Shows
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Afterlife of Holly Chase (2017)Brenna and Joe are back for a special holiday bonus episode on Cynthia Hand's The Afterlife of Holly Chase (2017).The novel is very enjoyable, imminently readable, and surprising - which is nice considering it could have just been a simple Scrooge tale.Plus: colourful supporting characters, a great romance that's not the point, and why hasn't this been turned into a movie?!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (Blu...2024-12-1730 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrHoliday Episode Tease...Watch out for falling hammers because Brenna and Joe are back next Tuesday for a special holiday episode on Cynthia Hand's utterly delightful Scrooge tale, The Afterlife of Holly Chase (2017). Get reading!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...2024-12-1001 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrA Series of Unfortunate Events S01 Episodes 5-8Brenna and Joe conclude our special Halloween coverage with episodes 5-8 of S01 of Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which adapts books 3 & 4.With a caveat that we were burnt out by Snicket's texts by this point, we still find things to like, including Woodard's wordplay, Harris' utterly unconvincing drag and the surprise queerness of Rhys Darby in 'The Miserable Mill.'Plus: More Catherine O'Hara, less Poe (please!), and the tease of the parental mystery. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag...2024-10-2939 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrA Series of Unfortunate Events S01 Episodes 1-4Brenna and Joe are back to untangle the first four episodes of Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events. We compare Neil Patrick Harris with Jim Carrey, how The Reptile Room works better on the TV show, and why Aasif Mandvi is such a delightful Montgomery Montgomery.Plus: a few gripes about the length of episodes and Brenna's least favourite child actor! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (B...2024-10-2232 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)Brenna and Joe return for the first of three special Halloween episodes, all focused on Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket)'s popular Middle Grade books A Series of Unfortunate Events.First up: books 1-3, as well as Brad Siberling's 2004 movie, starring Jim Carrey, who we're mixed on, as well as the film's pacing/ending. Thankfully the costumes, make-up and art direction are outstanding! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (B...2024-10-1544 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Twilight Saga: Eclipse feat. Jenny LeighFor our S06 finale, Brenna and Joe bring back guest Jenny Leigh to tackle the third entry in Stephenie Meyer's The Twilight Saga series, Eclipse (2007), as well director David Slade's 2010 film adaptation.Guess what? Something actually happens in this book (!), though the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob remains as frustrating as ever. Meanwhile, on the film side, Slade feels weirdly disconnected to the material.Plus: hilarious BTS pictures, rants about misusing Wuthering Heights, Mormon influences, and Brenna's first taste of imprinting!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram...2024-08-2755 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrGenèse / Genesis (2018)Brenna and Joe tackle one last Canadian text in 2024 and it's a doozy: Quebecois filmmaker Philippe Lesage's Genesis (2018). C/W: Sexual assaultThis is a challenging triptych, filled with difficult characters, as well as slow & methodical pacing. It also doesn't end in a conventional sense or with any catharsis, which means it's quite a polarizing text! What does Brenna make of this and does Joe still like it as much on a second watch?References:> Sophie Hacsek. "Exclusive Interview with Philippe Lesage: As Long As There’s Movement, There Is Hope." Ar...2024-08-2043 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrUnder The Bridge feat. Lindsay TravesBrenna and Joe collect fellow Canadian Lindsay Traves to discuss Under The Bridge, the murder of Reena Virk and its contemporary (Emmy-nominated) TV series.We have *a lot* to say about both texts, which feature heavily fictionalized events and characters, including the roles played by stars Riley Keogh and Lily Gladstone.Plus: bizarre creative choices, Reddit sleuths and true crime, a questionable queer romance, and a great debate about Canadians and shoes!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna...2024-08-131h 13Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 40: Australian Place(lessness)Brenna and Joe revisit the idea of place(lessness) thanks to Australian listener Neera's email about two recent YA romances: Dancing Barefoot by Alice Boyle (good) and Unnecessary Drama by Nina Kenwood (scrubbed clean).Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...2024-08-0906 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSkins Series 1: Episode 9Brenna and Joe are ready to wrap up Series 1 of Skins, but we're having a few issues with this finale. Is this a redemption arc for Tony? Is the depiction of mental health still dangerous? Is Cassie going to be ok? And how to interpret Anwar's father's reaction to Maxxie's queerness?It's not quite the end we want, but give us the cast singing "Mad World" any day! Oh, and stay tuned for the longest string of Outtakes we've ever had!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky...2024-08-0644 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBackspot (2023)Brenna and Joe return to Canada for a reprieve on "the kids aren't alright" summer with D.W. Waterson's feature directorial debut, Backspot (2023).Starring HKHSPod fave Devery Jacobs, this exceptionally queer film focuses on the athleticism of the gymnastics, though Brenna is frustrated at its placelessness.Plus: strong performances from Jacobs and Evan Rachel Wood, advertising for Cineplex Odeon movie theaters, and a discomforting new form of self-harm (C/W)Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky...2024-07-3041 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSkins Series 1: Episodes 7 & 8Brenna and Joe close in on the end of S01 of Skins with episodes on Michelle and Effy (kinda) as the show becomes a wild fever dream!Up for discussion: cheering on Michelle and Sid, hating Tony, critiques about the depiction of mental illness, more laments about Chris, and what we want from the finale.