Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

We're off to queer summer camp to discuss  Rosen's novel Camp (2020) about a femme theatre gay who transforms himself into a masc jock to win over his crush, against the advice of everyone in his life. Despite the uncomfortable premise, the book is actually really good! Frank discussions about queer sexuality, a broad diversity of LGBTQIA characters (including great mentor figures) and a surprisin...

Ho Launchies! We've finally worked up the energy to discuss noted homophobe author Orson Scott Card in a conversation that addresses if it's possible to separate the artist from the art (spoilers: the answer is no). Still, Ender's Game is an undeniable classic and we both love it. There's so much to discuss: the xenocide, the treatment of boys and masculinity, how women exist solely to balance out...

Put on your tap shoes, prep your showmance and get off vocal rest because we are talking the wild and ridiculous HSM:TM:TS (yes, you have to say the WHOLE title every time).  This is a very Brenna show, but it also has lots to talk about: why can't the writers acknowledge Ashlyn is fat? Does the show have a responsibility to depict real life issues like racism when it's so clearly fantasy escapism...

Oh Judy! We're not quite sure what went wrong with Judy Blume's only filmic adaptation (actually we do: we blame Lawrence and his flat direction and Michelle Branch soundtrack!) Thankfully we still have the original source material, which despite its age, remains a powerful and affecting tale of grief, mother/daughter relationships and finding solace in an older boy who doesn't like you romantical...

It's time for another Book Club, which means we need to thank listeners Miriam and Jane for their thoughts on the philosophical, challenging prose of Aidan Chambers. After explaining her history, Brenna guides Joe through the book, in which both nothing and everything seems to happen. We discuss Chambers' "Dance Sequence" novels, the double naming of characters, the provocative "twist" ending, the...

It's time to tackle some heavy material...or rather it would be if Blackman's intriguing premise weren't executed better. Once again we're left wondering if we're reading Middle Grade YA because there's not enough world building and the "absolute power corrupts absolutely" take-away is too simple. The BBC series plays better because the influence of the dominant culture is visualized and while the...

Admittedly this sweet, saccharine and, yes, very God heavy Netflix musical starring  Kevin Quinn and Bailee Madison is a bit of a departure for us.  For faith-based audiences, this is a slice of G-rated entertainment that is doing exactly what it sets out to do. For non-religious audiences, however, this is pretty derivative of other properties like Camp Rock and feels out of touch (could it have...

Whoo boy - we hope that there aren't any big fans of Stargirl because we are not fans of either text. Brenna at least appreciates the (unsuccessful) attempt by Spinelli to unpack the cost of being a manic pixie dream person. Joe, on the other hand, is frustrated by the simplicity and obviousness of the book's message and both of us think Leo is a garbage protagonist. The film has its own share of...

After a  temporary delay, we are finally ready to talk about moving to the suburbs, fighting over religion, kissing boys at parties and persistent grandmothers. Shout out to listeners Erin, Sophie, Jane, Nadia and Virginia for contributing reactions in tweet and email format. This is how we always envisioned Book Club going! And just because we're dealing with correspondence, we also circle back t...

To celebrate the contributions of two women who helped elevate stories about girlhood, Brenna walks Joe through a few notable titles from both Cleary and Little, including Cleary: Ramona and Beezus Little: Mine for Keeps , From Anna and her Canadian “Girl Journal Books” Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: Brenna: @brennacgray Joe:...

Whose ready for boys, fangs and a surprising amount of gory bits? We're checking into the lurid, sultry pages of L.J. Smith's vampire love triangle ( The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury and Dark Reunion ) as well as episodes 1, 6 & 13 of The CW's first season. Up for discussion: why is Elena so terrible?! The strange Civil War coding in both the books and the TV show. A dash of white supremacy f...

With Brenna gone, Joe and Jessica head to a secluded island party, but isn't it just our luck that the guests begin mysteriously dying? In Gretchen McNeil's contemporary (80s?) take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None , the characters are thinly sketched the ableism is off the charts! Plus: the sadly non-campy, ultra-cheap Lifetime adapation; why the character of Minnie is so insulting;...

