Usually, we feature our children’s book in December, but this year we thought we’d do it in November to give friends of children ample time to buy the book for the holiday. This year's book is M.W. AND THE MONARCH written and illustrated by Lauren Scheib and Christina Lambert Clarke.

Linda met Lauren as a fellow volunteer and neighbor for the American Red Cross. Linny was excited to hear that Lauren wrote a children’s book and also a play. When Lauren shared a copy of M.W. AND THE MONARCH with Linny, we knew we had to feature it as our children’s book.

In this book, we meet M.W. who is being grown from a seed in a greenhouse along with a lot of other seeds. As they are watered and cared for, the seeds grow into beautiful colorful plants, except M.W. And those beautiful plants are a little mean to M.W. Soon, all the plants are being purchased and taken to new homes, except M.W. Finally, a little girl and her father buy M.W. and the little girl claims M.W. will be the most important plant in their garden. M.W. is planted and then a curious visitor arrives.

Linny notes there are a lot of different themes in the book. That is really great, especially since children love reading books over and over. She liked that the adults nurtured the seeds and plants. Linny says there are a lot of themes to chat with a child about.

Nancy points out that the last page of the book has a list of questions to talk with co-readers about. Linny suggests adults could talk with children about growth and diversity, too. Also, what you might say to a bully who is calling you names. Nancy suggests the book is ripe for talking about how everyone has their own set of attributes: not better, not worse, just different.

Linny shares her recent red-carpet event in Washington, D.C. for her latest movie premiere for the movie WHEN FATAL ATTRACTION HITS HOME. Nancy talks about her experience co-chairing the Humanities Nebraska Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities.

WHEN FATAL ATTRACTION HITS HOME: Linny’s recent movie

Nebraska Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities

Nathaniel Philbrick

This episode we are talking about the novel, TIGER’S MOUTH written by Lucy Tan. This book is coming out on November 17, 2026, so this is an early preview. TIGER'S MOUTH is set in contemporary New York City. We meet three young adults, each with their own ambitions who become best friends one fateful summer that impacts their lives in different ways.

We first meet Jack Chen, son of a caterer, who bluffs his way into a prestigious internship at tech giant K.O. Systems. At K.O. Systems, his officemate is Jack Owens, son of the company’s billionaire founder, who would rather be dead than work for his father. Finally, there’s Jack Chen’s affluent girlfriend and budding opera singer, Caty Shangguan.

Nancy and Linny talk quite a bit about the characters, but the story also leads us to important questions, such as: what you lose when you deny your own past?

Nancy and Linny also discuss symbolism throughout the book: the author choosing to name the two characters “Jack;” the two tigers on the cover; and the move in the game GO, Tiger's Mouth, where a player basically surrounds and traps the other player.

Linny reports that of this year's books, TIGER'S MOUTH was the most of a page turner for her. She thinks it was the economic issues and the relationships. She said, “You don’t have to be tech savvy at all to enjoy this book!”

WHEN FATAL ATTRACTION HITS HOME: Linny's latest movie

ON GOLDEN POND: Filmed where Nancy stayed in New Hampshire

GO: The game featured in the book, TIGER'S MOUTH

Grab your iced tea and settle in on the front porch with us as we delve into BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan, a tale that intertwines the lives of characters in a small Ohio town against the backdrop of post-World War II America. At its core, BUCKEYE explores the consequences of a brief affair between Cal and Margaret, and the impact not only their lives but also the next generation.

Throughout the conversation, the notion of secrets is central. Nancy reflects on why people keep secrets, suggesting that, "There are things that we want to hold to ourselves… that we just don't want to share with anyone else." There are also secrets of shame. It's the secrets of shame that resonate deeply in the context of the characters' lives, as they navigate their desires while grappling with societal expectations.

Linda shares her admiration for the depth of character development in the book, noting how it presents the characters as children, showing their early signs of personality and trauma. The evolution of Felix's storyline, in particular, is highlighted as an exploration of identity and acceptance during a time when societal norms were vastly different. "What an interesting time in history. So much more challenging and difficult for a gay person to come out then compared to now," Linda observes, emphasizing the nuanced portrayal of relationships.

The discussion also touches on the tragic aspects of Margaret's story, where her longing for intimacy is met with Felix's inability to reciprocate.

As we conclude our exploration of *Buckeye*, we invite you to reflect on the nature of secrets and the intricate web of relationships that define us. What do you think drives people to keep secrets? How do these secrets shape their lives and the lives of those around them?

If you haven't yet read BUCKEYE, we encourage you to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in this compelling narrative.