Unabridged: A Book Podcast

Unabridged: A Book Podcast

Unabridged is a bookish podcast hosted by teachers. We release episodes twice a month, including a monthly Book Club episode and other bookish topics full of recommendations for your TBR list. Join us for bookish fun at our website unabridgedpod.com, on social media @unabridgedpod, or via email at unabridgedpod@gmail.com.

Episodes

November 12, 2025 45 mins

Have you been with us since the early days, or are you just finding your way to our bookish corner? In Episode 300, we celebrate a huge milestone with a very special guest… our beloved former co-host, Sara! We kick things off with a Bookish Check-In, then look back at standout reads and moments from eight years and 300 episodes of Unabridged.

 

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Have you picked up Stephen Graham Jones’s The Buffalo Hunter Hunter (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) yet? We dig into this brilliant work in our October book club discussion. We start with a Bookish Check-In: Jen’s reading Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), and Ashley just started V. E. Schwab’s Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). 

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October 15, 2025 25 mins

Do you like spooky reads, or do you tend to steer clear of anything too creepy? In Episode 298, Jen and Ashley share our favorite books for the season, and we talk about what makes the perfect fall read.

We start with our Bookish Check-in: Ashley is listening to Thorn Season (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) by Kiera Cass, and Je...

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Have you read Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic or seen the musical adaptation? In episode 297, our September Book Club pick takes us into Bechdel’s layered, brilliant graphic memoir about family, identity, and the stories we use to make sense of our lives.

We kick things off with a bookish check-in (As...

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September 10, 2025 27 mins

Have you ever hesitated to pick up a buzzy book because you weren’t sure it would live up to the hype? In Episode 296, Jen and Ashley kick off Season Nine with a chat about the books that absolutely do.

We start with our Bookish Check-in: Jen’s reading Suleika Jaouad’s The Book of Alchemy, and I share thoughts on E...

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June 11, 2025 23 mins

Which books are going in your beach bag this summer? In today’s episode, we’re sharing a few great picks for your next vacation—or just your next relaxing afternoon in the sun. From fast-paced thrillers and twisty YA mysteries to a heartfelt rom-com set in the world of podcasting, we’ve got something for everyone.

We...

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Have you read Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson—or maybe even the whole series? In this May 2025 Book Club episode, we’re diving into the twisty world of Ellingham Academy with Stevie Bell and company. But first, we kick things off with a Bookish Check-In. Ashley’s reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (yes, the sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea), and Jen shares her thoughts on Nned...

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Have you watched the Heartstopper series or read the graphic novels by Alice Oseman? In this episode, we’re sharing a conversation that originally aired on Patreon all about the pilot episode of Heartstopper, based on Oseman’s beloved graphic novel series. Before we dive into the adaptation, we kick things off with a bookish check-in—Ashley shares about Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, and Jen is r...

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In this month’s Book Club episode, we’re discussing Solito by Javier Zamora, a powerful memoir that chronicles his journey as a nine year old traveling alone from El Salvador to the United States. With vivid detail and emotional clarity, Zamora recounts the two-month trek that took him across borders, through deserts, and into the hands of strangers—some kind, some dangerous—all with the hope o...

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Have you ever found that reading with a friend makes a book even better? In this episode, we (Jen and Ashley) dive into the joys of buddy reading, spotlighting some of our favorite young adult books we've read together through Unabridgedpod Buddy Reads—a community reading experience we host monthly on Instagram.

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How do you find your place when you feel stuck between worlds? In this episode, Jen and Ashley dive into Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, our March 2025 book club pick. This middle-grade novel in verse explores identity, belonging, and tough moral choices as Kareem navigates friendships, football, and family while feeling caught between cultures.

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Have you read Nella Larsen's Passing (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), a brilliant classic written in 1929? Today, we're sharing our Patreon discussion of the film adaptation of this, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We talk about the book and film and share our thoughts about the artistic choices.

We end with a couple...

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It’s book club time! This month, we’re diving into Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese—a swoony, opposites-attract romance inspired by Much Ado About Nothing. Fake dating? Revenge plot? Emotional depth? We have thoughts.

In this episode, Jen and I break down our overall impressions, what worked for us, and some standou...

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Love is in the air! In our annual February episode, we’re back with some romance recommendations just in time for Valentine’s (or Galentine’s!) season. We’re sharing books that have captured our hearts recently, from star-crossed lovers to unconventional storytelling.

But first, we kick things off with our latest reads,...

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What does it mean to explore identity, legacy, and the complexities of family through a literary lens? For our January book club episode of Unabridged, join us as we discuss Percival Everett’s James.

This inventive retelling of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn reimagines the story from Jim’s perspectiv...

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Happy New Year! In this episode of Unabridged, we're diving into our 2025 reading challenges and reflecting on the highs and lows of our 2024 goals. Join us as we share our experiences with various reading challenges—what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons we’re carrying forward. We're also introducing our 2025 Unabridgedpod Reading Challenge. We'd love for you to join us!

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As we approach winter break, we wanted to share a re-release of a book club episode about a seasonal novel we loved discussing. Looking for a fun, illuminating holiday-centered read? Check out Sonya Lalli's A Holly Jolly Diwali (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), our December Unabridged book club pick.

In this episode, Jen and Ashley discu...

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For our December book club episode of Unabridged, join Ashley and Jen as we discuss Cynthia Hand's The Afterlife of Holly Chase. This modern young adult retelling of A Christmas Carol is packed with holiday spirit, humor, and poignant themes. Alongside our book discussion, Ashley and Jen also share our book pairings to complement your reading experience. Don’t miss this festive conversation!

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In our November Book Club episode, Jen and Ashley are discussing Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). Join Ashley and Jen as we explore this haunting post-apocalyptic novel set in a remote Anishinaabe community and as we share our thoughts and pairing recommendations.

 

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This month on Unabridged, we’re thrilled to share our Patreon discussion about Greta Gerwig’s Little Women with you all. In this beloved adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Gerwig brings a fresh, nuanced perspective to the March sisters' journeys, exploring themes of independence, ambition, and sisterhood in ways that resonate with today’s audiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan ...

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