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 $40 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.)
Summer is almost halfway over, and I'm officially in panic mode! We've been so busy with sports and other activities that I haven't gotten anything checked off my "must-do" list—like cleaning the basement. Eek!
That said, I have plenty to tackle, and I needed something to keep the kids entertained while I got to work. Thankfully, this month's beTWEEN the Bookends box arrived at just the right time! Packed with fun activities and new reading material, it gave Hank a couple of great books to enjoy in the hammock while I worked on getting the basement and yard back in order. A little entertainment and learning go a long way during busy summer days!
Filled with engaging books and fun lifestyle goodies, this box makes it easy to keep kids motivated to read while making it feel like pure fun. Read on to see everything we found inside!
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 Kellie Elmore: “Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.” There’s also a fun little hint about next month’s theme - magic anyone?!
The First Last Day by Dorian Citroen - Retail Value $17.99
After finding a mysterious set of paints in her backpack, eleven-year-old Haleigh Adams paints a picture of her last day at the New Jersey shore. When she wakes up the next morning, Haleigh finds that her wish for an endless summer with her new friend Kevin has come true. At first, she’s thrilled, but Haliegh soon learns that staying in one place—and time—comes with a price. And when Haleigh realizes her parents have been keeping a secret, she is faced with a choice: do nothing and miss out on the good things that come with growing up or find the secret of the time loop she’s trapped in and face the inevitable realities of moving on. As she and Kevin set out to find the source of the magic paints, Haleigh worries it might be too late. Will she be able to restart time? Or will it be the biggest mistake of her life?
To me, there's nothing more satisfying than sitting down with a hardcover book and diving into a story that transports you to another place, completely drawing you into its world. Even better is being able to share that magical experience with family, and that's exactly what we did with this book.
My 13-year-old son has been struggling with the idea of growing up. He's even told me he wishes he could stay 13 forever, so this story really gave him something to think about. As Søren Kierkegaard famously said, "Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward."
This was an easy, engaging read that left us with plenty to reflect on. I enjoyed it just as much as Hank did, and by the end, I think he realized that growing up can be exciting. And no matter how old he gets, he'll always be my baby.
Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas by Sam Maggs - Retail Value $12.99
Anne Bonny had it all—her own ship, a pirate crew, and a fearsome reputation—but a new enemy has her on the run and it'll take all of Anne's courage to stay afloat. The night before a major heist, Anne has an unsettling dream, and come morning, the robbery is thwarted by Woodes Rogers, a zealot who has sworn to eliminate piracy. With no plan to escape, Anne must persuade her crew to seek the meaning of her dream—or perish. Full of sass, solidarity, and swordplay, Tell No Tales is a graphic novel about belonging, belief, and how far we're willing to go to protect the ones we love.
This graphic novel follows a fiery redheaded pirate who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to take charge. Inspired by the real-life pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read from the 1600s, this adventurous story blends historical elements with plenty of action, including explosions, sword fights, and classic pirate banter.
With a fast-paced storyline and a strong, fearless female lead, this book brought history to life in a fun and exciting way. It was a great mix of fact and fiction, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of two legendary pirates while adding plenty of adventure along the way.
Squishy Turtle
Hank loves fidgets, so he was really excited to see this month's squishy turtle. Packaged inside a thicker plastic pouch containing the turtle, pearls, and beads, this little fidget is both squishy and satisfying.
I appreciated that it stayed contained inside the pouch since we’ve had a few fidgets explode in the past, and this design offers a little extra protection from messes. The keychain also features a small bell, adding another fun element to the toy.
Hank didn’t even mind that it was pink—according to him, that’s the cool color these days! He’s already planning on adding it to his backpack for some on-the-go fun.
Monthly Sticker Pack
Hank loves stickers and really appreciated the variety in this month’s box—especially the watermelon one. While he doesn’t use them in his notebooks like his brother does, he keeps them in an envelope to add to the thank-you notes he writes after receiving gifts, which makes the process a little more fun.
Popsicle Mold
Hank loves to create, so he was really excited to receive this popsicle mold and try making his very own Bomb Pop-inspired treat. We had made some special drinks for the Fourth of July and had a few leftover ingredients, so he decided to put them to good use.
Right now, we have a popsicle freezing that looks a little more like a kitty cocktail than a classic Bomb Pop, but Hank is thrilled with his creation and can’t wait to try it!
Bookmark
I love bookmarks, and Hank does too, but he thought this one was a little too grown-up for his taste and decided to give it to me. Featuring a metal feather and a pressed flower, it’s a beautiful design that fits perfectly in my books.
I really love it and was thankful for the sweet little gift!
Marshmallow Roaster
How stinking cute is this marshmallow roaster?! Featuring an extendable metal fork and a custom handle that reads, "Read S'more Books," this was definitely our favorite lifestyle item in the box. It fit the "Summertime Fun" theme absolutely perfectly!
You can bet this fork will be getting plenty of use during the upcoming weekends as we roast a plethora of marshmallows—maybe even while enjoying a family read-aloud!
Resin Animal Mystery Pouches
This little set of mystery animals is so cute! With six surprise packages, we received a collection of adorable critters that Hank and Charlie have been hiding throughout the house as part of a fun scavenger hunt.
The turtles are definitely my favorite—they're just too cute and have brought so much fun to our house!
Whipped Soap
The next item we received was a package of whipped bath soap. Made by Bell & Bear, this vegan soap has a delicious pineapple scent 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 more enjoyable. It’s a simple way to add a little extra fun to an everyday task!
Ice Cream Erasers
Hank is heading into eighth grade, and the school supply lists are officially out! While he does use erasers, this particular style isn’t something he would need, so he decided to pass this cute little set along for me to use as prizes in my classroom.
The designs are adorable, and I know they’ll be a big hit with the kiddos I work with!
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, Charlie, 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 "Beach Reads and Bookmarks" theme extremely well. Overall we thought this box was curated nicely and loved the useful items, especially the fidget, erasers, and marshmallow stick! We already can't wait to see what's in store for August.
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 $30.98, 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 August box.
What did you think of the Full Size BeTWEEN the Bookends Tween box?
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