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 culture

Lucy 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 Wood

CHECK OUT LUCY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

MORE 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)

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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 Ho

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

Half a Life by Darin Strauss

MORE 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)

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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 loss

Alissa DeRogatis is the author of Call It What You Want. Subscribe to her Substack newsletter

Probably Oversharing and follow her on Instagram @alissaderogatis.

CHECK OUT ALISSA’S BOOK HERE!

CHECK OUT ALISSA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Old Enough by Haley Jakobson

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

OTHER BOOK SHOUTOUTS:

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

MORE 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)

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Pippi Longstocking has been beloved by readers of all ages for decades thanks to her strength, generosity, silliness, bravery, and kindness. On Episode 209, Alli and her guest chat about all the warm fuzzinnes of her story, which was written by Astrid Lindgren and published in 1945. Tune in for conversations about Pippi’s timelessness, self-compassion, self-awareness, kid lit post-WWII, the importance of taking up space, subversions of orphan tropes, and their favorite Pippi adventures.

Claribel Ortega is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of middle grade and YA fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage, including Witchlings and Frizzy. Follow her on Instagram (@claribel_ortega) and Twitter (@claribel_ortega).

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Prepare for a trip down the rabbit hole! On Episode 208, Alli and her guest chat all things Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: its social commentary, aesthetic, adaptations, absurdity, and everything in between. They also dig into world building and the Alice origin story.

Roselle Lim is the author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune, Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop, and Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club. Follow her on Instagram (@rosellewriter) and Twitter (@rosellewriter).

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Episode 207 brings us back to Louis Sachar’s Wayside School — more specifically, to his 1989 novel Wayside School Is Falling Down. Will this installment get a warmer reception from Alli than the first book in the series? Listen and find out! The conversation touches on representation, identity development, bathroom humor, Book Tok, existential dread, darkness in kid lit, the importance of names, critiques of the K-12 school system, and more.

Denise Williams is the author of How to Fail at Flirting, The Fastest Way to Fall, and Do You Take This Man. Follow her on Instagram (@nicwillwrites) and Twitter (@nicwillwrites).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Episode 206, Alli and her guest get ahead of spooky season with a discussion about Roald Dahl’s The Witches. They talk about the controversy surrounding both the book and the author, consider how dark is too dark for young readers, debate the merits of happy endings versus messy endings, and chat about the negative reception that the 2020 adaptation of The Witches received.

Amanda Aksel is the author of Delia Suits Up and No Funny Business. Follow her on Instagram (@amandaaksel).

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Judy Blume and the Hatcher family are BACK! On Episode 205, Alli and her guest revisit the rowdy world of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing with a chat about fatherhood in the ‘70s, group projects, fatphobia, and why anyone would choose to eat a turtle. They also dig deep into sibling dynamics and seek justice for big brother Peter!

Carola Lovering is the author of Tell Me Lies, Too Good to Be True, and Can’t Look Away. Follow her on Instagram (@carolatlovering).

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On Episode 204, Alli and her guest dig into all things Addy Walker. They discuss the larger origin story that brought American Girl’s first non-white doll to market, as well as the specifics of Meet Addy. They talk about the importance of different kinds of representation for BIPOC folks, the complicated nature of Addy’s slave narrative, what the basic structure of the Addy series tells us about white privilege, the significance of the actual Addy doll, and so much more.

Ebony LaDelle is an author and experienced marketing and publishing professional who just can’t shut up about books. She is the co-host of Why Not YA? and the author of Love Radio. Follow her on Instagram (@ebonyladelle) and Twitter (@EbonyLadelle).

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We’re overdue for a Q&A episode, so let’s make up for lost time! On Episode 203, Alli answers listener questions about…

* How to start a podcast
* The SSR reads that have most surprised her
* Her vision for SSR
* Dream podcast guests
* How her friends and family feel about the show
* Her MFA program and novel-writing process
* All things IRV

… and so much more!

