The SSR Podcast

At long last, Alli is reading and discussing the book that has been most frequently recommended to her by guests and listeners in 2020 and 2021: Linda Sue Park’s Prairie Lotus. This book presents a long overdue perspective about the same (highly complicated) era romanticized by Laura Ingalls Wilder and explores matters of race, xenophobia, loss, Otherness, and assault. On Episode 170, Alli and her guest discuss the importance of embracing one’s full identity, the depiction of Native American culture in Prairie Lotus, the pressures placed on children and women of color, and so much more. Enjoy this third week of New Reads November 2021!

Veera Hiranandani is the author of several highly-acclaimed, award-winning books, including The Night Diary and The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Her new book — How to Find What You’re Not Looking For — is now available. Follow Veera on Instagram (@veerawrites) and Twitter (@VeeraHira).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to New Reads November 2021! This week, L.C. Rosen’s Camp takes center stage. In Camp, main character Randy navigates the ups and downs of a relationship with his longtime camp crush… under less than transparent circumstances. The conversation on Episode 169 explores questions of changing yourself for relationships, identity, internalized homophobia, and keeping the people you love safe. Alli and her guest also chat about complicated characters, the degree to which teen characters are forced to stay connected to their families of origin, and their own camp experiences.

Dahlia Adler is an editor of mathematics by day, the overlord of LGBTQReads by night, and a young adult author at every spare moment in between. She is the editor of several anthologies, including Junior Library Guild selection His Hideous Heart, and the author of many novels, including Indie Next pick Cool for the Summer. She lives in New York with her family and an obscene number of books. Find her on Twitter (@MissDahlELama) and Instagram (@missdahlelama).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Week 1 of New Reads November 2021! This year, we’re kicking things off with a conversation about You Have a Match by Emma Lord. This 2021 title — which combines serious Parent Trap vibes with influencer culture and mail-in DNA tests — was selected for Reese’s YA Book Club, which is a pretty big deal! On Episode 168, Alli and her guest discuss queer rep, portrayals of social media and technology in literature, and how much is “too much” in a novel. They also chat about the golden age of YA!

Emma Benshoff is a digital marketing manager for Underlined, the teen branch of Random House Books for Young Readers. Follow her on Instagram (@emmabenshoff) and Twitter (@emmabenshoff).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To all the listeners I’ve loved before… let’s talk about To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before! At long last, it’s time to dive into Jenny Han’s beloved 2014 YA rom com, made all the more famous by Netflix’s recent adaptations. Alli and her guest chat about said adaptations, along with the book’s portrayal of sisterhood, people pleasing, sex, popularity, healthy relationships, and so much more. They also discuss the importance of representation in pop culture.

Farah Naz Rishi is the author of It All Comes Back to You and I Hope You Get This Message. Follow her on Instagram (@farahnazrishi) and Twitter (@farahnazrishi).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first of Brian Jacques’s twenty-two Redwall books was published in 1986… and it’s about time it gets the SSR treatment! On Episode 166, Alli and her guest chat about the original Redwall installment, in which readers are introduced to the world of Redwall Abbey and Mossflower Woods. They discuss their memories of the series from childhood and the degree to which it has since influenced guest Namina Forna’s work. They also talk about the author’s backstory, epic fantasy tropes, so-called “women’s work,” and their favorite characters and moments from the book.

Namina Forna is the author of The Gilded Ones. Follow her on Instagram (@namina.forna) and Twitter (@NaminaForna).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

E.L. Konigsburg’s Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth may have the longest title of any book covered on SSR so far, but that’s not the only special thing about it! This award-winning middle grade title also features unique characters, a relatable voice, and one fifth-grader’s journey to find friendship through witchcraft. Spooky!

On Episode 164, Alli and her guest use Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth as a jumping-off point for conversations about toxic friendships, portrayals of race, the “not like other girls” trope, being mean to mean girls, Ayahuasca, and more.

Trish Doller is the author of Float Plan and The Suite Spot. When she's not writing, Trish loves sailing, camping, and avoiding housework. She lives in southwest Florida with an opinionated herding dog and an ex-pirate. Find Trish on Twitter (@trishdoller) and Instagram (@trishdoller).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was published in 1971 and won the Newbery Medal in 1972. It explores matters of community cooperation, civilization-building, education, and humanity’s shortcomings. It also features some pretty cute (and brilliant) little creatures! On Episode 163, Alli and her guest delve into the world of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, paying special attention to the author’s structural choices, the Mrs. Frisby character, and why the book may have some barriers of entry to kid readers.

Sarah Enni is an author, podcaster, and journalist. Her debut novel Tell Me Everything was released in 2019 and you can read her short story (“The Blessing of Little Wants”) in the bestselling villain anthology Because You Love to Hate Me. Sarah created and hosts the First Draft podcast. Follow Sarah (@sarahenni) and First Draft (@firstdraftpod) on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Episode 162, Alli and her guest have a thoughtful conversation about Christopher Paul Curtis’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, Bud, Not Buddy. They talk about the nuances of race and class in the book, the way the main character walks the perfect line between wisdom and innocence, the author’s writing process, and Bud, Not Buddy’s approach to teaching young readers about history. You won’t want to miss this fantastic discussion!

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the author of Ace of Spades. Follow her on Instagram (@faridahlikestea) and Twitter (@faridahlikestea).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Alli had to describe this episode — not to mention the associated book! — in one word, that word would be COZY. On Episode 161, she and her guest take a long walk down memory lane for a discussion about Maud Hart Lovelace’s beloved Betsy-Tacy. They talk about the series’ massive fandom, how the books came to be, and why they endure for so many generations of women. They also discuss the experience of reading a book featuring such young protagonists, consider how the author handled heavy emotional moments, and get sentimental about everything from paper dolls and birthday parties to dress-up and the first day of school.

Laura Hankin is the author of A Special Place for Women and Happy and You Know It. Follow her on Instagram (@laurahankin) and Twitter (@LauraHankin).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.