Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Brenna and Joe wrap up our coverage of Percy Jackson with a look at Disney +'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians S02. It's an improvement on the film in every way, including the depth of characterization for the central trio, the great depiction of Tyson, and a fantastic episode featuring Circe. There are, however, still a few missteps, including Mr. D and Tantalus (UGH), occasional slavish to Rick...

Brenna and Joe return for week two of our discussion on Percy Jackson 's second adventure, with a look at the 2013 film Sea of Monsters . Armed with a new director ( Diary of a Wimpy Kid 's Thor Freudenthal) and a mostly new adult cast, the film makes the odd decision to change a million little elements from the book. Plus: pitch perfect roles for Nathan Fillion and Stanley Tucci; Logan Lerman's s...

Brenna and Joe kick off the first of three weeks on Percy Jackson and the Olympians with a look at Rick Riordan's second novel of the series: The Sea of Monsters . Up for discussion: new character Tyson (and what that means for Grover), Middle Grade writing structure, how the book renders Greek mythology accessible, and the very 2006 era inclusion of <gulp> Confederate soldiers. Wanna connec...

Brenna and Joe close out revisionist history month with a look at the first (and only) season of Prime's My Lady Jane (2024). This New Adult text ages everyone up because it is *horny* (and quite hilarious). Plus: a male voice-over for a female-driven show; a messy metaphor, a reliance on needle drops, and our favourite beautiful gown. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSk...

Brenna and Joe gallop through Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows's My Lady Jane (2016). Our final revisionist text concerns England's nine day queen, Jane Grey, but uses a fantasy metaphor to tackle the real life Prostestant vs Catholic battle. Plus: thoughts on the YA romance; Jane as a modern heroine; and how the three authors' voices blend together. Wanna connect with the show?...

This week Joe and Brenna find ourselves in uncharted waters. Rosaline (2022) is most definitely NOT an adaptation of When You Were Mine (if anything, it's a contemporary take on Romeo and Juliet, the play). With that bizarre fact aside, Rosaline is extremely enjoyable. A fantastic cast, playful direction, and a screwball screenplay make this a breezy good time. Just don't call it an adaptation! Wa...

Brenna and Joe's revisionist theme continues with author Rebecca Serle's When You Were Mine (2012). This contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet is from Rose's perspective as she watches her childhood crush, Rob, stolen by her unhinged cousin Juliet. But the propulsive (and highly readable) book has us asking: do we even need the R&J connection? Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Insta...

Brenna and Joe turn their attention to writer/director Lena Dunham's 2022 adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy. Starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott, there's some queer subversion embedded in the film. Plus: stunt casting Billie Piper, modernizing a classic (the music!) and a new YA BINGO board for a new year. Correction: Joe should have said David Bradley, *not* Doug Wanna connect with the show...

Brenna and Joe get a head start on the new year with a slightly tweaked weekly format. This week we're talking about Karen Cushman's award-winning novel Catherine, Called Birdy (1994) about a headstrong 14 year old Lady in the Middle Ages who refuses to marry. Plus: the pros and cons of using diary entries as a narrative structure, eel pies, and plenty of women's issues Wanna connect with the show...

Our annual holiday episode is on the collaboratively written novel Whiteout (2022). Featuring an all-star line-up that includes Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, Brenna, Joe and listener Tea, Books & Chocolate are left wondering: why is this so...slight? Plus: great representation, debating distinct voices, comparisons to Love, Ac...

Brenna and Joe respond to non-binary listener Kai's thoughtful feedback about the nuance we missed in our discussion of I Wish You All The Best , as well Tea, Books & Chocolate's request to cover Heated Rivalry, the new Canadian romance series about queer hockey players Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgr...

As promised, Brenna and Joe return to finish the remainder of S01 of Skam . Obviously we're appreciative of listeners' demands we do so because we *love* Noora and Sana. Plus: thoughts on Eva's S01 evolution, Vilde's pregnancy vs disordered eating storyline, the tease of Isak's queerness, and wanting more of girl Chris Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use...

It's time for another Twilight saga as guest Jenny Leigh joins Brenna and Joe to once again discuss a Stephenie Meyer text. This time it's a wedding, an island named after mom, furniture breaking sex, instant Mormon pregnancy and Bella's super gaunt face. That's right: it's Breaking Dawn: Part 1 ! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:...