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Anything can happen when the Wakefield twins are around… including the arrival of a brooding, mysterious vampire who becomes the most popular guy at Sweet Valley High. On Episode 202, Alli and her guest dive into the 126th book in the SVH series, Tall, Dark, and Deadly. It’s the first installment in the famed “vampire trio” and it’s quite a ride. This episode covers everything from vampire canon and camp love affairs to stalker-ish antics and the lack of representation in Jessica and Elizabeth’s world.

Andie J. Christopher is a USA Today bestselling author of sharp, witty, sexy contemporary romances about complex people finding happily ever after. Her work has been featured in NPR, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, and The New York Post. Thank You, Next is her latest book. Follow her on Instagram (@authorandiej) and Twitter (@authorandiej).

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SSR is back for year FIVE… and there’s no better way to return from summer break than with a conversation about Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters. On Episode 201, Alli and her guest discuss why this book written for adults appeals so much to teen readers, the novel’s multiple POVs, the empathy they have for the parent characters, toxic friendships, bad hygiene, Gilmore Girls, Blume’s handling of sexuality, and so much more!

Alison Rose Greenberg is the author of Bad Luck Bridesmaid. Follow her on Instagram (@alison.greenberg) and Twitter (@alisongreenberg).

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Cue the confetti and the champagne, because it’s SSR’s TWO-HUNDREDTH episode!

To celebrate, Alli and her guest have a fun, thoughtful conversation about Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen. Tune in to hear them talk about appearances vs. reality, main character Annabel’s experiences in the modeling industry, the misplaced expectations readers can place on books, delicate treatment of heavy subjects, anger, and the power of knowing you’re not alone. They also discuss what makes Sarah Dessen’s work so special across the board.

TW: rape, assault, eating disorders, racism, trauma

Leah Johnson is an eternal midwesterner and author of award-winning books for children and young adults, including You Should See Me in a Crown and Rise to the Sun. Her debut middle grade novel, Ellie Engle Saves Herself, is forthcoming from Disney-Hyperion in 2023. Follow Leah on Instagram (@byleahjohnson) and Twitter (@byleahjohnson).

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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 Weinberg

MORE 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!

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**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!**

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On Episode 199, a subject matter expert in Jewish identity and culture walks Alli through Jane Yolen’s award-winning Holocaust novel The Devil’s Arithmetic. This is a heavy conversation, but it’s also a must-listen! You’ll walk away with a new appreciation for Jewish representation and Holocaust narratives, not to mention a better understanding of why memory is so important in Jewish culture.

Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath is a lifelong Jewish educator and learner. She is an expert in teen identity development and the author of #antisemitism: Coming of Age During the Resurgence of Hate. Follow her on Instagram (@samvinokor) and Twitter (@Sam_Vinokor).

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Episode 198 is more than a decade in the making! Alli and guest Colleen McKeegan went to high school (and were cheerleaders!) together and have been planning for Colleen’s appearance on the pod since the day they started talking about becoming novelists at happy hour in midtown Manhattan. In this conversation about P.S. Longer Letter Later, it finally happens! This epistolary novel was published in 1998 and is a collaboration between two legends: Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger.

Tune in for discussions about the unique nature of a pen pal relationship, chosen family, a subversion of common ‘90s depictions of what’s “normal,” and models for healthy conflict. Alli and Colleen also share memories from high school and discuss which of P.S. Longer Letter Later’s narrators they relate to and why.

Colleen McKeegan is a writer and editor who’s held roles at Marie Claire (where her work was nominated for a National Magazine Award), Bloomberg, and Fortune among others. The Wild One is her debut novel. Follow her on Instagram (@clmckeegan) and Twitter (@cmleahey).

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Julie Andrews is Mary Poppins, Maria von Trapp, Queen Clarisse, Lady Whistledown… and a beloved author. On Episode 197, Alli and her guest discuss her first published work: Mandy. They speak in-depth about a story they describe as a “warm cup of tea” and cover a wide range of subjects: their favorite Julie Andrews moments, the appeal of orphan stories for kid readers, Mandy’s emotional complexity, themes of luck and exceptionalism, and more.

