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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 Out
CHECK OUT SALLY’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Swift River by Essie Chambers
Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter
Show Don’t Tell: Stories by Curtis Sittenfeld
MORE 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)
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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 Time
Episode 184: A Ring of Endless Light
CHECK OUT ELISE’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
What Looks Like Bravery: An Epic Journey Through Loss to Love by Laurel Braitman
Toward Eternity by Anton Hur
You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
MORE 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)
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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!
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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 Time
It Had to Be You
The Regulars
The Bucket List
Most Wonderful
CHECK OUT GEORGIA’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
All Fours by Miranda July
Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood
The Prospects by Kt Hoffman
Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London
MORE 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)
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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, depression
Courtney 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 Espach
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
MORE 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)
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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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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)
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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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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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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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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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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.
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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, trauma
E.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.
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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.
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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: suicide
One 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.
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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.
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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 animals
Claire 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.
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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).
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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.
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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).
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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).
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