The SSR Podcast

It has been a wild, amazing ride and I couldn't be more grateful for all of your support over the years. Please enjoy this reflective last episode, which includes some of my thoughts on podcasting more broadly, a bit of housekeeping, and a whole lot of Q&A. Thank you for every little thing.Love,AlliKEEP IN TOUCH!Follow me on Instagram @allihoffkosik. Check out (and subscribe to!) my Substack: Getting It Alli TogetherRemember: All 318 episodes of SSR will still be available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Please continue to recommend the show to your loved ones... and never stop listening to the conversations from the archives that make you feel warm and fuzzy :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the last-ever guest episode of SSR, Alli is thrilled to revisit a book by one of her personal favorites, Sharon Creech. The book is Absolutely Normal Chaos, a diary-style read from the '90s that serves as a fascinating entry point to grief and loss for young readers. Tune in for a discussion about the emotional roller coaster of the book, but also for some comparing and contrasting with Creech's other work, reflections on friendship and early relationships, and more.Rebecca Fishbein is the author of Good Things Happen to People You Hate and Floral Estrangements. Follow her on Instagram @bfishbfish.CHECK OUT REBECCA'S PREVIOUS APPEARANCE ON SSR HERE!CHECK OUT REBECCA'S BOOKS: Floral EstrangementsGood Things Happen to People You HateCHECK OUT REBECCA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Good Material by Dolly AldertonMORE READING: "Absolutely Normal Chaos" (Kirkus, 1995) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Add this to the list of Alli's favorite SSR reads of all-time—and just in time for the show to say goodbye in a couple of weeks! Nearly 20 years after it was published and won a Newbery Honor, Shannon Hale's Princess Academy was a delight to read and discuss. The book inspires conversations on Episode 316 about everything from hometown pride and tropes about female bodies to the value of education and lame princes. Alli's guest also blows her mind with some facts about 2025 slang.London Sperry's debut novel Passion Project hits shelves on 4/8/25. Follow her on Instagram @londonsperrywrites.CHECK OUT LONDON'S BOOK HERE! CHECK OUT LONDON'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreenLet's Call a Truce by Amy BuchananUnromance by Erin ConnorYou Between the Lines by Katie NaymonBut How Are You, Really by Ella DawsonMORE READING: "Book Review: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale" (Books: A True Story, 2013)"Review: Princess Academy" (The Princess Blog, 2018)"Book Review: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale" (Turn the Page, 2012)"Shannon Hale Says Her Novels Are Not 'Girl Books'" (Bustle, 2015)"Q&A with Shannon Hale" (Publishers Weekly, 2015)"One Things Leads to Another: An Interview with Shannon Hale" (The Hub, 2014) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this last installment of our monthly SSR: WTF (WriTing Friends) series, Alli and Abby look to the future!In anticipation of the 2026 publication of Alli's debut novel, they discuss all things book promotion: book events, PR boxes, social media icks, supporting authors online and IRL, newsletters, pre-orders, and more. They also chat more about the decision to end SSR and give you a preview of their future (potential) collaborations!CHECK OUT AND SUBSCRIBE TO ABBY'S SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER HERE! BOOK SHOUTOUTS: Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts by Bec Evans and Chris Smith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad news: this is the last Baby-Sitters Club-centric episode of SSR.Good news: this is an amazing Baby-Sitters Club-centric episode of SSR!This week, former BSC superfan Saumya Dave joins Alli for one final trip to Stoneybrook to hang with everyone's favorite young entrepreneurs. They discuss the sixty-fifth book in the series, Stacey's Big Crush, along with hot teachers, women in STEM, all-consuming crushes, long school days, portrayals of divorce in books, goat sitting, and how the baby-sitters have helped us understand ourselves over the years.Saumya Dave is the author of Well-Behaved Indian Women, What a Happy Family, and—most recently—The Guilt Pill, which was inspired by her work as a pyschiatrist. Follow her on Instagram @saumyajdave.CHECK OUT SAUMYA'S BOOKS:Well-Behaved Indian WomenWhat a Happy FamilyThe Guilt Pill CHECK OUT ASHA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Yellowface by R.F. KuangThe Push by Ashley AudrainThe Other Lata by Kirthana RamisettiMORE READING: "Stacey's Big Crush" (The Baby-Sitters Club Wiki)"#65: Stacey's Big Crush" (Live the Movies)"Stacey's Big Crush" (Baby-Sitters Club Snark-fest!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beyond the ivy-covered walls of the Constance Billard School and the moneyed Upper East Side is upstate New York and the equally moneyed Waverly Academy—and Jenny Humphrey is bound for them as we meet her at the start of Gossip Girl spin-off, The It Girl! Episode 313 is a juicy deep dive into all things Boarding School Jenny: rich kids, nuanced mean girls, problematic love affairs, hedonism, and the deliciously nostalgic aesthetic of the Gossip Girl extended universe.Asha Elias is the author of Pink Glass Houses and the forthcoming The Namaste Club. Follow her on Instagram @asha.sue.elias.CHECK OUT ASHA'S BOOKS: Pink Glass Houses The Namaste ClubCHECK OUT ASHA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Don't Be a Stranger by Susan MinotMORE READING: "The It Girl (Novel Series)" (Gossip Girl Wiki)"The It Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar Review" (Courtney Shek, 2024)"Review: It Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar" (Grown Up Book Reports, 2017) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alli and her guest revisit some required reading from their school days in Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Picking up this 1966 novel was just as emotional and thought-provoking as picking up the 1959 short story was years ago, and this time around, they unpack the experience together on the podcast. Tune in for conversations about their fuzzy memories of reading Flowers for Algernon as kids, the book's classification in the science fiction genre, the differences between intelligence and life experience and kindness, icky depictions of women, animal testing, the linguistic challenges of dissecting a book like this, and so much more.TW: sexual shameEmma R. Alban is a screenwriter and a USA Today bestselling queer historical romance author. Her books include Don't Want You Like a Best Friend and You're the Problem, It's You. Follow her on Instagram @eraofemma.CHECK OUT EMMA'S BOOKS: Don't Want You Like a Best FriendYou're the Problem, It's YouCHECK OUT EMMA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: The In-Between Bookstore by Edward UnderhillA Rival Most Vile by R.K. AshwickA Captured Cauldron by R.K. AshwickMORE READING: "Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes—review" (The Guardian, 2016)"Book Review: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes" (David Bruns, 2014)"Book Review: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes" (Frappes and Fiction, 2020)"Flowers for Algernon: Book Review" (Threefold Advocate, 2023)"Flowers for Algernon" (Kirkus, 1966)"Review of Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes" (Rhapsody in Books, 2018) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab your denim bucket hats, butterfly hair clips, and overalls, listeners, because we're going to the land of the Olsen twins! Episode 311 unpacks all things Mary-Kate and Ashley, with a special emphasis on their multiple book series and one of their mystery novels, The Case of the 202 Clues. After reading this book, Alli and her guest have lots of thoughts about basset hounds, kid-friendly stakes, and what makes the perfect entry point for the mystery genre. They also take a bigger picture walk down millennial memory lane, comparing notes on their favorite MKA core memories and reflecting on the twins' many contributions to pop culture.Jamie Harrow is the author of One on One and Fun at Parties. Follow her on Instagram @jamieharrowbooks.CHECK OUT JAMIE'S BOOKS: One on OneFun at PartiesCHECK OUT JAMIE'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper LeeNo Ordinary Love by Myah ArielMORE READING: "Growing Up Olsen: What Mary-Kate and Ashley Meant to Millennials" (E News, 2016)"Dissecting Gen Z's Obsession with the Olsen Twins" (British Vogue, 2024)"The Lasting Impact of the Mary-Kate and Ashley Content Empire" (Chatterblast, 2021)"The Series We Loved: Mary-Kate and Ashley" (Book Riot, 2020) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the first SSR: WTF (WriTing Friends) episode of 2025, and it's only fitting that Alli and Abby kick off the new year with a discussion about routines, processes, practices, and how they're rethinking all of those things at the moment. They discuss their creative mindsets in the new year and compare notes about specific elements of their creative lives: planned breaks, problematic mindsets, time management, organizational tools, inbox zero, cheap notebooks, writing in longhand, and romanticizing the process.CHECK OUT AND SUBSCRIBE TO ABBY'S SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER HERE! LISTEN TO OUR PLOTTING VS. PANTSING EPISODE HERE! BOOK SHOUTOUTS: Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts by Bec Evans and Chris SmithMotherhood by Sheila HetiSandwich by Catherine Newman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At last, the Hardy Boys get an episode all their own! Episode 309 takes a deep dive into the first book in the series—The Tower Treasure—as well as the bestselling franchise as a whole... and the conversation is juicy! Launched in the 1920s, the Hardy Boys prompts discussion about gendered book marketing, racism, white saviorism, letting boys be boys, virtuous poverty, Nancy Drew, the interchangeability of the Hardy brothers, nepotism, obstruction of justice, portrayals of law enforcement, and depictions of women. Christina Cooke is the author of Broughtupsy. Follow her on Instagram @christina.j.cooke. CHECK OUT CHRISTINA'S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT CHRISTINA'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: When the Emperor Was Divine by Julia OtsukaHeadshot by Rita BullwinkleMORE READING: "Book Review: The Tower Treasure (1927) and The Tower Treasure (1959) by Franklin W. Dixon" (Read-At-Home Mom, 2017)"I read all 190 Hardy Boys books" (Reddit, 2023)"In Which I Read My First Hardy Boys Mystery" (Pages Unbound, 2022)"Reading Through the Hardy Boys Mysteries (Books 1-10)" (Pages Unbound, 2023)"1: The Tower Treasure" (Hardy Boys Book Reviews, 2013)"The Hardy Boys have not aged well" (Reddit, 2024)"The Hardy Boys: Comparing Hulu's Show to the Classic Book Series" (Den of Geek, 2020)"The Knotty Nostalgia of the Hardy Boys Series" (The Atlantic, 2019) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many requests later, SSR has finally answered the call to cover The Hundred Dresses. Written by Eleanor Estes, published in 1944, and granted a Newbery Honor in 1945, this beautiful little book tackles the well-trod bullying narrative with a uniquely soft and empathetic hand. It creates space for conversations about what it means to play the bystander to bad behavior, rising above one's bullies, what justice looks like, and everything in between. Kirsty Greenwood was once a book editor, but