May 13, 2025 • 25 mins
"I think all of us had the experience after reading the book of looking in maybe our grandparents' wardrobe, our parents' wardrobe, and like knocking on the back of the wardrobe and being like, maybe this is my time. Maybe they're gonna call me in here."
— Mychal Threets
For this week’s episode, we are testing out a slightly different format, something we have named a “Mixtape” episode. Rather than making the reading challenge the last bit of an author’s show, we have made the reading challenge the show itself. We could not be more excited to welcome the biggest spot of joy on the web, Mychal Threets, to the podcast.
In this episode, we learn about Mychal’s playlist, the books that shaped him, and when he was a young library kid. As someone who grew up in the stacks and eventually made his calling his career, Mychal walks us through the books that sparked what he calls his "book joy."
As it happens, Jordan will be doing a full interview with Mychal during a live recording at the upcoming American Association of School Librarians meeting (AASL) in St. Louis this October. But who wants to wait for the joy that Mychal brings? Nobody!
Content Note: This episode includes discussion of mental health and suicide, which come up in Mychal’s reading passage. If you’d prefer to skip this portion, it runs from [19:50-23:35].
Tune in for an episode that will brighten your day and give you insight into the early life and times of someone who has shined a light on the joy and importance of libraries (and librarians!).
We have set up Mychal’s mixtape “playlist” as a reading challenge that can be downloaded for free or activated on your Beanstack site. Learn more and download Mychal’s reading challenge at thereadingculturepod.com/mychal-threets
Show Chapters
Chapter 1 - Holes by Louis Sachar
Chapter 2 - Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Chapter 3 - Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Chapter 4 - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Chapter 5 - Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
Chapter 6 - The Giver by Lois Lowry
Chapter 7 - Love Among the Walnuts by Jean Ferris
Chapter 8 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Chapter 9 - Letters to You by Jazz Thornton
Links
- The Reading Culture
- The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup
- Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)
- Mychal Threets Instagram
- Mychal Threets TikTok
- 2025 AASL National Conference
- Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture
- Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Host and Production Credits
Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Producers: Mel Webb, and Lower Street Media
Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mychal Threets (00:04):
I think all of us have had experience after
reading the book of looking inmaybe our grandparents wardrobe,
our parents wardrobe, like,knocking on the back of the
wardrobe being like, maybe thisis my time. Maybe they're gonna
call me in here.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (00:16):
That's Michael Threes. You might know
him for his viral videos aboutlibrary joy and mental health.
Michael is a librarian,storyteller, a mental health
advocate, and a joyful forceonline and in the world. Today's
episode is a little different.We're saving my full interview
with Michael for a liverecording at the American
(00:38):
Association of School Librariansmeeting or AASL in October.
So if you're going to be inSaint Louis, please join us for
that. But we didn't want to waitthat long to bring you the joy
that Michael spreads. So insteadof our usual format, we're
diving into an extended readingchallenge from the people's
librarian himself. Michael is alibrary kid through and through.
(01:02):
Someone who grew up in thestacks and eventually made his
calling his career.
In this episode, he takes usthrough the books that shaped
him. It sparked what he callshis book joy. Michael's
selection of books are more thanjust nostalgic favorites.
They're stories that sparked hisimagination and helped him
understand the world and himselfa little better. A quick note
(01:24):
before we dive into today'sepisode, we do talk about mental
health and suicide.
The topics come up duringMichael's reading passage, so we
understand if you want to skipforward past this and you can
find a time stamp for thesection in the show notes. And
heads up, if you haven't readBridge to Teripithia, there's a
spoiler coming, so now might bea good time to grab a copy. Just
(01:46):
don't blame us when your heartgets ripped out. My name is
Jordan Lloyd Bookie, and this isthe reading culture, a show
where we speak with diverseauthors and today, a librarian
about ways to build a strongerculture of reading in our
communities. We dive deep intotheir personal experiences and
inspirations.
Our show is made possible byBeanstack, the leading solution
(02:08):
for motivating students to readmore. Learn more at .com and
make sure to check us out onInstagram at the
readingculturepod and subscribeto our newsletter for bonus
content at thereadingculturepod.com forward
slash newsletter. Alright. On tothe show. Hey, listeners.
(02:32):
Are you looking for a fun easyway to track your reading and
earn cool rewards? Well, meetBeanstack, the ultimate reading
app used by a community of over15,000 schools, libraries, and
organizations nationwide. Areyou an avid reader? Check with
your local library to see ifthey offer Beanstack for free. A
(02:53):
parent, ask your child's teacherif the school library already
uses Beanstack.
And if you are an educatorsearching for a fresh
alternative to acceleratedreader, Beanstack is the perfect
tool to cultivate a thrivingreading culture. Ready to turn
the page? Visit beanstack.com tolearn more. First up on
(03:18):
Michael's list, Holes by LewisSackar. This book came out in
1998 and became a massive hitthat is still popular today.
It's got cursed families,lizards, buried treasure, and
one unforgettable outlaw namedKissing Kate Barlow. It's the
first book that Michael everreceived as a gift, and it's
(03:39):
where his book joy began.
Mychal Threets (03:41):
So I love the book so much. I named my cat
after the character. And thatbook, just was the first book
that I was ever gifted. So itwas like the art of gifting
books was born by way of holesby Lewis Sacker. And I just love
the story.
I love the adventure of readingit, out what's gonna happen
next.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (03:56):
I, first of all, want to know
who gave you holes. You said that was
gifted to.
Mychal Threets (04:00):
Oh, my great aunt did.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (04:02):
Your great aunt. Was she a big reader?
Mychal Threets (04:03):
I believe she was. I didn't I didn't realize
it at the time, but she musthave been because I didn't
realize how open it was. I wasreading books all the time for
her to think of giving me a bookfor my probably between ninth
and eleventh birthday.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (04:14):
Mhmm.
Mychal Threets (04:15):
I connect it with X-ray. I connect it with
Xero, I think, just bydescription. So even though a
different book was a first bookthat I kind of saw myself for
the first time in characters, Ithink seeing them, seeing their
description was like, hey, thatsounds a lot more like me than
these other characters. But Ithink it's also just the fact
that the kids got in trouble andthen things happened and they
(04:35):
were able to kind of figure outtheir way of life and how to
keep on going through turmoil.So I think I just like that the
book was a learning lesson.
I just liked the various zanycharacters. I like that they
flipped back and forth betweenthe lineage of different Stanley
Lnats that there have been. Ithink I just love the idea that
Stanley Lnats is Stanleybackwards twice. Just Stanley
Stanley but Stanley backwards. Igot a kick out of that.
(04:57):
Then I had just always lovedanything by Lewis Saker. I loved
all the Wayside School stories.So when I found out, oh, there's
a book called Holes, I had toread it and then Yeah. I've been
hooked for my entire life.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:08):
That was one of my favorite read alouds
with my kids, you know, wasHoles. Like, I just love it was
such it was so fun, everythingabout
Mychal Threets (05:14):
It's special.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:15):
And then all those Wayside, just his
books are just they hiteveryone, you know, just so
good.
Mychal Threets (05:20):
They do. Yeah. I think zany is the best way to
describe all of his stories.Yeah. It's just they're out
there.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:26):
If you get that laugh out loud, you know
that's what they're reading. Youknow? They're really, like,
giggling.
Mychal Threets (05:30):
Yes. You feel all sorts of emotions reading
all of his different stories.Like, ugh. Sometimes you're
worried, then you're you laugh.Next again is is bishop Beverly
Cleary.
I love everything by BeverlyCleary. As much as I love Ramona
(05:52):
and Beez's Quimby, I love RalphaSpouse. I think Henry Huggins
has always been my favorite one.To this day, I still listen to
Henry Huggins
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:59):
Really?
Mychal Threets (05:59):
Probably at least twice a year. I listen to
the whole audiobook collection.I think it's just a sense of
installation. I mean, I'vealways loved Beverly Cleary
because a lot of people don'trealize that she was a
children's librarian. That's howBeverly Cleary got started, I
gotta love a fellow librarian.
I love that she wrote thosestories just because she looked
on her library shelves and sawthat there were no stories of
neighborhood kids beingneighborhood kids.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (06:19):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (06:19):
And I was a PBS kid. I grew up watching Arthur,
watching Mister Rogers, watchingReading Rainbow, those sorts of
things. But I was always outsideplaying, always playing
basketball, playing catch on mybike, crashing all the time,
trying to go off of jumps,things like that. Just being a
rambunctious neighborhood kid.And I think that's why I love
Henry Huggins so much becausethat's exactly what they did.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (06:38):
Right. Interesting. So Henry Huggins
would be your second or any ofthose books, but, yes, that
would be your one. Yes. And youyou love listening to books too.
I do. Yeah. Me too.
Mychal Threets (06:48):
But it's great. I I do it all the time. I grew
up books on tape. There arebooks on media, the books on CD,
and books on tape as a kid. Now,of course, there's Olivia.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (06:55):
You're not old enough for books on tape.
Mychal Threets (06:57):
And there's Hoopla. No. I mean, mean, me and
my family will be playing videogames, and we would turn down
the volume, and then we wouldjust turn we would just listen
we would listen to stories, andit's just always been so special
to me.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (07:06):
I love that. And a great tip for
parents. You can play all thegames you want as long as we're
listening to, you know, whateveron here.
Michael's next recommendation is a story
of love and loss. It can makeyoung readers feel things they
(07:30):
may not have felt before. Thiswas in fact the first time a
story broke Michael's heart andalso helped him understand some
really complicated feelings.It's Bridge to Terabithia by
Katherine Paterson.
Mychal Threets (07:44):
The next one unfortunately is a bit is a bit
sadder. Probably like kind of myguiding my way into big sadness
two books, like feeling thosedifferent emotions. And it is
Bridge to Terabithia. That'sprobably the one. That was the
first one in Rhymesdale, like,the day, I'm just like, ah,
Leslie Burke forever.
It's also kind of a book aboutneighborhood kids in a different
way, but they're just havingthese various adventures. I
think I was always animaginative kid. I think going
(08:06):
into the land of Terabithia wasalways special to me reading
that book for the first time. Ithink for most kids, if you read
that book, it's probably thefirst time that you experience a
death in a book, especially thedeath of a child. So it takes a
lot out of you, I think, formost people.
I'm sorry if you've never readPritcher Terabithy and if that's
a spoiler. It's been out for avery, very long time though.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (08:26):
Very long time.
Mychal Threets (08:28):
But it is very shocking when you when you read
it for the first time. And youthink for for me, I was really I
think I remember reading that,and I almost, like, couldn't
believe it. Like, I was like,oh, maybe they're in a different
part of Cherubithia. They'regonna go back, and Leslie's
gonna be there. Mhmm.
I think it took me honestly acouple of chapters of reading it
to realize that Leslie was notgonna be coming back. Mhmm. So I
(08:48):
think it kind of like for me,for the first time a kid who
experienced anxiety, experiencedpanic and depression and
different things, it was firsttime reading a book where I was
like, oh, man. I'm seeing thesefeelings. I'm seeing these
emotions.
How do I respond? How are theygonna respond in the story?
What's gonna happen? So, ofcourse, it's not a perfect
ending by any means, but I thinkthat book was just it's so
(09:09):
special to shaping me as areader because even though I
always talk about book joy, talkabout library joy, it's really
just an all encompassing thingfor the various feelings that
you read because sometimes, Imean, there are people who love
reading sad books. I do not lovesad books.
Richard Chirabithy is probablylike the saddest book on my
list. But there are people whotoo do that's what they need
from books. I think that'swhat's important is that there
(09:31):
are all sorts of emotions andfeelings when we get to read.
And for me, that's why BridgetteTerabithia was so special. And
it's just this lore of havingyour heart broken for the first
time reading a book, having yoursoul ripped out.
That first time where you'relike, I need my friends to read
this book so they also can havetheir soul ripped out so that we
can share this feeling together.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (09:55):
The next book Michael shares is one that
so many of us have a soft spotfor. It's the lion, the witch
and the wardrobe by CS Lewis. Astory full of magic and snow and
betrayal, and it's also how mostkids learn what Turkish delight
is. This classic opened up awhole new kind of world for
(10:15):
Michael.
Mychal Threets (10:19):
I love going into different worlds while
reading books. And for me, I wasraised in a Christian household,
so I also read it from thatperspective. So I think it meant
something different to me toread that book and see those
connections, is the way that CSLewis wrote the book. But I
think just like the power of thecharacter of Aslan, the betrayal
of Edmund, I think you're justlike, oh, Edmund. Like, what are
(10:39):
you doing?
Those are your those are yoursiblings just for Turkish
delight. And I have since hadTurkish delight at the library.
I remember the first time I hadit being like, this is my
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (10:48):
This is what they're talking about?
Mychal Threets (10:49):
Gave away his family for. Like
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (10:52):
I know.
Mychal Threets (10:52):
I thought it was, like, cinnamon rollers or
something. Like, not thatcinnamon rollers are worth
betraying your family for, but Iwas like, at least it wanna be
something, like, superiorlydelicious.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (11:01):
No offense to those who love Turkish
delight, but I definitely hadthat exact yes. My daughter was
like, I need to try Turkishdelight. You know? I remember
going out. We found it.
She's like, this is it. I'mlike, yeah. Maybe this wasn't a
good one. Let's go find someother one. You know?
Mychal Threets (11:14):
Exactly. Like you said, it is not I'm not
saying it's gross. I'm notsaying it's the worst treat
ever, but it is not
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (11:20):
Just like, is that gonna be your reason?
Mychal Threets (11:22):
Yes. Are you going to say, you know what?
Turkey delight family. Maybe youare. Maybe we'll find out.
Maybe that'll be the comments tothis to this response. But but
no. But but all those all thosefeelings and just it was just so
cool. Mean, I think all of ushad the experience after reading
the book of looking in maybe ourgrandparents' wardrobe, our
parents' wardrobe, like,knocking on the back of the
wardrobe and being like, maybethis is my time. Maybe they're
(11:44):
gonna call me in here.
And they're just, again, talkingabout the emotions of Richard
Terabithia, of what youexperienced reading Beverly
Cleary, Lewis Saker. I thinkthat's what CS Lewis brilliantly
did in building his world. It'sjust so many emotions. I mean,
there's there's happiness. Imean, even Lucy and mister
Tumnus, that relationship of howbad he felt, I think he just
introduced different things toyou.
(12:04):
But think it's a unique bookwhere you can really read it at
so many different age ages. Youcould be very, very young.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (12:10):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (12:10):
It's pure imagination. It's pure discovery
of the joy of literacy, of theemotions of being a reader, of
not knowing what's gonna happen,of Lucy not being believed about
the world, of of everything.It's just Yeah. It's such a
thrill to read. I think youcatch something new every single
time you read Chronicles ofNarnia.
(12:35):
The next one is, Son of the Mobby Gordon Korman.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (12:38):
Oh, yeah. I've never read it by no one.
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (12:40):
You should read it. It's a great book. I was
lucky enough to be invited tothe National Book Awards, I
think, last year, and GordonKorman was there. I think I did
a very good job of notfangirling and not freaking out
when I met him and he just issuch a kind human being. He just
went up to people.
He actually could be very muchlike kept to himself.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (12:57):
Really?
Mychal Threets (12:57):
And I think I was talking to somebody else and
then the person that he wasthere with, I was talking with
her and then he disappeared. AndI'm like, oh my goodness. It's
Gordon Gordon. So I read thatbook all the time. So that was
very cool for me to make thatconnection to read his book
Yeah.
And then to meet him. But thenSon of Mob, it just it's in the
title. The character is the sonof the mob leader. He's coming
from the family that's a mob,that's a mafia. So you would
(13:19):
think like this isn't a book forkids, this isn't a book for
teens.
Right. But like they don'treally talk too much about like
what his family does. He kind ofhints at it a little bit, but
it's more so just like this kidwho happens to be a regular kid.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (13:32):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (13:32):
But his dad is the leader of the mob. His
uncles are like the godfather.These are godfather type of
people, but they're justcharacters. And he just is like,
that's my dad. That's my uncles.
That's my family friend. And soyou go through, like it's almost
like like Henry Uggans goingthrough the different stories.
Yeah. And it's the same way thatSon of the Mob just presents
these different interactions,these different moments. But you
(13:54):
can also keep in mind, you'relike, but this person is also
the son of the mob.
This is how the mob boss isresponding to his son doing
this. And it's like, is thecharacter gonna be okay with it?
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (14:05):
What about that can achieve so much for
you? Do you remember? Or like, Imean, you write everything.
Mychal Threets (14:09):
Oh, I you know what?
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (14:10):
I think I don't I I definitely didn't make
Mychal Threets (14:12):
any connection why I'm not I'm not the son of
the mob. But I think in shapingme as a reader, I think it was
just a different sort of book,just a different type of book
Yeah. To read. It was one ofthose books where I was like,
this is a new perspective. Thisis a new way to look at things.
I think I always liked readingbooks from different
perspective. And I think it'salso just like that my family,
my dad always liked those sortsof movies. He liked Denzel
(14:33):
Washington movies. He liked warmovies. He liked the spy movies.
So I think reading a book thatwas similar to the movies that
my dad liked, I was like, oh,this is kind of like the same
thing but just in book format.So I think I was, like,
subconsciously just making thoseconnections in my mind. The
(14:57):
Giver by Lois Lowry really kindof shook up my life in a good
way as a reader where I was,like, kinda like a different
part of my brain was unlockedwhen I read The Giver where I
was like, I've never had thesethoughts before. I've never
thought about things this deeplywhile reading the book. I mean,
reading about what does painfeel like.
I don't know how Lois Lowry,like, managed to describe
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (15:15):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (15:16):
Feeling of discovering pain. Like, it's
never something I had thoughtabout until I read that book in
that section where heexperiences pain for the first
time knowingly and just beingawakened to color. Yeah. I think
it made me look at the world alittle bit differently. I'm
like, am I actually seeingcolor?
Am I Is this black and white? AmI seeing things the same way
that other people do? Mhmm. TheGiver is just so powerful in
(15:36):
that it's very sad. It's a lotof wonder.
There are some darker moments inthe book. I think that's why for
a lot of libraries, for a lot ofbookstores, they don't know
whether to put it in thechildren's section or in the
young adult teen section or evensometimes the adult section. And
just because
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (15:49):
Oh, yeah.
Mychal Threets (15:50):
There are so many things, there are so many
questions that it poses andpresents. And I think it made me
a more intellectual readerreading that book.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (15:58):
Yeah. I sometimes think of that book a
little bit as kinda like TheMatrix is to movies for me, you
know, like, it kinda
Mychal Threets (16:03):
Oh, wow. Do know
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (16:04):
what I mean? Where you're like,
Mychal Threets (16:05):
I do.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (16:06):
Could this be this? Is this what this could
be? You know? Yeah. You startlooking at your world with, a
different lens.
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (16:13):
Yeah. That just unlocks it just like that. If
you believe in like folders andyou're running, this unlocks
like a whole room full offolders and you're like, oh, is
this my world now? Like yousaid, like, what have I been
looking at? What have I beenliving is I think a lot was what
a lot of us think when we readthat book for the first time or
even again, these all thesebooks, you reread them and
you're like, oh, I didn't eventhink of that the first time.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (16:39):
Next one was brand new to me. It's called
Love Among the Walnuts by GeneFarris, a book that Michael
describes as lemony snicketmeets one flew over the cuckoo's
nest. It's weird, it's warm, andit's full of offbeat characters.
Mychal Threets (16:58):
Exactly not everyone is one of my absolute
favorites. I love that book justbecause it just it was so much
fun. It's so silly, but it's alittle bit different. It's
actually kinda difficult tofind. I think only even if you
want if you're looking forwardon, like, Libby, I've only come
across a few libraries who haveLove Among the Walnuts.
It's a story of a kid who hassome very rich parents.
Something happens and theparents fall into a coma and
(17:20):
then the parents have someobnoxious, unruly brothers who
very much want to get access tothe parents' fortune. So one of
these stories. And the kid ismaybe
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (17:29):
Lemony Snicket. You know?
