The SSR Podcast

On Episode 140 of SSR, Alli and her guest circle back to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairies series, this time for a discussion about the sixth installment, The Long Winter. This Newbery Honor winner tells the story of a particularly punishing winter season for the Ingalls family and feels oddly relatable to pandemic life in 2020 and 2021. Tune in for a frank conversation about the racist underpinnings of the Little House series and a closer exploration of The Long Winter, specifically.

Lauren Tarshis is the New York Times bestselling author of the I Survived series, which has over 34 million copies in print. The latest installment — I Survived: The Nazi Invasion, 1944 — is now available for purchase. Follow Lauren on Instagram (@laurentarshis) and Twitter (@laurenTarshis).

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Let them eat cake! On Episode 139, Alli and her guest discuss the fourth installment in the beloved Royal Diaries series, Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles, written by Kathryn Lasky. They chat about the disturbing nature of marriage and royalty in the eighteenth century, try to reconcile the voice of Antonia in the diary with the infamous Marie Antoinette, wonder why gambling was such a key part of a royal’s education, and consider the many contradictions of Versailles.

Angela Lashbrook writes about consumer tech and health for OneZero, VICE, Refinery29, and other outlets. She blogs about books at angelalashbrook.medium.com. Follow Angela on Twitter (@lemonsand) and bookstagram (@theangelashelf).

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Have you ever wanted to travel through time? Have you ever suspected that some era gone by might be a happier time period than the one you’re living in? If so, you’re not alone! Annie Lockwood — the protagonist of Caroline B. Cooney’s Both Sides of Time — is right there with you, and on Episode 138, Alli and her guest take a close look at her story, which is the first installment in Cooney’s Time Travelers Quartet. Tune in to find out if Annie’s time travel expectations are met… and if this 1995 novel holds up under a 2021 lens.

Tirzah Price is a contributing editor at Book Riot and the author of Pride and Premeditation, out April 6, 2021. Follow her on Instagram (@tirzah.price) and Twitter (@TirzahPrice).

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On Episode 137, Frindle by Andrew Clements takes the stage! Frindle chronicles the adventures of a fifth-grader named Nick Allen who turns his community upside down when he decides to start using the word “frindle” to describe pens. On this episode, Alli shares why this book is so close to her heart and talks with her guests about troublemakers, cultural differences in the classroom, double standards, strict teachers, the power of a villain, and more.

Daman and Khyati are the hosts of Brown Girls Read. On every episode, they discuss the books they’re reading, as well as their culture. Follow them on Instagram (@browngirlsreadpod | @browngirlshappyhour).

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On Episode 136, Alli and her guest discuss David Levithan’s trailblazing queer YA romance, Boy Meets Boy. Published in 2003, the novel tells the story of a high schooler named Paul, his many complicated relationships, and a utopian town in which all people are loved and accepted. Tune in for a conversation about the guest Ashley Woodfolk’s personal connection to the book, why Boy Meets Boy is so powerful, our changing vocabulary around identity, friend breakups, and more.

Ashley Woodfolk is a YA author. Her new books — the paperback edition of When You Were Everything and Noelle: The Mean Girl — are out today! Later this year, look out for more of Ashley’s work in Blackout, Tobyn: The It Girl, and Battle of the Bands. Follow Ashley on Instagram (@ashwrites) and Twitter (@AshWrites).

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Years before MGM released The Wizard of Oz in 1939, there was a book that inspired the now-classic film! Published in 1900 and written by L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz takes readers alongside Dorothy on a magical journey to the fantastical land of Oz and on a quest to discover what she and her new friends most desire! On Episode 135, Alli and her guests take their own journey down the yellow brick road, unpacking their experiences with the story past and present, addressing the author’s controversial background, and more!

Tara and EmKay are the hosts of Down the Yellow Brick Pod, a show that celebrates their enchantment with the world of Oz. Their second season premieres soon! Support their work on Patreon and follow along on Instagram (@downtheyellowbrickpod).

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Alli volunteers as tribute… to discuss The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins! On Episode 134, it’s finally time to tackle this pop culture phenomenon! Alli and her guests discuss how the series impacted the YA category, how it mirrors real-life past and present, and the dystopian genre as a whole. They also chat about their feelings about the book’s love triangle and Katniss Everdeen’s experience as a young woman in the public eye… and more!

Margaux Poupard and Emilie Begin are the hosts of the Old Millennials Podcast, which you can find on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you listen to podcasts! The show offers a deep dive on shallow topics AKA the movies, shows, music, and trends of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. Follow Old Millennials on Instagram (@theoldmillennialspod) and Facebook.

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Long ago, Judy Blume was established as one of the reigning queens of the SSR podcast.

On Episode 133, Alli and her guest take a look at a book that feels like a bit of a departure for our queen — Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, which was published in 1971. Unlike many of Blume’s coming of age stories, this one centers around a boy main character, thirteen-year-old Tony Miglione. Tune in to hear a discussion about the significance of this unique perspective on puberty, as well as conversations about mental health, wealth, sex ed, shoplifting, family, creepy spying behavior, Gossip Girl, and Grease.

Jen Calonita is a middle grade and YA author. Her latest book is Go the Distance — a Disney Twisted Tale — and will be available on April 6! Follow her on Instagram (@jencalonita) and Twitter (@JenCalonita).

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On Episode 132, Alli and her guest Renée road trip through Christopher Paul Curti’s award-winning novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. They talk about how the book portrays bullying, family, masculinity, race, and mental health, and the ways in which it was ahead of its time in many ways!

Renée Hicks is the book lover behind the Book Girl Magic community, a book club that celebrates black women authors and seeks to bring people together through reading. Follow Book Girl Magic on Instagram (@book_girl_magic) and Twitter (@bookgirlmagic).

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It’s a straight-up ‘90s Nostalgia Fest on Episode 131!

Alli and her guest discuss the first book in the Magic Attic Club series, The Secret of the Attic. They chat about the Magic Attic Club brand as a whole and answer your burning questions — Is it related to American Girl? And where did it even go? They also discuss representations of racial and religious diversity in kid lit, the Magic Attic girls they most relate to, their deep-seated fears of kidnapping, and more.

Mackenzie Newcomb is the founder of the Bad Bitch Book Club and the co-host of the Friends 2 Lovers podcast. Follow her (@mackinstyle) and Bad Bitch Book Club (@badbitch.bookclub) on Instagram.

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