Christa Desir writes contemporary YA fiction. Her forthcoming novel, Other Broken Things, will be published in January 2016 by Simon Pulse. Visit her online at christadesir.com, and follow her on Twitter at @ChristaDesir.
Carrie Mesrobian is the author of three YA novels, most recently Cut Both Ways (2015). Visit her online at carriemesrobian.com, and find her on Twitter at @CarrieMesrobian.
In this episode of the Oral History Podcast, we revisit two of our favorite romance tropes and discuss some books that feature them in enjoyable ways. Tell us what you think: feedback AT theoralhistorypodcast DOT com click to subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher SHOW NOTES Our Current Reads Carrie Himself, by Jess Kidd Inside […]
In this episode of The Oral History Podcast, we ask why some books about teenagers are labeled “YA,” while others are marketed as “literary fiction.” Tell us what you think on our Facebook page or via email (feedback AT theoralhistorypodcast DOT com). Click to subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher SHOW NOTES Our current reads […]
In this episode of the Oral History Podcast, we discuss school dances, now and then. Do you have some terrible and/or delicious memories of school dances you’d like to share, or some books that deal with high school dances in a way that you enjoyed? Tell us what you think on our Facebook page or […]
In this episode of the Oral History Podcast, we discuss the concept of dating: What it was like when we were teenagers, what it’s like for teenagers now, and how some books handle this variable romantical endeavor. Do you have some insight on dating then/now, or any book recommendations that deal with dating in a […]
In this episode of The Oral History Podcast, we discuss censorship issues surrounding content in young adult literature and how this affects librarians, editors, authors, and teachers, as well as how people who support open fair access to all kinds of books can respond to book challenges and other kinds of content suppression. We’d love […]
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). Click to subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher. SHOW NOTES Our Current […]
In this episode of The Oral History Podcast, we discuss the idea of “clean reads” as well as porn in fiction and in the lives of adolescents. Don’t panic: we’re not recommending porn films, just examining the role porn plays in adolescent and adult sexuality with respect to formal and informal methods of transmitting information […]
In this episode of The Oral History Podcast, we depart from our usual analysis of YA literature and instead discuss adult romance-novel tropes that persistently beguile and bedevil us. If you’ve got a romance trope that you love (or love to hate) we’d love to hear about it. Find us on Twitter at @CarrieMesrobian and @ChristaDesir, or […]
This episode of The Oral History Podcast is a companion piece to our episode on Masculinity. In this show, we discuss femininity and some of its trappings as we’ve experienced them throughout our lives: lingerie, fake nails, cheerleaders, fathers and daughters, make-up, the meanings behind gendered concepts, the gender binary and the ritual of “getting ready,” just […]
This episode of The Oral History Podcast is about Sex Without Romance, something that is very difficult to find in young adult fiction, as it turns out. Christa and Carrie discuss some of their adolescent adventures with respect to romance-free sex, as well as a few YA titles that touch on it. Let us know […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
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