Mychal Threets (17:31):
None of directors on series of
unfortunate events. Okay. It's avery slapstick Lemony Snicket
style book.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (17:37):
Okay.
Mychal Threets (17:38):
And then meanwhile, the kid, as the
parents are in the coma, istaken to a a mental institution.
That's basically what it isbecause the people there are
essentially walnuts. They're alittle bit different as an
adult. I think I connect with itbecause of the mental health
aspect, because of thecharacters being just a little
bit different. But it's just afun read.
It's a quick read. It's one ofthose ones, again, all these
stories you can read multipletimes, I think, because you get
(18:01):
the different perspectives ofthe different characters. You
pay attention to one's point ofview, you're like, ah, look at
this silly person. Look at thisperson. And it's just a lot of
fun.
The Hunger Games by SuzanneCollins. Think just reading that
(18:24):
book, I think that was, like,the first major series for
probably, like, the second orthird major series that I had
read in my life where I I kindof was like, this is a book
series that the world isreading. I think as a kid, it
was very much everyone's readingHarry Potter and then I forget
the other ones I was a part ofas a kid, but definitely
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (18:41):
Yeah. Harry Potter is a big one. Yeah.
Mychal Threets (18:43):
Harry Potter was like the big boom where, like,
everyone's reading this. We'reall at bookstores. We're all at
Barnes and Nobles. We're all atthe library waiting for this
book. And then I think HungerGames Yeah.
That was, like, when I was like,oh, I get to actually be at the
beginning of this. I can makethese decisions to read this
book at the same time aseverybody else. And again, more
world building just being like,wow. Yeah. My tribe of people
(19:06):
are the book people.
We're all reading about KatnissEverdeen. Every book I was like,
I'm like, I'm a reader. I'm abookworm. I'm trying to read
more and more books. I think theHunger Games where I was like,
oh, I'm making more and morereader friends, like, people who
are, like, who are alreadyreading this book and we're
like, what's your theory?
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (19:20):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (19:20):
What's your theory about that? It wasn't
something where for Harry Potteror Hermione, you go into the
world and you're like, hey. Didyou read this book? And they're
like, oh, I'm already on Gobbleof Fire. I'm already on
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (19:30):
Right.
Mychal Threets (19:31):
Half Blood Prince.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (19:32):
They were already out.
Mychal Threets (19:33):
Actually, everyone's in line at the
library, at the bookstore. Yeah.Yeah. That's how I connected
with it. Well, I mean and it'salso just it's The Hunger Games.
I mean, it's still being createdto this day, but just one of
those things where I was like,wow. This is it. Sunsets, coffee
dates with friends, travelingthe world, meeting new people,
(19:56):
chilling on the beach at 3AMwith your friends. You are
someone else's reason to stay.You haven't met everyone who is
going to love you yet.
Cupcakes, sunrises, learning newskills, animals, your favorite
artist's new album, snow fights,warm showers on cold days, the
smell of freshly mowed grass, totry every flavor of ice cream,
(20:19):
to meet your future kids andgrandkids, graduation, love,
getting your dream job one day.You will be someone else's
reasons to stay in the future,writing a book, all the new TV
shows and movies that are yet tocome out, hiking with friends,
picnics, belly laughs, to watchyour siblings, nieces, nephews,
(20:40):
others grow up, to attend yourbest friend's wedding, beach
days, hiring a kayak, and goingout at sunset. Laugh till you
cry moments to pet all the dogs,the feeling of the sun and the
breeze on your skin, fluffysweaters, going to university or
tech, having your own family,the feeling you get when the kid
in the room chooses to go to youout of everyone, flowers,
(21:05):
finding the perfect iced coffee,tasting new food, the moments
where you just smile toyourself, hugs, creating your
own bucket list, seeing yourfavorite artist live, learning
to surf, paint, sew, or knit,dancing in the rain, spontaneous
adventures with friends, seeingthe seven wonders of the world,
(21:26):
to hear the words I love you andknow they mean it.
And then number 50 is for her isbecause you are worth it.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (21:37):
I'll be honest. When Michael read this
passage, I teared up. The bookhe read from, letters to you by
Jazz Thornton, is exactly whatthe title suggests, a series of
letters written to others whoare struggling. Just like
Michael, Jazz has spoken openlyabout her own mental health
struggles and also about thedeath of a friend by suicide,
(21:58):
about not wanting to be here,and about the long ongoing
process of choosing to stay.
Mychal Threets (22:04):
I just think it's so very powerful. Every
time I read it, it's just Ithink it just shows us that we
all have a reason to stay. Andsometimes I read it and people
are like, oh, none of those 50things are for me. And I think
it's important that she did thatbecause it just shows that those
are just 50 things that shethought of. It doesn't mean that
every reason has to be yourreason, but it just shows us
that we are all capable ofcreating our own reasons as
(22:25):
well.
I think it just always means somuch to me to read those reasons
from her just because I know howhurt she was at so many times in
her life, how much pain andstruggle she experienced and
then to look at her now. Andthen for me, I'd like to think
I'm very open about my ownmental health and just knowing
where I am struggling. I'm I'mcurrently very overwhelmed and
be able to read that and takejoy in life to try and find hope
(22:48):
in life, to just to try to finda reason to stay, find a reason
to make it to tomorrow.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (22:53):
Okay. That was really beautiful. I was
like, immediate tears when youstarted talking about the about
somebody else being somebodyelse's reason to stay because
that one
Mychal Threets (23:04):
It's special.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (23:05):
That one is true for everybody. Maybe not
the 3AM on the beach foreveryone, but, you know,
everybody is somebody else'sreason. Exactly.
Mychal Threets (23:13):
There's something all around you.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (23:14):
Yeah. That was really beautiful. Thank you
for reading that out loud, andthank you for being here and
making that choice to be hereand to offer so much to other
people. I hope that you are ableto carve out that space and time
to take care of yourself too.
(23:35):
If you want to hear more from Michael, he
recently launched a brand newpodcast with Blair Imani called
thoughts about feelings. I'lllet him tell you a little bit
more about it.
Mychal Threets (23:46):
So we're so excited. We're hoping that it
becomes a safe place for peopleto listen to, to join us for
conversations, conversationsbetween myself and Blair, but
also conversations with oldfriends and new friends, just
talking about thoughts, aboutfeelings, talking about all the
emotions, all the feelings, allthe thoughts. And we just try to
remind people that they're notalone, to show people that it's
normal to talk about thesethings that are hard to talk
(24:08):
about, just to haveconversations about so many
things, and we're just soexcited for what it might mean
to help even one person juststay another day.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (24:21):
We will absolutely link to thoughts
about feelings in our shownotes, and I hope you take a
listen there as well. It's awonderful show. And, of course,
you can find Michael's readinglist and all of our past author
reading list at thereadingculturepod.com. And this
week, we're skipping thatBeanstack featured librarian
segment because, well, folks, wejust heard from one of our GOAT
(24:43):
librarians. And fun fact,Michael was in fact responsible
for setting up Beanstack at hisprevious library.
