beTWEEN the Bookends is the first monthly book and lifestyle box created for kids by a teen herself! Boxes follow a monthly theme and contain age-appropriate books and lifestyle items that have been read and hand-tested by Jillian, the 17-year-old creator. Full-sized boxes contain 2-3 books and 6-8 lifestyle items, while mini boxes include 1 book and 3-5 lifestyle items. The new gender-neutral boxes will contain the same 2-3 books in the full boxes but will have only 3-5 gender neutral lifestyle items.
The Cost: The Full-Sized box is $55 per month + free US shipping ($50.00/mo for the 12-month subscription track) while the Gender Neutral box is $45 per month. Save with longer subscriptions.
This review is of the beTWEEN the Bookends Tween Full Size Box.
This box was sent to us at no cost to review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Wow, summer is already flying by—it’s hard to believe we’re a whole week into August! I really cherish this season; the chance to sleep in and the excitement of local county fairs make it so special. But with that comes the bittersweet reminder that school is just around the corner. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for education and the routine it brings, but honestly, I wouldn’t say no to a few extra months of summer vacation! Even though Hank’s officially on summer break, his daily routine still includes 30 minutes of reading a book of his choice. He was thrilled to explore some fresh picks from this month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box. Filled with captivating books and fun lifestyle goodies, it was the perfect way to make those “mom-mandated” reading minutes enjoyable while helping him boost his reading skills. Keep reading to see exactly what we discovered!
First Impressions
The contents of this box are packaged neatly in bright pink tissue paper and sealed with a sticker featuring clip art of a pigtail-donning girl. The anticipation of seeing what's underneath this tissue paper always has us on the edge of our seats. We just can't wait to check it out!
Here's What's Inside
Welcome Pamphlet
Each month, we receive a pamphlet that describes all the items included in the box. It’s color-coordinated and beautifully laid out. On the back, there’s a featured quote from Selena Gomez: “Being yourself is all it takes. If you want to impress someone don't be someone else just be yourself.” There’s also a fun hint about next month’s theme—I’m guessing back to school, which makes me a tiny bit sad!
Gabby Duran and the Unsittables: the Beginning by Elise Allen and Daryle Conners - Retail Value $11.99
Gabby Duran, babysitter extraordinaire and modern day Mary Poppins was on her way home from sitting for a famous action's star's rambunctious triplets when she was approached by a mysterious woman (Associate 4118-23432B) with her first mission. A babysitting job with a more lucrative rate than she'd ever received. What child could possibly be so difficult to handle? Gabby was soon trusted with the truth--aliens are living among humans on Earth. They are protected by the top-secret organization, the Association Linking Intergalactics and Earthlings as Neighbors (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N). Even extraterrestrials need a sitter now and then. No one was up for the task except Gabby. After accepting the top-secret position, Gabby is paired up with her first charge, a little alien girl named Wutt from the planet Flarknartia, who turns out to be much more than meets the eye. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth and Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight. Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?
This book was pretty cool—it included not just book one, but book two in the series as well! AND it’s the novel that inspired the Disney Channel Original series! I’ll be honest: Hank is a preteen boy, and this book just wasn’t his cup of tea. He read a couple of chapters and decided it wasn’t for him. Now me, on the other hand? I’m basically a 12-year-old girl at heart—and I loved this book! It was such a fun read. I’ve even started watching the two seasons of Gabby Duran & the Unsittables on Disney+, and I’m really enjoying that too!
Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate Demaio - Retail Value $12.50
Eleven-year-old Fiona isn't allowed in the Fermata woods. And though its unique trees are fascinating, Fiona has no problem following her mother's rules. That is until the trees begin to sing. Suddenly, it feels as though long forgotten memories are being unlocked in Fiona's mind. As she nears the woods edge, the trees fall silent, so silent even the leaves stop rustling. Fiona will finally break the rules and venture into the woods. She'll soon find herself traveling through portals to undiscovered worlds. And she'll have to trust her instincts and her quirky new friends to bring back the music or she may get lost within its notes.
