Cue the confetti and the champagne, because it’s SSR’s TWO-HUNDREDTH episode!

To celebrate, Alli and her guest have a fun, thoughtful conversation about Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen. Tune in to hear them talk about appearances vs. reality, main character Annabel’s experiences in the modeling industry, the misplaced expectations readers can place on books, delicate treatment of heavy subjects, anger, and the power of knowing you’re not alone. They also discuss what makes Sarah Dessen’s work so special across the board.

TW: rape, assault, eating disorders, racism, trauma

Leah Johnson is an eternal midwesterner and author of award-winning books for children and young adults, including You Should See Me in a Crown and Rise to the Sun. Her debut middle grade novel, Ellie Engle Saves Herself, is forthcoming from Disney-Hyperion in 2023. Follow Leah on Instagram (@byleahjohnson) and Twitter (@byleahjohnson).

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On Episode 199, a subject matter expert in Jewish identity and culture walks Alli through Jane Yolen’s award-winning Holocaust novel The Devil’s Arithmetic. This is a heavy conversation, but it’s also a must-listen! You’ll walk away with a new appreciation for Jewish representation and Holocaust narratives, not to mention a better understanding of why memory is so important in Jewish culture.

Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath is a lifelong Jewish educator and learner. She is an expert in teen identity development and the author of #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate. Follow her on Instagram (@samvinokor) and Twitter (@Sam_Vinokor).

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Episode 198 is more than a decade in the making! Alli and guest Colleen McKeegan went to high school (and were cheerleaders!) together and have been planning for Colleen’s appearance on the pod since the day they started talking about becoming novelists at happy hour in midtown Manhattan. In this conversation about P.S. Longer Letter Later, it finally happens! This epistolary novel was published in 1998 and is a collaboration between two legends: Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger.

Tune in for discussions about the unique nature of a pen pal relationship, chosen family, a subversion of common ‘90s depictions of what’s “normal,” and models for healthy conflict. Alli and Colleen also share memories from high school and discuss which of P.S. Longer Letter Later’s narrators they relate to and why.

Colleen McKeegan is a writer and editor who’s held roles at Marie Claire (where her work was nominated for a National Magazine Award), Bloomberg, and Fortune among others. The Wild One is her debut novel. Follow her on Instagram (@clmckeegan) and Twitter (@cmleahey).

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Julie Andrews is Mary Poppins, Maria von Trapp, Queen Clarisse, Lady Whistledown… and a beloved author. On Episode 197, Alli and her guest discuss her first published work: Mandy. They speak in-depth about a story they describe as a “warm cup of tea” and cover a wide range of subjects: their favorite Julie Andrews moments, the appeal of orphan stories for kid readers, Mandy’s emotional complexity, themes of luck and exceptionalism, and more.

Erin La Rosa is the author of For Butter or Worse. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three daughters (two feline, one human). Follow her on Instagram (@erinlarosalit) and Twitter (@erinlarosalit).

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Episode 196 will make you feel almost as many feels as the blockbuster film Titanic did… and not only because it’s about a book that covers the same historical territory. In it, Alli and her guest discuss one of the most popular installments in the Dear America series: Ellen Emerson White’s Voyage on the Great Titanic. In spite of the heavy subject matter, the conversation is still a fun one that touches on why young bookworms manage to get away with reading spicy content, global interest in the Titanic, the challenges inherent in building tension in a book with an ending everyone already knows, class, maritime vocabulary, Kate and Leo, survivor’s guilt, privilege, and so much more.

Kelsey McKinney is a co-founder and owner of Defector Media, author of the novel God Spare the Girls, and host of Normal Gossip. Follow her on Instagram (@mckinneykelsey) and Twitter (@mckinneykelsey).

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Whether you’re ready or not… things are about to get both steamy and political on Episode 195. Alli and her guest discuss Meg Cabot’s Ready or Not. In this sequel to All-American Girl, main character Samantha Madison wrestles with her complicated feelings about sex and the new conservative political agenda for which she’s unwittingly become the poster child. There’s talk of the murky business of likability, the “not like other girls” trope, the pressures of having a platform, the absurd misunderstanding that drives Ready or Not from start to finish, and models of popularity and femininity in the early aughts. Of course, there’s also plenty of talk of sex — more specifically, the way it’s portrayed in the book.

Shauna Robinson is the author of Must Love Books. Follow her on Instagram (@shauna.robs) and Twitter (@shaunarobs).

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Major spoiler alert: The Truth About Forever is officially Alli’s favorite of the Sarah Dessen books she’s read so far for the pod.

The main character is relatable, the love interest is the swooniest, the emotions are real and nuanced, and all of the summer details are *chef’s kiss*. Plus, the book inspires a fantastic conversation on Episode 194 — a conversation that explores perfectionism, toxic relationships, terrible boyfriends, the realities of working in a library, the way our collective approach to grief has shifted in the last 20 years, intense moms, our suggestions for a future adaptation of The Truth About Forever, and Sarah Dessen’s masterful craft and world-building.

Martha Waters is the author of To Have and To Hoax, To Love and to Loathe, and To Marry and to Meddle. Follow her on Instagram (@marthabwaters) and Twitter (@marthabwaters).

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On Episode 193, Alli and her guest explore the third book in the Nancy Drew series, The Bungalow Mystery. As always when it comes to Nancy, it’s complicated — and you’ll hear them explore what is empowering and inspiring about this famed teen detective while also unpacking why she feels so problematic in 2022. They discuss Nancy’s fast friendships, her tendency to make quick judgements, the way the books focuses on property law, various tropes about women, and the history of the series. They also take a deep dive into Carson Drew.

Kate Spencer is the co-host of the Forever35 podcast and the author of The Dead Moms Club and In a New York Minute. Follow her on Instagram (@katespencer) and Twitter (@katespencer).

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All hail Queen Judy Blume! Episode 192 is all about Judy’s most autobiographical novel, Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself. Published in 1977, Sally tells the story of a young Jewish girl navigating a move from New Jersey to Miami in the aftermath of World War II. The novel inspires conversations about Holocaust literature more broadly, how to best capture tragedy and humor simultaneously, old tech, teasing as flirting or flattery, writing about death for kids, our changing expectations for children, and the one language choice Alli struggled with in this book.

Hena Khan is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Amina’s Song, Amina’s Voice, More to the Story, and most recently, Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun. Follow her on Instagram (@henakhanbooks) and Twitter (@henakhanbooks).

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On Episode 191, Alli and her guests finally explore the wacky world of Carl Hiaasen as it’s written in the 2003 Newbery Honor-winning novel Hoot. They chat about environmental advocacy, adults in kid lit, depictions of police institutions, and the importance of making kids feel respected by the books they read.

Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick are co-authors of the New York Times bestselling novel She Gets the Girl. Rachael is also the author of The Lucky List and the co-author of Five Feet Apart and All This Time. They live in Pittsburgh with their dog, Hank. Follow them on Instagram (@rachaellippincott | @whoisalysonanyway) and TikTok (@alysonandrachael).

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