Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

After hearing so much about what this book means to fans - particularly young girls - Brenna and Joe are surprised to discover that it has not aged with. Blame the current pandemic, but a story that prioritizes individuality above all else doesn't quite the same way in a society that refuses to even wear a mask for the greater good.There's also the strange critique of communism/totalitarianism that is also an unabashed ode to Christianity that doesn't quite sit well. Thankfully we can see why Meg Murry is a friend to all smart, outsider girls (even if her last name is misspelled. Lol). The film doesn't fare too much better. Joe wonders if the issue is screenwriter Jennifer Lee's background in animation, while Brenna takes issue with the tired fan-service and janky FX. But we like the diverse casting, practical set design, costumes and make-up. It's all a big toss-up!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? E

To celebrate the great Kirsten Dunst/Gabrielle Union showdown of 2000, Joe makes Brenna watch Bring It On ! While some of the racial politics and its approach to queerness haven't aged particularly well, we appreciate the white girls coming in second, a competitive approach to female rivalry and a bounty of sassy dialogue.Faring less well is director Laura Terruso and writer Alison Peck's Work It (2020) which exists solely as a vehicle for Sabrina Carpenter, whom Joe describes as a charisma vacuum. Thankfully we have the comedically styling of Liza Koshy's Jas and the cuteness of PS I Still Love You's Jordan Fischer to ease over the many, MANY bumpy parts.Homework:Friend of the show Miriam recommends f/f YA books:Queer horror: Wilder Girls by Rory Power, Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand, and The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn HermanJuliet Takes A Breath by Gabby RiveraWe are Okay by Nina LaCourBrenna catches us up on: Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Alisha SayeedInternment by Samira AhmedLove, Cree

When we said we wanted more female stories in YA, this isn't *exactly* what we meant. Sadly Gloeckner's autobiographical comic/memoir is a misfire for us from both a storytelling and content perspective. Heller's film is a stronger, more streamlined approach but it features a distractingly beautiful Alexander Skarsgård in what is meant to be a frumpy, middle-aged man role.Up for discussion: why is this book praised for being daring (primarily by men)? Is the film's use of animation a success? Plus: praise for Bel Powley in her big break through performance and lots of Brenna sighing!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After bringing this bizarre oddity to our attention, we invite returning guest Lucia Lorenzi to chat with us about just what creators Keetgi Kogan and David H. Steinberg are trying to do with the series (spoiler: they think they're making ground breaking television). Nothing about this makes sense, and yet the series is compulsively watchable thanks to performances by Siena Agudong, Melissa Joan Hart and Sean Astin (alas they're all performing in completely different shows!). Throw in hugely problematic portrayals of child abuse, horrible foster care, jailhouse beat-downs, upper/middle class privilege, and the show's performative us of "Italian" as a tactic to avoid addressing race and No Good Nick is quite possibly the weirdest text we've ever covered!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteLucia: @empathywarriorHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for

Perhaps the second time is the charm? After a *not great* experience  with Yoon's first book Everything, Everything (see previous episode), Brenna and Joe tackle her most recent text, which balances a timely discussion and racism, immigration and deportation with a falling-in-love-in-one-day perfect date. Brenna is much more in favour of the book, especially Natasha's Jamaican background and Yoon's playful side-story telling. Joe is less enthused with Daniel's Korean storyline, which he argues feels too familiar, as well as the narrative confines of the single day premise. What we can both agree upon is that the film, particularly Tracy Oliver's screenplay, fundamentally misunderstands the book. Despite Russo-Young (previous episode Before I Fall)'s gorgeous lensing of New York, the film proves to be a misfire due to a lack of chemistry between leads Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton, its issues with colourism casting and the fumbling of the book's key Karaoke scene.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on

In addition to checking out the New YA film, which apparently has no idea how universities work, Brenna forgets our most covered actress Theresa Palmer, but did read a German poem (all 14 stanzas).In other news, we address some more reader mail, address our plans to include an Indigenous Land Acknowledgement (coming in two weeks) and review some homework:Brenna: The new Apple TV Ghostwriter and Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It EndsJoe: Angie Thomas' On The Come UpWanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are you a Claudia, a Kristy, a Mary Anne, a Stacey, or a Dawn? Brenna certainly has her dream answer (and her reality) as we nostalgically revisit one of the most enduring YA series of the 90s. As a novice to the series, Brenna walks Joe through the format of each book, why these characters played such a significant role in her life and why Logan is so dreadful!Questions for discussion include whether the Netflix revival should have wrapped after 8 episodes instead of 10 and why Alicia Silverstone is such an asset as Kristy's mom. Plus: which episodes/plot lines made us cry? Why the series is libel to be called "woke" and why that's not a bad thing and the unexpected queerness of the text.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Thanks to Covid, the typically hopping summer book release schedule has shifted to September, but we've still come up with some great picks to occupy your time.After some feedback on racial stereotypes in Never Have I Ever, we tackle Indigenous and lesbian book recommendations:Indigenous:Rhymes for Young Ghouls (dir: Jeff Barnaby, 2013)#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women, Edited by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth LeatherdaleHonourable mentions: A Girl Called Echo // The Marrow Thieves // Surviving the CityLesbian:You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah JohnsonThe Henna Wars by Abida JaigirdarHonourable mentions:  Dark & Deepest Red // Hot Dog GirlThen it's time for the main event, our anticipated July/August 2020 books.Brenna:The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (July 7)Loveless by Alice Oseman (July 9 - UK/Canada)Six Angry Girls by Adrienne Kisner (August 18)Reminders: Faith by Julie Murphy (July 7) // Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson (Sept 15)Joe:Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (July 7)Now That