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? E...2024-07-2341 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 39: Revolutionary Recommendations and Pregnancy PausesBefore providing an update on future programming (in anticipation of Brenna's new baby!), we list listener Tea, Books, and Chocolate's recommendations for texts that deal with sexism and classism, including:> Protector of the Small quartet by Tamora Pierce> The Farsala Trilogy by Hilari Bell> A Matter of Profit by Hilari BellWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? E...2024-07-1906 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrA Monster CallsReady to cry? Brenna and Joe discuss Patrick Ness' surprising A Monster Calls (2011) and J.A. Boyana's 2016 film adaptation.These texts are both beautiful and emotionally devastating, which means we both cried A LOT.Plus: Sigourney Weaver as a British grandma, Tom Holland's secret role, Jim Kay's beautiful illustrations, and debating why the film flopped so hard in North America.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)2024-07-1640 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 38: Filing The Serial Numbers OffBrenna and Joe respond to listener Tea, Books, and Chocolate about how "filing the serial numbers off" of source material can lead to more successful fan fiction (see: our episode on Like Real People Do).Plus: listener Miriam's disappointment in that episode, and a few more responses to To Kill A Mockingbird.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at h...2024-07-1206 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSkins Series 1: Episodes 5 & 6Our summer series on Skins continues and Brenna & Joe are ready to call it: Tony is irredeemable.Between his public show of embarrassing Michelle in episode five and then sexually manipulating Maxxie in episode six, there's no saving this character.Plus: Maxxie and Anwar's relationship, Russian stereotypes, girls punching people, and a swear-y Peter Capaldi! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail b...2024-07-0933 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrTo Kill A MockingbirdJoe is on the struggle bus as he and Brenna tackle a classic text: Harper Lee's 1960 book To Kill A Mockingbird and director Robert Mulligan's 1962 adaptation.Issues include the shifting narration, the simplistic moral message, and the egregious use of the N word.Plus: censorship vs contextualizing, why the book isn't more studied, and Brenna's vote for the worst performer in the Oscar-winning film!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/I...2024-07-0257 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 37: Skins MusicBrenna and Joe are dismayed to hear from listener Dann that (of course!) the Muzak we're been hearing on Skins isn't what originally aired. And when we find out what we *could* be hearing, it's even more galling. Grrrr!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hos...2024-06-2803 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSkins Series 1: Episodes 3 & 4Joe and Brenna's journey through the first series of Skins continue with extremely different episodes: an underwhelming episode on Jal that doesn't even put her front and center, and a harrowing episode about Chris that nearly broke Joe's husband. Plus: a ratings discrepancy, hatred for Michelle, and Brenna finally confesses why her mothering instinct is kicking in so strongly.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a...2024-06-2529 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 36: Heart Break HighActual teenage listener Neve (who is the child of listener Toni from Australia!) writes in to recommend the new iteration of Netflix's Heart Break High, which sounds like an Aussie version of Degrassi!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...2024-06-2105 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe 5th WaveBrenna and Joe dip back into dystopian territory with The 5th Wave, Rick Yancey's 2013 novel and J Blakeson's 2016 film adaptation.This one is unique because it's aliens, though we are still dealing with a Chosen One narrative and a potential love quad.Plus: changing (sometimes inefficiently) perspectives, a film that moves too fast but is too long, putting film critics on blast, and whether we'll check out entries 2-3 in Yancey's trilogy.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna...2024-06-1847 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSkins Series 1: Episodes 1 & 2Brenna and Joe kick off our summer programming with a long requested title: Skins.Every other week we're watching two episodes of Series 1, starting with "Tony" (episode 1) and "Cassie" (episode 2) and already we're into the thick of bad parents, hedonistic behaviour, and major empathy for Hannah Murray's Cassie, who is struggling with disordered eating.Plus: handlebar moustaches, disgusting food fight parties, and a mid-career Nicholas Hoult!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe...2024-06-1129 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 35: Neurodivergence Recommendations (Updated!)After Victoria requested positive depictions of neurodivergence last week, Miriam reached out with a list of recommendations:Autism Titles> A Kind Of Spark - Elle McNicoll> Geek Girl - Holly Smale> Even If We Break - Marieke Nijkamp: Marieke Nijkamp> On The Edge of Gone - Corinne Duyvis> Metal Fish, Falling Snow - Cath Moore> The Winter Knight - Jes BattisADHD Titles> Fresh - Margot Wood> Cemetery Boys - Aiden Thomas> Kat And Meg Conquer The W...2024-06-0704 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDare MeBrenna and Joe kick off "the kids aren't alright" summer with Megan Abbott's 2012 novel Dare Me and its 2019 TV adaptation. C/W: implied sexual assault and disordered eating.We're talking sociopathic girls, awful parents, and red hold blooded cheerleading in a pair of texts that may just feature the most unlikeable protagonists we've ever covered.Plus: backstories galore, celebrating Willa Fitzgerald and Marlo Kelly, endless musical montages and ponderous voice over, and the dark side of female friendships.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use...2024-06-0455 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 34: Positive Depictions of NeurodivergenceAfter a brief lament about Sia's misguided directorial debut Music, Brenna and Joe tackle a question from listener Victoria about positive depictions of neurodivergence. Brenna defers to former guest Jes Battis' piece in the Los Angeles Book of Review "Imperfect Rhetorics: Neurodiversity in YA Literature and Popular Culture" which focuses on three titles:> Rainbow Rowell. Carry On> Rachael Lucas. The State of Grace> Jen Wilde. Queens of GeekWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky...2024-05-3107 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrFitting In (2023)Joe and Brenna return to Canadian YA to discuss writer/director Molly McGlynn's semi-autobiographical text, Fitting In (2023).The film has a great cast and explores a compelling story of non-normative female bodies. We have a few issues with the film's messaging, but overall the film is pretty enjoyable.Plus: praise for lead actor Maddie Ziegler, wishing better for Ki Griffin's Jax, a dilator montage, and plenty of running!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)2024-05-2831 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAquamarineJoe and Brenna dip a toe into romantic fantasy with Alice Hoffman's 2001 novel Aquamarine and Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum's 2006 film adaptation.The book is a cute, slight, fast read, which begs the question: how is the film 1hr 50 mins?! Answer: Add a villain, give her endless cronies, then stretch the action out over a whole summer!Plus: teen feminism, mermaid FX, himbo lifeguards, and the film's perplexing soundtrack decision.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)2024-05-2131 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 33: A Series of Unfortunate Events & The Satanic MillBrenna and Joe respond to a question and a request from listener Tuck, who wants to know if we'll cover A Series of Unfortunate Events and recommends Otfried Preussler's hard to find (in English) book, Krabat: The Satanic Mill (1972).Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.comTheme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" H...2024-05-1704 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLike Real People Do (2022)Brenna and Joe dip back into queer romance (and fan fiction!) with Book 1 of E.L. Massey's Breakaway series, Like Real People Do (2022).This is very cute and sweet...but where is the conflict?! Everyone is so perfect! Massey needs to let people suck!Plus: comparisons to Heartstopper, Red, White & Royal Blue and The Kissing Booth 2, predictions for where Books 2-4 will go, and why Kuzy and Hawk are our fave characters.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna...2024-05-1432 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrTurtles All The Way DownBrenna and Joe discuss John Green's last YA novel Turtles All The Way Down (2017) and its 2024 adaptation by Hannah Marks. C/W: self-harm.This is a tough read because of its visceral depiction of OCD, but we love the friendship between Aza and Daisy. Meanwhile, the long in-development film does a great job of visually capturing the intrusive thought spirals, though Brenna is unimpressed with a new character who steals Daisy's best bits.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray...2024-05-0749 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBoys State (2020) / Girls State (2024)For the first time on the show, Brenna and Joe check out a documentary...or rather a pair of documentaries: Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine's Boys State (2020) and Girls State (2024)These docs fill us with dismay for the future of US politics. But while Boys State has a dark nihilism to it, Girls State feels slight and surprisingly unaware; even its own subjects seem determined to break free of the narrative that the camp and the directors are trying to box them in to. It's quite odd.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on...2024-04-3033 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Spiderwick Chronicles S01 (2024)As promised/threatened, we're back with a review of Roku's The Spiderwick Chronicles S01.Join us as Joe walks Brenna through the highs (the focus on Jared's mental health) and lows (that theme song!) of the series' first eight episodes.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Li...2024-04-2618 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Spiderwick ChroniclesBrenna and Joe are back in fantasy territory with the first five books in Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's The Spiderwick Chronicles, as well the 2008 adaptation from Daniel Waters.We're mixed on lead Freddie Highmore's success playing twins, though we both like Sarah Bolger's Mallory, the use of fencing and Brenna even likes the CGI!Plus: innocuous voice casting, the film's horrifying end, and a mini tangent about Hollywood nepotism and privilege.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna...2024-04-2349 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrPercy Jackson and the Olympians S01At listener Kaetlyn's urging, Brenna and Joe check out S01 of the Percy Jackson TV show on Disney+.It's a much better text than the film! With more time, the central trio gels better, the motivation of Percy's mom is more clearly defined, and the adventures aren't as rushed.Plus: our fave Gods, a "feminist" Medusa episode, a few rushed elements, and whether we'll watch S02.References: Selome Hailu. "How ‘Percy Jackson’ Updated the Book’s Medusa Storyline to Get Closer to the Original Myth: ‘She Was a Victim of Rape.’" VarietyWanna co...2024-04-1634 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 32: Listener RecommendationsMailbag returns after a brief hiatus, so we're showcasing listener recommendations from Clara, Charlotte, and Tea, Books and Chocolate, including:> Silverhorse by Lene Kaaberbøl> A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson> Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur by writers Brandon Montclare & Amy Reeder and artist Natacha Bustos> Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher LeeWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)...2024-04-1206 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrNever Been Kissed (1999)Just in time for its 25th anniversary , Brenna and Joe check out Raja Gosnell's Never Been Kissed (1999).While Joe thinks this take on As You Like It is totally rufus, Brenna thinks he's blinded by nostalgia, particularly about the student/teacher romance.Plus: a charismatic David Arquette, Drew Barrymore's lisp, physical pratfalls, and - oh yeah - is this film even YA?! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @j...2024-04-0932 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Kissing Booth 2 (2020)Brenna and Joe return to the world of Wattpad to check out Beth Reekles' 2020 sequel, The Kissing Booth 2: Going The Distance, as well as its Netflix adaptation.The book is better written, but where is the conflict? There's nothing here! The film is much better thanks to a committed performance by Joey King (and her wig), as well as the addition of Taylor Zakhar Perez. Plus: questioning the book's interest in Elle & Noah as a couple, egregious montages, fun closing credits, and Dance Dance Revolution?!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on...2024-04-0246 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 31: Adult Julie Murphy and Girls in STEMBrenna and Joe answer emails from Tea, Books & Chocolate (about Julie Murphy's adult fiction novel Merry Little Meet Cute) and Alex (looking for recommendations of YA featuring girls in STEM).Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...2024-03-2907 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrWild Pork and Watercress (1986) / Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)Brenna and Joe close out a month of New Zealand programming with a look at Barry Crump's 1986 novel Wild Pork and Watercress, as well as Taika Waititi's long-in-development adaptation from 2016.We're talking about how prolific Crump is, Waititi's humour, and the depiction of Māori youth across several texts.Plus: montages, survivalism, tanks, and justice for Aunt Bella!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Ha...2024-03-2650 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrFlight of the Albatross (1989)New Zealand month enters its third week as Brenna and Joe tackle Deborah Savage's 1989 book Flight of the Albatross.Despite being very readable, we're got some issues with the white saviour storyline and the use of Maori characters to further the protagonist's journey.Plus: Sarah's obsession with weight, bad mom Pauline, the German (!) film adaptation we can't screen, and bizarre 80s book covers.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) o...2024-03-1941 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrWhale RiderNew Zealand month continues as we tackle our first Māori text with Witi Ihimaera's 1987 novel and Niki Caro's 2002 film adaptation.The book is short but beautiful, particularly the unusual "framing" device from a whale's perspective that provides an underlying religious element.The film plays more like a standard coming-of-age tale made for a broad (read: white) audience. It's still good, but the intention is surprisingly different considering the many 1-to-1 adaptation choices that were made.References:> Ed. Gonzalez. "Whale Rider: Review" Slant Magazine> Michael O’Sullivan. “Niki Caro: lifti...2024-03-1250 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 30: Dutch Margaret MahyListener Miriam writes in with her reflections on Margaret Mahy's The Catalogue of the Universe, its Dutch language title and book cover, and why it appealed to her as a slightly pretentious teen.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...2024-03-0804 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Catalogue of the Universe (1985)New Zealand month begins with a classic text: Margaret Mahy's The Catalogue of the Universe (1985).Brenna and Joe discuss the literary prose, the need (even in the 80s) to use romance to sell YA, and the divisive reader reactions to our dual protagonists.Plus: great families, a wild finale, and an overview of Mahy's prolific career...which weirdly never made a splash in North America.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (T...2024-03-0530 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 29: YA Isn't Just For Young Adults (Shocker)Guest Alex Heeney trolls Brenna and Joe with an article from The Millions entitled "YA Isn't Just For Young Adults". Naturally we have thoughts, including how 2018 this argument is, Book Tok, Threads, and what we call "fighting with air."Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hos...2024-03-0107 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrOne of Us is LyingBrenna and Joe venture to California to discuss Karen M. McManus' 2017 book One of Us is Lying and S01 of Erica Saleh's 2021 TV series.We're discussing the characters we latched onto in each version, as well as the changes made in the adaptation and how that would change the next book/season.Plus: thoughts on the "twist" and "villain" reveal, the beautiful 25 year olds on the show, and its sheer Canadianess.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray...2024-02-2747 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDark Rise (2021)Following recommendations from listeners Emma and Line, we're finally checking out C.S. Pacat's Dark Rise (2021).The magical fantasy text features a multiplicity of Chosen One protagonists, as well as tons of twists and turns. Could it have used a firmer hand in the editing and an abbreviated first part? Sure, but there's plenty to like here.Plus: abusive queer sexuality, (non)binary roles, and Brenna's surprising favourite character.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)2024-02-2037 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 28: Toxic FandomUsing Twilight as a launchpad, listener Victoria prompts Brenna and Joe to consider the differences between good and toxic fandom, using examples from Star Wars, RuPaul's Drag Race and Formula 1 (that's right!)Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...2024-02-1611 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrOrion and the DarkWe're skewing extremely young with our latest pick: Emma Yarlett's 2014 picture book Orion and the Dark, and Sean Charmatz's 2024 animated adaptation.The book is fun and cute, perfect for young ones who have anxiety or fears. The film is from a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich and Adaptation) so it has A LOT going on, including new characters, a focus on generational storytelling, and time loops. It's more of an exercise than an adaptation, which doesn't always make it successful!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod...2024-02-1328 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrWonka (2023)You've never had a Wonka movie like this before! Well...unless you've seen writer/director Paul King's Paddington films, which have a lot of shared DNA, including a silly role for Hugh Grant (delightfully slumming it).We're not surprised at the incredible success of the film, which is anchored by Timothée Chalamet and a deep bench of character actors. And though the film doesn't quite hang together and features some odd choices (fat suits?!), this secret musical is still a crowd-pleaser.