This has been the readingculture, and you've been
listening to my conversationwith Michael Threats. Again, I'm
your host, Jordan Lloyd Bookie,and currently, I'm reading skin
(25:05):
by EB Zavoie and in opencontempt by Irvin Weathersby
junior. If you enjoyed today'sepisode, please show some love
and give us a five star review.It just takes a few seconds and
it really helps. This episodewas produced by Mel Webb and
Lower Street Media and scriptedited by Josiah Lamberto Egan.
(25:25):
To learn more about how you canhelp grow your community's
reading culture, be sure tocheck out all of our resources
at beanstack.com, and of course,remember to sign up for our
newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com forward
slash newsletter for specialoffers and bonus content. Thank
you for listening, and keepreading.
Mychal Threets (25:48):
Hi.
I think all of us have had experience after
reading the book of looking inmaybe our grandparents wardrobe,
our parents wardrobe, like,knocking on the back of the
wardrobe being like, maybe thisis my time. Maybe they're gonna
call me in here.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (00:16):
That's Michael Threes. You might know
him for his viral videos aboutlibrary joy and mental health.
Michael is a librarian,storyteller, a mental health
advocate, and a joyful forceonline and in the world. Today's
episode is a little different.We're saving my full interview
with Michael for a liverecording at the American
(00:38):
Association of School Librariansmeeting or AASL in October.
So if you're going to be inSaint Louis, please join us for
that. But we didn't want to waitthat long to bring you the joy
that Michael spreads. So insteadof our usual format, we're
diving into an extended readingchallenge from the people's
librarian himself. Michael is alibrary kid through and through.
(01:02):
Someone who grew up in thestacks and eventually made his
calling his career.
In this episode, he takes usthrough the books that shaped
him. It sparked what he callshis book joy. Michael's
selection of books are more thanjust nostalgic favorites.
They're stories that sparked hisimagination and helped him
understand the world and himselfa little better. A quick note
(01:24):
before we dive into today'sepisode, we do talk about mental
health and suicide.
The topics come up duringMichael's reading passage, so we
understand if you want to skipforward past this and you can
find a time stamp for thesection in the show notes. And
heads up, if you haven't readBridge to Teripithia, there's a
spoiler coming, so now might bea good time to grab a copy. Just
(01:46):
don't blame us when your heartgets ripped out. My name is
Jordan Lloyd Bookie, and this isthe reading culture, a show
where we speak with diverseauthors and today, a librarian
about ways to build a strongerculture of reading in our
communities. We dive deep intotheir personal experiences and
inspirations.
Our show is made possible byBeanstack, the leading solution
(02:08):
for motivating students to readmore. Learn more at .com and
make sure to check us out onInstagram at the
readingculturepod and subscribeto our newsletter for bonus
content at thereadingculturepod.com forward
slash newsletter. Alright. On tothe show. Hey, listeners.
(02:32):
Are you looking for a fun easyway to track your reading and
earn cool rewards? Well, meetBeanstack, the ultimate reading
app used by a community of over15,000 schools, libraries, and
organizations nationwide. Areyou an avid reader? Check with
your local library to see ifthey offer Beanstack for free. A
(02:53):
parent, ask your child's teacherif the school library already
uses Beanstack.
And if you are an educatorsearching for a fresh
alternative to acceleratedreader, Beanstack is the perfect
tool to cultivate a thrivingreading culture. Ready to turn
the page? Visit beanstack.com tolearn more. First up on
(03:18):
Michael's list, Holes by LewisSackar. This book came out in
1998 and became a massive hitthat is still popular today.
It's got cursed families,lizards, buried treasure, and
one unforgettable outlaw namedKissing Kate Barlow. It's the
first book that Michael everreceived as a gift, and it's
(03:39):
where his book joy began.
Mychal Threets (03:41):
So I love the book so much. I named my cat
after the character. And thatbook, just was the first book
that I was ever gifted. So itwas like the art of gifting
books was born by way of holesby Lewis Sacker. And I just love
the story.
I love the adventure of readingit, out what's gonna happen
next.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (03:56):
I, first of all, want to know
who gave you holes. You said that was
gifted to.
Mychal Threets (04:00):
Oh, my great aunt did.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (04:02):
Your great aunt. Was she a big reader?
Mychal Threets (04:03):
I believe she was. I didn't I didn't realize
it at the time, but she musthave been because I didn't
realize how open it was. I wasreading books all the time for
her to think of giving me a bookfor my probably between ninth
and eleventh birthday.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (04:14):
Mhmm.
Mychal Threets (04:15):
I connect it with X-ray. I connect it with
Xero, I think, just bydescription. So even though a
different book was a first bookthat I kind of saw myself for
the first time in characters, Ithink seeing them, seeing their
description was like, hey, thatsounds a lot more like me than
these other characters. But Ithink it's also just the fact
that the kids got in trouble andthen things happened and they
(04:35):
were able to kind of figure outtheir way of life and how to
keep on going through turmoil.So I think I just like that the
book was a learning lesson.
I just liked the various zanycharacters. I like that they
flipped back and forth betweenthe lineage of different Stanley
Lnats that there have been. Ithink I just love the idea that
Stanley Lnats is Stanleybackwards twice. Just Stanley
Stanley but Stanley backwards. Igot a kick out of that.
(04:57):
Then I had just always lovedanything by Lewis Saker. I loved
all the Wayside School stories.So when I found out, oh, there's
a book called Holes, I had toread it and then Yeah. I've been
hooked for my entire life.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:08):
That was one of my favorite read alouds
with my kids, you know, wasHoles. Like, I just love it was
such it was so fun, everythingabout
Mychal Threets (05:14):
It's special.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:15):
And then all those Wayside, just his
books are just they hiteveryone, you know, just so
good.
Mychal Threets (05:20):
They do. Yeah. I think zany is the best way to
describe all of his stories.Yeah. It's just they're out
there.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:26):
If you get that laugh out loud, you know
that's what they're reading. Youknow? They're really, like,
giggling.
Mychal Threets (05:30):
Yes. You feel all sorts of emotions reading
all of his different stories.Like, ugh. Sometimes you're
worried, then you're you laugh.Next again is is bishop Beverly
Cleary.
I love everything by BeverlyCleary. As much as I love Ramona
(05:52):
and Beez's Quimby, I love RalphaSpouse. I think Henry Huggins
has always been my favorite one.To this day, I still listen to
Henry Huggins
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (05:59):
Really?
