Episodi
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In October, we set out one morning for NYC to take a VIP tour of the American Girl Store. What happened next cannot be described in a mere text box. Did we do a photoshoot on a train? Did we learn about a heretofore unknown to us diagnosis? Did we read the main floor display of the store through the lens of 90s figure skating? Listen as we explore the store, visit the doll hospital, fix a hair crisis, and more.
Original air date: January 27, 2020
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Clear your calendars. Burn a chakra candle. Prepare yourself for the greatest love story that never needed to be told. Join us as we tackle Ann Rinaldi's first and most unforgettable historical romance: Time Enough for Drums (1986). The cover poses the question: "Can Jem ever love a Tory?" Please trust us that this will be the lowest on your list of questions after following along with our Rinaldi read.
Original air date: February 28, 2020
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Buckle up for a real ride. We're taking you on an Alcott odyssey. First, we talk about the latest film adaptation of Little Women and ponder questions like: why didn't Greta Gerwig win ....everything? Is Thoreau a precursor to tiny house builders everywhere? We play a spirited game of scam or real Bronson Alcott business endeavor, and perhaps most importantly, report on recent communications by Comrade Spears
Original air date: March 31, 2020
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This month our Patreon bonus features commentary on *Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic.*We talk about the iceberg-level cultural fascination with the ship, the Titanic Historical Society, and survivors' videos on Youtube.
The Titanic documentary we discuss can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HchZvjV_4o
Original Air Date: April 20, 2020
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Ashlee Simpson may have gifted us with her "Autobiography," but on this episode we take a deep dive into Jessica Simpson's latest memoir, Open Book. We discuss memoir as a form, Newlyweds, the Nick Lachey of it all, the toxicity that is John Mayer, and more.
Original air date: May 29, 2020
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This Pride month, we chose to cover three biographical projects that focus on Black queer experiences. First, we talk about two different approaches to presenting the life of Marsha P. Johnson, an important activist involved in the 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn. With the Drunk History episode "Marsha P. Johnson Sparks the Stonewall Riots," and the short film "Happy Birthday, Marsha!" we see two paths to sharing Johnson's story & her connection to Pride. We also talk about the gaps in the documentary "The Gospel According To André" - a recent study of the icon Andre Leon Talley. Join us for this look at the man called "the Kofi Annan of what you've got on" and the woman who insisted: "no pride for some of us, without liberation for all of us!"
Also mentioned on this episode: Mini-Syllabus: Memes and Blackness by Amber Officer-Narvasa
Original air date: June 27, 2020
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On this episode, we talk the first Babysitter's Club book and the latest Netflix adaptation. We talk about which member of the BSC we identified with as young readers and how we feel now, and much more. This episode is dedicated to Grandma Mimi, forever prom queen.
Due to Covid restrictions, we were not able to record this in Stoneybrook, CT.Original air date: July 24, 2020
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When author Frances McNamara isn't "sailing on the Charles River in Boston or beaching on Cape Cod," she's dropping red herrings & killing characters living in 1890s Chicago. Join us as we talk about "Death at Hull House," McNamara's second Emily Cabot Mystery. This former librarian has a brand (Progressive-era crime solving in Illinois) and we respect it. Grab a spare chair from a settlement house near you and settle in for a discussion on death, intrigue, and smallpox.
Curious about what's coming next? We will be reading A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620
See you in September.
Original air date: August 30, 2020
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. . . .Well, we seem to have not remembered and this story may have tested our patience.
In this episode, we re-read the first Dear America book, set on and off the Mayflower in 1620-1621. Protagonist/diarist Remember a.k.a."Mem" experiences a lot of hardship and seasickness in this 1996 ribboned classic. She gets jealous when her friend is the "first" to step on Plymouth Rock and that's just the beginning. In our coverage, we talk about life in the 1600s, the limits of historical fiction, and representations of indigenous life in "pilgrim" stories.
