PODCAST · arts
That’s Novel Reading
by Scott and Katie
One self-proclaimed, avid reader and one reluctant reader, discussing contemporary, young adult literature. Sounds like the opening to an epic tale, but really this is just the journey of two middle school teachers who are embarking on a quest to find the best books for kids. Recognizing that they represent two bookends of the reading spectrum, Scott and Katie, are looking to find the books that will speak to students’ minds and hearts (and maybe get one or two of them to pick up a book every once in a while). But, I guess, that’s just novel reading.Logo Credit: @fearlessfallon (Instagram)
Episodes
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Books that We Keep Coming Back To
The first novel short of the season delves into Scott and Katie’s opinions about rereading books. As they are both on opposite sides of this argument, tune in to this episode as they discuss their personal preferences, and maybe Katie can even convince Scott to join her side.
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Books that Start Important Conversations
Scott and Katie begin Season 4 of That’s Novel Reading by discussing their choose-your-own-adventure book from last year. After hearing Katie’s short explanation, Scott chose to read What Happened to Rachel Riley? By Claire Swinarski. Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss the importance of this…
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Books that Gear Us Up for the Summer
In this season finale, Scott and Katie decided to wrap up the season a bit earlier to start preparing for the next. Join them this week as they preview three books for each other to choose to read to start the next season. You’ll even get to hear some of Scott’s poetry writing skills! Thanks for…
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Books That Make Us Want To Read More
This week’s episode is all about how books make us want to read more. Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss those series that have made them into readers and the ways in which authors get us hooked into stories. Katie and Scott relive some of their favorite memories with books series and talk…
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New Year's Reading Resolutions
They’re back! Listen to the newest episode for 2025 as Scott and Katie discuss their New Year’s resolutions for reading. Having taken a brief hiatus (because we all know life happens), Scott and Katie recognize they need a reset on their reading. This week’s episode dives into reading resolutions...
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Books that Empower Digital Leadership
This week’s episode, Scott and Katie are straying away from the young adult and middle grade read to discuss an adult book. Yes, you read that correctly: an adult book. They’ll be discussing The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a book released in March that has been gaining traction in…
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Banned Books Week with Guest Ashley Hope Pérez!
The American Library Association celebrates Banned Book Week at the end of September, but Scott and Katie think it should be celebrated all season long. Join Scott and Katie in this very special Novel Short as they discuss banned books and the impact it has on our schools and communities. This...
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Books that Dive into Identity and Community
This week’s episode features a book that Scott and Katie read and loved over the summer: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas. Join Scott and Katie as they discuss some of the most important themes of family and friendship explored in this amazing graphic novel. They also discuss the historical lessons...
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Novel Short S3 Ep. 2: Books Made Into Movies
This week’s Novel Short is brought to you by the age-old debate: which is better - the book or the movie? Listen in as Scott and Katie grapple with this question themselves revealing new insights about which they personally believe is better. It’s a great conversation starter, and this episode…
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Books that Reflect and Reveal
In this week’s episode, Scott and Katie discuss the book that Scott picked for Katie! You may remember from last season that the co-hosts made a bit of a wager that ended with Scott’s loss. This meant Scott needed to choose a book for Katie, and according to them both, he hit it out of the park....
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Books We Read to Our Children
To begin a new season, Scott and Katie decided to talk about a topic of particular interest to them: children’s literature. As new parents, both Scott and Katie are always looking for fantastic reads for their daughters. But a recent article about problematic children’s literature sparked a...
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Books That Left an Impression
As the second season of That’s Novel Reading comes to an end, Scott and Katie try and guess each other’s favorite books from the season and even set up a little wager. This week’s episode will feature Scott and Katie reflecting on the season and some of their favorite reads. We'll see you all in...
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Novel Reflections
Starting a podcast is not an easy task, but Scott and Katie decided to begin winding down Season 2 discussing the origins of That’s Novel Reading as the podcast celebrated its one year anniversary! Listen in as Scott and Katie discuss the origins of the podcast, their process, and how they…
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Books That Bring Together Communities
In this week’s episode, Scott and Katie will discuss Katie’s hometown One Book, One Town pick for the year: Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley. One Book, One Town is a local library sponsored program where each year a book is selected for the whole town to read. Events and programs are...
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Novel Short 10: Heartstopper 3-5
This week, Scott and Katie will celebrate their 1 year anniversary of That’s Novel Reading by going back to their roots. The very first episode of the podcast featured The Heartstopper series: Volumes 1 and 2. This week, Scott and Katie will discuss Volumes 3, 4, and 5. Spoiler Alert: Check out...
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Novel Short 9: Readership in the United States
Today’s conversation was sparked by a statistic Scott found about readership in The United States. Listen in as Katie and Scott react to the percentage of folks in the United States who only read one book a year. Looking at the origination of this statistic, and their own personal experience…
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Books that Reflect Modern Issues
This week, Scott and Katie discuss Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorrell about one town’s experience with changing their school mascot. Told in verse and from multiple perspectives of middle school students, Mascot delves into the debate about whether or not a community should retain their...
