LISTENER REQUESTS ARE BACK! I’m so sorry for taking a 10+ week listener request break, but I’m getting back into the swing of things! This is a great book recommended by E.V., and you’ll love it! It’s actually by the same author as Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan) and has a few moments that tie in with Percy Jackson. Thank you, E.V.! Email me: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review The Chance to Fly, by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz! This is a really amazing book about life with a disability, theater, and more specifically, the musical Wicked! (Wicked happens to be my all-time favorite musical.) As always, email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Everything I Know About You, by Barbara Dee, the author of Halfway Normal, which I reviewed on an earlier episode. This is a great book that I think everyone would enjoy! As always, if you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Out of My Heart, by Sharon M. Draper. This is the sequel to the amazing book Out of My Mind, which I reviewed on an earlier episode! I’m so glad I get to share this book with you! Email me: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review a wonderful book by Malala Yousafzai—I Am Malala: Young Readers Edition, a terrific autobiography written by the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala Yousafzai is such an inspiration, and her story is incredible. Email me: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White! Charlotte’s Web is a renowned book that was published in 1952. Actually, I was recently in the play version of Charlotte’s Web as Wilbur, the pig! Claire, who you’ll hear from later in the episode, played Templeton, the rat. Email me: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review the sensational book by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown, Mustaches for Maddie! Email me at: [email protected]. Merry Christmas to everyone listening on Christmas Day! Have a happy New Year!

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review the first book in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief! This is a great book for fans of mythology, and I’m so glad to share it with you! Email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers, by Michelle Obama. Michelle, a former First Lady, has recently adapted her memoir for younger readers, and I’m so excited to share it with you! Email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Annie B., Made For TV, by Amy Dixon. This book is perfect for the inventor in all of us, and you’ll love it! Email me at: [email protected].

Today, I review a great book by Renée Watson—Ways to Make Sunshine! This is a good book for younger kids, but even older kids like me would really enjoy it! Renée Watson is a Newbery Honor author, as well as the winner of a Coretta Scott King award! Email me: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramée. This book is really current and relates to the Black Lives Matter movement! Email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Focused, by Alyson Gerber. This book is phenomenal, and really explains ADHD in an easy-to-understand, lighthearted way! It’s perfect for tweens and teens who may be struggling with that condition. Email me: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Room to Dream, the newest addition to the Front Desk series, by Kelly Yang. I’m so excited to share this book with you! Email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling. This is the sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, which I reviewed on an earlier episode. I love this book, and I’m sure you will, too! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers, by Celia C. Pérez. This was a listener request sent in from Leah, and it’s a fantastic book! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected].

Today, I review Keeper of the Lost Cities, by Shannon Messenger. This was an anonymous listener request, and I love this series!!! It’s so good. I also have a special guest on the show: Bella from the podcast Bella’s Book Store. If you want to hear her podcast, here’s the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bellas-book-store/id1573508025. If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected].

“I am Ivan. I am a gorilla. It’s not as easy as it looks.” These are the opening lines to an amazing book by Katherine Applegate: The One and Only Ivan. This is a rare type of book—it appeals to both boys and girls, to both younger kids and older kids, and even adults! The One and Only Ivan was also recently made into a movie. It’s a powerful story of friendship, and will leave you feeling inspired. Also, listen until the end of the episode to hear who won Hook of a Book’s very first giveaway!! If YOU have a book you want me to review on the show, you can email me at: [email protected].

On today’s episode of Hook of a Book, I review Starfish, by Lisa Fipps. This book was amazing. Just amazing. It was a listener request sent in from Maeve, and I read it all in one day! I just couldn’t put it down! If you like books written in verse, I couldn’t recommend this book more! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message that might be featured on a future episode!

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, by Chris Colfer. This was a listener request sent in from Mackenzie. It was really good, and I’m so excited to share it with you! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller. This book was really awesome, and it just won the Newbery Medal, which is a HUGE award in the literature world. This book was phenomenal! I’m so glad I get to share it with you. Also, BIG announcement: Hook of a Book is having it’s very first giveaway! This was made possible by a generous donation from the Girls To Women Health Clinic. If you’d like to win a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, email me at: [email protected]. Put “Giveaway” in the subject line and tell me your name, age, and your favorite book of all time. Email by October 2 at midnight, and you’ll be entered in a random drawing for the gift card! You’ll be notified by email if you win. (If you win, I will ask for your address so I can mail the gift card to you. I will NEVER reveal addresses/last names on the show.) Good luck!