Erin La Rosa is the author of For Butter or Worse. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three daughters (two feline, one human). Follow her on Instagram (@erinlarosalit) and Twitter (@erinlarosalit).

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Episode 196 will make you feel almost as many feels as the blockbuster film Titanic did… and not only because it’s about a book that covers the same historical territory. In it, Alli and her guest discuss one of the most popular installments in the Dear America series: Ellen Emerson White’s Voyage on the Great Titanic. In spite of the heavy subject matter, the conversation is still a fun one that touches on why young bookworms manage to get away with reading spicy content, global interest in the Titanic, the challenges inherent in building tension in a book with an ending everyone already knows, class, maritime vocabulary, Kate and Leo, survivor’s guilt, privilege, and so much more.

Kelsey McKinney is a co-founder and owner of Defector Media, author of the novel God Spare the Girls, and host of Normal Gossip. Follow her on Instagram (@mckinneykelsey) and Twitter (@mckinneykelsey).

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Whether you’re ready or not… things are about to get both steamy and political on Episode 195. Alli and her guest discuss Meg Cabot’s Ready or Not. In this sequel to All-American Girl, main character Samantha Madison wrestles with her complicated feelings about sex and the new conservative political agenda for which she’s unwittingly become the poster child. There’s talk of the murky business of likability, the “not like other girls” trope, the pressures of having a platform, the absurd misunderstanding that drives Ready or Not from start to finish, and models of popularity and femininity in the early aughts. Of course, there’s also plenty of talk of sex — more specifically, the way it’s portrayed in the book.

Shauna Robinson is the author of Must Love Books. Follow her on Instagram (@shauna.robs) and Twitter (@shaunarobs).

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Major spoiler alert: The Truth About Forever is officially Alli’s favorite of the Sarah Dessen books she’s read so far for the pod.

The main character is relatable, the love interest is the swooniest, the emotions are real and nuanced, and all of the summer details are *chef’s kiss*. Plus, the book inspires a fantastic conversation on Episode 194 — a conversation that explores perfectionism, toxic relationships, terrible boyfriends, the realities of working in a library, the way our collective approach to grief has shifted in the last 20 years, intense moms, our suggestions for a future adaptation of The Truth About Forever, and Sarah Dessen’s masterful craft and world-building.

Martha Waters is the author of To Have and To Hoax, To Love and to Loathe, and To Marry and to Meddle. Follow her on Instagram (@marthabwaters) and Twitter (@marthabwaters).

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On Episode 193, Alli and her guest explore the third book in the Nancy Drew series, The Bungalow Mystery. As always when it comes to Nancy, it’s complicated — and you’ll hear them explore what is empowering and inspiring about this famed teen detective while also unpacking why she feels so problematic in 2022. They discuss Nancy’s fast friendships, her tendency to make quick judgements, the way the books focuses on property law, various tropes about women, and the history of the series. They also take a deep dive into Carson Drew.

Kate Spencer is the co-host of the Forever35 podcast and the author of The Dead Moms Club and In a New York Minute. Follow her on Instagram (@katespencer) and Twitter (@katespencer).

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All hail Queen Judy Blume! Episode 192 is all about Judy’s most autobiographical novel, Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself. Published in 1977, Sally tells the story of a young Jewish girl navigating a move from New Jersey to Miami in the aftermath of World War II. The novel inspires conversations about Holocaust literature more broadly, how to best capture tragedy and humor simultaneously, old tech, teasing as flirting or flattery, writing about death for kids, our changing expectations for children, and the one language choice Alli struggled with in this book.

Hena Khan is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Amina’s Song, Amina’s Voice, More to the Story, and most recently, Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun. Follow her on Instagram (@henakhanbooks) and Twitter (@henakhanbooks).

