Bookwandering with Anna James

Climate justice activist, speaker and writer Mikaela Loach joins me this week to talk about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the YA dystopian phenomenon. We talk about how the series radicalised Mikaela, reluctant heroes and different ways of resisting justice. (There are spoilers for the original trilogy, but none for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes or Sunrise on the Reaping.) 

Mikaela's book for young peo...

Actor, comedian and writer Harry Trevaldwyn joins me to talk about Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's iconic 2005 YA vampire novel. We talk about Harry's obsession with the book as a teenager, the spirit of Georgia Nicholson, hoa hoa season and why it's so vital to have queer YA love stories. 

Harry's debut YA romcom, The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King is out now. 

You can find The Romantic Tragedies of a Dra...

Award-winning author Rachel Khong joins me to talk about Half Magic, Edward Eager's 1954 fantasy classic about a family who find a coin that grants them half wishes. Rachel is the author of Goodbye, Vitamin and most recently Real Americans, which is out now in paperback. We talk about Eager's love of E. Nesbit, why Rachel went back to Half Magic when writing Real Americans and how to write magic in literary fiction.&...

Bestselling author Jessie Burton joins me to talk about A Traveller in Time, Alison Uttley's 1939 time slip novel about a girl who falls back to Tudor times. Jessie is the author of many books including The Miniaturist, The House of Fortune, and Medusa. Her debut children's novel, Hidden Treasure, is out now. 

We talk about both being deeply weird about history as kids, the books refusal to do anything but be its own thing,...

Comedian, writer and podcaster Cariad Lloyd joins me to talk about Jane Austen. Cariad is the co-creator of Austentatious, the improvised Jane Austen play, the host of Griefcast, and Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club with Sara Pascoe. She’s also the author of The Christmas Wish-Tastrophe, amagical middle grade Regency story.

We started with Pride and Prejudice but cover a bit of everything Auste...

Theatre producer and friend of the pod Brian Hook joins me to talk about the first three books in Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea series. Brian is the co-owner of Hartshorn Hook which has produced shows including Immersive Gatsby, Choir of Man, Amelie the Musical and Immersive Peaky Blinders. Brian and I are both huge fans of Earthsea and we chatted about why it means so much to us, bookish tattoos, and why the natural pause point in t...

Laura Wood joins me to talk about Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Laura is the bestselling author of several books for children, teens and adults including newly released Under Your Spell, Laura's debut adult romcom. Laura's choice was Gail Carson Levine's 1997 classic Ella Enchanted and we chatted about retellings, library book limits and the Anne Hathaway film adaptation. 

You can find Laura's and my books...

In episode ten, Jay McGuiness joins me to talk about Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. 

Jay is a member of boyband The Wanted and previous winner of Strictly Come Dancing but also the author of Blood Flowers, his debut YA novel, which is out in February and available to pre-order now. Jay’s choice was David Eddings’ 1982 fantasy book Pawn of Prophecy, the first book in the Belgariad series. We chatted about what makes...

In episode nine, C Pam Zhang joins me to talk about American classic A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. 

Pam is the author of Booker Prize-longlisted How Much of These Hills is Gold and this year's Land of Milk and Honey, one of my favourite books of the year. Pam's pick was A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle's beloved 1962 award-winning novel which kicked off the Time Quintet. We chatted about world hopping and clim...

In episode eight, Sophie Dahl joins me to talk about a mutual favourite, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

Sophie has written books across ages and genres - novels for adults, non-fiction food writing and most recently children's fiction including her two Madame Badobedah picture books illustrated by Lauren O'Hara. Sophie's pick was The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, set in an alternate version of 19th cen...

In episode seven, Nikita Gill joins me to talk about JM Barrie's beloved children's novel Peter Pan. 

Nikita is a poet and has published several books of poetry including These Are the Words, Great Goddesses and Fierce Fairytales. She's also one of the most popular poets on Instagram, with over 750k followers at @nikita_gill. We chat about some of the more tricky and Oedipal elements of Peter Pan, its sometimes un...

Kate DiCamillo joins me to talk about Mary Norton's 1952 children's classic, The Borrowers. 

Kate is the beloved and multi-million bestseller of many books for young readers and one of only a few authors who have won the Newbery Medal twice. Her most recent book is the immediate New York Times bestseller, The Puppets of Spelhorst. We chat about the borrowers decorating habits, stories within stories and how Kate comes ...

In episode five, Kiran Millwood Hargrave joins me to talk about Garth Nix's 1995 fantasy classic, Sabriel. 

Kiran is the award-winning and bestselling writer of several books for adults and young people including The Girl of Ink and Stars, The Mercies and most recently the start of brand new fantasy series, In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen. We chat about magical bells, how Kiran uses books of power for each of her proje...

In episode four, Jeffrey Boakye joins me to talk about Louis Sachar's beloved 1998 novel Holes. 

Alongside his broadcast and education work, Jeffrey is the author of several works of non-fiction about teaching, race and music. He’s also the author of Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer, his debut children’s novel which came out earlier this year. We chat about Jeffrey teaching the novel to young people, how sitcoms have influenc...

In episode three, Eliza Clark joins me to talk about Terry Pratchett's 1989-1990 Nome trilogy which kicks off with Truckers. Eliza is the author of cult classic and BookTok sensation Boy Parts, soon to be on stage at the Soho Theatre. Her newest novel, Penance is a brilliant meta true crime novel set in a Yorkshire seaside town. We chat about the enduring appeal of tiny people and big food, pretending to be an elf on the Internet, ...

In episode two, Angie Thomas joins me to talk about Mildred D. Taylor's 1977 children's classic, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Angie is the author of publishing sensation The Hate U Give, her debut YA novel inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement which was later adapted into a film starring Amandla Stenberg. As well as other YA books she's the author of new children's fantasy series, Nic Blake and the Remarkables. We chat about...

Max Porter joins me to talk about the work of the late author and illustrator John Burningham who created Avocado Baby, Mr Gumpy's Day Out and Borka among many, many other beloved picture books. Max is the award-winning author of several books including Grief is the Thing with Feathers, which was adapted into a play starring Cillian Murphy, and most recently Shy. We chat about the alchemy of words and pictures together, frameworks ...

Cressida Cowell joins me to talk about The Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones, the 1974 fantasy standalone. Cressida is the author of the multi-million selling How To Train Your Dragon series as well as brand new series Which Way to Anywhere. She was also the Children's Laureate from 2019 - 2022. We talk about coming back to the ideas your found intoxicating as a child, the importance of school libraries and why Diana Wynnes Jone...

Laura Dockrill joins me to talk about the iconic Tracy Beaker. Laura is the author of books for all ages from picture books to poetry including her memoir What Have I Done?, the Darcy Burdock series for young readers and her new non-fiction book about creativity, You Are a Story. We talk about why Jacqueline Wilson is as good as the Spice Girls, how we find essences of our littler selves when we revisit childhood books as well as s...