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Growing Up Bookish

33 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratings

Just two friends rereading our favorite books from our youth to see if they still hold up or if they should be forgotten

Books Arts Comedy
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Episodes

Episode 33: Ida Early Comes over the Mountain by Robert Burch

December 03, 2019 19:20 - 1 hour - 56.6 MB

This week we take on a "heartwarming tale about the Great Depression" called Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain. The cover calls it a "Mountain Mary Poppins" but is that REALLY how it is?

Episode 32: Dark Visions: The Strange Power by LJ Smith

November 12, 2019 20:57 - 1 hour - 87.7 MB

Psychics, romance, bad boys, an evil plan... this series has it all! We take on another of LJ Smith's famous paranormal romance trilogies: Dark Visions!

Episode 31: The Worst Witch (1986)

October 29, 2019 18:44 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MB

It's Halloween at last! We're ending this spooky month with a movie centered around the wizarding school that started it all - The Worst Witch! This was a favorite childhood movie for both of us and started our life long crush of Tim Curry. Did YOU watch this movie?

Episode 30: The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

October 23, 2019 18:51 - 1 hour - 65.8 MB

What child of the 80s didn't have the crap scared out of them with this movie? But is it as scary as we remember? And what the heck actually happened at the end anyways? This week, we dive into this 1980 Disney classic film: The Watcher in the Woods!

Episode 29: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

October 15, 2019 22:53 - 1 hour - 59.8 MB

It's Halloween and we're taking on the classic Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. This book is iconic! Everyone we knew was reading it in the 90s and we all have fond memories of it scaring the pants off of us. Are the stories as scary as we remember?

Episode 28: The Carnival Ghost (Sweet Valley Twins Super Chillers #3) by Francine Pascal

October 01, 2019 20:40 - 1 hour - 72.9 MB

It's Halloween and we've returned to the world of Sweet Valley Twins with one of the Super Chillers! The Carnival Ghost was Allison's favorite of the Super Chillers, but will Emma like it as much as she liked Magic Christmas?

Episode 27: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

September 18, 2019 18:29 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

Emma has chosen this classic from Roald Dahl for this week's discussion! As the sequel, how does it stand up to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the story we know and love?

Episode 26: Stranger in the Mirror (Phantom Valley #4) by Lynn Beach

September 03, 2019 19:48 - 1 hour - 74.4 MB

This week we take on the spooky world of Phantom Valley - specifically the 4th entry in the series: Stranger in the Mirror! There's time travel, bloody axes, pioneer life, spooky mirrors, and twin swapping hi-jinks. This book has it all!

Episode 25: Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville

August 20, 2019 19:12 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MB

Another entry in the Magic Shoppe series, this one stars a young boy who is unwittingly tasked with the raising of a dragon! Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, was far less exciting than the other Bruce Coville book we read, but it is NOT short on the feels.

Episode 24: Punky Brewster at Camp Chipmunk by Ann Matthews

August 05, 2019 03:01 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MB

Another camp book? MORE HORSES?! Somehow we always end up here! And did you know there were Punky Brewster books? We both watched this show as kids, but how does the book hold up?

Episode 23: The Neverending Story (Part 4- FINALE!)

July 22, 2019 22:44 - 1 hour - 76.2 MB

It's the final part of our deep analysis of The Neverending Story by Micheal Ende! Did you make it all the way through? Do you agree with our theories of the greater message behind Bastian's journey of self-discovery?

Episode 22: The Neverending Story (Part 3)

July 15, 2019 19:34 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

Part 3 is here! Now we start venturing into unfamiliar territory as this half of the book is not covered by the original movie we all know and love. Now we join Bastian on his own adventure inside The Neverending Story. Does he end up the hero he's always dreamed to be? Does he make Fantastica into a wonderful new world?

Episode 21: The Neverending Story (Part 2)

July 08, 2019 18:49 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MB

In Part 2 of our Neverending Story deep dive, we finish the first half of the book, which is where the first movie ends. We discuss a lot of the differences between the movie and book and go into our theories on what the deeper meaning of this story is. When Bastian happens upon an old book called The Neverending Story, he's swept into the magical world of Fantastica--so much that he finds he has actually become a character in the story! And when he realizes that this mysteriously enchanted...

Episode 20: The Neverending Story (Part 1)

July 01, 2019 15:45 - 1 hour - 84.8 MB

In this month-long extravaganza, Allison and Emma dive into The Neverending Story, which is Allison's favorite book of all time. Does her perceptions change as an adult?How does Emma like it? Join us on this deep dive of the book that gave the children of the 80s so much joy (and sorrow... Artaaaax!) When Bastian happens upon an old book called The Neverending Story, he's swept into the magical world of Fantastica--so much that he finds he has actually become a character in the story! And w...

Episode 19: Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Disgusting Sneakers

June 11, 2019 17:21 - 1 hour - 78.5 MB

Can Allison and Emma solve the mysteries in this 1990s Encyclopedia Brown Book? Is a kid detective smarter than a couple of grown adults? Probably.

Episode 18: The Against Taffy Sinclair Club by Betsy Haynes

May 20, 2019 20:15 - 1 hour - 78.9 MB

Drama, 5th grade angst, bust developers???? This week, Emma and Allison head back to 5th grade to experience the irrational feelings of Jana Morgan who just HATES Taffy Sinclair... for some reason.... In Betsy Haynes first novel in the Taffy Sinclair series, The Against Taffy Sinclair Club.

Episode 17: Eenie, Meenie, Murphy, No! by Colleen O’Shaughnessy McKenna

April 22, 2019 20:10 - 1 hour - 77.4 MB

During Collette Murphy's first trip to camp, she finds some fun and lots of trouble when the meanest girl there declares war on her. Emma has chosen a delightful summer camp book that is full of cute boys, bullies, and diary drama!