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Novel Short 8: Black History Month
Back from a short hiatus, this week Katie and Scott will feature books, authors, and resources for Black History Month. Have a pen and paper ready to jot down some of the resources that Scott and Katie share, and more importantly, feel free to share some of your own via social media. Both Scott…
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Books that are Evocative Empathy Builders
This week’s episode features a book that both Scott and Katie agree is the perfect window and mirror for all readers: Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes. Told in verse, and set in the backdrop of the COVID-19 shutdown, the main character Garvey is learning to grapple with his new “normal” leaving...
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Novel Short 7: Top 5 of 2023
Join Scott and Katie in this week’s Novel Short as they reveal their top 5 books from both seasons. To add fuel to the fire, Scott and Katie try to predict each other’s choices. Listen in to hear about their favorite books featured on the podcast so far and see how well they did with their guesses!
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Choose Your Own Adventure, Part 2!
Coming back from their winter break, Katie and Scott are so excited to share part two of their Choose Your Own Adventure. In an earlier episode in the season, Scott and Katie shared books recommendations for each other with them ultimately choosing a book to read. Listen in as Scott shares his...
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Novel Short 6: National Book Awards
For this week’s Novel Short, Scott and Katie are coloring outside the lines by featuring a book in this week’s episode. Scott and Katie are going to discuss A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat, a graphic novel memoir about Dan’s study abroad experience the summer before he entered high...
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Books that Spark Our Passions
In this week’s full episode, Scott and Katie discuss Gabrielle Zevin’s adult novel, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow in Books that Spark Our Passions. With Scott, an avid gamer, and Katie, a nostalgic gamer, this book spoke to Scott and Katie on a different level as the story shows the journey…
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Novel Short 5: Novel Recommendations
This week’s Novel Short is a bit different because Katie and Scott decided to play a bit of a game with recommending books. Knowing that sharing books with each other is an important practice, Scott and Katie showed up to this episode only prepared with a booklist to share with each other. Listen...
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Novel Short 4: Native American Heritage Month
As Thanksgiving in the United States approaches this week, Katie and Scott thought it would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate National Indian Heritage Month with this week's Novel Short. Calling on an integral resource from Dr. Debbie Reese of the Nambé Pueblo, Scott and Katie share texts...
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Books That Leave Us Speechless
In this week’s episode, Katie and Scott discuss one of their favorite books featured on the podcast, All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir. While both Katie and Scott were left speechless by this beautiful novel, they work to find words to describe this incredible story. Join Katie and Scott for this…
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Novel Short 3: Books That Honor Veterans
This week, Katie and Scott’s Novel Short focuses on Veteran’s Day. They share their personal connection to the federal holiday and how their school’s assembly honors local veterans. And, of course, they’ll share some books students (and teachers and parents!) would enjoy to learn more about...
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Books That Are Mysterious and Thrilling
Scott and Katie celebrate the season of spooky and thriller by discussing Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti. This book has a great flow and structure that really keeps the reader guessing about how the central mystery will resolve. The character development is rich and diverse, even...
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Books That Shouldn't Be Banned
Starting off the season, Scott and Katie will be discussing Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez. While this book has been out for some time, Scott and Katie thought this would be the perfect book to launch the season since they celebrated Banned Books Week earlier in October. Pérez has been a...
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Novel Short 2: ADHD Awareness Month
In this week’s Novel Short, Scott and Katie discuss ADHD Awareness Month for October. Scott and Katie became aware of October’s theme from Tyler Page’s social media. As the author of Button Pusher, a book Katie and Scott featured last season, Tyler Page shares amazing resources for everyone to be...
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Novel Short 1: eBooks vs. Physical Books
That’s Novel Reading kicks off season 2 with an episode where Scott and Katie catch up with their listeners! They both had QUITE a busy summer and are ready to continue to discuss the literature and topics that engage our young adult readers, and even our adult readers, too! This week Scott and...
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That's Novel Reading: Season 2 Trailer
Join Katie and Scott as they preview season 2 of That's Novel Reading! In this season, the two teacher/book club friends will continue to explore the contemporary young adult literature that speaks to the hearts and minds of our young adult readers, and maybe some adult readers, too. These two...
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Novel Short 10: Season in Retrospect
This is the final episode of Season 1 of That’s Novel Reading, and Katie and Scott take some time to do a season in review. They share the origin story of the podcast, some of their favorite books featured in episodes, and begin thinking about the future for Season 2. As Scott and Katie end…
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Novel Short 9: Reader Identity
This week for the Novel Short, Katie and Scott take some time to discuss their reader identities. So many of the books they remember from childhood have influenced them as readers today. Listen in as Katie and Scott reminisce about some of their favorite books from when they were younger and…
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Books That Make Your Skin Crawl
This week, Scott and Katie wanted to feature a book that would be a great pick for summer reading: mystery edition. Join Scott and Katie as they discuss Daughter by Kate McLaughlin, a page-turning mystery book that can make your skin crawl. This title would be a great addition to your summer...
