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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!

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Latest Episodes:

Episode 20: The Black Cauldron Oct 30, 2018

Show notes

Alli puts aside her distaste for Halloween to dive into Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron, which is the second book in the beloved high fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain. Published in 1965, the book went on to win a Newbery Honor and to inspire a 1985 Disney film. The Black Cauldron tells the story of an unlikely group of crusaders seeking to squelch an undead military force called the Cauldron-Born, but there’s so much more to the book than that. In our 2018 reading, we find it to be a fascinating portrayal of gender politics — the role of heroines, mansplaining, and different versions of masculinity (including the toxic kind). Thanks to author Erin Nelsen Parekh for joining us for this spooky episode! Check out her website Drivel and Drool and follow her on Twitter (@ENParekh).

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Episode 19: Sweet Valley High // The New Jessica Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield mostly made twinning look like a dream… but things are rarely as simple on the inside (LOL). In Volume 32 of Francine Pascal’s beloved Sweet Valley High series, Jessica (AKA the impulsive twin) has decided that she’s sick of being one of an identical pair. She takes drastic action to differentiate herself from Elizabeth (AKA the bookish twin). Hijinks ensue, relationships are tested, and everyone is essentially being the most ridiculous version of themselves. Alli and Sweet Valley High enthusiast Gabrielle Moss talk all the good elements of The New Jessica and Sweet Valley as a whole — escapism, fashion, and hilarity — as well as the bad — privileged behavior, disturbing plotlines, and seriously problematic language.

Gabrielle is the author of Paperback Crushand Glop. Follow her on Twitter (@Gaby_Moss)!

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Episode 18: Beezus and Ramona Oct 16, 2018

Show notes

Episode 18 is a total sister act! Alli and guest Penny Luksic — both older sisters in their own families — at long last gab about the Quimby family, focusing on Beverly Cleary’s 1955 Beezus and Ramona, which was the first in the Ramona series. We discuss Ramona’s many pest-like — but lovable — antics, reflect on our own experiences growing up with younger siblings, and chat about the lack of diversity and complexity among families featured in the books of this era. Follow Penny on Instagram (@lennypuksic) and Twitter (@lennypuksic)!

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Episode 17: Twilight Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

In 2005, Stephanie Meyer’s YA vampire romance fantasy Twilight kicked off a four-book series, a blockbuster movie franchise, and generally a pop culture phenomenon. NBD. In Episode 17, podcaster and entrepreneur Kelly Parker Smith joins us to discuss all things Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, from the moodiness of Forks to the nature of their relationship… and, of course, we cover the age old #TeamEdward vs. #TeamJacob debate. Is Edward weirdly overprotective? Is it cool to be a vampire? We cover these questions and so much more! Check out Kelly’s work at Hello World Paper Co. (www.helloworldpaperco.com), Creative Biz Rebellion Podcast (www.creativebizrebellion.com), and Creative Rebel Base (www.creativerebelbase.com). Follow Hello World Paper Co. (@helloworldpaperco), the Creative Biz Rebellion podcast (@creativebizrebellion), and Kelly’s pattern designs (@kellyparkersmith) on Instagram, too!

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Episode 16: Julie of the Wolves Oct 02, 2018

Show notes

When author Jean Craighead George traveled to Barrow, Alaska in 1971 to study wolves, she thought it was for an article in Reader’s Digest… but when her editor rejected the piece, she decided to refocus on turning what she’d learned into a book for children. The (Newbery Medal-winning!) finished product was Julie of the Wolves, the story of a 13-year-old Eskimo girl who is forced to learn to survive among a pack of wolves on the tundra after running away from an unhealthy (to say the least) situation at home. In this episode, we talk about isolation, arranged marriage, the differences between Disney and The Revenant, my new puppy, and more. Thanks so much to Rose McAleese for joining us as a guest for Episode 16! Rose is an LA-based screenwriter who’s had the opportunity to write for shows on BET and Complex Magazine’s streaming platform. Check out her work at www.rosemcaleese.com and thenewblogontheblock.com. You can also follow her on Instagram (@rose_ettastone) and Twitter (@rose_ettastone).

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Episode 15: A Wrinkle in Time Sep 25, 2018

Show notes

In 1962, Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time brought readers to bizarre (AKA creepy) new planets, challenged them with theories of physics and time travel, and introduced them to a relatable protagonist in 13-year-old Meg. This book is so beloved, in fact, that stars no less famous than Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and OPRAH were called upon to star in its 2018 adaptation! Loaded Literature’s Anya Spector joins us for Episode 15 to discuss all things A Wrinkle In Time. Follow Anya (@AnyaMSpector) and Loaded Literature (@loadedlitpod) on Twitter.

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Episode 14: Lily's Crossing Sep 18, 2018

Show notes

TBH, Patricia Reilly Giff’s Newbery Honor award-winning Lily’s Crossing isn’t a book that I’ve thought about that often since my childhood… but when this week’s guest reminded me of it, I was immediately reminded of how much I’d loved it. In Episode 14, we discuss all the reasons why — the beautiful writing, the relatable main character, and its timeless quality. Oh, and there’s also a hot dad. Brooklyn-based freelance writer, editor, and advertising copywriter Elizabeth Entenman joins us! Elizabeth is currently the books editor at HelloGiggles. Follower her on Instagram (@entenman) and Twitter (@elizabenten), and check out her work at www.elizabethannentenman.com.

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Episode 13: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Sep 11, 2018

Show notes

For the first time EVER, lifelong BFFs Tibby, Carmen, Bridget, and Lena are about to be separated for the summer. Luckily for them, they find a pair of seemingly magic pants to hold them together as they scatter around the world… and luckily for us, Ann Brashares shared their story in her 2001 YA novel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. There’s a lot more to this book than I realized myself as a teen — questions of sex, depression, death, blended families, and more — and we break it all down in Episode 13. West Philadelphia-based special education teacher Katie Hartman joins us for all the girl talk. Follow Katie’s awesome bookstagram (@katiefullybooked).

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Episode 12: Ella Enchanted Sep 04, 2018

Show notes

For those of us raised on a steady diet of (often helpless) Disney princesses, Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted was a revelation, a girl power fairy tale retelling. Yes, Ella is passive, but it’s only because she has to be, thanks to an obedience curse placed on her when she was a baby. In Episode 12, we break down the many facets of this smart, spunky — dare we say feminist? (yes.) — heroine. Thanks to Sarah Brittain for joining us a guest! Sarah is the co-host of the Unassigned Reading podcast. Follow the show in Twitter (@unassignedpod) and Instagram (@unassignedreading).

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Episode 11: Goosebumps // Welcome to Dead House Aug 28, 2018

Show notes

Twenty years too late, Alli is finally joining the Cool Kids Club and reading Goosebumps for the first time! In Episode 11 of The SSR Podcast, we discuss the first book this beloved, best-selling series from R.L. Stine, Welcome to Dead House. How scary is too scary for middle grade? Are helicopter parents ruining kid lit? Why are girls socialized to read some book series, while boys are socialized to read others? We’ll discuss these questions and so much more with this week’s guest Sarah Slusher, founder of the Really Into This pop culture blog. Follow Sarah on Instagram (@stslusher) and Twitter (@Stslusher)! You can also follow Really Into This on Instagram (@reallyintothis) and Twitter (@reallyintoblog).

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