While Hank didn’t enjoy the first book as much as I did, he really liked this one. This mystery features an off-limits forest and some adorable little animals. The main character, Fiona, is an excellent piano player—and while Hank hasn’t taken piano lessons, he does know a bit about the trumpet. He hasn’t finished the book yet, but he’s about halfway through and says it’s pretty good. I haven’t started it myself (still obsessing over Gabby Duran!), but if my preteen son says it’s worth reading, I’ll take that as a solid endorsement!
Cracker Jacks Sweet Treat
If there’s one way to Hank’s heart, it’s through snacks—so he was pretty excited to find a small bag of Cracker Jacks in the box. The caramel popcorn with peanuts made the perfect treat for a cozy reading session on the couch. Sure, the prizes aren’t as cool as the ones I remember from my childhood, but Hank was thrilled with the dog sticker and gave the snack two thumbs up!
Custom Acrylic Sign
As a mom, I really appreciated the custom acrylic sign—even if Hank wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. Measuring 8" by 5.5", it features a thoughtful Oscar Wilde quote and a beautifully detailed floral border. It came protected with a thin, easy-to-peel film and now adds a charming touch to my bookshelf. While it wasn’t exactly geared toward a 12-year-old boy, I was more than happy to claim it for myself!
Myth Mix Mini Toy Set
Now these were more Hank’s style. He enjoys little figurines and has the best imagination. He took these tiny characters and started making up all kinds of stories, and doubled the fun with Charlie's creatures! Featuring a mermaid, a winged pony, an alien, and a gnome, the possibilities with these little guys are endless!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Hank enjoys stickers, and appreciated the variety this month, especially reading bunny. Perfect for envelopes, these add a fun little twist on some of the mail we send out and look cute on notebook covers!
Whipped Bath Soap
The next item we received was a package of whipped bath soap. Made by Bell & Bear, this vegan soap smells like pineapple and was a much-appreciated treat for this mom of an active athlete. Hank actually enjoys washing up (which I’m very thankful for), and fun little additions like this make the routine even better.
Cloud Plush
Interestingly, the included pamphlet listed a "cloud keychain" as one of the items in the box, but we only found a small cloud plush with a tiny hole in the back. I’m not sure if that’s where a keychain attachment was originally supposed to go or if there was a mix-up, but I quickly stitched it up. Later, I found Charlie (my youngest) absentmindedly rubbing the soft fabric on his nose during a movie. Hank wasn’t interested in this item, and Charlie eventually left it on the couch—but Buxton, our two-year-old yellow lab, ended up curled up with it between his paws. So it looks like it found a good home after all!
Rainbow Tape Dispenser
The next item in the box was so cool! While Hank wasn’t too excited about a cloud-and-rainbow tape dispenser, I definitely was. Adorably designed and surprisingly sturdy, it came with the cutest striped tape in pink, yellow, teal, and purple. Perfect for sealing envelopes or sticking notes to our cupboards—honestly, it’s the coolest tape I’ve ever seen!
Picture Frame Puzzle Pieces
The last item Hank received was a set of two puzzle piece-shaped picture frames. Each frame features a 1.5" by 1.5" space for a photo, so the pictures need to be pretty small—but they’re really cute. I just bought ink for our printer yesterday, so Hank is now deciding which baseball photos to print to add to his frames and display in his room. Cute!
Verdict
beTWEEN the Bookends is one of our favorite subscription boxes of all time. This month's box theme featured some useful items that Hank and I really enjoyed. Like I mentioned above, this is the full-sized box which is aimed towards girls, but fits a mother-son duo just fine. The included lifestyle items were a great mix of fun and functional all fitting the "Unforgettable Tales" theme well. Overall we thought this box was curated nicely and loved the useful items, especially the mini toys, bath soap, tape dispenser, and picture frames. We already can't wait to see what's in store for September!
The beTWEEN the Bookends Full Size box costs $50.00 per month (on a 12-month subscription track), including shipping. Because the books alone are valued at over $24.49, I find the $50.00/month cost reasonable, as the lifestyle items help shape this box into an entire experience.
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Other Things You Should Know
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? beTWEEN the bookends tends to ship the first week of each month. Order now to receive the September box.
What did you think of the Full Size BeTWEEN the Bookends Tween box?
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