Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Latest Episodes:

Mailbag: Aging Out of YA Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Former guest Alex Heeney writes in to gently read Brenna and Joe about recent comments that suggest they may be aging out of YA.

At what point do you realize you're no longer the target audience and move onto New Adult literature?

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Percy Jackson and The Olympians S02 (2025) Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe wrap up our coverage of Percy Jackson with a look at Disney +'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians S02.

It's an improvement on the film in every way, including the depth of characterization for the central trio, the great depiction of Tyson, and a fantastic episode featuring Circe.

There are, however, still a few missteps, including Mr. D and Tantalus (UGH), occasional slavish to Rick Riordan's source material, and a finale we kinda hate.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe return for week two of our discussion on Percy Jackson's second adventure, with a look at the 2013 film Sea of Monsters.

Armed with a new director (Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Thor Freudenthal) and a mostly new adult cast, the film makes the odd decision to change a million little elements from the book.

Plus: pitch perfect roles for Nathan Fillion and Stanley Tucci; Logan Lerman's snoozy performance as the titular character; too many fleece resurrections; and discussion of the CGI cyclops eyeball

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (2006) Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe kick off the first of three weeks on Percy Jackson and the Olympians with a look at Rick Riordan's second novel of the series: The Sea of Monsters.

Up for discussion: new character Tyson (and what that means for Grover), Middle Grade writing structure, how the book renders Greek mythology accessible, and the very 2006 era inclusion of <gulp> Confederate soldiers.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

TV Show: My Lady Jane (2024) Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe close out revisionist history month with a look at the first (and only) season of Prime's My Lady Jane (2024).

This New Adult text ages everyone up because it is *horny* (and quite hilarious).

Plus: a male voice-over for a female-driven show; a messy metaphor, a reliance on needle drops, and our favourite beautiful gown.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Book: My Lady Jane (2016) Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe gallop through Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows's My Lady Jane (2016). Our final revisionist text concerns England's nine day queen, Jane Grey, but uses a fantasy metaphor to tackle the real life Prostestant vs Catholic battle.

Plus: thoughts on the YA romance; Jane as a modern heroine; and how the three authors' voices blend together.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Film: Rosaline (2022) Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

This week Joe and Brenna find ourselves in uncharted waters. Rosaline (2022) is most definitely NOT an adaptation of When You Were Mine (if anything, it's a contemporary take on Romeo and Juliet, the play).

With that bizarre fact aside, Rosaline is extremely enjoyable. A fantastic cast, playful direction, and a screwball screenplay make this a breezy good time. Just don't call it an adaptation!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Book: When You Were Mine (2010) Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe's revisionist theme continues with author Rebecca Serle's When You Were Mine (2012).

This contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet is from Rose's perspective as she watches her childhood crush, Rob, stolen by her unhinged cousin Juliet. But the propulsive (and highly readable) book has us asking: do we even need the R&J connection?

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Film: Catherine Called Birdy (2022) Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Brenna and Joe turn their attention to writer/director Lena Dunham's 2022 adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy.

Starring Bella Ramsey and Andrew Scott, there's some queer subversion embedded in the film.

Plus: stunt casting Billie Piper, modernizing a classic (the music!) and a new YA BINGO board for a new year.

Correction: Joe should have said David Bradley, *not* Doug

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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

Book: Catherine, Called Birdy (1994) Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

Brenna and Joe get a head start on the new year with a slightly tweaked weekly format.

This week we're talking about Karen Cushman's award-winning novel Catherine, Called Birdy (1994) about a headstrong 14 year old Lady in the Middle Ages who refuses to marry.

Plus: the pros and cons of using diary entries as a narrative structure, eel pies, and plenty of women's issues

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)

Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com

Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”

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