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On Episode 191, Alli and her guests finally explore the wacky world of Carl Hiaasen as it’s written in the 2003 Newbery Honor-winning novel Hoot. They chat about environmental advocacy, adults in kid lit, depictions of police institutions, and the importance of making kids feel respected by the books they read.

Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick are co-authors of the New York Times bestselling novel She Gets the Girl. Rachael is also the author of The Lucky List and the co-author of Five Feet Apart and All This Time. They live in Pittsburgh with their dog, Hank. Follow them on Instagram (@rachaellippincott | @whoisalysonanyway) and TikTok (@alysonandrachael).

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Episode 190 is a historic moment for SSR because it explores a book series intended for truly younger readers: Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia. Alli and her guest deep dive into a five-book box set and reminisce about the moments of wordplay and miscommunication they most remember from their childhood reading experiences. They also discuss the moments they found less charming as adult readers! They touch on Amelia Bedelia reboots, a reframing of perceptions of domestic work, how cool they felt when they learned to write in cursive, Amelia’s artful passive aggression, ageism, and what it really means to dress a chicken.

Kate Kennedy is the host of the Be There In Five podcast. Follow her on Instagram (@bethereinfive).

This episode is brought to you by Kensington’s newest title, Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas.

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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.

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SSR is way overdue for a Saddle Club moment — but on Episode 189, it finally happens! Alli and her guests discuss the first book in Bonnie Bryant’s iconic horse girls series, Horse Crazy. They cover everything from their own personal horse girl experiences and middle school drama to Stevie Lake’s questionable business practices and the portrayal of POC in the book. Saddle up, because this episode is a very fun hang!

Hannah and Laura are the co-hosts of the On Wednesdays We Read podcast, which is fondly known as OWWR Pod. Tune in wherever you listen to your favorite pods and follow the show on Instagram (@owwrpod) and Twitter (@Owwrpod).

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Almost exactly one year to the day since SSR first dove into the Royal Diaries series, Alli and her guest are back to explore the fictionalized journal of another young royal. This time, the focus is on the second to last installment from the series: Anacaona, Golden Flower, Haiti, 1490. Having never learned about Anacaona, they share her story and lament the revisionist history that’s kept her out of our textbooks. They also discuss the value of learning history through epistolary novels, the parasocial nature of our relationships with royals over the years, the need for a wider range of narratives from marginalized communities, and so much more.

TW: suicide

Amber Burns is a writer, podcaster, and avid reader currently living in Philadelphia. Follow her on Instagram (@byamberburns) and Twitter (@byamberburns) and listen to her podcast Thank You For Asking wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

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We are gathered here today to celebrate the love of Kristy’s mom and Watson… but also the love among the members of the BSC. On Episode 187, Alli and her guest explore Ann M. Martin’s favorite Baby-Sitters Club installment, Kristy’s Big Day. They chat about blended families, Kristy as a queer icon, traditional gender roles throughout the series, and the class dynamics we see between the Brewers and the Thomases. They also praise the club’s entrepreneurial know-how and demand better pay for them! This is guest Alison Cochrun’s first-ever experience reading a BSC title, which makes it extra fun.

Alison Cochrun is the author of The Charm Offensive. Follow her on Instagram (@alisoncochrun) and Twitter (@AlisonCochrun).

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Break out those magnifying glasses, listeners! On Episode 186, Alli and her guest join one of the classic kid sleuths for some seriously interactive detective work. During their conversation about Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, they chat about the origins and evolution of the series as a whole, smart kids in pop culture, the portrayal of lone girl character Sally Kimball, and parallels between Encyclopedia Brown and the BSC. This episode is also heavy on the Gilmore Girls references! In a parallel universe, would Rory and Encyclopedia date successfully? Tune in and find out!

Jules Buonocore is the blogger behind The Literary Lifestyle, where books meet lifestyle. It’s like Reading Rainbow for grown-ups! Popular topics include celebrity book clubs, bookstagram tips, and the Rory Gilmore Book Club, which inspired this episode of SSR. Follow Jules (@bookish_jules) and the Rory Gilmore Book Club (@therorygilmorebookclub) on Instagram.