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Novel Short 8: Disability Pride Month
This week’s Novel Short focuses on July being Disability Pride Month. Scott and Katie discuss the history of Disability Pride month and the importance of representation of characters and authors in books we read with students. They also share some of their top picks for books to read for…
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Books That Pull at Your Heartstrings
Continuing their love for graphic novels, this week, Katie and Scott will discuss two graphic novel memoirs by Jarrett Krosoczka: Hey, Kiddo and Sunshine. Sunshine is Krosoczka’s newest graphic novel as a follow-up to the award-winning Hey, Kiddo. Scott and Katie felt that these stories tugged at...
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Novel Short 7: Summer Reading
This week, join Katie and Scott in their Novel Short where they will talk about the importance of summer reading. In this Novel Short, Katie and Scott discuss their own past experiences with summer reading as students before diving into what research suggests about the summer slide. Both Katie…
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Books That Show Us That We're Not Alone
On this week’s episode, Scott and Katie discuss the release of the young adult novel version of “I Have Something to Tell You”, by Chasten Buttigieg. Chasten, a former middle school teacher and husband to Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, tells the story of growing up in a rural,...
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Novel Short 6: What Counts as "Reading"?
Our Novel Short this week features our first guest speaker, Jen Lendvai-Lintner (Instagram: @jenwriter). Jen is an award-winning writer who has contributed her work to The Today Show Parenting Team and Scary Mommy. She teaches a first-year college writing course at Rowan University and is…
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Books That Push Our Thinking
This week, Scott and Katie talk about a book that pushed their thinking: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This was a book Katie wanted Scott to read for a long time, and with June being Pride Month, it was the perfect opportunity to discuss this novel. Scott and Katie will delve into...
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Novel Short 5: Banned Books
Happy Pride Month! Katie and Scott have been wanting to talk about banned books for some time, and Pride Month was the perfect opportunity to delve into this important topic. LGBTQIA+ books are typically banned or challenged in the United States, especially now. In this episode, Scott and Katie...
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Books that Change the Game
This week, Scott and Katie will discuss the Nutmeg Book Awards, which are books specific to their state of Connecticut. Students from across the state partner with parents, teachers and librarians to choose the best elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school books from the past five years....
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Novel Short 4: Elevating AAPI Literature
This week, Scott and Katie’s Novel Short is all about elevating AAPI literature for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This episode will include some of Katie’s favorite past reads, Scott’s and Katie’s current reads, and what they have planned for books on deck to highlight…
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Novel Short 3: Town Reads Picks
In this week’s Novel Short, Scott interviews Katie about their Town Reads program which is based on the One Book, One Town initiative. Scott asks Katie poignant questions about the program, and Katie shares her experiences while also sharing some of the books her students are reading this year....
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Reducing the Stigma of Mental and Behavioral Health Through Reading
For Mental and Behavior Health Awareness Month, Scott and Katie discuss Tyler Page’s graphic novel-memoir, Button Pusher. Page shares his journey with ADHD (attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder) through beautiful panels of text and illustrations. Threaded throughout are informational pieces...
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Novel Short 2: Field Trips!
Field trips are making a comeback at Scott and Katie’s school this year, for the first time since lockdown in 2020, and they’re so excited. Join Katie and Scott in this week’s Novel Short as they discuss field trips and highlight a brand new book by award-winning author Jerry Craft about (you...
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Living Through the Crosswinds: Building Empathy Through Tragedy
Join Katie and Scott this week as they discuss Clap When You Land by award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo in an episode that discusses building empathy through tragedy. Acevedo’s story follows two girls who discover each other’s existence through the tragic loss of their shared father. Katie…
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Novel Short 1: Reading During Spring Break
You may be expecting a new episode where Scott and Katie talk about a new book this week. But like many teachers around the nation, they spent last week on their Spring Break, spending time with family and friends (or in Scott’s case seeing multiple, amazing Broadway shows). So, in lieu of…
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Reclaiming Your Voice
This week’s episode features a book Scott and Katie chose to highlight Women’s History Month for March and National Poetry Month happening in April. Enter the Body by Joy McCullough gives voice to four of Shakespeare’s leading ladies from the tragedies of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
One self-proclaimed, avid reader and one reluctant reader, discussing contemporary, young adult literature. Sounds like the opening to an epic tale, but really this is just the journey of two middle school teachers who are embarking on a quest to find the best books for kids. Recognizing that they represent two bookends of the reading spectrum, Scott and Katie, are looking to find the books that will speak to students’ minds and hearts (and maybe get one or two of them to pick up a book every once in a while). But, I guess, that’s just novel reading.Logo Credit: @fearlessfallon (Instagram)
HOSTED BY
Scott and Katie
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does That’s Novel Reading have?
That’s Novel Reading currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is That’s Novel Reading about?
One self-proclaimed, avid reader and one reluctant reader, discussing contemporary, young adult literature. Sounds like the opening to an epic tale, but really this is just the journey of two middle school teachers who are embarking on a quest to find the best books for kids. Recognizing that they...
How often does That’s Novel Reading release new episodes?
That’s Novel Reading has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to That’s Novel Reading?
You can listen to That’s Novel Reading on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts That’s Novel Reading?
That’s Novel Reading is created and hosted by Scott and Katie.
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