Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

For a second week in row, Brenna and Joe dive into The Hunger Games, but this time we're venturing back to its 10th iteration, when Coriolanus Snow was but a mere 18 years ago. Little did he know he was about to create literally Every.Single.Component that defines the Games 64 years later!We joke because we're tired. Reading this 528 page tome in 6 days is not recommended, as Collins' capacity for world-building is overwhelmed by poor editing, sheer repetition, as well as a continued reliance on children's death and the misguided belief that anyone wants a backstory for this main character (who P.S. has no arc!) It's not all bad, though, so grab a bowl of cabbage soup, prepare a song and settle in with us for a mix of spoiler-free and spoilers. Spoiler-Free Review: 00:00 - 18:22Spoiler Filled Review: 18:22 - 40:56Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and o

Prepare your fire retardant costumes and choose your allies carefully because we are headed back into the dystopian wilds of The Hunger Games. For our second episode on a podcast namesake, we break out the big topics:Why is the love triangle so exhausting?Logistical questions about the need to return to the arenaPeeta (once again) getting short shriftIs the book ableist or is it a critique of ableism?The curious incident of Katniss' disappearing pregnancyJoe repeatedly saying monkeys instead of baboons; andOur interest/apprehension about the forthcoming prequelWanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While Joe refuses to read a Victorian-era play, he's more than happy to watch film adaptations of them! This week we're checking out a plethora of YA tropes: the collaboration between suitors in an impersonation ruse, a "tricky kiss" and an epistolary romance. On one side of the ring is Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, one of our few remaining Noah Centineo joints, which gets as many things right as it does wrong (pour one out for the disinterest in female friendships!). On the other is the queer, POC frontedThe Half Of It, which is a warm, delightful film. Aside from a slightly frustrating climax, this is an absolute gem and features one of the best friendships we've ever seen on the show.In homework: Brenna has finished Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (mentioned in the May/June forecast) and "similar to The Virgin Suicides" Long Live The Tribe of Fatherless Girls by Tier Kiera Madden. Joe, meanwhile, advocates for the fantasy escapism of House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig.Wanna connect with the sh

No one is more surprised than us to discover that the escapism we need and want could be found in the tale of three teenage girls from different backgrounds who meet at Shoplifters Anonymous. But here we are!Brenna and Joe find the novel, filled with as many innovations as it has YA tropes, is an absolute delight. Alas the TV show, which has been unnecessarily stretched out to two (!) ten episode seasons, has lost sight of what makes the book so special. Despite great performances by its three female leads, all of the romantic relationships are icky and/or problematic and the narrative takes a hard left turn around episode 5 or 6 that loses us.At least we have the book!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's time for another YA Forecast as we run down our top picks for May & June 2020. First up we discuss homework: Brenna lauds Tiffany D Jackson's fall release, Grown, as well as Nic Sheff's Tweak, while Joe  praises Liz Lawson's The Lucky Ones.Then it's time for our interview with former The Hunger Games guest, Alex Heeney. She stops by to discuss Seventh Row's new ePub, The 2019 Canadian Cinema Yearbook, which includes several prominent coming of age films.Finally, it's time to forecast for May & June. Here are a few stand-out picks:Brenna:Clap When You Land by Elizabeth AcevedoBreath Like Water by Anna ZarjabStay Gold by Tobly McSmithJoe:The Mermaid, The Witch & The Sea by Maggie Toduka-Hall Wonderland by Juno DawsonI Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit FrickHonourable Mention:  Selah & The Spades (Amazon Prime)Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page

Grab your magical item and prepare for a road trip across America because Brenna and Joe are embarking on a quest fit for a (Demi) God as we dive into Rick Riordan's 2005 YA franchise starter, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, as well as Chris Columbus' 2010 adaptation of the same name.We discuss how the genesis of Riordan's epic is both empowering and also far too long. The author himself is similarly thorny: Brenna praises him for the advocacy work his Disney imprint is doing, but we find his entitled comments about the film and the looming shadow of Harry Potter off-putting. As for the film, we have questions: has screenwriter Craig Titley (or Columbus for that matter) ever actually met a black person? Why does the film think its audience is so dumb? And why does the final result feel like a such a bland, boring C-grade effort to kick-start a franchise?Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisod

Now we're talking! After a provocative minisode, listeners reached out to share their thoughts and stories on Sex in YA.  Clearly it's a topic that resonated because we got a wide variety of fascinating insights!In homework: Brenna highlights Julie Murphy's Faith: Taking Flight (due in July) while Joe circles back to Catherine Linka's What I Want You To See , which he mentioned in the Feb YA Forecast.Finally, we dive into the beautiful artistry of Eliza Hittman's third feature film, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which is essential viewing - provided you're in the right frame of mind. Viewer advisory: this isn't an easy, casual watch, so be kind to yourselves!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode topic? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