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On Episode 185, Alli and her guest have a bit of a love fest in honor of Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart. Alli is coming to the book for the first time and she compares notes with her guest, who remembers it fondly from her childhood. They talk about world building, the tricky business of translation, the author/reader relationship, compelling adult characters in books meant for kids, and grief. It’s a conversation about a book about books, so book lovers — get excited!

Akshaya Raman is the author of The Ivory Key. Follow her on Instagram (@akshraman) and Twitter (@akshraman).

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For the first time since the SSR episode about A Wrinkle in Time back in 2018, Alli returns to the world of Madeleine L’Engle, this time for a deep dive into A Ring of Endless Light. Listen to Episode 184 for conversations about everything from grief and loss to dolphins and ESP. Alli and her guest also share their thoughts on a series of potential love interests for main character Vicky and discuss the ways in which this book feels painfully timely for readers in 2022.

TW: suicidal ideation, depression, PTSD, trauma, grief

Claire Legrand is a New York Times bestselling author. Her new book Extasia is now available.

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On Episode 183, Alli and her guest get reacquainted with Shirley Temple Wong, the spunky young heroine from Bette Bao Lord’s In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. Shirley’s experience as a Chinese-American immigrant in 1947 inspires conversations about identity, language, race, the American dream, the pressures placed on marginalized communities, and (of course) baseball.

Traci Chee is the best-selling and award-winning author of books for young people, including The Reader, We Are Not Free, and most recently, A Thousand Steps Into Night. Follow her on Instagram (@tracicheeauthor) and Twitter (@tracichee).

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This week, SSR takes it allllll the way back to a classic with a conversation about Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. Alli and her guest discuss the things they love about this cozy read, along with the weirdness with which it approaches gender, parental responsibility, race, class, privilege, manners, and morality. They also consider how movie adaptations influence our readings of an original text and dive into the world of Instagram manifesting babes.

Danya Kukafka is an agent at Trellis Literary Management and the author of Girl in Snow and Notes on an Execution. Follow her on Instagram (@danyakukafka) and Twitter (@danyakukafka).

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On Episode 181, Alli and her guests explore Francesca Lia Block’s I Was a Teenage Fairy. They discuss everything from fairy tales and beautiful writing to trauma and masculinity. They also examine what the book is saying about sexuality, size, empathy, and more.

TW: child sexual abuse, sexual assault

Emma Gray and Claire Fallon are co-hosts of Love to See It with Emma and Claire and co-authors of Rich Text. Follow them on Instagram (@claireandemmapod) and Twitter (@lovetoseeitpod).

Emma Gray is the author of A Girl’s Guide to Joining the Resistance. Her work, which focuses on gender, culture, and politics, can also be found in Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, NYLON, and HuffPost. Follow her on Instagram (@emmaladyrose) and Twitter (@emmaladyrose).

Claire Fallon is a books and culture writer. Previously a staff writer at HuffPost, her work can also be found in Vice and Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram (@claireefallon) and Twitter (@ClaireEFallon).

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Alli is joined by romance author Alana Albertson to dish about Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Tune in to hear them chat about everything from cheating love interests and the meaning of home to film adaptations and privilege. They also talk quite a bit about the romance genre, touching on the sexist nature of the way it’s often criticized, how love stories are plotted, and so much more.

Alana Quintana Albertson has written thirty romance novels, rescued five-hundred death-row shelter dogs, and danced one thousand rumbas. Her latest book Ramón and Julieta is now available. Follow her on Instagram (@authoralanaalbertson) and Twitter (@AlanaAlbertson).

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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.

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On this very exciting episode, Alli is joined by linguist and cult expert Amanda Montell for a conversation about the eighty-second book in Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High series, Kidnapped By the Cult!, in which they discover that the SVH portrayal of cults is actually pretty accurate. You’ll learn about the history and language of cults, Amanda’s first impression of the Wakefields, teen brain chemistry, and so much more. Plus, Alli and Amanda reminisce on high school angst and mall hangs!

