We’re topping off this year’s Flashback Summer with a pair of red–some would say auburn–braids. We were joined by Hannah and Marcelle, the cohosts of Witch, Please and Material Girls, to discuss Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Pour yourselves a cup of raspberry cordial and listen to this podcast on your train journey from the orphanage!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Anne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial recipe by Tori Avey

The Real Reason ‘Anne With an E’ Was Canceled by Netflix Is Heartbreaking by Katie Bourque

Coming up next: Crave by Tracy Wolff.

For Flashback Summer we decided to get away from it all with a visit to an exclusive desert spa. Unfortunately, the spa was plagued with black widow spiders, blackmailers, and other concerns. Fortunately, Kristin, the host of the Kristin Sleuth YouTube channel, was able to talk us through Nancy Drew #111: The Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene. This episode is not sponsored by Solaire moisturizer.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 55 – Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys

Kristin Sleuth on YouTube

Crime Pays, Botany Doesn’t on YouTube

It’s a Clue podcast

The Dream podcast

Sweet Valley High Diaries – 35’s Extended B-Story: Tofu-Glo

Coming up next: Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

Breaking Flashback Summer News: in the title of the book Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, “Angus” refers to the cat! Renata was almost as excited about this fact as she was about convincing JJ, aka S. Jae-Jones, author of Guardians of Dawn: Zhara to return as a guest for this episode! Listen to this episode while shaving your eyebrows (or while you are homebound, waiting for your eyebrows to regrow).

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Time 100 Best YA Books Of All Time: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Coming up next: Nancy Drew and the Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene.

For this Flashback Summer episode, the Bellwether Friends Anna & Alene joined Renata to discuss Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry. Sadly, Kait had to miss this one because she was busy shopping for her new poetry outfit, which would make Anastasia green with envy. Listen to this episode while you update the list of “loves” and “hates” in your notebook!

Kait’s Poetry Outfit:

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Four Questions with Lois Lowry, Newbery Award-Winning Children’s Author” by Molly Parr

“Why Anastasia Krupnik Was Ahead of Her Time” by Grace Lapointe

Bellwether Friends #65 – Fastest and Furiousest

Coming up next: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison.

Were you looking for sound medical advice to treat snakebites and rabies? Well, we do not recommend consulting Trixie Belden #1: The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell for first aid training. However, we had a great time talking to returning guest Carrie about this Flashback Summer mystery novel.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: The Trixie Belden Series

WikiHow: How to Treat a Snake Bite

WikiHow: How to Spot Rabies in a Dog

Coming up next: Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry.

Help! We’re trapped in the bodies of millennial podcasters! Andrew and Craig from the Overdue podcast joined us to discuss the classic switcheroo tale Help! I’m Trapped In My Teacher’s Body by Todd Strasser. Listen to this episode while your coworker makes you breakfast!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: A Taste of Spongey: Help! I’m Trapped in the First Day of School

Overdue #590 – Super Mario Bros movie adaptation

Coming up next: The Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden #1) by Julie Campbell.

It’s–hey, calm down, no, put down your pitchforks, we’re not calling Judy Blume a “worst” bestseller! Absolutely not, just, please, let me finish this intro–it’s Flashback Summer! The time when we chill out and revisit childhood favorites, even when they are iconic classics that absolutely do not match the name of our podcast. We were joined by writer and comedian Sarah Aswell (@seaswell),  also known as the Scary Mommy behind Scary Mommy Book Club, to discuss Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by the one and only Judy Blume. Listen to this episode while increasing your bust!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Judy Blume Shares How It Felt To Finally Watch ‘Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret’” by Sarah Aswell

“God to Margaret: Always with wings!” by Rebecca Traister

“Judy Blume Blasted An Article Linking Her To J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views As ‘Bullshit'” by David Mack

Judy Blume embraces renewed interest in her work from her Florida book store

Coming up next:  Help! I’m Trapped in my Teacher’s Body by Todd Strasser.

Hey, we’ll be honest: we kind of phoned this one in. On a landline. You screened it? On your answering machine? Haha, a topical reference. See, we read Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and The Musical Rent by Anthony Rapp. He was in Rent! Listen to this episode while waiting in line for rush tickets for Rent. Or, honestly, don’t listen to this episode if you don’t care about Rent the musical. You’ve been warned!

Content warning: Sexual assault, death of a parent.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: This American Life: Hoaxing Yourself

‘Without You’ Review: Anthony Rapp’s Seasons of Love, and Loss by Elisabeth Vincentelli

“Actor Anthony Rapp: Kevin Spacey Made A Sexual Advance Toward Me When I Was 14” by Adam Vary

Rentheads FAQ

Josh’s Website

Coming up next: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume.

Pamela Anderson: model, actress, activist…poet. Dame Karen Corday (of Two Bossy Dames and elsewhere on the internet!) joined us to read Love, Pamela, which…we kinda loved. Join us as we revisit the 90s with increased feminist rage!

Content warning: Child abuse/child sexual abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “What to Read, Watch, and Listen to After the Pam & Tommy Finale” by Sophie Brookover and Karen Corday

Pamela Anderson Blue Zone Girl ad

Pamela Anderson’s Playboy Covers Through the Years

Coming up next: Without You by Anthony Rapp.

As Americans, it’s our right to not pay attention to the British royal family. However, we’re waiving that right in order to read Spare by Prince Harry. We were thrilled to be joined by Dame Sophie of Two Bossy Dames–even more thrilled than Harry was to meet Will Arnett at a party at Courtney Cox’s house. Listen to this episode on your way to throw more tea into Boston Harbor.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Prince Harry Holds Spike the Echidna

The Victorian Society in America

“Royal Bodies” by Hilary Mantel

BrainyQuote.com

Jimenez’s “Wolverine” Savages the Poaching Trade

Coming up next: Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson.