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Episode 187: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Naomi Gibson

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Naomi Gibson joins us to talk about her newest YA novel, Game Over Girl.

I chatted with Naomi about writing STEM in YA characters, creating book ideas from writing workshops, and also getting to travel thanks to her book’s success.

Naomi 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 Game Over Girl head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub.
Send us a tweet using the hashtag #GameOverComp and tell us your favorite Video game

(UK residents only)

The competition closes at midnight on 15th February

Episode 186: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Amy Sparkes

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Amy Sparkes joins us to talk about her newest Middle-Grade novel, The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond.

I chatted with Amy about starting out as picture books, then moving onto chapter and middlegrade books, about meeting characters while re-writing her ideas, and exploring writing a series one book at a time.

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

Episode 198: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Cat Doyle 2 – The Big Kids Book Club Podcast

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview. In this episode, Cat Doyle, joins us back on the show to talk about her newest book – Pirates of Darksea I chatted with Cat about creating her own fantastical world, emotions in books, and not underestimating young readers. Cat was a great guest to have on the show and we are very grateful she was able to join us again.

***COMPETITION***

If you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub.
Send us a tweet using the hashtag #Beyondcomp and tell us what everyday object you wish could be magic!

(UK residents only)

The competition closes at midnight on 10th February

TBR Thursday

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 Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 336

Release Date: 19/01/2023

The author of The Lightning Catcher is back with an exciting, imaginative and heartfelt middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant and The Shark Caller.

Summer was supposed to be Ginika’s time for fun, friends and fairs. But instead, she’s been sent to live at the dead-end seaside boarding house her grandparents run. Even though her parents say it’s just for a little while, she can’t help feeling abandoned and heartbroken to be missing out on everything she loves back home.

And then she meets Peri. He leaps and dives through the water like a dolphin and he talks like a burst of bubbles. He’s not exactly a mermaid, but he’s definitely something Ginika’s never seen before. His family is far away too, but unlike Ginika, he loves his independence.

As Ginika shows Peri her world, she starts to feel free as well. They don’t need anyone else when they’ve got each other.

But then the lights and noise of the human world start to change Peri. And when things spin out of control, Ginika must be the bravest she’s ever been to face her fears and make the hardest decision of her life.

Join Ginika and Peri as they dive beneath the waves and walk the lands that will take them into each other’s worlds on an adventure they will never forget and a life-changing friendship.

TBR Tuesday

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: There’s a Beast in the Basement! by Pamela Butchart

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Pages: 224

Release Date: 12/01/2023

Chaos and mayhem reign as Izzy and her friends take on another hilarious (mis)adventure. There’s no such thing as an ordinary day at school when they’re around…

Izzy and her friends overhear their head teacher talking about “missing treasure” and “running out of time”. They know this means there’s treasure buried in the school somewhere and that Mr Graves wants it all for himself. So Jodi says they’ve got to find it first, and they should start by searching the staffroom.

After seeing things they will never forget, they head to the basement. Gary Petrie’s dad is working down there and he’s seen something shiny! So they send Zach’s cat down with a camera strapped to her head and study the footage carefully. What they see is shocking and changes everything. It’s not treasure in the basement, it’s a beast with shining eyes and it’s coming to get them! Run!

Episode 185: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Liz Flanagan

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Liz Flanagan joins us to talk about her newest Middle-Grade series: Wildsmith.

I chatted with Liz about her writing for different age ranges, blending animal conservation into fantasy, and how baby dragons are like kittens.

Liz 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 Wildsmith head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub. Send us a tweet using the hashtag #Wildsmithcomp and tell us what endangered animal you’d like to save!

(UK residents only)

The competition closes at midnight on 3rd February

We have a Youtube!

Woah. Yes, you read that right!

Now, you can listen to our podcast on Youtube – but we intend to do some other cool things on the channel – from live events, travel blogs, and bookish bonuses – we’re not entirely sure.

But we’re excited to try it and see where it goes!

Interested?

Find out more below:

Tuesday TBR Teasers

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: The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing by Molly B. Burnham

Publisher: Penguin Putnam

Pages: 208

Release Date: 17/01/2023

An enchanting middle grade about navigating the odd spaces between grieving and everyday living, and learning to carry sadness in one hand, and joy in the other.

Ten-year-old Dottie Bing is a problem-solver and question-asker who is never more gleeful than when she’s encountering a new dilemma— whether it’s her own, or someone else’s. But when her Grandpa Walter comes to stay (and stay, and stay!) he brings the biggest question that Dottie has ever encountered: How do you heal a broken heart?

You see, Grandpa Walter is grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Dottie’s Grandma Ima. Even though she knows every solution starts with a question, for the first time in her life, Dottie isn’t sure what to ask.

Episode 184: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Cynthia Murphy

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Cynthia Murphy joins us to talk about her latest YA Thriller, The Midnight Game.

I chatted to Cynthia about her career as an author, keeping track of plot twists and breadcrumbs, and adding supernatural elements to her books.

Cynthia 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 Midnight Game head over to Twitter and follow @BigKidsBookClub.
Send us a tweet using the hashtag #MidnightComp and tell us your greatest fear!

(UK residents only)

The competition closes at midnight on 27th January

Thursday 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: Saving Neverland by Abi Elphinstone

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Pages: 320

Release Date: 05/01/2023

Number 14 Darlington Road, looks like a perfectly ordinary townhouse – at first glance, anyway, but magic is good at hiding . . . when it’s waiting for the right person to discover it.

Martha Pennydrop is ten, and desperate to grow up. But growing up is a tricky business. It means turning your back on imagination, fun and magic, because those were the things that led to the Terrible Day when something awful nearly happened to Martha’s younger brother, Scruff, which would have been All Her Fault. But when Martha and Scruff discover a drawer full of mysterious gold dust in the bedroom of their new house – along with a window that’s seemingly impossible to close – it’s the start of an incredible adventure to a magical world:

Neverland!

The Pennydrop’s new house used to belong to another family – the Darlings – who once visited this world themselves. Now Peter Pan is back, and in need of their help. Neverland is in the icy grip of a terrible curse – cast long ago by Captain Hook. And only Martha and Scruff can save it . . .

A reluctant Martha and excited Scruff are swept off to Neverland and into the company of the Lost Kids. But when Scruff is kidnapped, Martha must rediscover all the imagination, magic and belief she has buried deep inside herself for so long, to save him – and Neverland itself.

Episode 183: Big Kids Book Club Author Interview – Jennifer Claessen

Hey hey hey!

Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview.

In this episode, Jennifer Claessen, joins us to talk about her Debut Middle-Grade novel, The October Witches.

Emma chatted with Jennifer about gender-bending the Merlin legend, coming up with witchy worlds, and the joys of bringing a debut novel to life.

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