is now a full-time writer of love stories that make readers belly laugh and ugly cry, including The Love of My Afterlife. Follow her on Instagram @kirsty_greenwood.CHECK OUT KIRSTY'S BOOKS: He Will Be MineThe Love of My AfterlifeCHECK OUT KIRSTY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: All Fours by Miranda JulyMORE READING: "Realistic Fiction: The Hundred Dresses" (The Western Corner of the Castle, 2019)"The Hundred Dresses: A Little Book with a Long Impact" (Nerdy Book Club, 2018)"The Hundred Dresses" (The Good and Beautiful Book List)"The Hundred Dresses" (American Library Association)"The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes" (Children's Lit Love, 2020)"Book Review—The Hundred Dresses" (GC Annison, 2022) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2025 with a conversation with a friend from across the pond, highlighting a series and book that's been a particular favorite for young readers in the U.K. Jacqueline Wilson's Girls in Love takes center stage! Tune into Episode 307 for discussions about fake boyfriends, shifting friendships, diet culture, self-image, and more.TW: attempted assault, body image, diet cultureLucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader, and coziness-seeker. Her debut novel is Rewitched. Follow her on Instagram @lucyjanewood and YouTube.CHECK OUT LUCY'S BOOK HERE! Rewitched by Lucy Jane WoodCHECK OUT LUCY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie LeongMORE READING: "Girls in Love" (Publishers Weekly, 1997)"Are we too young for Jacqueline Wilson's Girls in Love" (The Guardian, 2011)"Book Review — Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson" (Yipee Ki-Yay, Motherbooker)"Jacqueline Wilson to release new adult sequel to Girls in Love book series" (Independent, 2024)"Girls in Love" (Jacqueline Wilson Wiki)"Everything that happened in the Jacqueline Wilson Girls series" (Penguin, 2024)"Review — Girls in Love — Jacqueline Wilson" (Blog of a Bookaholic, 2012)"Why do Jacqueline Wilson's books resonate with young people, especially girls?" (Quora)"'These books captured our hearts': Jacqueline Wilson's Girls series is back—and millennials are rejoicing" (The Guardian, 2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Magic Tree House has been making readers, history buffs, and science geeks of kids for more than thirty years—and at long last, SSR dives in! Episode 306 covers all things Magic Tree House with a special focus on the first installment, Dinosaurs Before Dark. Alli and her guest chat about everything from the origin of Magic Tree House and unpopular opinions about the books to the allure of treehouses and time travel. Also... dinosaurs.Kat Tang is a former lawyer turned fiction writer with an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. Her debut novel Five-Star Stranger has made most-anticipated and must-read lists by many outlets. Follow her on Instagram @tangkat.CHECK OUT KAT'S BOOK HERE! CHECK OUT KAT'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen HoRevolutionary Road by Richard YatesHalf a Life by Darin StraussMORE READING: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly about Magic Tree House" (Big Books, Little Ears)"30 years and 65 books later, Mary Pope Osborne reflects on 'Magic Tree House'" (Today, 2022)"Book Reviews: An Unpopular Opinion about the Popular Magic Tree House Series" (Dragon Bite Books & Crafts, 2021)"Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Magic Tree House Collection" (First Book, 2022)"Series Review: The Magic Tree House" (The Starving Artist, 2017)"The Magic Tree House's Magical Popularity" (Pine Reads Review, 2021) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alli and Abby are BACK for the fifth installment of SSR: WriTing Friends, this time for a conversation with memoirist Molly Roden Winter about the personal, vulnerable, intimate experience of putting one's own story on paper for public consumption. They put their heads together to consider the similarities and differences between writing fiction and writing memoir and tackle some specific aspects of the former: the nature of memory, the ethics of reviewing memoirs, how to edit your personal experience, reading your old journals, having hard conversations, and what we can learn from someone else's story.Molly's New York Times bestselling debut memoir—More: A Memoir of Open Marriage—is available wherever books are sold. Follow her on Instagram @mollyrwinter.CHECK OUT MOLLY'S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT MOLLY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Episode 304, Alli and her guest right the wrong (???) of somehow missing The Catcher in the Rye in their reading lives. In this juicy, thoughtful episode, they consider the book's place in the American canon and on school reading lists everywhere. They chat about sad boy fiction, Holden Caulfield's complicated character and legacy, love bombing, New York City as a character, teen angst, slut shaming, and more.TW: death by suicide, sexual assaultBeth Kander is a writer with tangled roots in the Midwest and Deep South. Described as a "genre-defying author and playwright" (Oxford American), her work has been called "riveting" and "habit-forming." I Made It Out of Clay is her latest novel. Follow Beth on Instagram @bethkander.CHECK OUT BETH'S BOOKS:I Made It Out of ClayDo Not Eat This Book!CHECK OUT BETH'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:The Husbands by Holly GramazioThe Measure by Nikki ErlickNight Owls by A.R. VishyCleat Cute by Meryl WilsnerMORE READING: "Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger — review" (The Guardian, 2012)"The Meaning of The Catcher in the Rye" (Thought Catalog, 2024)"Story Skeleton — The Catcher in the Rye" (The Darling Axe, 2023)"From everyteen to annoying: are today's young readers turning