Adventure Awaits: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 80

Books and Bites

This month, we discuss adventure stories, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Choose your own adventure, whether it's with a group of teens on a road trip, on top of Mount Everest, or on a pirate ship!

Jacqueline's Pick

Jacqueline enjoyed Five Survive by New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson. Red Kenny is on a road trip for spring break with five friends. When their RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, they soon realize this is no accident.

They have been trapped by someone out there in the dark, someone who clearly wants one of them dead. With eight hours until dawn, the six friends must escape, or figure out which of them is the target.

Pairing: No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Cookies, a yummy road-trip treat.

Michael's Pick

Michael took a trip to Mount Everest with Jon Krakauer's nonfiction book, Into Thin Air. Working for Outside magazine, Krakauer was given the opportunity to ascend Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, during the 1996 climbing season on Rob Hall’s team, Hall being one of the most experienced and respected climbers and guides in the world.

They were about to witness one of the deadliest days in the mountain's history. A storm rolled in on summit day that ultimately left eight people dead. This is Krakauer’s personal account of that expedition, relying on interviews with others to corroborate his experiences and provide perspective.

Pairing: A hot cup of Masala Chai.

Carrie's Pick

Carrie went on an adventure with The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, a YA novel that takes place in the 18th century. Felicity Montague wants to become a doctor, but the English and Scottish hospital boards she appeals to for apprenticeship turn her down because of her gender.

When she learns that one of her medical idols is about to marry her childhood best friend and may need an assistant, she sets out for Germany to plead her case. What follows is a quest with two other young women involving pirates, a voyage to Algeria, and (spoiler alert!) sea monsters.

Pairing: Shakshouka, an Algerian dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno, onion, and spices. Find the recipe in the library database AtoZ World Food.