Episode 165 kicks off with a proper Judy Blume lovefest! From there, Alli and her guest get into the good, the bad, and the ugly of 1973’s Deenie. They discuss the way the book portrays scoliosis, complicated mother/daughter relationships, and the general awkwardness of middle school. They consider perspectives from writers who, like Deenie, were diagnosed with scoliosis as teenagers. They chat about Deenie’s more controversial elements, most notably masturbation. And they wrap up with a nuanced conversation about empathy, reliability, and likability in literature.

Hayley Krischer is the author of The Falling Girls and Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf. Follow her on Instagram (@hayleykrischer) and Twitter (@hayleykrischer).

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