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.)
We’re already almost halfway through September, and I’m in absolute shock. I just don’t understand how time seems to move faster and faster as I get older. Hank is in 7th grade this year, and wow—what a leap from 6th! He seems to have grown overnight, and while he’s ready, I’m definitely not. Since 7th grade shifts more toward a Language Arts-style curriculum rather than just "Reading," I’ve made it a priority to keep him logging minutes at home. This month’s beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived just in time! Filled with captivating books and fun lifestyle goodies, it was the perfect way to make these “mom-mandated” reading minutes more enjoyable—while also helping him strengthen his reading skills. Keep reading to see 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 beautifully laid-out, color-coordinated pamphlet that describes all the items included in the box. On the back, there's a featured quote from Jenny Han: “I've always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.” There's also a fun little hint about next month’s theme—I’m seeing fall colors and pumpkins in our future!
The First Rule of Climate Club by Carrie Firestone - Retail Value $8.99
When Mary Kate Murphy joins a special science pilot program focused on climate change, the class opens her eyes to lots of things she never noticed before about her small suburban town: Kids waste tons of food at school without a second thought. Parents leave their cars running in the pick-up lane all the time. People buy lots of clothes they don’t really need. Some of her friends who live in the city and are bused to her school don’t always feel included. And the mayor isn’t willing to listen to new ideas for fixing it all. Mary Kate and her friends have big plans to bring lasting change to their community and beyond. And now is the time for the young people to lead and the leaders to follow—or get out of the way.
This was the first book Hank picked up from this month’s box, and at first, he wasn’t quite sure about it. But after getting through a few chapters, he was pleasantly surprised to find it inspiring and thought-provoking. It’s amazing how a book can shift your perspective and make you notice things you hadn’t before. Hank mentioned that he’s started paying attention to how much food kids throw away at lunch—something he never really noticed until now. While he hasn’t finished the book yet, he’s made great progress and it’s already sparked a lot of reflection and meaningful conversation.
Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen by Niki Lenz - Retail Value $16.99
When you're a Buttman, the label "bully" comes with the territory, and Bernice lives up to her name. But life as a bully is lonely, and if there's one thing Bernice really wants (even more than becoming a Hollywood stuntwoman), it's a true friend. After her mom skedaddles and leaves her in a new town with her aunt (who is also a real live nun), Bernice decides to mend her ways and become a model citizen. If her plan works, she just might be able to get herself to Hollywood Hills Stunt Camp! But it's hard to be kind when no one shows you kindness, so a few cheesy pranks may still be up her sleeve. . . . Get ready to laugh out loud--and maybe even shed a tear--with this fantastic new middle-grade voice!
The next book we received was a hardcover novel by Niki Lenz. It has an eye-catching cover and an intriguing summary. I was actually surprised Hank didn’t choose this one to read first, since it’s on the sillier side—but Charlie ended up diving into it instead. Although he’s not reading it very quickly, he’s really enjoying the characters and says he feels especially bad for Bernice.
Page Savers
The first item we received this month was a set of index stickers. As an educator, I use these little tabs all the time, so I was thrilled to see them included in the box. Hank, on the other hand, wasn’t initially impressed. At first, he wasn’t sure what the point of those small sticky tabs was—but he quickly realized how helpful they could be for keeping his science notebook organized. A great inclusion for a 7th grader, these will definitely get used and were a great surprise!
Wafer Cookies
Hank is definitely a snacker, so he was thrilled to receive this vanilla wafer treat. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this review, we’ve been spending an unfortunate amount of time in the car due to the distance between home, school, and after-school activities—so he was especially thankful to see a snack included. With a vanilla cream filling and vanilla wafer layers, it made for a perfect little pick-me-up before dinner—and best of all, it didn’t make too much of a mess in my car!
Travel Utensils
Speaking of travel snacking… this month we received a travel utensil set in a compact plastic case! It includes a spoon, knife, and fork—perfect for lunch boxes, backpacks, snacks, or meals on the go. I hate when my kids take our regular dinnerware to school, so this was a great inclusion. I’ve already had Hank stick it in his backpack for cold lunch days!
Monthly Sticker Pack
Hank enjoys stickers, and appreciated the variety this month, especially the "Read To Succeed" sticker. Perfect for envelopes, these add a fun little twist on some of the mail we send out and look cute on notebook covers!
Custom "Reader" Bracelet
The next item we received was a stylish chain bracelet featuring the word “Reader” and the beTWEEN the Bookends kid design etched on it. To be honest, Hank liked the bracelet itself but would have preferred it without the design. These days, kids are all about “rizz,” and I’ve never seen so much jewelry on middle school boys as I have in the past few years! Since the design wasn’t quite his style, we added it to my prize bucket for another student to enjoy.
Globe Pen
The next item was one I was really excited about. While Hank liked it, I managed to bribe him into letting me keep it as my new journaling pen. With a fine nib, it’s perfect for jotting down notes—and it looks so cool! Featuring a spinning globe and gold accents, it adds a little sparkle to my workday. The pen also has “I love you” written in cursive down the side. Cute and functional—I love when beTWEEN the Bookends includes fun writing utensils!
Crew Socks
The next item in the box was a hard pass for Hank—he thought they were too girly—but my other son, Charlie, loved them! Green with small flecks of colored thread, they’re actually pretty gender-neutral, though they do feature a small heart on the top. Charlie didn’t mind at all and immediately put them in his backpack as a backup pair in case he gets extra sweaty during gym or wet outside. I love functional inclusions!!
Snapperz Rainbow Fidget Toy
The last item Hank received was a super loud (and fun) fidget. This "Snapperz" toy works by squeezing the silicone sides together, causing the suction cups to stick and then release with an extremely loud popping noise. It’s oddly satisfying to use—but definitely annoying to listen to! Hank loved it, but it’s definitely a “certain time and place” kind of toy… mostly so I don’t lose my mind.
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 an educator-son duo just fine. The included lifestyle items were a great mix of fun and functional all fitting the "Read to Succeed" theme well. Overall we thought this box was curated nicely and loved the useful items, especially the travel utensils, globe pen, snack, and fidget. We already can't wait to see what's in store for October !
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 $25.98, 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 October box.
What did you think of the Full Size BeTWEEN the Bookends Tween box?
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