Amanda Montell is a writer, linguist, and author of the critically acclaimed books Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. Her writing has appeared in publications like Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, and others. She is also the creator and co-host of the “comedy-cult” podcast Sounds Like a Cult. Amanda grew up in Baltimore, holds a degree in linguistics from NYU, and lives in Los Angeles with her partner, plants, and pets. Follow her on Instagram (@amanda_montell). 

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For the grand finale of Manuary 2022, Alli finally returns to a book that she’s been wanting to discuss on the pod for years: Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl. Will it live up to her memories and expectations? You’ll have to listen to find out! On this episode, Alli and her guest chat about fairy lore, antiheroes, bathroom humor, racism in fantasy, office politics, law enforcement in literature, boy geniuses, and Santa Claus.

Zack Loran Clark is a writer and editor of children’s books. He is the author of The Lock-Eater and co-author of The Adventurers Guild trilogy, with Nick Eliopulos. Follow Zack on Instagram (@zacktly) and Twitter (@zackloranclark).

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Take one eager canine narrator, a well-read cat, and a seemingly harmless rabbit who might *actually* be a vampire, and you’ve got yourself Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery, the 1979 children’s novel by James and Deborah Howe that started a beloved series. For the third week of Manuary 2022, Alli and her guest laugh their way through a discussion of vampire lore, neurotic pets, and animal antics. They also talk about the Bunnicula origin story and the way the story has been adapted over the years. They wrap things up with an important discussion about how to prevent the banning of books.

Lev Rosen — AKA L.C. Rosen — is the award-winning, beloved author of books for people of all ages, including Camp and Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts). His next book, Lavender House, will be released in the fall of 2022. Follow him on Instagram (@levacrosen) and Twitter (@LevACRosen).

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It’s Week 2 of Manuary 2022 and Alli and her guest turn their attention to Beverly Cleary’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, Dear Mr. Henshaw. Their discussion covers everything from Beverly Cleary’s legacy and the way the book offers an unfiltered look at divorce from a child’s perspective to writing advice and class. Guest Jeff Zentner also shares how he’s been influenced by Dear Mr. Henshaw and Beverly Cleary.

Jeff Zentner is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed author of The Serpent King, In the Wild Light, Goodbye Days, and Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee. Follow him on Instagram (@jeffzentner) and Twitter (@jeffzentner).

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On Episode 175, Alli and her guests — the hosts of the Overdue podcast — kick off a new year and the fourth-annual Manuary with a conversation about The Story of Dr. Dolittle, which was written by Hugh Lofting and originally published in 1920. And if you thought the Dr. Dolittle universe was all about talking animals, you’re very mistaken! In fact, the book inspires discussions about everything from animal personhood and colonialism to socialism and the various ways talking animals are portrayed on-screen.

Overdue is a podcast about the books you’ve been meaning to read, hosted by Andrew Cunningham and Craig Getting. New episodes drop every Monday on your favorite podcast player! Follow the pod on Instagram (@overduepod) and Twitter (@OverduePod). Follow hosts Andrew (@AndrewWrites) and Craig (@MCgetting) on Twitter, too!

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Happy holidays and happy (almost) new year!

To wrap up 2021, we’re once again inviting SSR listeners to join the fun on the show! Listeners share about their favorite childhood books, the books the pod has ruined for them (sorry!), the books they’ve discovered from SSR, the books they’d most liked to see adapted for film or TV, and so much more.

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For the final book episode of 2021, Alli and her guest experience a new-to-them classic, Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s Finding My Voice, which was first published in 1992 and reissued in 2021. The book explores the universal questions of identity and race and tackles the unfortunately still-relevant matter of racism, specifically against the Asian-American community. It inspires conversations about the immigrant experience, popularity, people pleasing, and how we’ve been conditioned to react to the “cool guy.”

Jane Igharo is the author of The Sweetest Remedy and Ties That Tether, as well as the forthcoming Worth Having (out September 2022). Follow her on Instagram (@jane_igharo) and Twitter (@VictoriousJane).