Want to learn more re-indigenizing education? Check out the Akomawt
Educational Initiative - @akomawt on Twitter.
Original air date: September 28, 2020
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Join us in exploring the magic that is The Witch of Blackbird Pond! We take you into author Elizabeth George Speare's world (1958) and her take on Connecticut Colony (circa 1680s). Trees will be used to harbor important charters, Quaker heroes will hide out by the town pond, and one spunky Kit will win you over as she avoids legal charges for witchcraft. Light a pumpkin spice candle and grab your map of the 17th century colonies--it's the season of the witch.
Original air date: October 31, 2020
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This month, we read A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska. This fictional diary was written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, who doesn’t shy away from complex or dark histories. Our lead Anetka marries a miner at age 13 and is a widow by 14. The book builds to the Lattimer massacre, with Anetka narrating her story and the challenges of being young and far from home along the way. Join us as we talk labor history, Loretta Lynn, and the purpose of diaries.
Oh, and ... Did we mention how grateful we are for YOU?
Original air date: November 25, 2020
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For our twelfth Patreon episode, we chose the memoir of a modern diva and one of the most accomplished recording artists of all time. Join us as we consider The Meaning of Mariah Carey (2020) - an autobiography and fascinating portrait of race and fame in modern America. Why did Mariah have to sneak out to Burger King? What’s the deal with Carson Daly? Is Mariah the Queen of Christmas? We consider these pressing questions and more.
Also—a very special thank you to everyone who’s been with us for a WHOLE YEAR! We look forward to bringing you more episodes in 2021.
Original air date: December 29, 2020
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This month we read The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. This book of poetry examines the inner life and historical worlds of Phillis Wheatley Peters. Jeffers first learned of Phillis in school as one of America’s firsts. In this telling of Phillis’s story, Jeffers begins in West Africa, with the life that came before Phillis was an enslaved poet in Boston. Using historical research, Jeffers probes the under-examined aspects of Phillis Wheatley Peters’s life. How did she fall in love, nurture her faith, and make lasting friendships? Join in our discussion of this rich book.
Original Air Date: January 25, 2021
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Lois Lowry's classic novel Number the Stars shares the true story of the Danish resistance movement during the Holocaust. For a generation of readers, the story of Annemarie Johnansen and her friend Ellen Rosen served as an introduction to the experiences of children raised in Europe over the course of World War II. When we first meet Annemarie, she is unsure as to whether she has courage, but she learns her own strength when she is compelled to stand up for her friend. For this month's Patreon episode, we talked about Lowry's achievement with this book and the challenges of writing violence and trauma into books for young adults.
Original air date: February 24, 2021
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“Shine bright like a diamond / Find light in the beautiful sea / I choose to be happy…”
Did you know that these lyrics were written about The Mystery At Lilac Inn, the fourth Nancy Drew mystery?
Ok, before you call Rihanna on us, we know that they're not. However, we do hope that you'll still stand with us under a proverbial umbrella for a re-read of a Nancy Drew classic*. In this bizarrely action-packed story, Nancy has to find a jewel thief, save herself from a submarine, and navigate a stolen identity. While the true mysteries of Nancy’s world are not discussed within the pages of this book, we take on the hard questions such as whether Nancy actually had a job, and why she is single. We also consider what Nancy Drew meant to us as children, what she means to us now, and the many uses of a Nancy tote bag or purse.
Like most "classic" books, this one had to be heavily edited between the 1930s and 1960s for racist language and themes.Original air date: March 29, 2021
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Lois Lowry has written more than 40 books. As of this month, she is also featured in half of our 2021 Patreon episodes. This is incidentally very close to the total number of surviving Shakers. Just in time for spring, we read Lowry's Like the Willow Tree, a Dear America journey for the ages. Based on meticulous research at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community, this book features a young diarist named Lydia who loses her parents to the flu pandemic. Though the Shakers initially wreck her plans, Lydia eventually teach her how to bend to the wind. We discuss Shaker controversies, our varying levels of interest in intentional communities, and much more.