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or...2024-02-0632 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 27: Twilight Book ClubNow that we're recording regularly again, Brenna and Joe are back with new Mailbag episodes. To kick off 2024, Tea, Books and Chocolates writes in to tell us about a mom & daughter book club experience reading Twilight.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See...2024-02-0205 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Twilight Saga: New Moon feat. Jenny NulfIt's Stephenie Meyer time as we, along with returning guest Jenny Nulf, tackle the second title in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.Our main take-away? This is a deeply boring book and while Chris Weitz's film isn't more interesting, at least the actors, particularly Michael Sheen, bring some fun/camp to the proceedings.Plus: Bella's misread of Romeo & Juliet, pop parties in Salt Lake City, why no one can possibly be #TeamJacob and why Edward deserves to die.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use...2024-01-301h 05Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Edge of Seventeen (2016)The second half of our "17" double bill concludes with Kelly Fremon Craig's The Edge of Seventeen (2016) which finds Hailee Steinfeld playing a frustrating/unlikable social outcast. C/W: Attempted sexual assaultPlus: Why it's important to read the film from Nadine's perspective, the film's cringe-y but authentic scenarios, Joe mispronouncing Kyra Sedgwick's name, and Brenna spotting a Dawson's Creek alum.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)H...2024-01-2333 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the UniverseIt's finally time for Brenna and Joe to discover Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Sáenz's award-winning 2012 novel and Aitch Alberto's 2022 film adaptation.We're *huge* fans of the book, which has 2(!) sets of great parents and a beautiful, heartwarming queer friendship/romance. The film is solid, but it's missing nearly all of the parents' backstory and makes the queerness something more violent and scary.Basically what we're saying is: READ THE BOOK!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use t...2024-01-1650 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr17 Again (2009)Brenna wanted to remember Matthew Perry, so we're revisiting Burr Steers' 17 Again (2009) starring Perry and Zac Efron.While some of this hasn't aged well, this time travel/body swap has a lot of heart and Efron's comedic chops are solid. While Joe could do with less Thomas Lennon, the sweet romance between Efron and Leslie Mann generates a lot of goodwill.Plus: slaps, incest jokes, tired geeks, and losing your house in divorce court.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:2024-01-0929 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLoveboat Taipei / Love in TaipeiBrenna and Joe kick off 2024 with Abigail Hing Wen's fantastic 2020 book Loveboat Taipei ...and Arvin Chen's extremely generic 2023 film adaptation, Love in Taipei.The book is rich, readable and filled with complicated characters which only makes the film, bland even by YA rom-com standards, even more of a disappointment.Plus: class critiques, challenging female friendships, sexual mistakes, street food and our surprise that - despite its standalone story - the book is actually the first in a trilogy!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use...2024-01-0244 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 26: Brenna's Top 5 YA ScandalsBrenna and Joe squeeze in one final Mailbag for the year. At the request of listener Tea, Books and Chocolate, we're talking about the juiciest of YA scandals from recent years, including John Green leaving Tumblr, Maggie Stiefvater vs Halsey, Sarah Dessen's Twitter mob, Lauren M Davis vs Marvellous Michael Anson (unfolding *right* now) and Kathleen Hale stalking a Goodreads reviewer. Happy holidays everyone!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @j...2023-12-2225 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMy True Love Gave To Me (2014)Brenna and Joe celebrate the holiday season with a look at the Stephanie Perkins-edited collection of seasonal stories.We chat about the stories we liked the best ("It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown", "Krampuslauf", "Midnights", "The Girl Who Broke The Dreamer" and "Welcome to Christmas, CA") with special lumps of coal for a few less successful entries ("Polaris is Where You'll Find Me", "What The Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth?" and "Star of Bethelem").It's a mixed bag!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or...2023-12-1936 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 25: Dark Rise RecommendationHere's a short and sweet Mailbag from Tasmanian listener Emily, with a recommendation for a future read: Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-12-1502 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrWilly Wonka / Charlie & The Chocolate FactoryWe've got a golden ticket! To coincide with the release of new film Wonka, Brenna and Joe dip into Roald Dahl's problematic 1964 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as Mel Stuart's 1971 adaptation and Tim Burton's 2005 "more faithful" take.There's *lots* to discuss: colonialism, racism, slavery, "the deserving poor," mixed moral messages, Anna Wintour hair, Michael Jackson and practical FX.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)H...2023-12-121h 01Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Shamer's DaughterThanks to listener Charlotte, we're checking out The Shamer's Daughter, book one in Lene Kaaberbøl's The Shamer Chronicles, as well its 2015 film adaptation by Kenneth Kainz.This medieval fantasy novel has a fantastic protagonist, strong female friendships, and complex moral stakes. The film is less memorable: it is a little too grey and happy to forego politics for explosions, but it does keep the book's dark ending. Plus: why Brenna won't forgive the puritans who complain about the book's language.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @H...2023-12-0547 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 24: Bat MitzvahAfter our episode on You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, listener Tea, Books & Chocolate wrote in to share her experiences, including expensive gifts and a Mitzvah project that involved a protest rally with grandma!