Mychal Threets (05:59):
Probably at least twice a year. I listen to
the whole audiobook collection.I think it's just a sense of
installation. I mean, I'vealways loved Beverly Cleary
because a lot of people don'trealize that she was a
children's librarian. That's howBeverly Cleary got started, I
gotta love a fellow librarian.
I love that she wrote thosestories just because she looked
on her library shelves and sawthat there were no stories of
neighborhood kids beingneighborhood kids.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (06:19):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (06:19):
And I was a PBS kid. I grew up watching Arthur,
watching Mister Rogers, watchingReading Rainbow, those sorts of
things. But I was always outsideplaying, always playing
basketball, playing catch on mybike, crashing all the time,
trying to go off of jumps,things like that. Just being a
rambunctious neighborhood kid.And I think that's why I love
Henry Huggins so much becausethat's exactly what they did.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (06:38):
Right. Interesting. So Henry Huggins
would be your second or any ofthose books, but, yes, that
would be your one. Yes. And youyou love listening to books too.
I do. Yeah. Me too.
Mychal Threets (06:48):
But it's great. I I do it all the time. I grew
up books on tape. There arebooks on media, the books on CD,
and books on tape as a kid. Now,of course, there's Olivia.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (06:55):
You're not old enough for books on tape.
Mychal Threets (06:57):
And there's Hoopla. No. I mean, mean, me and
my family will be playing videogames, and we would turn down
the volume, and then we wouldjust turn we would just listen
we would listen to stories, andit's just always been so special
to me.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (07:06):
I love that. And a great tip for
parents. You can play all thegames you want as long as we're
listening to, you know, whateveron here.
Michael's next recommendation is a story
of love and loss. It can makeyoung readers feel things they
(07:30):
may not have felt before. Thiswas in fact the first time a
story broke Michael's heart andalso helped him understand some
really complicated feelings.It's Bridge to Terabithia by
Katherine Paterson.
Mychal Threets (07:44):
The next one unfortunately is a bit is a bit
sadder. Probably like kind of myguiding my way into big sadness
two books, like feeling thosedifferent emotions. And it is
Bridge to Terabithia. That'sprobably the one. That was the
first one in Rhymesdale, like,the day, I'm just like, ah,
Leslie Burke forever.
It's also kind of a book aboutneighborhood kids in a different
way, but they're just havingthese various adventures. I
think I was always animaginative kid. I think going
(08:06):
into the land of Terabithia wasalways special to me reading
that book for the first time. Ithink for most kids, if you read
that book, it's probably thefirst time that you experience a
death in a book, especially thedeath of a child. So it takes a
lot out of you, I think, formost people.
I'm sorry if you've never readPritcher Terabithy and if that's
a spoiler. It's been out for avery, very long time though.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (08:26):
Very long time.
Mychal Threets (08:28):
But it is very shocking when you when you read
it for the first time. And youthink for for me, I was really I
think I remember reading that,and I almost, like, couldn't
believe it. Like, I was like,oh, maybe they're in a different
part of Cherubithia. They'regonna go back, and Leslie's
gonna be there. Mhmm.
I think it took me honestly acouple of chapters of reading it
to realize that Leslie was notgonna be coming back. Mhmm. So I
(08:48):
think it kind of like for me,for the first time a kid who
experienced anxiety, experiencedpanic and depression and
different things, it was firsttime reading a book where I was
like, oh, man. I'm seeing thesefeelings. I'm seeing these
emotions.
How do I respond? How are theygonna respond in the story?
What's gonna happen? So, ofcourse, it's not a perfect
ending by any means, but I thinkthat book was just it's so
(09:09):
special to shaping me as areader because even though I
always talk about book joy, talkabout library joy, it's really
just an all encompassing thingfor the various feelings that
you read because sometimes, Imean, there are people who love
reading sad books. I do not lovesad books.
Richard Chirabithy is probablylike the saddest book on my
list. But there are people whotoo do that's what they need
from books. I think that'swhat's important is that there
(09:31):
are all sorts of emotions andfeelings when we get to read.
And for me, that's why BridgetteTerabithia was so special. And
it's just this lore of havingyour heart broken for the first
time reading a book, having yoursoul ripped out.
That first time where you'relike, I need my friends to read
this book so they also can havetheir soul ripped out so that we
can share this feeling together.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (09:55):
The next book Michael shares is one that
so many of us have a soft spotfor. It's the lion, the witch
and the wardrobe by CS Lewis. Astory full of magic and snow and
betrayal, and it's also how mostkids learn what Turkish delight
is. This classic opened up awhole new kind of world for
(10:15):
Michael.
Mychal Threets (10:19):
I love going into different worlds while
reading books. And for me, I wasraised in a Christian household,
so I also read it from thatperspective. So I think it meant
something different to me toread that book and see those
connections, is the way that CSLewis wrote the book. But I
think just like the power of thecharacter of Aslan, the betrayal
of Edmund, I think you're justlike, oh, Edmund. Like, what are
(10:39):
you doing?
Those are your those are yoursiblings just for Turkish
delight. And I have since hadTurkish delight at the library.
I remember the first time I hadit being like, this is my
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (10:48):
This is what they're talking about?
Mychal Threets (10:49):
Gave away his family for. Like
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (10:52):
I know.
Mychal Threets (10:52):
I thought it was, like, cinnamon rollers or
something. Like, not thatcinnamon rollers are worth
betraying your family for, but Iwas like, at least it wanna be
something, like, superiorlydelicious.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (11:01):
No offense to those who love Turkish
delight, but I definitely hadthat exact yes. My daughter was
like, I need to try Turkishdelight. You know? I remember
going out. We found it.
She's like, this is it. I'mlike, yeah. Maybe this wasn't a
good one. Let's go find someother one. You know?
Mychal Threets (11:14):
Exactly. Like you said, it is not I'm not
saying it's gross. I'm notsaying it's the worst treat
ever, but it is not
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (11:20):
Just like, is that gonna be your reason?
Mychal Threets (11:22):
Yes. Are you going to say, you know what?
Turkey delight family. Maybe youare. Maybe we'll find out.
Maybe that'll be the comments tothis to this response. But but
no. But but all those all thosefeelings and just it was just so
cool. Mean, I think all of ushad the experience after reading
the book of looking in maybe ourgrandparents' wardrobe, our
parents' wardrobe, like,knocking on the back of the
wardrobe and being like, maybethis is my time. Maybe they're
(11:44):
gonna call me in here.
And they're just, again, talkingabout the emotions of Richard
Terabithia, of what youexperienced reading Beverly
Cleary, Lewis Saker. I thinkthat's what CS Lewis brilliantly
did in building his world. It'sjust so many emotions. I mean,
there's there's happiness. Imean, even Lucy and mister
Tumnus, that relationship of howbad he felt, I think he just
introduced different things toyou.
