The Book Jam

Marisa Hicking & Mary Richardson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

We are Marisa and Mary, two Teen Librarians, and we talk about books! What kind of books? It can be any type of Middle Grade & Young Adult books, but we have the goal of focusing on and lifting up diverse voices in the Graphic Novel format and BIPOC/LGBTQIA authors. Come jam with us.

  1. 05/05/2023

    Season 3 Episode 2 Wednesday Reads: books for Wednesday Addams

    Marisa and Mary are back-again! We have a new season and a new episode of The Book Jam!  Today’s books are books that we’d recommend to Wednesday Addams herself. A middle grade horror book for the tricky to recommend for advanced reader who could also read Stephen King. A deliciously fun YA read for those who want a vampire story with LGBTQIA+ and a dark academia twist.  Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Marisa’s book: The Stars Did Wander Darkling by Colin Meloy. Middle Grade, Grades 5+. Published by Balzer + Bray, September 13, 2022.  Mary’s book: Youngblood by Sasha Laurens. Teen, Grades 9+. Published by Razorbill, July 19, 2022. Books we talked about this episode: The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid by Colin Meloy Wildwood Chronicles by Colin Meloy The Golden Thread: A Song for Pete Seeger by Colin Meloy Everyone's Awake by Colin Meloy Neil Gaiman books Margaret Peterson Haddix IT by Stephen King Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine  Clive Parker Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega Small Spaces by Katherine Arden His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman  The Honeys by Ryan La Sala She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran Evermore by Alyson Noel Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris Twilight by Stephenie Meyer The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen The Grimrose Girls by aura Pohl Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

    46 min

  2. 04/03/2022

    Season 3, Episode 1: Book To Read All Year Long, Not Just During Black History Month

    Marisa and Mary are back! We have a new season and a new episode of The Book Jam!  Today’s books are books to read not just during Black History Month, but to read all year long. But we don’t just want to focus on reading black authors and black stories during just one month, these are excellent books that are amazing reads that will give you all the emotional feels. Explore sadness and grief on a roadtrip with Mary’s title: Me (Moth) by Amber McBride, a book in verse. Marisa’s title is a YA/new adult book, Required Reading For the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee, about finding your voice and confronting racism on an elite college campus. Today we talk about books that make you feel something. An emotional response is the heart of a good book, a good story, and a good writer. Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Mary’s book: Me (Moth) by Amber McBride. Teen, Grades 8+. Published by Feiwel & Friends, August 2021. Marisa’s book: Required Reading For the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee. High School, Grades 9+. Published by Crown Books For Young Readers, February 2022. Books we talked about this episode: Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson Clean Getaway by Nic Stone Fast Pitch by Nic Stone Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Harry Potter series Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez Baby-sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin

    51 min

  3. 02/12/2022

    Season 2 Episode 15: Belated 2021 Year Wrap Up: The books that got us through the dumpster fire of 2021.

    Marisa and Mary are back! Today we’re talking about the books that got us through the dumpster fire that was 2021. Not all of the books talked about were published in 2021. There are a million reasons to read: sometimes you might read to dive deep to learn about a topic or read to escape. Whatever your reason, here are some of our favorite titles we turned to to help us get through 2021. Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Books we talked about this episode: Marisa’s books: Starfish by Lisa Fipps, Middle Grade, Grades 4+. Published by Penguin Young Readers: Nancy Paulsen Books, March 2021. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Juvenile Fiction, Grades 4+. Published by Dial Books, January 2015. Both Can Be True by Jules Machias, Middle Grade, Grades 4+. Published by Quill Tree Books, June 2021. The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angelline Bouley, High School, Grades 9+. Published by Henry Holt & Co., March 2021. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, Teens, Grades 8+. Published by Tor, March 2020. Mary’s books: Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clark, High School, Grades 9+. Published by Erewhon, September 2020. Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Random House Graphic, October 2020. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, High School, Grades 9+. Published by Dutton Books for Young Readers, January 2021. Cool For the Summer by Dahlia Adler. High School, Grades 9-12. Published by Wednesday Books, May 2021. Camp by Lev A.C. Rosen, High School, Grades 9+. Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 2020. Books mentioned: Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertali The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen Andrew Lang’s Fairy Books (each book is has unique color name) Ash by Malinda Lo Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune Flash Fire by T.J. Klune Heat Wave by T.J. Klune Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune The Girl From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag Wicked Days by John Allison By Night by John Allison Giant Days by John Allison

    55 min

  4. 01/02/2022

    Season 2, Episode 14: Historical Fiction With A Fresh Perspective

    Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam! Winter has just begun and it makes us want to read historical fiction books-but these aren’t your typical historical fiction titles. Both titles we talk about today give voice and fresh perspectives to this genre. Marisa talks about So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow; this book was set in 1863 in the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island and centers on the binding love of a family of four black sisters each finding their own way. Mary talks about The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros, a book set against the backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In this queer historical book (with paranormal elements), a Jewish Romanian immigrant teen is possessed by the dybbuk of his murdered best friend and is thrust into a deadly hunt for a serial killer. Other topics we discuss are our feelings about being told the books you ‘should’ read and how the pandemic affects reading habits.  Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Marisa’s book: So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Fiewel Friends, September 2021. Mary’s book: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Inkyard Press, October 2021. Books Mentioned: Harry Potter series Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë One of the Good Ones by Marika Moulites and Maritza Moulites A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo Delilah Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Diviners by Libba Bray Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray Beauty Queens by Libba Bray Ash by Malinda Lo Huntress by Malinda Lo A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo Karen McManus’ works Skyward by Brandon Sanderson The Killing Joke by Alan Moore Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson Guardian of the Galaxy series Wonder Woman: Lords and Liars by Mariko Tamaki Wicked Things by John Allison

    49 min

  5. 11/24/2021

    Season 2, Episode 13: Let's Talk Non-Binary Identities in Books!

    Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam!  We love to highlight LGBTQIA+ voices and authors and today’s books are all about non-binary and gender non-conforming characters. Marisa’s book, Both Can Be True by Jules Machias, is a middle grade debut that “explores identity, gender fluidity, and the power of friendship and acceptance in a dual-narrative story about two kids who join forces to save a dog.” Mary speaks about Gender Queer: a Memoir by Maia Kobabe; this is a graphic memoir that relates-with sometimes painful honesty-the experience of growing up gender non-conforming. If this title sounds familiar, it is because it has been in the news lately as some try to ban it from school libraries. Both books are a great read if you are queer or questioning, OR if you want to develop a better understanding of the world around you. Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Marisa’s book: Both Can Be True by Jules Machias. Middle Grade, Grades 4-8. Published by Quill Tree Books, June 2021. Mary’s book: Gender Queer: a Memoir by Maia Kebabe. High School, Grades 9+. Published by Oni Press, May 2019. Books we talked about this episode: Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender The Quick and Easy Guides: A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities by Mady G. & J.R. Zuckerberg A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Archie Bongiovanni & Tristan Jameson A Quick & Easy Guide to Consent by Isabella Rotman & Luke Howard A Quick & Easy Guide to Asexuality by Molly Muldoon & Will Hernandez A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability by A. Andrews If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo Once & Future by A.R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy Sword in the Stars by A.R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera Yesterday is History by Kosoko Jackson I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver Amelia Westlake Was Never Here by Erin Gough Get It Together Delilah by Erin Gough Luna by Julie Anne Peters Cemetery Boy by Aiden Thomas Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir Manifesto by George M. Johnson

    42 min

  6. 10/30/2021

    Season 2, Episode 12: Not Your Typical Spooky & Horror Books (AKA these characters are not going to be the first ones to die)

    Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam! Today we are talking about teen spooky and horror books-but not your typical horror books; these books feature BIPOC main characters (one LGBTQIA+) and they are NOT going to be the first ones to die. These books are like no other. We also discuss the need in publishing for more diverse-diverse books, what do we mean? Listen to the episode and hear us discuss these great horrifying reads. Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Marisa’s book: The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass. Teen, Grades 7-12. Published by Putnam, July 2021. Mary’s book: White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson. High School. Grades 9-12. Published by Katherine Tegen Books, September 2021. Books we talked about this episode: Nyxia by Scott Reintgen The Selection by Kiera Cass Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Caraval by Stephanie Garber Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston Harry Potter series Six of Crows by Leigh  Bardugo Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-íyímídé The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Prom House by Chelsea Mueller Gamechanger by Neal Shusterman

    38 min

  7. 10/15/2021

    Season 2, Episode 11: Not Your Typical Mysteries

    Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam! Today we are talking about teen mystery books-but not your typical teen mysteries; today’s books we discuss are also action, adventure, and thrillers that are ‘locked room mystery’ books. Is this the episode where we realize we have become mystery reader fans? Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Mary’s book: The Marvelous by Claire Kann. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Swoon Readers, June 2021. Marisa’s book: The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe. High School, Grades 9+. Published by G.P. Putnam & Sons for Young Readers, January 2021. Books we talked about this episode: Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson The Scavenger Hunt by Claire Kann The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Six of Crows by Leigh  Bardugo Caraval by Stephanie Garber Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn They With They Were Us by Jessica Goodman The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus Cousins by Karen McManus Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus The Box In the Woods by Maureen Johnson There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins Barry Lyga’s work Cold by Mariko Tamaki Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-íyímídé The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Warcross by Marie Lu A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow

    55 min

  8. 09/27/2021

    Season 2, Episode 10: The Books They Don't Want You To Read...Banned Books Week

    Marisa and Mary are back with a new episode of The Book Jam! We have a special guest today, Samatha Lee, she is Head of Reference Services at the Enfield Public Library AND serves as chair of the CT Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee. This makes Sam, the perfect guest for today's topic: we are talking about the books 'they don’t want you to read' because it is Banned Books Week. Listen and find out what is Banned Books Week, what is a challenge versus a ban, and of course hear us talk about our favorite banned books. These books cover big topics like racism, black lives matter, homophobia, sexual assault, and #metoo movement. Check out the Books Mentioned below to add even more books to your To Be Read pile. Marisa’s book: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brenda Kiely. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Atheneum, and Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, September 2015. Mary’s book: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. Teen, Grades 7+. Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, August 2013. Samantha’s book: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. High School, Grades 9+. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, October 1999. Books we talked about this episode: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth Rainbow Boys by David Levithan Both Can Be True by Jules Machias (Marisa’s unnamed reference to this book plot) Better Nate Than Never by Tim Federle Middle School’s a Drag by Greg Howard Dear Martin by Nic Stone Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, Emily Carroll (illustrator) Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee Monstress by Marjorie Lui Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 by Stephenie Meyer, Young Kim (illustrator) It's Perfectly Normal: A Book about Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell Jack of Hearts by A.C. Rosen Caleb Roehrig’s works. Camp  by Lev A.C. Rosen Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu Judy Blume’s works (She has the distinction of being one of the most banned writers in the U.S).

    1h 26m
See All (32)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

We are Marisa and Mary, two Teen Librarians, and we talk about books! What kind of books? It can be any type of Middle Grade & Young Adult books, but we have the goal of focusing on and lifting up diverse voices in the Graphic Novel format and BIPOC/LGBTQIA authors. Come jam with us.

Information

  • Creator
    Marisa Hicking & Mary Richardson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2023
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Marisa Hicking & Mary Richardson
  • Show Website
    The Book Jam