The Oral History Podcast 17: YA Sex Scenes
In this episode of The Oral History Podcast, we discuss issues of craft and the questions involved in YA sex scenes—whether you’re reading or writing them. Tell us what you think on Twitter @CarrieMesrobian and @ChristaDesir, or via email (feedback AT theoralhistorypodcast DOT com).
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SHOW NOTES
Our Current Reads
Carrie:
The Careful Undressing of Love, by Corey Ann Haydu
Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction, by Maia Szalavitz
Women In Clothes, by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavtis, and Leanne Shapton
Christa:
The Imperfectionists, by Tom Rachman
The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead
Never Look An American in the Eye: A Memoir of Flying Turtles, Colonial Ghosts, and the Making of a Nigerian American, by Okey Ndibe
Rani Patel in Full Effect, by Sonia Patel
Announcements
— Our TinyLetter serves as a companion piece for each episode and guess what: you can subscribe right here!
— We’re working on an episode about censorship and YA fiction, and how this has occurred at any point in the publication or distribution process, whether you are an author, editor, teacher or librarian. We can keep each submission anonymous if preferred. We’d love to hear from you! Email us here.

“Let’s break it all down for you.”
Books and Other References
Thief of Shadows, by Elizabeth Hoyt
Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones
Plus One, by Elizabeth Fama
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, by J.R. Ward
My Year Zero, by Rachel Gold
Three Truths and A Lie, by Brent Hartinger
Underneath Everything, by Marcy Beller Paul
See No Color, by Shannon Gibney
Uses For Boys, by Erica Lorraine Scheidt (and why it contains one of Christa’s favorite sex scenes)
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” (story by Joyce Carol Oates)
Lunarception (concept)
Smooth Talk (movie)
“Welcome to the New America: Straight-ish, heteroflexible, and pansexual” (article on Fusion)
The Cheating Episode that Carrie’s “condom stalemate” anecdote referenced
Craft Talk Questions
— What is this character’s relationship with masturbation and their body?
— What has this character been taught about sex and desire?
— How does this character express affection?
— What does this character find attractive in general (attraction is not limited to physical beauty, but often a marker of what complements the character, what he or she is lacking and seeks in a partner for balance)?
— Is this character able to be open about their sexual identity with their families and community?
— How have others shown this character love and support?
— Are there certain ideal beauty standards in this character’s society? How does the character compare to these ideals?
— What kinds of words does this character use to describe any sort of sensory responses?
Some Good Poems About Sex
“What Saves Us” by Bruce Weigl from What Saves Us
“Groceries” by Cathy Smith Bowers, from Traveling in Time of Danger
“Everything We Do” by Peter Meinke, from Liquid Paper: New and Selected Poems
“Foreplay” by Tony Gloeggler, from One Wish Left
“The Widening” by Carol Moldaw from The Widening
“First Blowjob” by Meg Kearney, from Never Before: Poems About First Experiences, edited by Laure-Anne Bosselaar
“God and the G-Spot” by Ellen Bass, from Mules of Love
“Adolescence” by Sharon Olds, from Strike Sparks
“Poem to my First Lover” by Sharon Olds, from The Dead and The Living
“First Sex” by Sharon Olds, from The Gold Cell
“Last Gods” by Galway Kinnell, from When One Has Lived A Long Time Alone
“Life Story” by Tennessee Williams, from The Collected Poems of Tennessee Williams
You can also visit us at our main site to look at show notes for previous episodes.

Don’t look at us like that. Just tell us what you think! feedback AT theoralhistorypodcast DOT com
