Episodes 20
Avg. Duration 21m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (14)
Since Aug 2024
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
62%
Hosting
feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

Join Sam and his mom, Dana, as they read and review the top middle grade kids and young adult books. Each episode features a discussion about a new book, with Sam’s youthful curiosity and Dana’s adult insight providing a unique perspective. Encouraging listeners to read along, Bookwards offers a fun and engaging way for book-loving kids and their parents to discover and discuss great literature together.

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Recent Episodes

Poverty, Friendship, and Finding Hope: Front Desk by Kelly Yang

May 19, 2026 27m

On this episode of BookWards, Sam and Dana celebrate the end of season one and discuss Front Desk by Kelly Yang. They explore Mia Tang’s life as a young Chinese immigrant helping her family run a…

Ideas, Plot Twists, and Writing Secrets: Interview with Jennifer Nielsen

Apr 28, 2026 18m

On this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana sit down with bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen to talk about her incredible books, including The False Prince and The Free State of Jax. They dive…

Private Planes, Pretzels, and $5 Million: Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty

Mar 20, 2026 22m

On this episode of Bookwards, hosts Sam and Dana dive into Millionaires for the Month, a wild story about two middle schoolers challenged to spend $5 million in just 30 days—with strict rules that…

Orphans, Micronations, and Murder Mysteries: The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Jan 20, 2026 19m

On this episode of Bookwards, Sam, Dana, and special guest Charlie dive into a story about a 12-year-old orphan who creates his own micronation to escape a difficult home life. Living on a raft in…

The Triple

Dec 22, 2025 17m

On this episode of Bookwards, we dive into three magical adventures: The Black Market by Jed Alexander, where a secret Halloween marketplace holds mysterious surprises; The Memory Spinner by C.M.…

Fairies, Rules, and Hidden Dangers: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Nov 03, 2025 23m

Sam and Dana explore Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, where siblings Kendra and Seth discover their grandparents’ estate is actually a hidden sanctuary for magical creatures. When Seth’s curiosity…

Powers, Bullies, and Vanishing Adults: Gone by Michael Grant

Sep 22, 2025 26m

Sam and Dana dive into Gone by Michael Grant, a dark and unpredictable story where everyone over 15 suddenly disappears. With kids left to survive alone, new powers emerge, animals mutate, and chaos…

Glass Slippers, Frogs, and Fairytales: The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

Aug 25, 2025 21m

Sam and Dana journey into The Land of Stories, where twins Alex and Connor tumble into a fairytale world filled with magic, danger, and familiar characters. They break down the daring quest for the…

Battles, Buggers, and Brilliant Kids: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Jul 21, 2025 21m

In this episode, Sam and Dana dive into Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, a sci-fi classic about a child genius trained to save Earth from an alien invasion. They unpack Ender’s moral struggles, the…

Fairies, Trolls, and Kid Criminals: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Jun 10, 2025 21m

In this episode of Bookwards, we dive into Artemis Fowl, the story of a 12-year-old criminal mastermind who discovers the secret world of fairies. When Artemis kidnaps a fairy officer to ransom her…

Hacking, Missions, and False Identities: City Spies by James Ponti

Apr 28, 2025 24m

This week, Sam and Dana dive into City Spies, where five talented kids are recruited by MI6 for a top-secret mission in Paris. They break down the action-packed plot, the fun of seeing spies with…

Magic, Friendship, and the Price of Destiny: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Apr 01, 2025 20m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana explore the enchanting world of The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. They discuss the book’s unique take on fairy tales, the deep bond between…

Rules, Pranks, and a Secret Past: Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

Feb 27, 2025 22m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana dive into Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson. They discuss Rafe Katchadorian’s hilarious and rebellious quest to break every…

Elves, Secrets, and Kidnappers: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Feb 04, 2025 23m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana dive into Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. They discuss Sophie Foster, a 12-year-old girl who discovers she’s an elf with incredible powers,…

Magic, Mysteries, and Mini Dragons: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Jan 09, 2025 23m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana dive into Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures, discussing its magical world, intriguing supporting characters, and the slower start to the adventure.…

Secrets, Trials, and Murder: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Dec 23, 2024 21m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana discuss Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham. The story follows 13-year-old Theo Boone, a middle schooler with a passion for law, whose parents are…

Gods, Killer Chickens, and Immortality: Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Dec 05, 2024 20m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana explore Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan, a new adventure where Percy, Annabeth, and Grover must recover the stolen Chalice of the…

Spies, Moles, and Explosives: Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

Oct 21, 2024 20m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana dive into Spy School by Stuart Gibbs, a thrilling adventure following 12-year-old Ben Ripley, an ordinary kid unexpectedly recruited into a secret CIA…

Curses, Treasure, and Lizards: Holes by Louis Sachar

Sep 19, 2024 25m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana explore Holes by Louis Sachar, a captivating story about Stanley Yelnats, a boy sent to a juvenile prison camp where digging holes is the daily punishment.…

Billionaires, Hypnotists, and Alligators: Exploring Unplugged by Gordon Korman

Aug 16, 2024 15m

In this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana dive into Gordon Korman’s 2021 novel, “Unplugged.” Set at the Oasis, a phone-free wellness camp, the story revolves around Jett, a rule-breaking…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Bookwards have?

Bookwards has published 20 episodes since August 2024, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is Bookwards still active?

Bookwards is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 21m.

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