on The Catcher in the Rye?" (The Guardian, 2019)"He's Not Holden!" (Slate, 2013)"I Hated Catcher in the Rye As A Teen — But It's Exactly The Book I Needed As An Adult" (Bustle, 2018) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our first-ever holiday episode! No matter what you celebrate at this time of year, Episode 303 will get your wheels turning as we unpack The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. Alli and her guest chat about the surprisingly religious bent of the book, among other things: the unruly children trope, nativity plays, the book's new adaptation, fatphobia, and disappearing narrators.Sarai Johnson is the author of Grown Women. Follow her on Instagram @sarajwrites.CHECK OUT SARAI'S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT SARAI'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverGather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory EdimMORE READING:"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Early Review" (Love Thy Nerd, 2024)"Review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson" (The Story Sanctuary, 2020)"Book Review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (A Journey of Words, 2022)"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever—Book Review" (Simply Learning Together, 2022)"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (Bookology, 2019)"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in Public School?" (Reddit, 2022) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve covered our fair share of Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield’s high school hi-jinx on the podcast, but at long last, Alli and her guest turn their attention to a kinder, softer version of the twins: the middle school sub-series, Sweet Valley Twins. Episode 302 is all about The Curse of the Ruby Necklace, which chronicles the ~super chilling~ journey the twins take when they find their way to a local Hollywood film set and a decades-old family mystery. Guest Sally Franson is a superfan of the series and this book, and the episode is a rollicking good time that celebrates Jess and Liz as sixth graders with questionable detective skills.Sally Franson is the author of Big in Sweden and A Lady’s Guide to Selling Out. Follow her on Instagram @sallyjf.CHECK OUT THE SWEET VALLEY EPISODES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:Episode 202: Tall, Dark, and Deadly (Sweet Valley High #126) (with Andie J. Christopher)Episode 289: Alone in the Crowd (Sweet Valley High #28) (with Claire Lombardo)CHECK OUT SALLY’S BOOKS:Big in Sweden A Lady’s Guide to Selling OutCHECK OUT SALLY’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:Swift River by Essie ChambersBlood Test: A Comedy by Charles BaxterShow Don’t Tell: Stories by Curtis SittenfeldMORE READING:“My Erotic Awakening in the Pages of ‘Sweet Valley High’” (The New York Times, 2024) <— written by our guest!“The lasting power of ‘Sweet Valley Twins’: How my daughter and I are connecting over the series” (Today, 2024)“YA Authors Reminisce About the Influence of ‘Sweet Valley High’” (Publishers Weekly, 2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, join Alli and her guest for an exciting voyage to Antarctica… and also for a conversation about Troubling a Star by Madeleine L’Engle. The fifth installment in L’Engle’s beloved Austin Family Chronicles series, the book was published in 1994 and explores subjects of espionage, nuclear waste dumping, drug trafficking, and more. Join the fun as we try to unpack all of it—and don’t be turned off if you’re not familiar with the story. Alli and Elise both read Troubling a Star, and they’re still not sure how much they know about it.Elise Hu is a journalist, podcaster, and entrepreneur. Host of TED Talks Daily and co-host of Forever 35, Elise also recently published Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. Follow her on Instagram @elisewho.CHECK OUT ELISE’S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS MADELEINE L’ENGLE EPISODES:Episode 15: A Wrinkle in TimeEpisode 184: A Ring of Endless LightCHECK OUT ELISE’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:What Looks Like Bravery: An Epic Journey Through Loss to Love by Laurel BraitmanToward Eternity by Anton HurYou Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke EmeziThick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan CottomMORE READING:“Troubling a Star, by Madeleine L’Engle” (Pickle Me This, 2019)“Troubling a Star by Madeleine L’Engle” (Fill Your Bookshelf, 2020)“Troubling a Star” (Kirkus, 1994)“Book Review: Troubling a Star by Madeleine L’Engle (1994)” (Read-at-Home Mom, 2014)“The Creepy Authoritarianism of Madeleine L’Engle” (The Paris Review, 2019) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Alli as she marks the big 3-0-0 with a rare (and unscripted!) solo show. She reflects on why she struggled to plan this special episode, what she’s been thinking about as this milestone approaches, the journey she’s taken with SSR since 2018, and the behind-the-scenes struggles she rarely shares. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Cheers to 300 episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As you wish(ed), listeners, it’s time to unpack The Princess Bride. Alli and her guest focus on the 1973 novel by William Goldman but bring in lots of context from the cult classic movie, as well. Adventures, unreasonable beauty standards, metanarratives, beloved characters, and iconic lines abound!Georgia Clark is an award-winning, six-times published novelist and performer. She’s the author of Island Time, It Had to Be You, The Regulars, The Bucket List, and others. Her latest novel, Most Wonderful, is now out and ready to claim its spot on your holiday season TBR. Follow Georgia on Instagram @georgialouclark.CHECK OUT GEORGIA’S BOOKS:Island TimeIt Had to Be YouThe RegularsThe Bucket ListMost WonderfulCHECK OUT GEORGIA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:All Fours by Miranda JulyWhoever You Are, Honey by Olivia GatwoodThe Prospects by Kt HoffmanFang Fiction by Kate Stayman-LondonMORE READING:“Book Review: The Princess Bride by William Goldman” (Lara’s Wanderings, 2020)“The Princess Bride: We love the book and the film” (Fantasy Literature)“The Princess Bride at 50” (Quillette, 2023)“Book Review — The Princess Bride by William Goldman” (Muse With Me, 2018)“The Princess Bride: The ‘Good Parts’” (Out of the Box, 2017) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost seven years into SSR, we’ve covered almost all of Judy Blume’s kid lit masterpieces. On Episode 298, Alli and her guest dive into a Blume novel that feels like something of an outlier: Tiger Eyes, which was published in 1981. In it, Judy takes a darker tone, exploring matters of violence, loss, hypocrisy, and mental health. Tune in to learn more about how Tiger Eyes stands apart from the rest of Blume’s beloved backlist and what makes it special.TW: infertility, gun violence, substance abuse, anxiety, depressionCourtney Preiss is the author of Welcome Home, Caroline Kline. Follow her on Instagram @cocogolightly.CHECK OUT COURTNEY’S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT COURTNEY’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:The Wedding People by Alison EspachSo Thirsty by Rachel HarrisonMORE READING:“Life in Books: Tiger Eyes” (Much Madness is Divinest Sense, 2010)“Judy Blume Hits The Big Screen With Tiger Eyes Adaptation” (NPR, 2013)“Tiger Eyes: Judy Blume’s book and its film adaptation” (American Indians in Children’s Literature, 2012)“Willa Holland Tells Us All About Starring in the Judy Blume Flick Tiger Eyes” (Teen Vogue, 2013)“Judy Blume on the Tiger Eyes Film, What She’s Reading, and Why Moms Can’t Get Their Daughters to Read Her Books” (Vanity Fair, 2013) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At long last, it's John Green time! Episode 297 unpacks Looking for Alaska, the YA superstar's award-winning debut novel. Conversations range from manic pixie dream girls and the male gaze to addiction and the problematic language that made Alli and her guest cringe in 2024.TW: suicide, addiction, parental lossAlissa DeRogatis is the author of Call It What You Want. Subscribe to her Substack newsletterProbably Oversharing and follow her on Instagram @alissaderogatis.CHECK OUT ALISSA’S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT ALISSA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:Old Enough by Haley JakobsonIt’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned VizziniOTHER BOOK SHOUTOUTS:Prep by Curtis SittenfeldMagnolia Parks by Jessa HastingsMORE READING:“Looking for Alaska” (Kirkus, 2005)“Book Nook: Looking for Alaska” (Shorewood Ripples, 2022)“Book Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green” (Of Whiskey and Words)“Book Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green” (A Paper Arrow, 2019)“Looking for Alaska by John Green — review” (The Guardian, 2013)“Looking for Alaska” (School Library Journal, 2005)“Book Review for Teens: John Green Looking for Alaska” (Your Teen, 2014)“Book Review: Looking for Alaska” (Sara du Jour, 2014)“How Hulu’s Looking for Alaska Updates John Green’s Book for a New Generation” (Time, 2019) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You already know that Ramona Quimby is curious, precocious, hilarious, and bold... but now she gets to be brave, too. On Episode 296, Alli and her guest take a close look at the third book in Beverly Cleary's beloved Ramona series, Ramona the Brave. There's classroom enemies, feminism, craft projects, scary new bedrooms, and big moments of self-esteem. What more could you want?Jessie Rosen is a writer, producer, educator, and speaker. Her novel The Heirloom is available wherever books are sold. Follow Jessie on Instagram @jessierosenwriter.CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS RAMONA EPISODES:Episode 18: Beezus and Ramona (with Penny Luksic)Episode 253: Ramona the Pest (with Kara Alloway)CHECK OUT JESSIE’S BOOK HERE!CHECK OUT JESSIE’S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:There’s Nothing Wrong With Her by Kate WeinbergMORE READING:“Beverly Cleary Made It OK To Be A Ramona In A World Of Susans” (BuzzFeed News, 2021)“How Ramona Quimby Helps Kids Make Sense of This Unstable World” (Literary Hub, 2019)“Ramona the Brave” (Kirkus, 1975)“Book Review: Ramona the Brave” (A Journey of Words, 2023)Follow SSR on social media!Instagram // Facebook // TwitterSupport SSR on Patreon!**Please note that the Bookshop.org links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through these links. Please do not feel inclined to purchase unless you are excited to add these books to your TBR list!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abby and Alli welcome their first-ever guest to the WriTing Friends series for a conversation about the publishing process, astrology, and everything in between.Carinn Jade is the co-host of Pop Fiction Women and the author of The Astrology House. Follow her on Instagram @carinnjade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime listeners know that Sarah Dessen books always, always bring the spice and juicy discussion to the podcast. This episode is no exception as Alli and her guest dish about 1998's Someone Like You. The book tackles a lot of issues—and we try to do the same on today's show. Topics include bad boyfriends, intense friendships, losing your virginity, teen pregnancy, and tension between kids and parents.Aurora Palit's debut novel Sunshine and Spice is now available wherever books are sold. Follow her on Instagram @aurorapalit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jump aboard Episode 