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Ac...2023-12-0402 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrYou Are So Not Invited To My Bat MitzvahBrenna and Joe are working on our Mitzvahs as we discuss Fiona Rosenbloom's 2005 book You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah and its 2023 Netflix adaptation by Sammi Cohen.While both texts are relatively slight, we found these quite enjoyable. The book's conflict is a little manufactured and the Judaism lessons can be a little after school special, but we're big fans of Stacy's relationship with younger brother Arthur.The film, meanwhile, features the whole Sandler clan, but Sunny and Sadie are great comedic actresses and there's so much musicality here that we're willing...2023-11-2852 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 23: Alanna Recommendation / Imogen ConsolationWe're responding to mail from listeners Aimee, who has an Alanna-inspired contemporary recommendation, and Victoria, who is drawing on lessons from Imogen, Obviously and There's Someone Inside Your House to confront toxicity in her personal life.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. Se...2023-11-2405 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)Brenna and Joe return to Panem for The Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, directed by franchise regular Francis Lawrence.While Joe struggles with the transition from Part 2 to 3, Brenna is unconvinced by lead actor Tom Blyth or the romance between Snow and Lucy Gray.We do, however, have plenty of praise for Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer and Jason Schwartzman, as well as the costume design and the politics of the dystopia.Perhaps it simply needed to be a (mini)series instead of a 2 hour 40 minute movie?Missed...2023-11-2140 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMockingjay Part 2 feat. Alex HeeneyWe're wrapping up Mockingjay which means our resident The Hunger Games expert Alex Heeney of Seventh Row is back!We're closing out the back half of Suzanne Collins' book (Chapter 13 -> End) and Francis Lawrence's Mockingjay Part 2 (2015) with a discussion about PTSD, the Capitol as arena, and the heteronormative baby-centric ending. Plus: settling the Peeta vs Gale debate once and for all, the ugly visual palette of the film and Katniss as soldier. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:>...2023-11-141h 17Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 22: CursiveBrenna and Joe gush over new listener Chantal's cool grandmother (reader of Harlequin romance novels), then sidestep into a conversation about cursive writing as a lost art form and how it can connect us.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...2023-11-1006 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrReservation Dogs S03Brenna and Joe bid a sad farewell to S03 of Reservation Dogs. We spend a lot of time discussing the use of elders, the unique portrayal of the effects of residential schools, cycles, and where our fave characters wind up.Plus: stunt casting Elora's dad and Graham Greene, the spin-off we want, and that exquisite finale.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag q...2023-11-0746 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThere's Someone Inside Your HouseBrenna and Joe wrap up another Spooky Season with Stephanie Perkins' 2017 slasher novel There's Someone Inside Your House and Patrick Brice's 2021 Netflix adaptation.The book is fast-paced, although it loses its message and winds up being a little forgettable, while the film starts off strong, then nosedives.Plus: gory murder descriptions, a case *against* colour-blind casting in the film, and which set pieces we like the best/least.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)2023-10-3150 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrGoosebumps feat. Paul FarrellWe're still on the gateway horror track with a look at three R.L. Stine texts and Rob Letterman's 2015 film adaptation, starring Jack Black (again!)Guiding the discussion with encyclopedic knowledge is Goosebumps super fan Paul Farrell, who advised Brenna and Joe to read The Ghost Next Door, The Blob That Ate Everyone, and Night of the Living Dummy 2 to prepare.Plus: terrible families, brightly coloured cover art, the new Disney+ show, and Stine's approach to hooking young readers.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or...2023-10-2454 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrScary Stories to Tell in the DarkSpooky Season continues as Brenna and Joe tackle Alvin Schwartz's collection of folklore urban legends, as well as André Øvredal's 2019 adaptation.We heap praise on the illustrations by Stephen Gammell and acknowledge Schwartz's campfire tales as gateway horror.The film doesn't work as well: the Vietnam backstory is undercooked, villain Tommy is dispatched too early and the monsters aren't persuasive to Brenna. Plus: Joe's fave sequence, the ableism/abuse in the Bellows storyline, and that bizarre sequel tease.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or...2023-10-1736 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 21: Alanna Apology & Political DystopiasMailbag returns with an Alanna apology to Earl, a political dystopia discussion for Tea, Books & Chocolate and a thank you to Eric, who appreciates Brenna's musical taste.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray (BlueSky/Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Twitter/Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Ben Fox "Think About the Lights" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-10-0707 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe House with a Clock in Its Walls feat. Dede CrimminsSpooky Season begins with a look at John Bellairs' 1973 franchise starter The House with a Clock in Its Walls, as well as Eli Roth's 2018 adaptation. Joining us for the ride is film critic Dede Crimmins, who brings a unique POV because she saw the film first.The book is *very* 70s and features surprisingly little character development, despite oozing atmosphere (that car chase!). The film is far more male-centric, but fleshes out its characters and set pieces while (obviously) giving stars Cate Blanchett Jack Black much more to do, including turn the latter into a...2023-10-0345 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAlanna: The First Adventure (1983)It's our last Book Club for the year! Brenna and Joe are joined by listeners Emma, Charlotte and Tea, Books & Chocolate to discuss Tamora Pierce's Alanna: The First Adventure (1983).While folks warned us the book hasn't aged super well (colonialism, white saviour, gender essentialism, etc), overall we *really* liked this and can understand the nostalgia of a fantasy series with a female protagonist in the 80s. After all, Alanna is a great heroine and this is solid middle-grade fiction.Up for discussion: bullying, menstruation, and a potential trans reading. Our big question? Where. Is. The...2023-08-2939 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMailbag 16: Defining NAThanks to listener Neera, Brenna and Joe cook up a definition of NA (New Adult), who or what falls into it, and why agents shouldn't dismissive of the category!