Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Latest Episodes:

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

At the behest of listeners Andrew and Max, Brenna and Joe discuss the Groundhog's Day-inspired story about two teens stuck in a temporal anomaly. This one surprised us, particularly the protagonist subversion that switches up some of the more conventional tropes (take that, silly Roger Ebert reviewer!)

Plus: an ableist cancer plot, a plea to stop with the twee titles and m83 musicality, and questioning why these two don't get arrested?

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

Placelessness in YA Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

What is important about "setting" a narrative in a specific location and why does it seem somehow less important to white writers? We dig into how place contributes to YA stories - particularly indigenous and migrant stories, list the best examples we have covered on the pod and identify our own knowledge gap (fantasy books!) .

Plus, in homework:

Brenna

Ashley Garcia S2: Genius in Love (Netflix)
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks

Joe

Ragnorak S1 (Netflix)

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

To All The Boys: Always and Forever Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

It's time to close the rom-com fairy tale book on Lara Jean and Peter!

Up for discussion: Joe's struggle to connect with Covey, the appropriate size of backyard weddings, letting teenage girls get drunk, the ramping up of stakes between novel and film and the strategic use of the "Korea trip" in both properties.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

Brown Girl Dreaming (Book Club #2) Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

With a sprawling inter-generational tale of displacement, poverty and racism, Jacqueline Woodson has written an evocative, lyrical novel about her time growing up.

Special shout-outs to listeners Melissa and Kailie who chimed in with their thoughts.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter: @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod.

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

Words on Bathroom Walls Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

We're unintentionally tackling another text with accusations of ableism this week. After a brief lament about the lack of reviews from disabled readers, we dig into the book, which we think is doing pretty solid work, and the film, which takes a few Hollywood shortcuts, but is also decent.

Up for discussion: a gentle male friendship for Brenna, Canadian stunt casting, the visual depiction of schizophrenia in the film and why we would politely like to recommend Charlie Plummer to refrain from taking any more "Bang roles".

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or want to chime in about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

The Ultimate Playlist of Noise Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Let's talk about ableism, shall we? In the new YA film dealing with a teenager on the verge of losing his hearing, there are a few tone-deaf moments that no Sick Lit properties should be making.

Plus: musicality, aggrieved mothers, emotional manipulation, the sad temporary ramifications of the #MeToo movement and the film's great use of silence...but not voice over.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

Special thanks to listener Emma for recommending A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, which proved to be a great companion to last week's The House on Mango Street. This coming of age narrative takes its time, allowing for tangents as it tells its tale of class struggle at the turn of the 20th century.

Up for discussion: female friendships, put upon mothers, widowers in the wings, the surprisingly feminist read (for the time).

Plus: the film's condensed timeline and why we love Aunt Sissy, even if she caused a real life scandal!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

The House on Mango Street (Book Club #1) Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

Considered a classic of Latinx literature, Cisneros' book is a series of vignettes set on a street in Chicago. Brenna selected this book to complement our regularsode next week, so we tackle the novel's class and feminist themes. Plus: an ode to lyrical, poetry-like texts!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

Twilight Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Who's ready for an abusive relationship? What about "storytelling" as opposed to good writing? Do you like your FX dodgy and your vampires sparkly?

The truth is...we didn't like Twilight. But we do try to be fair about how it became a cultural juggernaut and with whom, in addition to dissecting why it is harmful, problematic and filled with bad representations. Hope you're ready for a mega-sized discussion, because we have thoughts!

For reading context:

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen!

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

Bummer Bonus: Michelle Latimer Controversy Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

We felt a responsibility to address the breaking news from the holidays surrounding Trickster and Inconvenient Indian director Michelle Latimer. We also offer some context and include statements from writer Eden Robinson and film director Jeff Barnaby.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: