YA Podcast

117. Dash & Lily: Series Review

SPOILERS: This review contains massive spoilers for the entirety of the Netflix series! You’ve been warned! After reviewing Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares back in 2018, Bailey and Teffer return to review the new Netflix series Dash & Lily! We argue about whether or not it’s good, whose faces need punching, and romance… but it might surprise you who’s getting mushy this time.

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116. Melanin in YA with Melody Simpson

This week, Melody Simpson of Melanin in YA joins Teffer to talk about her "no excuses database" of the YA publishing world. We talk about the recent surge of representation in YA, the experiences that led her to create this database, and what "no excuses" really means.

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115. This Place: 150 Years Retold

Kadi and Teffer round off the month with a gorgeous new release. This is the first time we’ve reviewed a graphic novel on the show! We talk about history, reparations, and the developing Indigenous representation we hope to see in YA lit going forward. Also, we’re tired. Are you tired? This year has been rough. We talk about that, too.

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114. Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston

This week, patron Maddy Dever joins Teffer to review Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston. We talk about coming of age, living in the shadow of our parents, emotional maturity, and the role of elders as we move through this visually stunning book.

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113. Ben Philippe Likes Trains: a Super-Special Bonus Interview

In this special bonus episode, Ben Philippe joins us for the second time! We talk about the process of writing a second book, trains, Pokémon, writing what you know, and his upcoming nonfiction debut.

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112. Son Of A Trickster by Eden Robinson

This week, we continue our series of books by Indigenous authors with Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson. We talk about whether or not it’s YA (and what that means), writing sadness while still writing hope, and what makes a good sex scene.

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111. Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

We’re reading books by Indigenous authors! We kick it off this week with a heartwarming YA romance. Is 6’3” the ideal heartthrob height? Can you ever separate the artist from the art- and should you? What the heck is a turkey trot? We answer all these, and more!

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110. A Brief History of Witches

To wrap up our Witchtober series, Kadi and Teffer talk about the history of witchcraft: where does our idea of “witch” come from? What sparked the witch hunts? And why are we so fascinated with witches in 2020?

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109. These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

What do you get when you mix a classic YA coming of age romance with a coven of powerful witches? We head to Salem with a chat about elemental magic, paranormal mystery, casual queers casually existing, and the fun of a magic system based in our familiar world!

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108. The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

We continue Witchtober with a dark debut novel full of blood and magic. We’re talking about curses, plagues, and fever dream world building, with a significant detour into… cottagecore?

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