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray / @mittenstrings (Instagram)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave a mail bag question or a comment about book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Alanna: The First Adventure (Tamora Pierce, 2006) - Submit by Aug 11 Hosted...2023-07-1412 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSpice World (1997) feat. Bobby TorrezIn honour of the 25th anniversary of Spice World, we're giving you everything...or at least an episode on the iconic UK film! Along for the ride is Bobby Torrez, who - like Brenna - loves this film (Joe, meanwhile, is mostly just overwhelmed).Up for discussion: British humour, cameos and cut scenes, the $25 M budget and whether a film like this could even get made today.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote> Bobby: @BobbyTorrez2022-12-2040 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDo Revenge (2022) feat. Jenn AdamsWith Brenna taking a breather, Joe recruits former guest Jenn Adams to tackle director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson's Netflix's '90s throw-back, Do Revenge. The Camila Mendes/Maya Hawke film is perfectly cast and feels extremely timely in its discussion about female friendship and the patriarchy, with plenty of commentary on race, class and queerness. Plus: spotting all of the YA homages, costume designer Alana Morshead's influences, why Max is so hateable and SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR (!!!)Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray2022-11-0849 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Moth DiariesSpooky season continues as Brenna and Joe tackle 2002's gothic vampire lesbian boarding school text The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein and its 2011 adaptation by Mary Harron. While we're intrigued by the unreliable unnamed narrator and the teen girl drama, Brenna is very frustrated by the book's Afterword, which eliminates all ambiguity. Joe is more receptive because of his familiarity with Carmilla, but finds the film's disinterest in vampirism perplexing.Plus: Scott Speedman in full whisper phase, Joe's love of a particularly bloody scene, bad flying and Brenna delivering backhanded compliments about Joe's choice of vampires2022-10-2554 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMoonshot (2022) feat. Jessica ScottWith Brenna taking a breather, Joe recruits former guest Jessica Scott to launch into space with Chris Winterbauer's old school rom-com 'Moonshot' (2022) starring Cole Sprouse and Lana Condor.The film is both funnier and more clever than we anticipated considering the title makes no sense and HBO Max film has no budget for Mars effects. Carried by the charm of its leads (albeit with no romantic chemistry), 'Moonshot' has some interesting things to say about the environment, capitalism and greed. Oh, and the interiors of the ship are very cute and the robots are very fun!2022-08-1633 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Sky Is EverywhereIt's time for a Brenna pick as we tackle Jandy Nelson's 2010 story of sibling grief, as well as Josephine Decker's 2022 adaptation. It's a bit magical, a bit too busy and filled with extremely messy characters who are grieving.The film is visually exciting, but sometimes feels at odds with its emotional resonance (and features no chemistry between either love pair). Overall: Brenna teared up and Joe found it too long.Reference: "Josephine Decker Talks ‘The Sky Is Everywhere,’ Visualizing Emotions & More [Interview]" The Playlist.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHS...2022-07-0556 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBlinded By The Light feat. Brennan KleinShout out to listener Andrew for recommending what turned out to be our most divisive text to date! Brenna quite likes both the book and the film, while Brennan and Joe...do not.Brenna argues for the book as reflective of a specific period in British history and also of a kind of British Dude Lit ©, while Brennan and Joe find it too cold and episodic.All three of us agree that the film amounts to fan-fiction for Manzoor’s own life. As a work of "mainstream" pop culture, Chadha's film leans pretty heavily into com...2021-07-1357 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBring It On / Work ItTo celebrate the great Kirsten Dunst/Gabrielle Union showdown of 2000, Joe makes Brenna watch Bring It On ! While some of the racial politics and its approach to queerness haven't aged particularly well, we appreciate the white girls coming in second, a competitive approach to female rivalry and a bounty of sassy dialogue.Faring less well is director Laura Terruso and writer Alison Peck's Work It (2020) which exists solely as a vehicle for Sabrina Carpenter, whom Joe describes as a charisma vacuum. Thankfully we have the comedically styling of Liza Koshy's Jas and the cuteness of PS I...2020-08-1837 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe DUFFDUFFs 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...2020-04-0751 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrNetflix Algorithms and The Expanding Universe of Ashley GarciaBrenna 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...2020-03-1742 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSex Education Season 2Minisode 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...2020-02-1845 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDefinition of YA LitMore 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...2020-01-2135 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLet It SnowFor the final regular...er...full length episode of the year, Brenna and Joe embrace the festivities of the season