(12:04):
But think it's a unique bookwhere you can really read it at
so many different age ages. Youcould be very, very young.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (12:10):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (12:10):
It's pure imagination. It's pure discovery
of the joy of literacy, of theemotions of being a reader, of
not knowing what's gonna happen,of Lucy not being believed about
the world, of of everything.It's just Yeah. It's such a
thrill to read. I think youcatch something new every single
time you read Chronicles ofNarnia.
(12:35):
The next one is, Son of the Mobby Gordon Korman.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (12:38):
Oh, yeah. I've never read it by no one.
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (12:40):
You should read it. It's a great book. I was
lucky enough to be invited tothe National Book Awards, I
think, last year, and GordonKorman was there. I think I did
a very good job of notfangirling and not freaking out
when I met him and he just issuch a kind human being. He just
went up to people.
He actually could be very muchlike kept to himself.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (12:57):
Really?
Mychal Threets (12:57):
And I think I was talking to somebody else and
then the person that he wasthere with, I was talking with
her and then he disappeared. AndI'm like, oh my goodness. It's
Gordon Gordon. So I read thatbook all the time. So that was
very cool for me to make thatconnection to read his book
Yeah.
And then to meet him. But thenSon of Mob, it just it's in the
title. The character is the sonof the mob leader. He's coming
from the family that's a mob,that's a mafia. So you would
(13:19):
think like this isn't a book forkids, this isn't a book for
teens.
Right. But like they don'treally talk too much about like
what his family does. He kind ofhints at it a little bit, but
it's more so just like this kidwho happens to be a regular kid.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (13:32):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (13:32):
But his dad is the leader of the mob. His
uncles are like the godfather.These are godfather type of
people, but they're justcharacters. And he just is like,
that's my dad. That's my uncles.
That's my family friend. And soyou go through, like it's almost
like like Henry Uggans goingthrough the different stories.
Yeah. And it's the same way thatSon of the Mob just presents
these different interactions,these different moments. But you
(13:54):
can also keep in mind, you'relike, but this person is also
the son of the mob.
This is how the mob boss isresponding to his son doing
this. And it's like, is thecharacter gonna be okay with it?
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (14:05):
What about that can achieve so much for
you? Do you remember? Or like, Imean, you write everything.
Mychal Threets (14:09):
Oh, I you know what?
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (14:10):
I think I don't I I definitely didn't make
Mychal Threets (14:12):
any connection why I'm not I'm not the son of
the mob. But I think in shapingme as a reader, I think it was
just a different sort of book,just a different type of book
Yeah. To read. It was one ofthose books where I was like,
this is a new perspective. Thisis a new way to look at things.
I think I always liked readingbooks from different
perspective. And I think it'salso just like that my family,
my dad always liked those sortsof movies. He liked Denzel
(14:33):
Washington movies. He liked warmovies. He liked the spy movies.
So I think reading a book thatwas similar to the movies that
my dad liked, I was like, oh,this is kind of like the same
thing but just in book format.So I think I was, like,
subconsciously just making thoseconnections in my mind. The
(14:57):
Giver by Lois Lowry really kindof shook up my life in a good
way as a reader where I was,like, kinda like a different
part of my brain was unlockedwhen I read The Giver where I
was like, I've never had thesethoughts before. I've never
thought about things this deeplywhile reading the book. I mean,
reading about what does painfeel like.
I don't know how Lois Lowry,like, managed to describe
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (15:15):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (15:16):
Feeling of discovering pain. Like, it's
never something I had thoughtabout until I read that book in
that section where heexperiences pain for the first
time knowingly and just beingawakened to color. Yeah. I think
it made me look at the world alittle bit differently. I'm
like, am I actually seeingcolor?
Am I Is this black and white? AmI seeing things the same way
that other people do? Mhmm. TheGiver is just so powerful in
(15:36):
that it's very sad. It's a lotof wonder.
There are some darker moments inthe book. I think that's why for
a lot of libraries, for a lot ofbookstores, they don't know
whether to put it in thechildren's section or in the
young adult teen section or evensometimes the adult section. And
just because
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (15:49):
Oh, yeah.
Mychal Threets (15:50):
There are so many things, there are so many
questions that it poses andpresents. And I think it made me
a more intellectual readerreading that book.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (15:58):
Yeah. I sometimes think of that book a
little bit as kinda like TheMatrix is to movies for me, you
know, like, it kinda
Mychal Threets (16:03):
Oh, wow. Do know
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (16:04):
what I mean? Where you're like,
Mychal Threets (16:05):
I do.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (16:06):
Could this be this? Is this what this could
be? You know? Yeah. You startlooking at your world with, a
different lens.
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (16:13):
Yeah. That just unlocks it just like that. If
you believe in like folders andyou're running, this unlocks
like a whole room full offolders and you're like, oh, is
this my world now? Like yousaid, like, what have I been
looking at? What have I beenliving is I think a lot was what
a lot of us think when we readthat book for the first time or
even again, these all thesebooks, you reread them and
you're like, oh, I didn't eventhink of that the first time.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (16:39):
Next one was brand new to me. It's called
Love Among the Walnuts by GeneFarris, a book that Michael
describes as lemony snicketmeets one flew over the cuckoo's
nest. It's weird, it's warm, andit's full of offbeat characters.
Mychal Threets (16:58):
Exactly not everyone is one of my absolute
favorites. I love that book justbecause it just it was so much
fun. It's so silly, but it's alittle bit different. It's
actually kinda difficult tofind. I think only even if you
want if you're looking forwardon, like, Libby, I've only come
across a few libraries who haveLove Among the Walnuts.
It's a story of a kid who hassome very rich parents.
Something happens and theparents fall into a coma and
(17:20):
then the parents have someobnoxious, unruly brothers who
very much want to get access tothe parents' fortune. So one of
these stories. And the kid ismaybe
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (17:29):
Lemony Snicket. You know?
Mychal Threets (17:31):
None of directors on series of
unfortunate events. Okay. It's avery slapstick Lemony Snicket
style book.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (17:37):
Okay.
Mychal Threets (17:38):
And then meanwhile, the kid, as the
parents are in the coma, istaken to a a mental institution.
That's basically what it isbecause the people there are
essentially walnuts. They're alittle bit different as an
adult. I think I connect with itbecause of the mental health
aspect, because of thecharacters being just a little
bit different. But it's just afun read.
It's a quick read. It's one ofthose ones, again, all these
stories you can read multipletimes, I think, because you get
(18:01):
the different perspectives ofthe different characters. You
pay attention to one's point ofview, you're like, ah, look at
this silly person. Look at thisperson. And it's just a lot of
fun.
The Hunger Games by SuzanneCollins. Think just reading that
(18:24):
book, I think that was, like,the first major series for
probably, like, the second orthird major series that I had
read in my life where I I kindof was like, this is a book
series that the world isreading. I think as a kid, it
was very much everyone's readingHarry Potter and then I forget
the other ones I was a part ofas a kid, but definitely
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (18:41):
Yeah. Harry Potter is a big one. Yeah.
