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The SSR Podcast — Arts
The SSR Podcast

Each week, freelance writer and lifelong bookworm Alli Hoff Kosik will challenge a guest to reread a literary throwback or to experience for the first time ever a book they may have missed as a kid. After that, they’ll be asked to spill all the feels and all the opinions about that book on the air for your podcast-listening pleasure. Every Tuesday, you can find us breaking down an old school read from our tween and teen days on a new episode of the show. We’ll cover everything from The Baby-Sitters Club to Holes, Nancy Drew to Harry Potter. This time around, we’re a little wiser (yay!), a lot older (ugh.), and of legal age to drink wine… so we’ll have a lot to say. Happy Reading!

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

Latest Episodes:

Episode 230: Little House in the Big Woods Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Join Alli and her guest Jo Piazza for a journey back to the Little House in the Big Woodsand for a conversation about all things Laura Ingalls! Their discussion centers around the first book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved series, in which very little happens… but that might just be the point. They consider that possibility, along with the depiction of parenting, corporal punishment, prayer, and special occasions in the book. There’s also a conversation about the larger significance of the Little House series and what we can do with its complicated legacy.

Jo Piazza is the bestselling author of many books, including We Are Not Like Them, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, How to Be Married, The Knockoff, and the forthcoming You Were Always Mine. You might also recognize her from the podcast space from shows like Under the Influence and Committed. Follow Jo on Instagram (@jopiazzaauthor) and Twitter (@jopiazza).

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Episode 229: Whatever Happened to Janie? Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

It’s been nearly four years since our episode about The Face on the Milk Carton… but we’re finally ready to jump into the next chapter of Janie Johnson’s story! Episode 229 focuses on the second book in Caroline B. Cooney’s beloved series, Whatever Happened to Janie? Conversation topics range from sibling rivalry and victim blaming to the evolution of our collective language around trauma and depictions of sex work.

Caitlin Barasch is the author of A Novel Obsession. Follow her on Instagram (@soembarasched) and Twitter (@CaitlinBarasch).

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Episode 228: The Emerald City of Oz Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

On Episode 228, join us for another journey to the Land of Oz! This time, our focus is on the seventh book in L. Frank Baum’s series, The Emerald City of Oz. Alli’s guest is a self-professed Oz superfan, so they discuss her special connection to this fictional universe, as well as the unique publishing history associated with this particular book. They swap notes on their favorite scenes, talk about the challenges of reading material meant for kids as an adult, and consider the ways in which Oz collides with the real world.

This week’s guest is Jen DeLuca! The latest installment in her Renaissance Faire romance series — Well Traveled— is now available wherever books are sold. Follow her on Instagram (@jendelucawrites) and Twitter (@jaydee_ell).

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Episode 227: Revenge of the Wannabes (The Clique #3) Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

On Episode 227, guest Iman Hariri-Kia makes a strong case for Lisi Harrison’s Clique series as social commentary and tween empowerment narrative. She and Alli focus on Book #3 — Revenge of the Wannabes — but also talk about the world of Massie Block and Octavia Country Day more broadly, touching on matters of insecurity, tenderness, and empathy. They also have frank conversations about portrayals of sexualization, objectification, and disordered eating in the book.

Iman Hariri-Kia is an award-winning journalist and the author of A Hundred Other Girls. Follow her on Instagram (@imanharirikia).

TW: disordered eating, body insecurity

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Episode 226: The Trumpet of the Swan Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

It’s a new year of throwback reads with SSR! This week, Alli and her guests get things started with a cozy conversation about E.B. White’s The Trumpet of the Swan. They discuss what the book has to say about love, ableism, capitalism, difference, the animal kingdom, and more. They also share their very personal connections to the novel!

Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are the authors of The Roughest Draftand the forthcoming Do I Know You?, along with several novels about romance for teens. Follow Emily (@wibbs_ink) and Austin (@austins_b) on Instagram.

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Episode 225: Listenersode 2022! Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

It’s the FOURTH annual SSR Listenersode, featuring bookish and nostalgic insights from our friends Tracey, Rachel, Margaret, and Julia. What a way to wrap up another year of the show!

Thanks to each and every listener for another fantastic year. Wishing you all the health and happiness in 2023 : )

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Episode 224: Wishbone Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

For our final book episode of 2022, we strap on our walking shoes, grab our dog treats, and take a real stroll down memory lane with everyone’s favorite literary canine: Wishbone! Alli and her guests tackle all things Wishbone on-screen and on the page and share their experiences revisiting specific classics as told by this storytelling pup.

Kiley Reid is the author of Such a Fun Age, as well as an assistant professor at University of Michigan. Follow her on Instagram (@kileyreid) and Twitter (@kileyreid).

Megan Angelo is the author of Followers. Follow her on Instagram (@meganangelo) and Twitter (@meganangelo).

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Episode 223: The Midwife's Apprentice Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Karen Cushman’s The Midwife’s Apprenticewas published in 1995 and won the Newbery Medal in 1996… which makes it a pretty big deal! The book presents young readers with the grim reality of a lonely, nameless girl living in the Middle Ages who finds some community with a tough local midwife named Jane. It also offers lots of food for thought, even all these years after it hit shelves. On Episode 223, you’ll hear general conversations about The Midwife’s Apprentice, along with more specific ones about fables, misogyny, names, resilience, and the way we read hero’s journeys.

Chloe Liese writes inclusive romances that affirm her belief that everyone deserves a love story, the most recent of which is Two Wrongs Make a Right. Follow her on Instagram (@chloe_liese) and Twitter (@chloe_liese).

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Episode 222: The Cat Ate My Gymsuit Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

New Reads November is over… and we’re back to our usual throwback reads! This week, the focus is Paula Danziger’s The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, a 1974 novel that explores themes of patriotism, feminism, self-esteem, and body confidence. Tune in to find out what makes it so timeless!

Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times best-selling author. Her novels include The Wedding Date, the Reese’s Book Club selection The Proposal, and By the Book. Follow her on Instagram (@jasminepics) and Twitter (@thebestjasmine).

TW: body shaming, prescription drug abuse, abusive relationships

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Episode 221: See You Yesterday (New Reads November) Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

It’s the final episode of New Reads November 2022… and we’re making it a grand finale! Alli and her guest discuss Rachel Lynn Solomon’s See You Yesterday, a time loop that explores trauma, reinvention, the college experience, new love, and more. On Episode 221, you’ll hear conversations about everything from time travel and body insecurity to representation and consent.

Morgan Baden is a YA author and former YA ghostwriter. She has a growing collection of teen magazines and shares them on @teenmagmuseum, and she pairs up iconic Real Housewives quotes with teen books from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s @realhousewivesofYA. Her work includes The Hive and the Scholastic Daphne and Velma series. Follow her on Instagram (@morganbaden) and Twitter (@MorganBaden).

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