In an unorthodox pick,  this week's minisode is on Apple TV's music documentary of singer Billie Eilish. Along for the ride is returning guest Jenny Nulf, who brings her vast knowledge of pop docs and her love of Eilish's music. Up for discussion: Eilish's rare confessional intimacy, her supportive family, concerns about the singer's safety and health, the sexualization of female pop singers, and...

Brenna: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas Giant Days by John Allison Joe: Ragnorak S1 (Netflix) Fate: The Winx Saga S1 (Netflix) March Hold List: Once Upon A Quinceanera by Monica Gomez-Hira Bruised  by Tanya Boteju April Forecast: Shadow and Bone S1 (Netflix - April 23) Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: Brenna: @brennacgray Joe: @bs...

At the behest of listeners Andrew and Max, Brenna and Joe  discuss the Groundhog's Day -inspired story about two teens stuck in a temporal anomaly. This one surprised us, particularly the protagonist subversion that switches up some of the more conventional tropes (take that, silly Roger Ebert reviewer!) Plus: an ableist cancer plot, a plea to stop with the twee titles and m83 musicality, and ques...

What is important about "setting" a narrative in a specific location and why does it seem somehow less important to white writers? We dig into how place contributes to YA stories - particularly indigenous and migrant stories, list the best examples we have covered on the pod and identify our own knowledge gap (fantasy books!) . Plus, in homework: Brenna Ashley Garcia S2 : Genius in Love (Netflix)...

It's time to close the rom-com fairy tale book on Lara Jean and Peter!  Up for discussion: Joe's struggle to connect with Covey, the appropriate size of backyard weddings, letting teenage girls get drunk, the ramping up of stakes between novel and film and the strategic use of the "Korea trip" in both properties. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the...

With a sprawling inter-generational tale of displacement, poverty and racism, Jacqueline Woodson has written an evocative, lyrical novel about her time growing up.  Special shout-outs to listeners Melissa and Kailie who chimed in with their thoughts. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter: @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod. Brenna: @brennacgray Joe: @bstolemyremote Have something lon...

We're unintentionally tackling another text with accusations of ableism this week. After a brief lament about the lack of reviews from disabled readers, we dig into the book, which we think is doing pretty solid work, and the film, which takes a few Hollywood shortcuts, but is also decent. Up for discussion: a gentle male friendship for Brenna, Canadian stunt casting, the visual depiction of schiz...

Let's talk about ableism, shall we? In the new YA film dealing with a teenager on the verge of losing his hearing, there are a few tone-deaf moments that no Sick Lit properties should be making. Plus: musicality, aggrieved mothers, emotional manipulation, the sad temporary ramifications of the #MeToo movement and the film's great use of silence...but not voice over. Wanna connect with the show? Fo...

Special thanks to listener Emma for recommending A Tree Grows In Brooklyn , which proved to be a great companion to last week's The House on Mango Street . This coming of age narrative takes its time, allowing for tangents as it tells its tale of class struggle at the turn of the 20th century.  Up for discussion: female friendships, put upon mothers, widowers in the wings, the surprisingly feminis...

Considered a classic of Latinx literature, Cisneros' book is a series of vignettes set on a street in Chicago. Brenna selected this book to complement our regularsode next week, so we tackle the novel's class and feminist themes. Plus: an ode to lyrical, poetry-like texts! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: Brenna: @brennacgray Jo...

Who's ready for an abusive relationship? What about "storytelling" as opposed to good writing? Do you like your FX dodgy and your vampires sparkly?  The truth is...we didn't like Twilight . But we do try to be fair about how it became a cultural juggernaut and with whom, in addition to dissecting why it is harmful, problematic and filled with bad representations. Hope you're ready for a mega-sized...

We felt a responsibility to address the breaking news from the holidays surrounding Trickster and Inconvenient Indian director Michelle Latimer. We also offer some context and include statements from writer Eden Robinson and film director Jeff Barnaby. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: Brenna: @brennacgray Joe: @bstolemyremote Ha...

Saved By The Bell mega-fan Brenna introduces Joe to the wonders of Pacific Palisades as we tackle the very self-aware new version, who is surprisingly smart, class-oriented and progressive. It's also very funny! We also follow-up on our holiday activities. Brenna: Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel...