about his newest novel, Spin Me Right Round

David and Emma chatted about the fun of time travel, the difficulties of sexual identity in the past, and when you know an idea is a book or a play!

David was a great guest to have on the show and we are very grateful he was able to join us on the show.

***COMPETITION***

If you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of Spin Me Right Round head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub.
Send us a tweet using the hashtag #Spincomp and tell us what one thing from the 80’s you’d love to see come back into fashion.

(UK residents only)

The competition closes midnight on 3rd June

Thursday TBR Teaser

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome back to the Big Kids Book Club.

It’s Thursday, so what should we talk about today? How about new books!

Today we look at a book that’s either just been released or soon to be hitting shelves, but either way they should be on your wish lists!

Today’s book: Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 352

Release Date:  26/05/2022

Meet Luis. He’s out, he’s proud … and, although he doesn’t know it yet, he’s about to travel back in time to save a closeted student called Chaz from a tragic end. 

All Luis Gonzalez really wants is to go to prom with his boyfriend. But when a hit on the head knocks him back in time to 1985, he finds himself in high school with his own parents and a whole lot of homophobia.

It turns out a Christian school in the 1980s probably isn’t the safest place to be a gay kid.

Soon, Luis is in over his head trying to untangle the mess he’s in, figure how to save Chaz … and somehow get home to his own time.

Get ready for an irresistible YA novel that puts an Own Voices twist on Back to the Future. Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston, this hilarious, intersectional time-slip adventure will make you laugh, cry and think.

Episode 127: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Sophie Cameron

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Sophie Cameron, joins us to talk about her newest Middle Grade novel, Our Sister Again.

Sophie and I chatted about how writing YA at university, tackling issues of grief, and how becoming a mother change her view on stories. 

Sophie was a great guest to have on the show and we are very grateful she was able to join us on the show.

***COMPETITION***

If you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of Our Sister Again head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub.
Send us a tweet using the hashtag #Floracomp and share a memory of a precious loved one.

(UK residents only)

The competition closes midnight on 1st June

Tuesday TBR Teaser

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome back to the Big Kids Book Club.

It’s Tuesday, so what should we talk about today? How about new books!

Today we look at a book that’s either just been released or soon to be hitting shelves, but either way they should be on your wish lists!

Today’s book: Magicborn by Peter Bunzl

Publisher: Usborne

Pages: 368

Release Date:  26/05/2022

The first instalment of an enthralling new fantasy series from the bestselling author of the Cogheart Adventures is a bewitching blend of sorcery and intrigue in a brilliantly realised alternate eighteenth-century England.  

The Curse is changed. You’ll never know. The truth is lost. The lie will grow.The year is 1726 and the Royal Sorcerer of England is on the hunt for those who are magicborn. When Tempest is captured after accidentally unleashing a power she didn’t know she had, she is taken to Kensington Palace alongside a boy like her, Peter.

Trapped, Tempest and Peter find their magic flickering to life – and with it, long-buried memories. For they are the lost prince and princess of Fairyland, bound by a deadly curse… and now the fairies are coming to get them. A battle is building – one only they can end. But who will survive?

The first in a sumptuous and enthralling new historical-fantasy adventure series from the bestselling author of The Cogheart Adventures.

Monday Morning News

Hey, Hey, Hey!

Well, it’s the start of a new week and that means there’s lots to talk about. We’ll be showing you soon all the cool content from our time at the weekend at NYALit Fest up in Preston at UCLan, but in the meantime we have a few little bits of news for you!

Bookshop Updates!

We’ve updated some the bookshop for the Big Kids Book Club page on there. I realise I’m not the best at keeping it updated, but here’s a list of all the books we chatted about during the month of April.

Remember, that buy shopping through Bookshop.org, not only are you supporting the podcast but also independent bookshops 😃📚

https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/big-kids-book-club-podcast-episodes-114-120-april-22-books-wrap-up

Paper Orange 🍊

Don’t forget to sign up to the next months Paper Orange book box subscription to receive the best in UK YA books with an exclusive 10% for our podcast fans.