Today, I review Roll With It, by Jamie Sumner! This book was STUPENDOUS, and I’m glad that I can share it with you guys! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review a listener request sent in from Riya—Lily’s Promise, by Katheryn Erskine. This book is an amazing story of family, loyalty, and friendship. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a great book that will make them feel! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected].

Today, I review a listener request sent in from Lucy, More to the Story, by Hena Khan. This book was so good, and I’m glad I can share it with you! Thirteen-year-old journalist Jameela Mirza wants to prove that she is worthy of the title of features editor for the school newspaper, but when her younger sister has serious health problems, her world is turned upside-down! Can Jameela piece it back together? If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected].

Today, on Hook of a Book, I reviewed The Thing I’m Most Afraid Of, a new book by Kristin Levine. Kristin Levine also wrote The Lions of Little Rock, which I reviewed on Hook of a Book’s very first episode. Anyway, it’s 1993. When 12-year-old Becca’s dad takes a job in Austria, Becca is worried. She has anxiety, and she is scared of airplanes, riding a bike, soft-boiled eggs, Ferris wheels, crowds, sickness, bruises….you get the idea. When Becca comes to visit her father, she finds that he has a new girlfriend, Katarina, whose son, Felix, prefers books to people. And, what’s more, Becca’s father found Becca and Felix an au pair for the summer, which is basically a very young nanny. Becca feels that she’s too old for a nanny, but her au pair, Sara, turns out to be a refugee who fled the Bosnian War. Sara doesn’t have a work permit, and she could get in a whole bunch of trouble if she is caught as an au pair. And Sara’s family is missing. Becca really wants to help Sara, but to do that she just might have to face some of her biggest fears. If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message below!

Could you escape from a millionaire’s wacky library? Well, that’s precisely what Kyle has to do in Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. This is no ordinary library, though—it’s equipped with hover ladders, gaming rooms, and mysteries…and to win a fantastic prize of fame and glory, Kyle has to break out of the library in under 24 hours. Can he do it? Email me! Send in your book requests to [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message that might be featured on a future episode!

Middle school can be weird, but Augusta (Gus for short) Reynolds doesn’t know how weird it will be until she starts sixth grade…and she meets a teacher with a baseball bat named Lorenzo, a kid who talks to his lunch box, Sadie Hawkins, a DJ, and her old best friend’s new best friend. And when Gus and her friends are wrongfully accused of something, can Gus prove them innocent? Email me! Send in your book requests to [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message that might be featured on a future episode!

Today, on Hook of a Book, I review Dress Coded, by Carrie Firestone. I heard about this book from a friend, and OMG, it was amazing. When Molly’s friend is dress coded for wearing a tank top to school, Molly starts a podcast that shares stories of girls who have been dress coded. Her goal? To do away with the dress code, or at least revise it to make it less strict. The dress code targets certain girls’ bodies, and Molly disapproves. However, it isn’t as easy as Molly thought to start a revolution, and she has to deal with family troubles too—her older brother, Danny, vapes, and Danny tries to sell vape pods to middle schoolers. Meanwhile, more and more girls are being dress coded every day, and Molly is itching to do more than just a podcast. Can Molly help Danny and do away with the dress code? If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message that might be featured on a future episode! The link is below. Remember, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading!

Today on Hook of a Book, I review A Place at the Table, by Laura Shovan and Saadia Faruqi. When Sara and Elizabeth are paired together in an after school cooking class, they don’t exactly hit it off at first. At all. Elizabeth finds Sara serious and not fun, and Sara, who’s Muslim, finds Elizabeth confusing and hard to predict. However, when the two girls try to come up with a unique, cross-culture dish, they become friends. Sadly, friendship comes with a price. Can the girls withstand haters, racism, and social challenges to build a better bond? This book was really awesome, and I read it for four hours straight one day! I highly recommend it. If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message that might be featured on a future episode of Hook of a Book, just like Juniper and Bea’s was today! Remember, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading!