Thanks to a recommendation from listener Andrew, we're checking out non-binary author Mason Deaver's 2019 book I Wish You All The Best and transwoman Tommy Dorfman's 2024 film adaptation. This is an interesting pair: they're each doing things that the other isn't (for better *and* for worse), including a fantasy ending and a welcome focus on therapy in the book and acknowledging queerness more qui...

Brenna and Joe wrap up another scary season with a look at Adam Cesare's YA slasher Clown in a Cornfield (2020) and Eli Craig's 2025 film adaptation. Joe is a big fan of both texts: they each deftly balance comedy and horror, along with some surprising subversions, such as the killer reveal and the queer relationship between Cole and Rust. Brenna likes the comedy of the film, including the kills (...

Oh my gosh, we get it: YOU LIKE SKAM! We have *never* gotten as much listener mail as we did for episodes 1-2 of Skam S01, so thank you to listeners Reuben, Earl, Charlotte, Anne, and Alex, who touch on everything from the release pattern of the show, other countries' entries, the meaning of the bus, fave characters we haven't met, and why we need to cover more. Plus: our December Book Club book h...

Brenna and Joe kick off scary season with Norman Partridge's 2007 Stoker award winning novel Dark Harvest and David Slade's 2023 adaptation. The book isn't exactly YA (and intriguingly features a second person narrator), but it mostly works as a Vietnam war allegory. The film has elements of camp and great practical FX, though its incredibly grim ending doesn't entirely satisfy. Overall, though, t...

Brenna and Joe unofficially wrap up summer with Sasha Nathani's feature directorial debut Last Swim (2024). The UK film is about Ziba (Deba Hakmat), a girl with an undisclosed terminal disease, who plots one perfect day with her friends. It's beautiful, intimate, has a great friend group and secretly does a great job of addressing class and race. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram...

At the urging of past guest Alex Heeney, Joe and Brenna finally check out Skam , the "Norweigan Skins " that began airing in 2015. In the first two episodes, we under why the show translates to "Shame" as our main character Eva struggles with a terrible boyfriend, bad grades, and uncertain social popularity. Plus: two Chrises, absent parents, and a Degrassi- like production. Wanna connect with the...

Brenna and Joe respond to listener mail from Shaun (about Book Weeding), Andrew (about Harry Potter references in Felix Ever After ), and Tea, Books & Chocolate (about a great Douglas Copeland quote). Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)...

Brenna and Joe dig into the death of Andie Bell with a look at Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2019) and S01 of the BBC3/Netflix series. There's plenty to like in this well-constructed mystery, particularly Pip, her burgeoning romance with Ravi, and the many, MANY twists and red herrings. Plus: Brenna's rant about a bizarre editorial decision, making murder victims likeable in the s...

Book Club is back in session for the last time this summer as Brenna and Joe dig into Elizabeth Acevedo's novel in verse, Clap When You Land (2020). We're joined by listeners Tea, Books & Chocolate , as well as Miriam, who contribute their thoughts on this beautiful (near) perfect book. Expect discussions on class, race, gender, and money; whether this is representative of a typical book in ve...

Brenna and Joe are back to wrap up Series two of Skins and...it's a lot of mixed emotions! On one hand, we think 2.10 "Final Goodbyes" is a pretty solid finish for these characters, while 2.09 "Cassie" left us with plenty of questions and concerns. Plus: a tearful eulogy, Brenna worrying about Cassie's end, and after a whole summer, we finally play YA BINGO with the show! Wanna connect with the sh...

It's been a while since we've had a feel good coming of age dramaedy, so Joe has brought Brenna writer/director Sean Wang's Dìdi (2024). Obviously Brenna has big feels about mother Chungsing (Joan Chen), but there's plenty to applaud about Izaac Wang's performance as Chris and the depiction of 2008 Internet friendship. Plus: sibling rivalry, internalized racism, and talking animals. Wanna connect...

Brenna and Joe are barrelling towards the finale of Skins Series 02, but first we need to cross off the back-door pilot for Series 03 with 2.07 "Effie" and (finally!) a Jal-centric episode with 2.08. It's all moving very quickly - to such a degree that we wonder when the creative team knew they were swapping out the cast. Plus: Cassie's bisexuality, bad friend Michelle, Brenna's frustration with T...