Carlos Barragan’s book The Yahoo Boys schooled us on the huge and terrifying world of online moneymaking scams. From the romance scams (pretending to be a man or woman you are not, wooing others into sending you money), to celeb scams (pretending to be a celebrity for money), all the way to adoption scams (send us money, we will get you a baby). As horrible as these schemes are, Barragan takes an in depth look at the scammers, specifically in the community of Ikotun, Nigeria, painting a thorough portrait of the scammers and the loneliness in our world that allows them to thrive.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case: ⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:

The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers by Carlos Barragan

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Martha Raddatz is a war correspondent, one of the biggest household names in front line reporting. Her newest book, The Hero Next Door tells the story of the service men, women and the caregivers who bring honor to the uniform. From celebrations to heartbreak, these are the stories that have stayed with Martha throughout her decade of brave work, shadowing families and soldiers both on and off the battlefield. We are also talking to a mother daughter team that run LALA Books in Lowell, MA. Join us for two great conversations!

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

The Hero Next Door by Martha Raddatz

The Long Road Home by Martha Raddatz

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

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Ann Patchett has written a new novel, and if you are a listener to this show, you know we are both huge fans of her work. Her newest, Whistler, is beautiful book about grace, kindness, the relationships we can’t let go and what we learn of ourselves in a crisis. When we asked if we could come down to Parnassus in Nashville TN, she said yes. So, with great enthusiasm we hopped on planes and did The Book Case in front of a live audience at her Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville. We also have the tail end of our interview with Jesmyn Ward. I mean…Jesmyn Ward AND Ann Patchett? Doesn’t get better than that. Join us.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's episode:

Whistler by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Run by Ann Patchett

This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett

Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Taft by Ann Patchett

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

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Jesmyn Ward is arguably one of the most important writers of our generation.  She has won two National Book Awards before fifty (first woman to do that and first Black woman to do that). And in this, her new essay book, ON WITNESS AND RESPAIR, she writes essays on everything from Faulkner to Hurricane Katrina. This book is in part a look back at some of her most impactful essays, speeches, and book introductions-but this is also a remarkable book full of pain, fascination and joy. Join us in our conversation with one of the generations most thoughtful and talented writers.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:

On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward

Let us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward

Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Heavy by Kiese Laymon

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

The Years by Nicholas Delbanco

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It has been quite a few months since we checked in with J. Ryan Stradal, our writer in residence. He is in his editing stage, making sure that the latest draft he delivers is the best he can do. AND, he has a title-NEXT WEEK WHEN THINGS CALM DOWN (we love this title). We talk to him about where he is, why it takes so long to get a book out and how is feeling about this very personal novel. We also talk to The Nook in Lancaster PA about how and why they got into the book business. Join us.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

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Today The Book Case has another two for one. Laurie Frankel’s newest, ENORMOUS WINGS is funny, thought provoking and will have you questioning the vitality of choosing everything in your life from those first steps towards independence to dying with dignity. An incredible read you won’t want to put down. Caroline Bicks talks to us about her newest, MONSTERS IN THE ARCHIVES. In it, she explores the archives of Stephen King’s early works and tells us why he is enormously popular and worthy of academic study. Join us!

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel

Family Family by Laurie Frankel

This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel

The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel

Goodbye For Now by Laurie Frankel

Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King by Caroline Bicks

Shakespeare, Not Stirred by Caroline Bicks and Michelle Ephraim

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Elizabeth Strout has departed from Olive Kittredge, Lucy Barton and Burgess Boys; she has even departed from Maine. Her newest, THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY, introduces us to Artie Dam, a teacher in Massachusetts who is just as full of depth, pain and laughter as any character Strout has ever written. Haunted by the divisiveness that has beset our nation, he searches for meaning in his family and his work, and is upended by a secret he never saw coming. A wonderful book full of Strout’s amazing ability to explore the follies and foibles of the human mind, THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY will charm you and such you in. Join us for a conversation about why she chose to depart from her already beloved characters to explore someone new.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned in this week's episode:

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy By the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout
Winter by Elizabeth Strout
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin
Love and Summer by William Trevor

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If you had a mother who was a strong influence in your life, we wanted to honor her with this week’s Book Case episode. Sometimes we want to find all the right words to tell mom how much she meant to us and we can’t find them. This week we share some great books that would make terrific gifts for Mother’s Day. From Mary Laura Philpott to Niall Wiliams to Whoopi Goldberg, there is something in this week’s Book Case for every type of mom. Grab a pen and paper and join us to make your Mother’s Day shopping easy this year. Join us!

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302  

Books mentioned on this week's show:

Where Rivers Part by Kao Kalia Yang

Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg

The Time of the Child by Niall Williams

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott

Class Clown by Dave Barry

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Jason Reynolds is one of the best young adult writers of our generation. But don’t let the label fool you into thinking that young adult writing hasn’t provided some of the most important books in the American Literary Canon (Catcher in the Rye? To Kill a Mockingbird?). His latest, Soundtrack, explores the life of teenagers busking great music in New York subway stations. It is also about the fact that even though we are born into a family that never leaves us, our chosen family of friends is just as important. Funny, gritty and brilliantly written, this is a book that brings to you all the sights and smells of New York City, both above and underground. Jason speaks so beautifully also about writing and the importance of reading…well, we got addicted to just listening to him. Join us and you will see why.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's show:

Soundtrack by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

Miles Morales, Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Coach by Jason Reynolds

Patina by Jason Reynolds

Sunny by Jason Reynolds

Lu by Jason Reynolds

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Black Boy by Richard Wright

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jasmyn Ward

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

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The Book Case is largely about talking to authors, yes, but we believe that reading is critical for everyone. We believe it is most important for kids, that raising readers is one of the most important duties a parent can perform. But we read a study recently that said boys reading scores are lower than girls. And not just in the US, boys reading scores are lower internationally as well. Why? What is the key to teaching boys to read, and to love it for life? We are joined by Dr. Sean Reardon at Stanford author of the study as well as Dr. Nakia Townes President of Accelerate, which is studying how to turn and research into action for our kids. Finally, we are joined by Brayden Piper and his mom Lauren, who have been helped by Accelerate’s efforts to elevate boys love of reading. We had a piece on Good Morning America a few weeks ago that touched on these issues, but in this podcast we take a deep dive. Join us for this important discussion.

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We are going full Ireland on this show.  First, we talk to the incredible Tana French about her newest, The Keeper.  Set in rural Ireland it combines great mystery writing with the classic American Western. Does that sound like it is a long shot? Not with Tana’s talent. We then go from a fascinating conversation with a great author to Hodges and Figgis, our first international bookseller, smack in the middle of Dublin. It’s all Irish and on this week’s Book Case, so pull up a pint and join us.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's show:

The Keeper by Tana French

In the Woods by Tana French

The Likeness by Tana French

Faithful Place by Tana French

The Searcher by Tana French

The Secret Place by Tana French

Broken Harbor by Tana French

The Witch Elm by Tana French

The Trespasser by Tana French

The Hunter by Tana French

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

The Secret History by Donna Tart

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Ulysses by James Joyce 

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

The City We Became by N.K. Jemison

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

A Psalm From the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

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