Words can mean a lot. They can build you up or tear you down. The book Posted really makes you think about that! This book was a listener request, recommended by Claire. When Frost and his friends Wolf, Deedee, and Bench start leaving sticky notes around the school for each other when cell phones are banned, other students quickly catch on and start leaving notes of their own. However, the sticky notes soon become rude and mean, and Frost and his friends must put a stop to this before anyone is seriously hurt. Meanwhile, a new girl, Rose Holland, is changing the way the boys live. Can the friends stop the sticky note war and maintain their friendship? If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message! By the way, thank you to everyone who’s visited Hook of a Book’s Instagram. I love that you want to stay up-to-date with the podcast! Again, thank you to Claire for requesting that I review Posted. It really is a wonderful book, and I hope you check it out! Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading! Ellie out!

Today, I review Holly Goldberg Sloan’s Counting By 7s! This book was incredibly good. When genius Willow’s parents die in a car crash, she has to readjust to life in a new way, living with her friend Mai, Mai’s mother, Pattie, and Mai’s brother, Quang-ha. However, soon Willow will be forced to go into the foster care system, and she doesn’t want that. Willow, Mai, Pattie, Quang-ha, and Willow’s counselor, Dell, and a taxi driver named Jairo have to band together to keep Willow from going into the foster care system. Can they successfully do that? If you have a book you want me to review on Hook of a Book, email me at: [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message! I’ve been hard at work reading all sorts of listener requests, and I’m excited to share more amazing books with you soon! Also, happy late Independence Day to all of my American listeners. I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July on Sunday, and have a great rest of the week! Remember, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading!

When you live in the White House, every day is sure to be an adventure! Sisters Winnie and Ingrid have lived in the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, for eight years. Inauguration Day is approaching, and they’re getting ready to say goodbye to the home forever. When their dad, the president, makes a surprising announcement, the girls find that their last weeks in the White House are sure to be memorable! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. Have a great week!

Today, I’ll review a book I got 2 separate listener requests for. (Thank you, Winnie and Annaleigh!) The book is a New York Times bestseller, The Mysterious Benedict Society! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected].

On Hook of a Book today, I review The Magic Misfits, by Neil Patrick Harris. When street-magician Carter runs away, he never expects to find magic and mystery in the sleepy little town of Mineral Wells. Also, I turned 12 this week! *Yay!* If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. Or you can send in a voice message!

On today’s episode of Hook of a Book, I review Tae Keller’s The Science of Breakable Things. Natalie’s mother has been struggling with depression, and when Natalie enters an egg-drop competition, she knows that the prize money will help her mother. Can she win? If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message. Be sure to check out our Instagram page to stay up-to-date on upcoming episodes and giveaways! Have a wonderful week!

In today’s episode, I review 365 Days to Alaska, a listener request sent in from Lucy. When Rigel has to leave her home in Alaska, she makes a pact with her dad: If she can stick it out for one year in Connecticut, he’ll bring her home. Can Rigel do it? If you have a listener request you want me to review, email me at [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message. To stay up-to-date on Hook of a Book’s latest reviews and giveaways, check out our Instagram!

In today’s episode of Hook of a Book, I review a wonderful story by E.L. Shen—The Comeback! Maxine is a wonderful ice skater, but she isn’t so good at standing up to bullies. When a mean boy starts bullying Maxine about her Chinese heritage, Maxine has trouble standing up to him. She also wants to place at the regional ice skating competition, but a new girl, Hollie, is also trying to place, and Hollie is really good. If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. Or you can send in a voice message below!

In today’s episode of Hook of a Book, I review Katherine Applegate’s book, Wishtree, a listener request sent in from two sisters, Sophie and Olivia. Red is a tree that is very old. Red has witnessed many things in life, but when a new family moves into the neighborhood, Red finds that people aren’t kind to them. If you have a book you want me to review on the show, you can email me at [email protected]. You can also send in a voice message with your request on it.