Like to read along? You can support the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village
by purchasing Lowry's book here:
https://www.maineshakers.com/product/like-the-willow-tree-by-lois-lowry/
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Our next book (May 2021) is Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a novel
by Malinda Lo.
Original air date: April 21, 2021
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A wise person once said: "having fun is never hard when you've got your library card." To this precious adage, we'd like to add an additional locale for future fun consideration: the fictional Telegraph Club. In this month's feature, we decided to read Malinda Lo's phenomenal YA book Last Night at the Telegraph Club. We discuss the fantastic resources in the book (a bibliography! timelines!) along with the super-accurate-yet-still-deeply-compelling historical adventures of protagonist Lily Hu. While trying to dodge accusations of Communism, keep up her high math grades to participate in the space race, AND help a friend win Miss Chinatown, Lily catches feelings for her classmate Kath. Tune in to hear us discuss their romance at the Telegraph Club -- and to discover whether this Space Girl finds the one who can "know the galaxies of (her) heart."
Original air date: May 30, 2021
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Filing cabinet fans, here we go! For this Patreon episode, we are diving right into the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This 1967 classic features the Kincaid kids, who just need a break from home — and the allure of solving an art mystery.
Whether you really love hanging files, eccentric older people, or beds in museums, this book has a little bit of something for everyone (and a chauffeur). If you’ve never dreamed about sleeping in The Met, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler still has an enduring appeal. We talk about the value of stories that center smart and funny young people, without a moralizing "parents just don’t get it" ending. So, will you accept this rose, we mean, invitation to the Met?
Original air date: June 29, 2021
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"I'll never forget the day I got stuck on Lisa Frank!"
With these immortal words, Mila Kunis launched her career and the sticker obsessions of at least a million young people. In this Patreon episode, we talk all about the world of Lisa Frank. We share our own favorite characters, discuss the complex naming conventions of some of the more popular designs, and delve into the dark world of the Lisa Frank Factory. We have also included some other bonuses you will want to put right next to your vintage Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers.
This summer, it was our pleasure to work with Rebecca Doyle, a student and designer who dazzled us with her talent and sharp instincts.
Check out Rebecca's awesome work!
American Girl x Lisa Frank character pairings Lisa Frank Resource List for further reading, viewing, and shoppingOriginal air date: September 27, 2021
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Happy Halloween! On this episode we read Avi's Something Upstairs (1988).
Seeing your favorite childhood keychain may take you back for a moment. But what if that keychain could also take you to another time period? Would you do what needed to be done to stop an injustice from repeating? Avi’s 1988 classic Something Upstairs asks and answers those questions, and boldly breaks the space time continuum. When protagonist Kenny moves to a new place, he finds that he's not alone in his attic bedroom. A ghost named Caleb has also been forced to reside there for centuries. Through this time travel story, Avi explores race and power across three centuries in Providence, RI. We talk about this twisty plot, the uses of ghost stories, and the real real estate that serves as the setting for this book.
Avi's Website: https://www.avi-writer.com/blog/2017/03/story-behind-the-story-20something-upstairs/
A Real Pardon Tillinghast: https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Pardon-Tillinghast-II/6000000004993081912
Walking Tour: https://www.rihs.org/school_tours/avis-something-upstairs-walking-tour/
More on Slavery in Providence, RI: https://www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library/exhibitions/jcbexhibit/Pages/exhibSlavery.html
http://library.providence.edu/encompass/rhode-island-slavery-and-the-slave-trade/rhode-island-slavery-and-the-slave-trade/
https://www.avi-writer.com/blog/2017/03/story-behind-the-story-20something-upstairs/
https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Pardon-Tillinghast-II/6000000004993081912
https://w3.ric.edu/sherlockcenter/dsi/avi.pdf
https://www.rihs.org/school_tours/avis-something-upstairs-walking-tour/
original air date: October 31, 2021
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