293 for a transatlantic voyage on the gorgeous writing of kid lit GOAT, Sharon Creech. This week, it's all about her 2000 Newbery Honor winner, The Wanderer, and the big thinking it inspires. Alli and her guest dive into discussions of trauma, accidental feminism, real-world fantasy, diary-style writing, and so much more. Charlee Dyroff is the author of Loneliness & Company. Follow her on Instagram @charleedyroff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Alli and her guest for a trip to one of our favorite settings: Stonybrook, Connecticut—home of the Baby-Sitters Club. This time, the discussion focuses on the fourth book in Ann M. Martin's beloved series, Mary Anne Saves the Day, which is a critical text in the BSC cinematic universe. Tune in to Episode 292 to hear us talk about Mary Anne's day-saving efforts, as well as conflict resolution, crisis situations before cell phones, the big Dawn intro, messages about bodies and beauty, found family, and (as always) so much more.Afoma Eme-Umesi is a writer, voracious reader, and the founder of Reading Middle Grade, a website dedicated to sharing books for middle grade readers. Afoma loves contemporary realistic fiction and will never say no to a graphic novel. Follow her on Instagram @whatafomareads, check out Reading Middle Grade's Patreon, and sign up for her newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At long last, we tackle the final book in the original Hunger Games trilogy: Mockingjay. This is a heavy book, so there's lots to get into in this episode: cycles of violence, the consequences of war, what it means to be a symbol, PTSD, and plenty of moral ambiguity. And it wouldn't be a Hunger Games episode (of course) without a Team Gale vs. Team Peeta debate—and this one gets especially spicy! TW: suicide, PTSD, traumaE.B. Asher is the pen name for the writing trio of Bridget Morrissey, Emily Wibberley, and Austin Siegemund-Broka, all of whom have written many books under their own names. This Will Be Fun is their debut novel under the E.B. Asher pseudonym. Follow their work on Instagram @eb_asher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to SSR: WriTing Friends! This time around, Alli and Abby are digging a little deeper into one of their favorite elements of the writing process: creating characters. They discuss what inspires their characters, how they create nuanced fictional people, and what it's like to find compassion for antagonists. They also consider the challenges that come with being more drawn to characters than plot and how much their characters resemble themselves. Follow Abby on Instagram @shmab and @abookwolfe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been too long since we paid a visit to Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield in good old Sweet Valley, California. Let’s fix that! Episode 289 covers the twenty-eighth installment in Francine Pascal’s beloved series, Alone in the Crowd, a book that explores insecurity, songwriting, the complicated nature of mother/daughter relationships, and rocking chair fundraisers. Alli and her guest find much to clown on here and it’s a truly excellent time.TW: suicideOne of Alli’s all-time favorite authors is on the pod today! Claire Lombardo is the New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had—a Reese’s Book Club pick—and Same As It Ever Was. She’s taught at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and works part-time as a bookseller at Prairie Lights. Follow her on Instagram @claire_lombardo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special bonus episode features Rachelle Bergstein, author of the new book The Genius of Judy. In it, Alli and Rachelle cover all things related to SSR queen JUDY BLUME! They chat about Judy's journey to publication, the process of researching her career, their favorite (and maybe least favorite) Judy books, the Blume legacy, feminism, book bans, and more.Rachelle Bergstein is also the author of Women from the Ankle Down and Brilliance and Fire. Follow her on Instagram @rachellewb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, SSR gets a jump on Halloween festivities with a long overdue trip to R.L. Stine’s Fear Street. Specifically, Episode 288 is all about the first title in the series, The New Girl, in which a lovesick teenager falls for a villain disguised as a manic pixie dream girl. The book takes us into conversations about the horror genre as a whole, stranger danger, friend zoning, missing adults, men’s gymnastics, teen hormones, and more. TW: potential abuse, dead animalsClaire Kann is the author of several novels—most recently, Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places. She’s an award-winning online storyteller whose favorite stories are the kind about everyday life with just a touch of supernatural in the details. Follow her on Instagram @kannclaire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colleen McKeegan returns this week to celebrate another book hitting the shelves and to unpack another one of her favorite summer reads from childhood. This time, it's Fearless by Francine Pascal (RIP!)—the first title in a series of the same name that explores the nature of fear, social anxiety, vigilantism, and (of course) the dramas of teenage romance. Alli and Colleen also chat about power dynamics, New York fantasies, Sweet Valley similarities and differences, and more.Colleen McKeegan is the author of Rip Tide and The Wild One. Follow her on Instagram (@clmckeegan). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the second installment of our SSR: WriTing Friends series, Alli and Abby focus on the writing process: plotting, pantsing, and everything in between. They talk about their own approaches to writing fiction, how those approaches might continue to evolve over time, how we learn from characters, the importance of maintaining forward motion in our work, killing our darlings, and more. Abby also shares a milestone moment in her writing journey.Follow Abby on Instagram @shmab and @abookwolfe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about How to Eat Fried Worms! Thomas Rockwell's 1973 book has never been out-of-print, which is a pretty big deal. On Episode 285, Alli and her guest discuss this little morsel of a novel that really is as simple as its title. They talk about gendered book marketing, how the book might be different in 2024, banned books, betting in childhood, and the expectation for morality lessons in kid lit.Morgan Matson is a New York Times bestselling author of books for teen and tween readers. Her latest releases are The Ballad of Darcy and Russell and The Firefly Summer in paperback. Follow her on Instagram (@morgamat). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By popular demand, we are finally covering Scott Westerfeld's Uglies! Alli and her guests talk about the book's unique place in the broader dystopian genre, consider its lack of diversity, and analyze the many messages it sends about everything from body image and aging to beauty standards and friendship.This week's guests are Neha and Shruti, the co-hosts of The Novel Tea podcast. They bonded over their love of books in middle school, became best friends, and have been reading together ever since. They started their podcast to diversify and deepen their reading lives and to expand what we all think of as "classics." Listen to Novel Tea wherever you find your favorite pods and follow the show on Instagram (@thenoveltea.pod). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, SSR takes it all the way back to 1961 for a discussion about a classic: J.D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey. Alli and her guest talk about the book’s publishing history and deep dive into its content: insufferable men, existential dread, the nature of wisdom, quarter-life crises, and emotional states best shared via AIM away message.TW: suicide, depressionSheila is the author of the novels The Goddess Effect and Friends in Napa, which Mindy Kaling called “smart and wildly entertaining… like drinking a glass of wine with an endlessly witty, scandalous friend.” Her work has appeared in many publications, including Vogue, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. Sheila lives in Los Angeles with her husband and you can follow her on Instagram @sheilaym. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first episode of SSR: WriTing Friends! This new monthly series—co-hosted by Abby Wolfe—is a fun look at the writing process from multiple perspectives and stops along the way. Broadly speaking, our goal with WTF is to make the writing process transparent at every stage and to further connect readers and writers in this community and beyond.In this inaugural episode, Abby shares more about herself and her writing life with listeners! Alli and Abby also talk more about their vision for WTF going forward, their thoughts on genre, and Alli’s DNF era.Follow Abby on Instagram @shmab and @abookwolfe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timed appropriately (and accidentally) with the 4th of July holiday, Episode 281 is a return to the beloved Dear America series! This time, Alli and her guest tag along on a frankly miserable journey on the Mayflower with Remember Patience Whipple in 1620. The book is A Journey to the New World and it was written by Kathryn Lasky and published in 1996. Former Scholastic book fair fans will especially enjoy this walk (cruise?) down memory lane in spite of its many sad moments.TW: suicide, depression, grief, loss of a parentOlivia Muenter is a writer, reader, and a co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. Her first novel Such a Bad Influence is available wherever books are sold. In her free time, you can find her working on her old house in the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her husband and her dog. Follow her on Instagram @oliviamuenter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time this year, we’re back to Stoney Brook with our favorite sitters! The fifty-sixth book in the series explores blatant racism… while the girls produce a musical with their young charges. There’s a lot going on! Episode 280 breaks down the way race and racism are portrayed in Ann M. Martin’s fictional world, looking closely at which sitters bear the brunt of the responsibility for explaining prejudice, if the author does a disservice to other sitters by making them so naive, and what young readers can learn from stories like Keep Out, Claudia!Melissa Mogollon holds an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a BA from the George Washington University. Originally from Colombia and raised in Florida, she now teaches at a boarding school in Rhode Island, where she lives with her partner and dog. She is passionate about education, youth empowerment, Rihanna, and ceviche. Oye is her first novel. Follow her on Instagram (@melissamogollonwriter). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like the book at its center, Episode 279 will feel like a warm hug! Kate is back, this week to discuss the Newbery Medal-winning The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. The conversation covers everything from dysfunctional families and empathy to fairy tale tropes and the author's origin story.Kate Czyzewski is an educator turned bookstore manager and event coordinator at Thunder Road Books in Spring Lake, NJ. Follow her @thesaltybookworm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a bookseller at an independent bookstore? Kate from Thunder Road Books in Spring Lake, NJ—who you might also recognize as @thesaltybookworm—is on SSR to answer all of your questions! Kate tells us…* How she transitioned from being a teacher to a bookseller* How the team chooses backlist titles to stock in the store* How she comes up with the perfect recommendations for customers* What she does when she doesn’t know anything about (or like!) a book requested by a customer* The throwback reads young bookworms still request in the store* Her favorite and least favorite parts of the job* What it’s like to plan author events… and so much more! Kate also shares a summer reading preview! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve been missing SSR’s signature approach to the literary throwbacks of your teen and tween years, the wait is over! Episode 277 marks our official return to the pod’s usual format—and this time, it’s all about Gail Carson Levine’s The Two Princesses of Bamarre. Published in 2001, the book is a story of bravery and sisterhood, and it creates space for conversations about so many of our favorite tropes from kid lit of the early aughts. Alli and her guest also explore the connection between fairy retellings (like Gail Carson Levine’s work, including Ella Enchanted) and the wildly popular romantasy trend of 2024 (think Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses). Chelsey Feder of @chelseyreads, Novel Pairings, and The Eclectic Reader is back for a record-breaking FOURTH appearance! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SSR is back after Alli’s maternity leave! We’ll be back to discuss a new literary throwback next week, but we’re kicking things off (again!) with a little catch-up session. Chelsey Feder of @chelseyreads and Novel Pairings plays co-host to help bring the SSR community up to speed on what’s been happening since you last tuned into the podcast. Alli and Chelsey discuss two major developments in Alli’s life, as well as what her reading routine has looked like recently. You’ll also hear more about what to expect from this new chapter of SSR.Big thanks to Chelsey for joining as co-host for this special episode… and to all of YOU for your patience and support! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to all of the listeners who participated in this year’s crowd-sourced episode: Abby, Diane, Julia, Holly, Kat, Shira, and Tracey.Tune in to hear them answer questions about their favorite childhood reading, times when they disagreed with the podcast, book recommendations for 2024, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the final book episode of 2023, Alli and her guest turn their attention to a real classic: Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It’s the first time reading the 1943 semi-autobiographical novel for both of them… and there’s a lot to discuss in this hefty volume! Topics of conversation include imperfect adults, the importance of education, pragmatism vs. idealism, the evolution of our language around mental health, financial insecurity, red flags, anti-Semitism, and how they might have experienced a book like this had they read it as children.TW: addiction, death of a parent, infant lossOre Agbaje-Williams is the author of The Three of Us. Follow her on Instagram (@oreawilliams). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At long last, Alli and her guest turn their attention to a book that’s been requested many times by listeners: Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Among the Hidden. The first installment in the Shadow Children series, Among the Hidden explores the consequences of a totalitarian government taking extreme measures to combat (alleged) overpopulation. Episode 273 covers everything from reproductive rights and propaganda to the history of dystopian literature and different types of activism.Claire Ahn is the author of I Guess I Live Here Now. Follow her on Instagram (@cuhlaireahn). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With New Reads November 2023 behind us, we’re back to throwbacks, starting with Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Alli’s guest recently read the 1970 novel with her own children… and she has thoughts. Episode 272 features conversations about gender representation, fatphobia, the power of illustrations, violence, and the glorification of stealing.Bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto is known for a number of books, including Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Dial A for Aunties, and The Obsession. Her latest YA novel is called Didn’t See That Coming. Follow her on Instagram (@jesseqsutanto) and Twitter (@thewritinghippo). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the grand finale of SSR’s New Reads November 2023… and the perfect time to discuss Talia Hibbert’s YA debut, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. With a trio of fantastic guests, Alli gets into the details of the book’s plot and pays special attention to OCD representation, outdoorsy scholarship experiences, romance tropes, and the extent to which there are two sides to every story. Thanks to Brittany (@britsgotbooks), Cait (@whatcaitreads), and Shira (@shira243) for being part of this first-ever Patreon episode of the podcast! Join the Patreon family to get in on the fun HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 3 of New Reads November takes a very close, very fun look at Maurene Goo’s Throwback. The book inspires conversations about everything from the complicated nature of mother/daughter relationships and empathy between generations to high school homecoming experiences and the tension between conformity and standing out. Alli and her guest also consider who Throwback is meant for and discuss the book’s origin story.Becca Freeman is the author of The Christmas Orphans Club and co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. Follow her on Instagram (@beccamfreeman). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.