DUFFs unite!Brenna and Joe are diving back into YA written by teenagers and it's another rocky property as we struggle with Kody Keplinger's 2011 book, The DUFF, as well as its 2015 film adaptation by feature novices Ari Sandel (director) and Josh A. Cagan (screenwriter).Part of the problem? That title! Despite the book's best attempts to reduce the stigma of the term, Brenna can't overcome the cruelty and judgment of the moniker. While the book at least attempts to explore challenging topics (shame is handled well; alcoholism less so), at least it's more interesting than the film. Joe and Brenna can't help but wonder if Cagan simply watched other (better) YA films and read the back of the book before sitting down to write the screenplay, because the film is uninspired!  Thankfully we have Mae Whitman and Robbie Amell, who may just have the best chemistry of ANY couple we've seen thus far. That's right, we said what we said!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolem

Under threat of duress, Joe manages to wrangle Brenna into recording a minisode and, given the current state of the world, what better subject to tackle than S-E-X in young adult literature.Prompted by Joe's polarizing reactions to  books that are graphic (Lev AC Rosen's Jack Of Hearts), pre-occupied (Camryn Garrett's Full Disclosure) or tepid "fade to black" fantasy (Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue), we tackle the shift from provocative, even risque sexuality in the 70s to the response to AIDS in the 80s and 90s, with a brief bit of blame on the chastity of franchise trend-setters Harry Potter and Twilight. For reference:Chambers, Aiden. The Toll Bridge. 1992Skurnick, Lizzie. "In Y.A., Where Has All the Good Sex Gone?" The New York Times.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave a book that prompted your sexuality maturity as a teen? Send us your story at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for p

Brenna and Joe are joined by Terry Mesnard to discuss Charles Forsman's stark and nihilistic 2017 comic I Am Not Okay With This and Jonathan Entwistle's 2020 Netflix adaptation, starring Sophia Lillis.Up for discussion: Forsman's depiction of young women, why the bleak ending is unearned and one thing the comic actually does well (if we're being charitable). This is in stark contrast with the series, which avoids Netflix bloat, casts talented actors and expands on characterizations to humanize the drama into something compelling and watchable. There are still quibbles with the end (and possibly The Breakfast Club-inspired episode), but overall, we're pretty enthusiastic about the series.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteTerry: @gaylydreadful / @ScarredPodcastHave something longer (or a minisode suggestion)? Send an email to hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brenna and Joe check out a new Netflix YA series, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, using its under-the-radar status to pose some questions about Netflix's changing priorities and the relevancy of its algorithms. Broad discussion: how Netflix Originals have altered the streamer's original  niche programming angle (the "made for Brenna" channel), why everyone winds up watching Love Is Blind, and how little (read: diverse) shows get buried.Narrow discussion: with special help with listener Max, Brenna and Joe discuss Ashley Garcia's appeal, its connection to a burgeoning movement of smart Latina girls and why a hot young actor like Jencarlos Canela was cast to play Uncle Victor.Reference: Castillo, Monica. "TV has a new kind of heroine: The Latina genius. Here’s why it matters." LA Times, Feb 26, 2020.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer or a minisode topic? Send  us an email: hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the s

Ugh.Brenna and Joe jump back into sick lit for Jesse Andrews' atrocious 2012 novel Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and its (better) 2015 Sundance award winning film adaptation by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke and a stunt cast of adults.We dedicate A LOT of time up front addressing our issues with the book, which is racist, misogynistic and features one of the most excruciating mediocre white boy protagonists since I Love You, Beth Cooper.  We find it hilarious that Andrews believes he's subverting (or avoiding) YA tropes; instead he's simply produced an unreadable book. Our advice: do not read this "book"!The film - ironically adapted by Andrews - smooths out some of the books more egregious issues, but it comes at a cost. Earl is diminished to a non-character and Greg's selfish behaviour can't be redeemed. The actors and  Gomez-Rejon's vibrant, experimental direction save this film.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremote

With so little precious podcast time to spare, Brenna and Joe are scaling back the forecasts. Presented for your enjoyment is a double dose for March and April, along with two important pieces of correspondence about our recent episode on Sex Education, which demanded we dig in (and problematize) both our reactions and word choice a little more deeply. Brenna's Picks:We Are Totally Normal by Rahul KanakiaAvocado Bliss by Candace Robinson and Gerardo DelgadilloCheck Please Book 2: Sticks and Scones by Ngozi UkaduJoe's Picks:Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. LatimerFight like a Girl by Sheena KamalThe Lucky Ones by Liz LawsonWanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteOr send us something longer (like minisode topics!) to hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a Uni miracle, Brenna and Joe are joined by their YA Lit classmate and bestie Jen Crocker to discuss Jenny Han's super cute 2015 realist romance sequel, PS I Still Love You and its (awkwardly titled) 2020 Netflix  film, which reunites Lana Condor and Noah Centineo and introduces Jordan Fisher as fan favourite John Ambrose McClaren.The changes between source and adaptation are significantly impacted by events from the first film, which retroactively affects the readability of the second book. Also switching things up: new director Michael Fimognari, who brings a "big screen" visual aesthetic that works for some, but not others. Plus: why the new film isn't as re-watchable, why it's probably good that the book's game of Assassins wasn't adapted and the film's issues with female agency and *gasp* class.Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteJen:  @jencrocker / @crocksy23 (Instagram)Have something longer? Send us an email at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on th