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After an amazing month of New Reads November 2021, it’s time we get back to throwback reads, starting with Zoey Dean’s The A-List! On Episode 172, Alli and her guest return to the era of all things wealth and mean girls. They discuss the appeal of this very ‘00s genre, the rampant slut shaming and fatphobia they see in the book, reinvention in YA, nuanced parent/daughter relationships, and so much more.

Zakiya Dalila Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl. Her essays and book reviews have appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. Follow her on Instagram (@zakiyadalilaharris) and Twitter (@zakiya_harris).

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This week, New Reads November 2021 comes to its grand finale with a conversation about Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Ever After. Tune in for discussions about the importance of representation in publishing, the differences in book covers from one country to the next, tabloid culture, fantastic literary parents, the tensions between tradition and progress, and The Princess Diaries.

Talia Hibbert is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Get a Life, Chloe Brown; Take a Hint, Dani Brown; and Act Your Age, Evie Brown. Follow her on Instagram (@taliahibbert) and Twitter (@TaliaHibbert).

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At long last, Alli is reading and discussing the book that has been most frequently recommended to her by guests and listeners in 2020 and 2021: Linda Sue Park’s Prairie Lotus. This book presents a long overdue perspective about the same (highly complicated) era romanticized by Laura Ingalls Wilder and explores matters of race, xenophobia, loss, Otherness, and assault. On Episode 170, Alli and her guest discuss the importance of embracing one’s full identity, the depiction of Native American culture in Prairie Lotus, the pressures placed on children and women of color, and so much more. Enjoy this third week of New Reads November 2021!

Veera Hiranandani is the author of several highly-acclaimed, award-winning books, including The Night Diary and The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Her new book — How to Find What You’re Not Looking For — is now available. Follow Veera on Instagram (@veerawrites) and Twitter (@VeeraHira).

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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.

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Welcome back to New Reads November 2021! This week, L.C. Rosen’s Camp takes center stage. In Camp, main character Randy navigates the ups and downs of a relationship with his longtime camp crush… under less than transparent circumstances. The conversation on Episode 169 explores questions of changing yourself for relationships, identity, internalized homophobia, and keeping the people you love safe. Alli and her guest also chat about complicated characters, the degree to which teen characters are forced to stay connected to their families of origin, and their own camp experiences.

Dahlia Adler is an editor of mathematics by day, the overlord of LGBTQReads by night, and a young adult author at every spare moment in between. She is the editor of several anthologies, including Junior Library Guild selection His Hideous Heart, and the author of many novels, including Indie Next pick Cool for the Summer. She lives in New York with her family and an obscene number of books. Find her on Twitter (@MissDahlELama) and Instagram (@missdahlelama).

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It’s Week 1 of New Reads November 2021! This year, we’re kicking things off with a conversation about You Have a Match by Emma Lord. This 2021 title — which combines serious Parent Trap vibes with influencer culture and mail-in DNA tests — was selected for Reese’s YA Book Club, which is a pretty big deal! On Episode 168, Alli and her guest discuss queer rep, portrayals of social media and technology in literature, and how much is “too much” in a novel. They also chat about the golden age of YA!

Emma Benshoff is a digital marketing manager for Underlined, the teen branch of Random House Books for Young Readers. Follow her on Instagram (@emmabenshoff) and Twitter (@emmabenshoff).

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To all the listeners I’ve loved before… let’s talk about To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before! At long last, it’s time to dive into Jenny Han’s beloved 2014 YA rom com, made all the more famous by Netflix’s recent adaptations. Alli and her guest chat about said adaptations, along with the book’s portrayal of sisterhood, people pleasing, sex, popularity, healthy relationships, and so much more. They also discuss the importance of representation in pop culture.

Farah Naz Rishi is the author of It All Comes Back to You and I Hope You Get This Message. Follow her on Instagram (@farahnazrishi) and Twitter (@farahnazrishi).

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