Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Spooky Month continues, but we're moving away from scares into drippy monsters! Thankfully Michael Matthews's Love and Monsters features plenty of comedy and heart, courtesy of star Dylan O'Brien's voice over and a script from Matthew Robinson and Brian Duffield (the latter wrote previous episode Spontaenous).We're big fans of the best good boy, Dog, the way the film handles Joel's relationship with Aimee, and the Oscar-nominated realism of the CGI. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mailbag returns with an Alanna apology to Earl, a political dystopia discussion for Tea, Books & Chocolate and a thank you to Eric, who appreciates Brenna's musical taste.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spooky Season begins with a look at John Bellairs' 1973 franchise starter The House with a Clock in Its Walls, as well as Eli Roth's 2018 adaptation. Joining us for the ride is film critic Dede Crimmins, who brings a unique POV because she saw the film first.The book is *very* 70s and features surprisingly little character development, despite oozing atmosphere (that car chase!). The film is far more male-centric, but fleshes out its characters and set pieces while (obviously) giving stars Cate Blanchett Jack Black much more to do, including turn the latter into a baby with adult face! Creepy indeed!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky / Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)> Dede: @dedecrimHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesdays we wear pink! After many years of missing Oct 3, Brenna and Joe *finally* cover Mark Waters 2004's film Mean Girls and its source material, Rosalind Wiseman's parenting guide, Queen Bees & Wannabes.We've got some pretty major problems with Wiseman's 400 page tome, which relies heavily on gender binaries, barely addresses queer or racialized teens, and seems to hate girlhood?Thankfully the film is highly enjoyable. Despite being very white and featuring very 2000s language, these performances and jokes have stood the test of time. We're still trying to make fetch happen!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joey is off to College in this film from director Forest Whitaker (!) from a story by Jerry O'Connell (!!)Alas that's what's most interesting about this frankly boring movie that fails to create a character for Katie Holmes' Sam.The romance isn't interesting and the narrative seems stuck on repeat, plus there's some weird sexual chemistry between the President and First Daughter.Thankfully we'll always have "My Date with the President's Daughter" and that banging theme song!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brenna and Joe kick off Book Six with Bastien Vivès' 2017 comic Une Soeur/A Sister and Charlotte LeBon's film, Falcon Lake (2022). C/W: Vivès is under investigation for child pornography.We're fascinated by the similarities and differences in these texts, which both focus on a sexual awakening, but change the location and feature wildly different endings, which dramatically alters readings of the text as an autobiography.Plus: sex in comics, swingers and incest, and the ethereal beauty of the Canadian wilderness.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the end of Book Five, so we're closing the door on Veronica Roth's Divergent series with a look at her 2013 book Allegiant and director Robert Schwentke's 2016 film adaptation.We actually find good things in the beginning and end of the book, though the draggy middle section about eugenics (!) is...not great. Then we're onto the film, which adapts roughly 75% of the book, features horrible FX and a terrible Miles Teller performance, and should be thrown into the dustbin of history.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We missed listener Victoria's contributions to Book Club, so we're revisiting Alanna: The First Adventure to talk about a few extra scenes.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our last Book Club for the year! Brenna and Joe are joined by listeners Emma, Charlotte and Tea, Books & Chocolate to discuss Tamora Pierce's Alanna: The First Adventure (1983).While folks warned us the book hasn't aged super well (colonialism, white saviour, gender essentialism, etc), overall we *really* liked this and can understand the nostalgia of a fantasy series with a female protagonist in the 80s. After all, Alanna is a great heroine and this is solid middle-grade fiction.Up for discussion: bullying, menstruation, and a potential trans reading. Our big question? Where. Is. The. Adaptation?!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Bluesky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray / @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have follow-up work from our Red, White & Royal Blue episode, including an apology (courtesy of Miriam) about Casey McQuiston's pronouns, and three points about characters and politics (courtesy of Tea, Books & Chocolate).Then we fold in one additional thought about Charlie & Ben in Heartstopper S02 (courtesy of Jeremy).Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brenna and (moreso) Joe discuss listener Andrew's response about Joe feeling bad for Ben in Heartstopper S02.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky) or @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brenna and Joe are late to Casey McQuiston's phenom Red, White & Royal Blue which has just been adapted to film by Matthew López for Amazon.We're fans of this fun, flirty read which tackles a few substantive topics in a low-key fashion.The film...isn't working for us unfortunately. Despite stars Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine's best efforts, there's no romantic electricity here. Throw in cheap production values and a undercooked queer-revenge villain and the film is sadly undercooked. (And don't get us started on Uma's accent!)Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Insta, Bluesky and Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We couldn't help but discuss Becky Albertalli's new book Imogen, Obviously which feels like a semi-autobiographical account of the author's own experiences coming out as bisexual.Yes there's fluffy, bubblegum romance, but Albertalli is doing something far more complicated with the book's "villain" Gretchen and her dangerous gatekeeping of queer identities. It's really fascinating!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who's ready for Paris?! Brenna and Joe return to the world of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper for S02 of the Netflix series, which loosely corresponds to Volumes 3 & 4 of the comic.There's hickey drama, more queer teachers and even more diversity in the LGBTQIA umbrella. But while we're loving more Tao and Elle, Joe is frustrated by how quickly Isaac's "coming out" is handled and he finds the Ben subplot lacking. Thankfully the soundtrack and the kissing remains on point!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to listener Laura's recommendation, Brenna and Joe check out Clémentine Beauvais' delightful Piglettes (2015) about three fat girls who bike to Paris.There's nothing lost in translation because the witty wordplay shines through in this fun, breezy, feminist book. While Brenna has issues with how Mireille treats the other girls and Joe desires cathartic punishment, we're both appreciative that the girls don't change who they are and the only "lesson" learned is the value of friendship.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to listener Miriam, we're tackling John Marsden's Tomorrow, When The War Began (1993), as well as its 2010 film adaptation by Stuart Beattie and the Brendan Maher-directed season of TV from 2016.This massive Australian hit is highly teachable, though don't go looking for commentary on colonialism or political curiosity from its teenage protagonists. The film is a big budget action film that Joe prefers, while Brenna likes the direction and relationship between the kids in the TV series, even if both adaptations lean into uncomfortable racism in their depiction of the invading force. Yikes!Plus: let no one doubt Brenna's commitment to podcasting because Brenna was on tornado watch when we recorded this episode (listen to the outtakes for proof!)Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the fol

This week's mailbag is courtesy of listener Victoria, who asks if it's possible for literature to incite change anymore. Despite Brenna and Joe's initial melancholy outlook, John Green's interest in tuberculosis and the power of individual readers (plus the vital importance of YA) offers a possible sunny outlook.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the behest of listener Evelina, we're reading 2023's Stolen, by Sami author Ann-Helén Laestadius. C/W: graphic animal murder.Using contributions from listeners Victoria and Tea, Books & Chocolate, we dig into this three part intergenerational tale of trauma, environmental activism, racism, and suicide. It's a very heavy book (!) but it's also thrilling and beautifully written.Plus: queering Elsa and Minna's relationship, Lasse's suicide, Sami magic, why the ending is so unexpected, and fears for the forthcoming Netflix adaptationWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to listener Neera, Brenna and Joe cook up a definition of NA (New Adult), who or what falls into it, and why agents shouldn't dismissive of the category!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray / @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After waiting forever, Brenna and Joe finally get to watch Nick Bruno and Troy Quane's feature film adaptation of Nimona (2023) and it's...fine?Ok, it's more than fine, but there is something missing. While the obviousness of the trans elements and the changed ending are perfect for the current political moment, the messy, interesting character flaws and unpredictable format of ND Stevenson's original comic are missing.References:> Sam Adams. "Nimona Is the Rare Story Hollywood Made Gayer. Is It Better?" Slate> Caroline Cao. "Nimona’s radical page-to-screen story changes were a queer necessity." PolygonWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i