Hey, listeners! In today’s episode of Hook of a Book, I review Barbara Dee’s Halfway Normal. When Norah Levy completes her two-year treatment for leukemia, she can’t wait to get back to school. She soon realizes that it isn’t easy readjusting back into her normal life—and when she is moved to eighth grade math and science, she meets a cute boy who doesn’t know about her leukemia, but Norah finds that it isn’t easy to hide cancer from him. When something happens to upset Norah, hiding her cancer is harder than ever. Will she pull it off? If YOU have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. I LOVE getting listener requests from you all! Have a great weekend, everyone! (Or week, I don’t know when you’re listening to this episode.)

Today, I will be reviewing The List of Things That Will Not Change, by Rebecca Stead. When 10-year-old Bea hears that her dad is getting remarried, she is super excited. But, will anything go as planned? Bea’s future sister doesn’t seem to like her, and that makes Bea sad. Thank you to Maeve for requesting this book! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. Thanks!

Sideways Stories from Wayside School is a book that is funny, sweet, and it has been read for decades. I love this series for younger kids, and I still reread it! These books tell the story of Mrs. Jewel’s class, and their school that was built the opposite way it should have been. I enjoy the humor, the creative chapters, and the unique writing voice Louis Sachar gives the books. Have a great week! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected].

Hello, and welcome back to Hook of a Book! Today, I’ll be reviewing an anonymous listener request: Tune it Out! It’s about a girl named Lou. I LOVED this book, and I hope that you enjoy it, too! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. See you next week!

What would you do if you just learned that you had to be the governess to children who were raised by....wait for it....wait for it....wolves! Today, I will be reviewing The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place with my cousins, Nora and Malen. This series follows Miss Penelope Lumely, a 15-year-old girl in the 1800s who has just graduated from Swanburne Academy. She soon learns that she will be governess to children raised by wolves! However, at Ashton Place, where Penelope now works, she notices some strange going-ons. What is happening? Is there a mystery? Penelope has to get to the bottom of the mystery before Lady Constance’s annual holiday ball, all the while teaching these incorrigible children to behave! Can she do it? If you have a book to recommend, email me at: [email protected]. If you want to voice message me, use this link: https://anchor.fm/ellie-mano/message. Stay safe, stay HEALTHY, and keep on reading! Ellie out!

Hello, folks! In today’s episode, I review From the Desk of Zoe Washington, a listener request sent in from Norah. I love this book a lot! When Zoe Washington finds out that her dad was sent to prison wrongly, she decides to try to free him, all while trying to get on the Food Network’s baking show, Kids Bake Challenge. Can she do both? This book is super interesting, and again, thank you Norah for requesting it! If you have a book you want me to review, email me at: [email protected]. You can voice message me here: https://anchor.fm/ellie-mano/message. Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading!

In this novel, told in verse, readers get a peek into the eyes of Jude, a young Syrian refuge coming to America for the first time. As Jude starts a new school, takes ESL classes, and tries to explain to people that she wears a hijab by choice, she learns that not everyone is as accepting as she had thought. Is America really the place that Jude had thought it was? If you like acting, you’ll enjoy reading about Jude’s quest to be in the school’s production of Beauty and the Beast. As always, if you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. Thank you to all of the people who have requested books already!

In today’s episode, I review the book Blended, by Sharon M. Draper. I have received two separate listener requests for this book—one from a listener named Chelsey, one from a listener named Claire. I also have a guest review today—I invited my friends Anne, Audrey, and Mackenzie to review this book with me. As always, if you have a book request, email me at: [email protected]. Have a great day!

Today, I’ll be reviewing From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg. When Claudia runs away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she and her younger brother, Jamie, find themselves stuck in a mystery that they absolutely have to solve! If you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at [email protected]. Until next week, stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading!

In this book, Aven Green, age 13, shares her life’s story after being born without arms. When her parents take a job at Stagecoach Pass, a rundown amusement park, her life changes forever. I loved this book, and I got two listener requests, one from a girl named Caroline and one from a girl named Sienna. Thanks, Caroline and Sienna! Remember, if you have a book you want me to review on the show, email me at: [email protected]. Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep on reading!