We had a longer conversation with Jack Gantos at the Nantucket Book Festival - too much to include in Episode 36, our discussion of DEAD END IN NORVELT. Jack talks about his first 36 rejections, his switch from teaching to writing full time, and about his beloved hometown of Norvelt, Pennsylvania. It's a conversation we had at Mitchell's Book Corner on Nantucket Island.

Jack received the 2012 Newbery Award and the Scott O'Dell Award for Best Historic Fiction for "Dead End in Norvelt." His other works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert honors; Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, a National Book Award Finalist, and Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor book.

Writer Jack Gantos has his own unusual take on a childhood in the town named after Eleanor Roosevelt - the real-life place called Norvelt, Pennsylvania. Readers from Belvedere Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia discuss DEAD END IN NORVELT with host Kitty Felde. Wenzel Jones is celebrity reader.

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

Candymakers - Wendy Mass

Wereworld - Curtis Jobling

Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

Warriors series - Erin Hunter

Wings of Fire - Tui T. Sutherland

Hatchet - Gary Paulsen

Moby Dick - Herman Melville

"Hard to find another classic on my shelf that I reread every five years - the language, themes, journey, spleen and spine of it are very satisfying."

Onions in the Stew - Betty MacDonald

What makes a great book? Readers from Loyola Village Elementary School in Los Angeles have some answers.

Sophie's quest to find her mother takes her from London to Paris - mostly rooftop to rooftop. Katherine Rundell's novel "Rooftoppers" is our book this episode. Students from the British International School of Washington discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Director and audio book actress Stevie Zimmerman is celebrity reader. Katherine Rundell talks about writing for the stage vs. writing books for kids.

Agatha Christie mysteries

FunJungle series - Stuart Gibbs

The Maze Runner - James Dashner

Charmed Life - Diana Wynne Jones

Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak

Katherine Marsh says her son helped a lot with the creation of "The Door by the Staircase." She also offers some writing tips.

This week, we get a new look at an old fairy tale – the story of the Russian witch known as Baba Yaga. A boys book club in Portland, Oregon met us at Powell's Books to discuss Katherine Marsh's novel "The Door by the Staircase" with host Kitty Felde. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who represents Portland on Capitol, is celebrity reader.

How does a White House speechwriter turn into a writer for kids? How do you become a Washington speech writer to begin with? We speak to Sean O'Brien, former speechwriter to then-Vice President Joe Biden. Kitty Felde is host.

Former White House speechwriter Sean O'Brien takes us inside the building to a secret passageway to the past in his mystery "White House Clubhouse." Readers from Oak View Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia discuss how Theodore Roosevelt's mantras are still relevant to them today. Actress Elizabeth Logun is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.

FAVORITE BOOKS FROM OAKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

The Chronicles of Whetherwhy: the Age of Enchantment - Anna James

Echo - Pam Munoz Ryan

Walk Two Moons - Sharon Creech

Wonder - R.J. Palacio

The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare

SEAN O'BRIEN'S FAVORITE BOOK:

All the King's Men - Robert Penn Warren

ELIZABETH LOGUN'S FAVORITE BOOK:

Charlotte's Web - E.B. White