In a freewheeling discussion that can't help but address J.K. Rowling's recent transphobic comments, we also tackle the need for critical fandom, as well as Chamber of Secrets’ fat phobia and obsession with blood purity. Also on the table: Why Gilderoy Lockhart is an obvious villain in the Rowling tradition and speculation about his real reason for joining Hogwart’s as the Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher.Plus: how to define Easter Eggs (they're not synonymous with retconning!), how magic resembles close readings and  and why we should appreciate the film's set design - and Jason Isaacs - more.Here is a brief (incomplete list) of trans and non-binary authors to support:Ronnie Mandias: RuneboundSara Codair: The Evanstar ChroniclesEverett Maroon: The Unintentional Time TravelerApril Daniels: DreadnoughtAiden Thomas: Cemetery BoysKai Cheng Thom: Fierce FemmesIvan Coyote: Rebent SinnerMason Deaver: I Wish You All The BestFox Benwell: Kaleidoscope Song; and finallyThe Gayly Prophet PodcastAnd search #BlackTra

Brenna and Joe - with special returning guest star Terry Mesnard (of Gayly Dreadful) - check out the first season of Disney+...er...Hulu's Love, Victor. We're primarily discussing the first five episodes (with helpful hints from Brenna, who watched the whole series) which follows new transfer student Victor (cutie Michael Cimino) who immediately falls into a love triangle with uber-popular Mia (Rachel Hilson) and  publicly-out barista Benji (George Sear).Oh if only the series were just about them! Alas, there's another half dozen characters, each of whom has their own storyline and arc, including Victor's parents (James Martinez and Ana Ortiz) and Mia's dad (Mekhi Phifer)!  This is a series that's doing plenty of good things, but it's also overstuffed, surprisingly tame considering Disney+'s weirdly conservative decision to move it to Hulu and sadly averse to featuring predominantly queer musicians.In short: we have THOUGHTS!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstole

Oh for the love of Judi Dench, what is going on here?! Brenna and Joe tackle the character-lite, action-heavy world of villainous child genius Artemis Fowl as he kidnaps, blackmails and holds for ransom the Fairies. It's a tale as old as time...but one we struggle to connect to.Of course, our *shrug* for the book pales in comparison to the WOOF of the film, which may just be one of the worst films we've covered on the Pod!Which brings us to a complicated discussion (involving our first bad review, no less!) as we work through the need to distinguish "hating" books we dislike and "critically" addressing them.  Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At the behest of critics (and a few listeners), we dive into Never Have I Ever, which has a great lead performance by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as a grief-stricken teen who directs her energy into becoming popular and having sex.We discuss the cultural comedy, the show's nuanced treatment of female agency, and debate the mother/daughter relationship. We also have some strong thoughts about what's not working, including the best friends playing stock caricatures and that voice over by famed tennis star, John McEnroe.In homework: Joe checks out "Spanish Gossip Girl" series Elite (also on Netflix) and Brenna reads through listener emails, including a call for resources for a UK Librarian.Links: We Need Diverse BooksAmerican Indians in Children's LiteratureThe Festival of Literary Diversity (The Fold)Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See aca

We're so ready to discuss the most flattering pair of shared jeans you've ever owned! After a few weeks in the arena, a gentle realist YA is just what we need, so let's dive into the shared adventures of Lena, Tibby, Carmen and Bee.Up for discussion: Joe's flip flop appreciation for two stories in the book and the other two in the film, the antiquated ableism of the book, frustration at the sex of the director, and the amazing ferocity of America Ferrera in the film. Plus: a surprising discussion of the book's ties to 9/11 and a plagiarism scandal that ties back to Gossip Girl!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For a second week in row, Brenna and Joe dive into The Hunger Games, but this time we're venturing back to its 10th iteration, when Coriolanus Snow was but a mere 18 years ago. Little did he know he was about to create literally Every.Single.Component that defines the Games 64 years later!We joke because we're tired. Reading this 528 page tome in 6 days is not recommended, as Collins' capacity for world-building is overwhelmed by poor editing, sheer repetition, as well as a continued reliance on children's death and the misguided belief that anyone wants a backstory for this main character (who P.S. has no arc!) It's not all bad, though, so grab a bowl of cabbage soup, prepare a song and settle in with us for a mix of spoiler-free and spoilers. Spoiler-Free Review: 00:00 - 18:22Spoiler Filled Review: 18:22 - 40:56Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and o

Prepare your fire retardant costumes and choose your allies carefully because we are headed back into the dystopian wilds of The Hunger Games. For our second episode on a podcast namesake, we break out the big topics:Why is the love triangle so exhausting?Logistical questions about the need to return to the arenaPeeta (once again) getting short shriftIs the book ableist or is it a critique of ableism?The curious incident of Katniss' disappearing pregnancyJoe repeatedly saying monkeys instead of baboons; andOur interest/apprehension about the forthcoming prequelWanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While Joe refuses to read a Victorian-era play, he's more than happy to watch film adaptations of them! This week we're checking out a plethora of YA tropes: the collaboration between suitors in an impersonation ruse, a "tricky kiss" and an epistolary romance. On one side of the ring is Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, one of our few remaining Noah Centineo joints, which gets as many things right as it does wrong (pour one out for the disinterest in female friendships!). On the other is the queer, POC frontedThe Half Of It, which is a warm, delightful film. Aside from a slightly frustrating climax, this is an absolute gem and features one of the best friendships we've ever seen on the show.In homework: Brenna has finished Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (mentioned in the May/June forecast) and "similar to The Virgin Suicides" Long Live The Tribe of Fatherless Girls by Tier Kiera Madden. Joe, meanwhile, advocates for the fantasy escapism of House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig.Wanna connect with the sh

No one is more surprised than us to discover that the escapism we need and want could be found in the tale of three teenage girls from different backgrounds who meet at Shoplifters Anonymous. But here we are!Brenna and Joe find the novel, filled with as many innovations as it has YA tropes, is an absolute delight. Alas the TV show, which has been unnecessarily stretched out to two (!) ten episode seasons, has lost sight of what makes the book so special. Despite great performances by its three female leads, all of the romantic relationships are icky and/or problematic and the narrative takes a hard left turn around episode 5 or 6 that loses us.At least we have the book!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's time for another YA Forecast as we run down our top picks for May & June 2020. First up we discuss homework: Brenna lauds Tiffany D Jackson's fall release, Grown, as well as Nic Sheff's Tweak, while Joe  praises Liz Lawson's The Lucky Ones.Then it's time for our interview with former The Hunger Games guest, Alex Heeney. She stops by to discuss Seventh Row's new ePub, The 2019 Canadian Cinema Yearbook, which includes several prominent coming of age films.Finally, it's time to forecast for May & June. Here are a few stand-out picks:Brenna:Clap When You Land by Elizabeth AcevedoBreath Like Water by Anna ZarjabStay Gold by Tobly McSmithJoe:The Mermaid, The Witch & The Sea by Maggie Toduka-Hall Wonderland by Juno DawsonI Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit FrickHonourable Mention:  Selah & The Spades (Amazon Prime)Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page

Grab your magical item and prepare for a road trip across America because Brenna and Joe are embarking on a quest fit for a (Demi) God as we dive into Rick Riordan's 2005 YA franchise starter, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, as well as Chris Columbus' 2010 adaptation of the same name.We discuss how the genesis of Riordan's epic is both empowering and also far too long. The author himself is similarly thorny: Brenna praises him for the advocacy work his Disney imprint is doing, but we find his entitled comments about the film and the looming shadow of Harry Potter off-putting. As for the film, we have questions: has screenwriter Craig Titley (or Columbus for that matter) ever actually met a black person? Why does the film think its audience is so dumb? And why does the final result feel like a such a bland, boring C-grade effort to kick-start a franchise?Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisod

Now we're talking! After a provocative minisode, listeners reached out to share their thoughts and stories on Sex in YA.  Clearly it's a topic that resonated because we got a wide variety of fascinating insights!In homework: Brenna highlights Julie Murphy's Faith: Taking Flight (due in July) while Joe circles back to Catherine Linka's What I Want You To See , which he mentioned in the Feb YA Forecast.Finally, we dive into the beautiful artistry of Eliza Hittman's third feature film, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which is essential viewing - provided you're in the right frame of mind. Viewer advisory: this isn't an easy, casual watch, so be kind to yourselves!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.