Use our exclusive code: BIGKIDSYACLUB

SIGN UPS BETWEEN 2ND MAY AND MIDNIGHT THE 1ST OF JUNE WILL BE FOR JUNES BOX.

Monthly UK Y.A book Subscription box delivered straight to your door.

Every month subscribers will be receive the following items.

  • That month’s UK Y.A Book Pick. (Always a recent release from the month)
  • Relevant goodies, from bookmarks, prints to badges and everything in-between.
  • Author Letter – Learn more about the Author.
  • Information on that Month’s UK Y.A releases

Below iss a look at April’s contents for you to see just what sort of awesome goodies you get.

And that’s the news! We’ll be back in future weeks with more updates soon 😃📚

Episode 126: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Cath Howe

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Cath Howe, joins us to talk about her newest Middle Grade novel, The Insiders

Cath and I chatted about how teaching influences her writing, over writing like a boss, and the resilience of children.

Cath was a great guest to have on the show and we are very grateful she was able to join us on the show.

***COMPETITION***

If you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Insiders head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub. Send us a tweet using the hashtag #Insidecomp and tag in your best friend! The more the merrier!!

(UK residents only)

The competition closes midnight on 27th May

Thursday TBR Teaser

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome back to the Big Kids Book Club.

It’s Thursday, so what should we talk about today? How about new books!

Today we look at a book that’s either just been released or soon to be hitting shelves, but either way they should be on your wish lists!

Today’s book: The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Beast Beyond the Fence by Marcus Rashford & Alex Falase-Koya

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Pages: 272

Release Date:  26/05/2022

The third title in the Marcus Rashford Book Club marks the fiction debut of the international footballer and food poverty campaigner himself, as a group of self-styled Breakfast Club Investigators take the twelve-year-old Marcus under their wing.

The Breakfast Club Adventures is the first fiction book by England International footballer, child food-poverty campaigner and #1 bestselling author Marcus Rashford MBE, inspired by Marcus’s own experiences growing up! Written with Alex Falase-Koya, it is the third title in the Marcus Rashford Book Club and is packed with tons of illustration throughout and is the perfect book for children aged 8-11.

There’s something fishy going on at school…

When twelve-year-old Marcus kicks his favourite football over the school fence, he knows he’s never getting it back. Nothing that goes over that wall ever comes back. But the next morning during Breakfast Club Marcus gets a mysterious note inviting him to join the Breakfast Club Investigators, and he is soon pulled into an exciting adventure with his new mates to solve the mystery and get his football back!

Packed full of friendship, adventure, community and fun, you won’t want to miss The Breakfast Club Adventures, Marcus Rashford’s first fiction book for children.

Episode 125: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Kimberly Pauley 2

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Kimberly Pauley returns to talk about her new book, The Accidental Wizard: A Peculiar Problem

Kimberly and I chatted about dungeons and dragons, fairy tales from around the British Isles, and writing 80,000 words in 3 months!

Kimberly was a great guest to have on the show and we are very grateful she was able to join us on the show.

***COMPETITION***

If you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Accidental Wizard: A Peculiar Problem head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub.
Send us a tweet using the hashtag #Twigcomp and tell us your medieval knightly name!

(UK residents only)

The competition closes midnight on 25th May

Tuesday TBR Teasers

Today’s book: Needle by Patrice Lawrence

Publisher: Barrington Stoke

Pages: 128

Release Date:  05/05/2022

A powerful and heart-rending exploration of a teenager’s journey through grief, rage and getting caught in the criminal justice system from award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

Charlene is a demon knitter. It’s the only thing she enjoys and the only thing she believes she’s really good at.

So when her foster mum’s son destroys her latest creation, Charlene loses it and stabs him in the hand with her knitting needle. It damages a nerve and she gets sucked into the criminal justice system for assault.

Charlene’s not sorry and she’s never apologised to anyone in her life. But people keep telling her that if she says sorry, they’ll go easier on her. Can she bring herself to say it and not mean it when her freedom’s at stake?