Minisode or regularsode? You be the judge as Brenna and Joe check back in on the British Netflix series Sex Education, which released its second season back in January.How does the series avoid traditional (read: North American) depictions of trauma and abuse? How are new (potentially tokenistic) characters introduced? What aspect does Brenna think the show handles best? And why character has quickly become Joe's favourite?Also, we're getting back to homework basics! Brenna provides an update on her Bingeworthy promise to check out the ridiculously-named High School Musical: The Musical, which Joe catches up on Jan 2020 Forecast entry Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore (not Macklemore, the rapper).Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteOr send us something longer (like minisode topics!) to hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's time for a Nuclear dystopia, so Brenna and Joe hunker down in a Garden of Eden...er...valley of plenty in the hopes that a man of science never comes to threaten the peace. Or is it two men? This week, we're traveling back to 1974 to discuss Robert C. O'Brien's Z For Zachariah, a compelling, female-centric YA account of the end of the world. We're also talking about Craig Zobel's 2015 not-YA film adaptation, which is...a romantic triangle with sexy adults?Both texts are solid in their own right, but we're primarily attracted to the excellent tension and incredibly gripping gender dynamics of the book. The film is decent, although the more on-the-nose religious elements, romance and poorly constructed racial stereotype doesn't work nearly as well. Bottom line: if you only check out one of these texts, make sure it's the book!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode suggestion? Send us an email at hkhspod@gmail.c

Feb 2020 is a slighter month than January, so there are still great books to add to your library hold lists! Brenna and Joe have poured over the month and selected their top 3-4 picks, along with a few honourable mentions.JoeAlice by Heart by Steven SaterNo True Believers by Rabiah York LumbardRed Hood by Elana K. ArnoldWhat I Want You To See by Catherine LinkaPlus: Solstice by Lorence Alison and Below by Alexandria WarwickBrennaYes No Maybe So by Becky Albertelli and Aisha SaeedThe New David Espinoza by Frank AcevesTurtle Under Ice by Juleah del RosarioPlus: To All The Boys I've Loved Before 2 on Netflix and a new adaptation of EmmaWant to connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a minisode idea? Send us an email to hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At the request of listener Emily, Brenna and Joe travel Down Under to Sydney to check in on Italian-Australian Josephine Alibrandi, the sassy/spunky heroine of of Melina Marchetta's 1992 Aussie YA Classic, Looking for Alibrandi and its 2000 film adaptation by Kate Woods.The pair are hardly surprised that the book is a staple of the high school curriculum, given its myriad of relevant YA themes focusing on the immigrant experience, class issues, societal pressures and sex & relationships.  Brenna and Joe dedicate a lot of time discussing the novel's handling of John Barton and his suicide, how it doesn't work nearly as well in the film, and the need for happy endings. Plus: speculation about John Green's Looking For Alaska (see earlier episode), ties to Canadian play/film, Mambo Italiano and a really successful round of BINGO!Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteOr send us something longer (like minisodes topics!) to hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the

More than a year into the podcast, Brenna and Joe decide to tackle the definition of Young Adult literature (better late than never, right?)Thanks to a prompt from listener Garrett, in the first (true) minisode of the new year, we delve into the specifics:YA as a category, not a genreUsing content and age ranges to distinguish Middle-Grade from YA from New AdultThe appeal of YA for adult readersA bit of history, including the term "adolescent" and its ties to capitalism, particularly in North America; andWhy YA exploded in the mid-to-late 90s and beyond (hint: think wizards and sparkly vampires)In homework: Brenna champions How I Made It To 18 by Tracy White and Joe compares #MurderTrending to One of Us is Lying.Next week: full length ep on Looking For Alibrandi, so get reading & watching!Want to connect? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgray / Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/107851618-brennaJoe: @bstolemyremoteOr email us something longer or a minisode topic: hkhspod@gmail.c

The wait is over! We're back for 2020 with a brand new full length episode that delves deep into Brenna's childhood love: Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (1908). This is easily the most popular Canadian YA text of all time, especially when we're considering its adaptations, including the 1985 miniseries and Moira Walley-Beckett's recently cancelled CBC/Netflix co-production, Anne with an E (2017-2019).Join Brenna and Joe for a SUPER sized episode as we discuss the timelessness of this text, why it continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, and how Montgomery's own dark history informs the book series. Plus: all of the brilliant Marillas, the perfect chemistry between Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie in the '85 miniseries and where Anne with an E both succeeds and completely fails its source material. And we debut a new BINGO superboard!Extra Reading: Hoy, Helen. "Too Heedless and Impulsive’: Re-reading Anne of Green Gables through a Clinical Approach" in Anne's World: A New Century of Anne