Mychal Threets (18:43):
Harry Potter was like the big boom where, like,
everyone's reading this. We'reall at bookstores. We're all at
Barnes and Nobles. We're all atthe library waiting for this
book. And then I think HungerGames Yeah.
That was, like, when I was like,oh, I get to actually be at the
beginning of this. I can makethese decisions to read this
book at the same time aseverybody else. And again, more
world building just being like,wow. Yeah. My tribe of people
(19:06):
are the book people.
We're all reading about KatnissEverdeen. Every book I was like,
I'm like, I'm a reader. I'm abookworm. I'm trying to read
more and more books. I think theHunger Games where I was like,
oh, I'm making more and morereader friends, like, people who
are, like, who are alreadyreading this book and we're
like, what's your theory?
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (19:20):
Yeah.
Mychal Threets (19:20):
What's your theory about that? It wasn't
something where for Harry Potteror Hermione, you go into the
world and you're like, hey. Didyou read this book? And they're
like, oh, I'm already on Gobbleof Fire. I'm already on
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (19:30):
Right.
Mychal Threets (19:31):
Half Blood Prince.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (19:32):
They were already out.
Mychal Threets (19:33):
Actually, everyone's in line at the
library, at the bookstore. Yeah.Yeah. That's how I connected
with it. Well, I mean and it'salso just it's The Hunger Games.
I mean, it's still being createdto this day, but just one of
those things where I was like,wow. This is it. Sunsets, coffee
dates with friends, travelingthe world, meeting new people,
(19:56):
chilling on the beach at 3AMwith your friends. You are
someone else's reason to stay.You haven't met everyone who is
going to love you yet.
Cupcakes, sunrises, learning newskills, animals, your favorite
artist's new album, snow fights,warm showers on cold days, the
smell of freshly mowed grass, totry every flavor of ice cream,
(20:19):
to meet your future kids andgrandkids, graduation, love,
getting your dream job one day.You will be someone else's
reasons to stay in the future,writing a book, all the new TV
shows and movies that are yet tocome out, hiking with friends,
picnics, belly laughs, to watchyour siblings, nieces, nephews,
(20:40):
others grow up, to attend yourbest friend's wedding, beach
days, hiring a kayak, and goingout at sunset. Laugh till you
cry moments to pet all the dogs,the feeling of the sun and the
breeze on your skin, fluffysweaters, going to university or
tech, having your own family,the feeling you get when the kid
in the room chooses to go to youout of everyone, flowers,
(21:05):
finding the perfect iced coffee,tasting new food, the moments
where you just smile toyourself, hugs, creating your
own bucket list, seeing yourfavorite artist live, learning
to surf, paint, sew, or knit,dancing in the rain, spontaneous
adventures with friends, seeingthe seven wonders of the world,
(21:26):
to hear the words I love you andknow they mean it.
And then number 50 is for her isbecause you are worth it.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (21:37):
I'll be honest. When Michael read this
passage, I teared up. The bookhe read from, letters to you by
Jazz Thornton, is exactly whatthe title suggests, a series of
letters written to others whoare struggling. Just like
Michael, Jazz has spoken openlyabout her own mental health
struggles and also about thedeath of a friend by suicide,
(21:58):
about not wanting to be here,and about the long ongoing
process of choosing to stay.
Mychal Threets (22:04):
I just think it's so very powerful. Every
time I read it, it's just Ithink it just shows us that we
all have a reason to stay. Andsometimes I read it and people
are like, oh, none of those 50things are for me. And I think
it's important that she did thatbecause it just shows that those
are just 50 things that shethought of. It doesn't mean that
every reason has to be yourreason, but it just shows us
that we are all capable ofcreating our own reasons as
(22:25):
well.
I think it just always means somuch to me to read those reasons
from her just because I know howhurt she was at so many times in
her life, how much pain andstruggle she experienced and
then to look at her now. Andthen for me, I'd like to think
I'm very open about my ownmental health and just knowing
where I am struggling. I'm I'mcurrently very overwhelmed and
be able to read that and takejoy in life to try and find hope
(22:48):
in life, to just to try to finda reason to stay, find a reason
to make it to tomorrow.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (22:53):
Okay. That was really beautiful. I was
like, immediate tears when youstarted talking about the about
somebody else being somebodyelse's reason to stay because
that one
Mychal Threets (23:04):
It's special.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (23:05):
That one is true for everybody. Maybe not
the 3AM on the beach foreveryone, but, you know,
everybody is somebody else'sreason. Exactly.
Mychal Threets (23:13):
There's something all around you.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (23:14):
Yeah. That was really beautiful. Thank you
for reading that out loud, andthank you for being here and
making that choice to be hereand to offer so much to other
people. I hope that you are ableto carve out that space and time
to take care of yourself too.
(23:35):
If you want to hear more from Michael, he
recently launched a brand newpodcast with Blair Imani called
thoughts about feelings. I'lllet him tell you a little bit
more about it.
Mychal Threets (23:46):
So we're so excited. We're hoping that it
becomes a safe place for peopleto listen to, to join us for
conversations, conversationsbetween myself and Blair, but
also conversations with oldfriends and new friends, just
talking about thoughts, aboutfeelings, talking about all the
emotions, all the feelings, allthe thoughts. And we just try to
remind people that they're notalone, to show people that it's
normal to talk about thesethings that are hard to talk
(24:08):
about, just to haveconversations about so many
things, and we're just soexcited for what it might mean
to help even one person juststay another day.
Jordan Lloyd Bookey (24:21):
We will absolutely link to thoughts
about feelings in our shownotes, and I hope you take a
listen there as well. It's awonderful show. And, of course,
you can find Michael's readinglist and all of our past author
reading list at thereadingculturepod.com. And this
week, we're skipping thatBeanstack featured librarian
segment because, well, folks, wejust heard from one of our GOAT
(24:43):
librarians. And fun fact,Michael was in fact responsible
for setting up Beanstack at hisprevious library.
This has been the readingculture, and you've been
listening to my conversationwith Michael Threats. Again, I'm
your host, Jordan Lloyd Bookie,and currently, I'm reading skin
(25:05):
by EB Zavoie and in opencontempt by Irvin Weathersby
junior. If you enjoyed today'sepisode, please show some love
and give us a five star review.It just takes a few seconds and
it really helps. This episodewas produced by Mel Webb and
Lower Street Media and scriptedited by Josiah Lamberto Egan.
(25:25):
To learn more about how you canhelp grow your community's
reading culture, be sure tocheck out all of our resources
at beanstack.com, and of course,remember to sign up for our
newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com forward
slash newsletter for specialoffers and bonus content. Thank
you for listening, and keepreading.
Mychal Threets (25:48):
Hi.
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