Episode 16: Virtual Mode by Piers Anthony (Part 2)

April 09, 2019 15:59 - 1 hour - 76.9 MB

The Finale of our re-read of Virtual Mode by Piers Anthony. Allison's verdict is that it hold up.... but with some very big caveats. Famed fantasy author Piers Anthony tells us a tale of romance, danger, adventure, and intrigue as two lovers travel through a myriad of alternate realities where anything is possible.

Episode 15: Virtual Mode by Piers Anthony (Part 1)

April 01, 2019 03:51 - 1 hour - 93.1 MB

Famed fantasy author Piers Anthony tells us a tale of romance, danger, adventure, and intrigue as two lovers travel through a myriad of alternate realities where anything is possible. This episode is a long one because we delve into some serious topics that we have not yet covered before on this podcast. Allison remembers loving this book as a teen, but how does this strange and controversial fantasy novel hold up to our adult eyes?

Episode 14: Blue Willow by Doris Gates

March 19, 2019 01:40 - 1 hour - 58.8 MB

This week, we take on a summer reading classic and Newbery Award winning book - Blue Willow by Doris Gates. This book is quite different from the books we've read so far on the podcast. It's a historical fiction account of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Emma remembers reading this in school, but does how does she feel about it as an adult?

Episode 13: Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop

March 06, 2019 00:58 - 1 hour - 69.3 MB

William is off on a fantastic quest to another land and another time—where a fiery dragon and an evil wizard are waiting to do battle. We read Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop!

Episode 12: Broken Hearts by RL Stine (Part 2)

February 19, 2019 20:38 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MB

Happy Valentines Day.... AGAIN! Allison and Emma finish the RL Stine Super Chiller Broken Hearts and give their thoughts on the ending.

Episode 11: Broken Hearts by RL Stine (Part 1)

February 11, 2019 06:39 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MB

Happy Valentine's Day! We are tackling RL Stine's Broken Hearts, which is a Fear Street Super Chiller. There’s someone out there, someone who kills on Valentine’s Day. Josie and Melissa are scared—especially when they receive threatening valentines. Then the murders begin. Who is sending these horrible valentines to the girls of Shadyside High? And who will be the next to die?

Episode 10: Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

February 04, 2019 05:12 - 1 hour - 85.6 MB

Wait Till Helen Comes is a ghost story about a lonely girl who befriends a ghost - but this ghost has dangerous plans! Allison and Emma have a LOT to say about this book... but it doesn't have a lot to do with the ghost.

Episode 09: Jennifer Murdley’s Toad by Bruce Coville

January 29, 2019 00:07 - 1 hour - 57.5 MB

Emma chooses this lovely magical book for this week's podcast episode: Jennifer Murdley's Toad! It's part of a fantasy series called The Magic Shop which includes Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher and The Monster's Ring.

Episode 08: Remember Me by Christopher Pike (Part Two)

January 14, 2019 19:42 - 1 hour - 79.4 MB

Part Two - the FINALE of Remember Me by Christopher Pike! WHO killed Shari? Was it really one of her friends? Remember Me by Christopher Pike is the story of Shari, a girl who is now a ghost and determined to find out who murdered her.

Episode 07: Remember Me by Christopher Pike (Part One)

January 07, 2019 19:33 - 1 hour - 70.5 MB

Remember Me by Christopher Pike is the story of Shari, a girl who is now a ghost and determined to find out who murdered her. Allison chooses a book from one of her favorite authors, Christopher Pike! When thinking of which book to choose, Allison decided that Remember Me stood out to her as a favorite. So let's hope she chose well, since this is Emma's first time ever experiencing a Christopher Pike book.

Episode 06: Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary

December 31, 2018 20:11 - 1 hour - 55 MB

This week on the podcast, Emma has chosen one of her childhood favorites: Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary! Ralph is a talking mouse who is also feeling kind of rebellious. So he decides to run away! What kind of adventures will this little mouse get in to?

Episode 05: Sweet Valley Twins: The Magic Christmas by Francine Pascal (Part 2)

December 23, 2018 21:47 - 1 hour - 76 MB

The finale of our re-reading of this nostalgic Sweet Valley Twins book - The Magic Christmas! Unlike most Sweet Valley books, this one has a strong fantasy theme. How do Jessica and Elizabeth fare in a fantasy world?

Episode 04: Sweet Valley Twins: The Magic Christmas by Francine Pascal (Part 1)

December 17, 2018 20:56 - 1 hour - 76.1 MB

We read Allison's favorite Sweet Valley book: The Magic Christmas! Unlike most Sweet Valley books, this one has a strong fantasy theme. How do Jessica and Elizabeth fare in a fantasy world?

Episode 03: The Fairy Rebel by Lynn Reid Banks

December 10, 2018 18:12 - 1 hour - 67.7 MB

Emma chooses one of her favorite childhood books about magic and fairies: The Fairy Rebel! Does it live up to our childish memories?

Episode 02: The Forbidden Game by LJ Smith (part two)

December 03, 2018 01:15 - 1 hour - 76 MB

Allison and Emma finish the thrilling young adult occult romance novel The Forbidden Game: The Hunter by LJ Smith. Does Jenny choose Julian or Tom? Does she manage to escape with her friends? Will there be ritualistic sacrifice?! Time to find out!

Episode 01: The Forbidden Game by LJ Smith (part one)

November 25, 2018 03:14 - 1 hour - 73.2 MB

Allison & Emma reread one of Allison's favorite books from her emo pre-teen years: The Forbidden Game by LJ Smith. It's a fantasy thriller about a girl trapped in another world by a handsome yet dangerous otherworldy man. Does this book hold up to Allison's 8th grade dreams? Find out now! Danger, adventure, and romance awaits!