with a trip to Starbucks and a dip into 2008's Let It Snow, the trio of novellas by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle. We're also checking out the 2019 adaptation by Luke Snellin, which coincidentally stars every teen actor under contract on a Netflix series.Up for discussion: which of the three novellas does Brenna *strongly* dislike and what makes it far less successful than the other two (A: Addie & Starbucks)? A debate whether this is...2019-12-241h 20Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLooking For AlaskaIs the third time the charm? After The Fault in our Stars and Paper Towns, Brenna and Joe are checking back into Manic Pixie Dream Girl territory with John Green's problematic first novel Looking for Alaska, which was just adapted by The O.C. and Gossip Girl scribes Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage into an eight episode Hulu series. Up for discussion: does the book contain enough sign posts that protagonist Miles' perspective should not be trusted? Does the book suffer without its titular object of affection? And how has the controversy around this novel driven Green's e...2019-10-291h 27Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Maze RunnerBrenna and Joe have patched up their differences and just in time, because they find themselves locked up with the Gladers, a bunch of annoying, mediocre (mostly) white boys from James Dashner's 2009 dystopian YA, The Maze Runner and Wes Ball's 2014 film adaptation, starring Teen Wolf break-out Dylan O'Brien.Brenna is firmly displaced with both texts unwillingness to explain the need for an all-male society and for their poorly reductive use of women. Joe is more willing to embrace the action sequences of the film, but finds the endless unanswered questions of the book and its abrupt cliffhanger...2019-09-101h 01Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrHarry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone feat. Hannah McGregorBrenna and guest star Hannah McGregor arrive at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but Joe is nowhere to be found! The result is more drama than a Gryffindor v Slytherin Quidditch match as Brenna has to duck out early, meaning Hannah is less guest, and more like the glue holding this episode together.When Joe finally joins (presumably after his Remembrall turned red), the trio discuss the reasons why Harry Potter has become such a phenomenon, why the series has lent itself to so much fan fiction and the troubling class and race issues that Rowling...2019-09-031h 27Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAfterBrenna and Joe head off to College for a sexy educa-Nope! Can't do it! There are no jokes to be had regarding the painfully unsexy and potentially damaging "erotic" coming of age book by Wattpad "author" Anna Todd.On the other side of the gulf is director Jenny Gage's bland-as-white-toast film adaptation starring human block of wood Josephine Langford and horribly miscast (and inconsistently British) Hero Fiennes Tiffin.Looking for better erotica? Check out Smart Bitches, Trashy Books instead!Topics for discussion include the sad reality of why this book didn't employ...2019-08-271h 15Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrEvery DayBrenna and Joe aren't feeling quite themselves - in fact they may be experiencing an out of body event as a result of reading David Levithan's 2012 book Every Day and screening Michael Sucsy's 2018 film adaptation.Or perhaps it is simply that they are struggling with pronouns and personhood as a result of A's constantly changing bodies.In addition to callbacks to the repetitive cycles of Before I Fall and Everything, Everything, Brenna and Joe discuss how the book, like Adam Silvera's writing, fails to understand its own appeal. Thankfully the film adaptation makes a strong...2019-08-201h 10Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe GiverBrenna and Joe join the uniformly black and white life of the 'Sameness' as they dig into Lois Lowry's 1993 Newberry medal winner dystopian text, The Giver. Unfortunately because this is still a YA adaptation podcast, they're also forced to check out Philip Noyce's 2014 film adaptation, which Joe politely describes as a "run of the mill dystopian garbage fest with hot people".In this episode Brenna provides an overview of Lowry's quartet of novels, the pair discuss why the book's focus on empathy, feelings and ambuigty is so powerful, and why The Giver may actually be inappropriate for...2019-08-131h 17Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMysterious SkinBook One comes to a close as Brenna and Joe delve into the dark and horrifying world of Scott Heim's 1995 novel Mysterious Skin and Gregg Araki's 2004 adaptation, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week.Take the trigger warning to heart as both texts deal with very mature themes. Brenna and Joe, while appreciative of the craftmanship of both texts, frequently resort to the word "horrifying" to describe their experiences. Rest assured that there is lightness to be found, though, including Joe's embarrassing mix-up over Heim's last name, the struggle to reconcile Brian as a "boring" character...2019-06-251h 15Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Virgin SuicidesBrenna and Joe head to the 70s suburbs for a deep dive into the problematic world of Jeffrey Eugenides' 1993 "not YA" novel The Virgin Suicides and a comparison of Sofia Coppola's film adaptation, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.After 25 episodes, Brenna FINALLY clarifies to Joe a foundational component of YA Literature. The pair also discuss Eugenides' lack of empathy for his female characters, Coppola's feminist treatment of the material and Brenna's biggest issue about the adaptation.In homework: Brenna galley-brags about her advance reading copy of Julie Murphy's new Middle School book, Dear Sweet...2019-05-211h 06
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrOrange Marmalade feat. Paul LeBrenna and Joe are joined by Paul Le as they venture into the world of South Korean manwha and webtoons. The trio checks out the first 25 episodes of Seok-woo's Orange Marmalade, a YA vampire romance that originally ran between 2011-2013, as well as its accompanying 2015 KBS2 TV series.The unique episodic format of the webtoon poses some narrative challenges, but its clever and unique use of space and scrolling generates plenty of discussion. The trio also analyzes why the TV season is like melodramatic catnip, its unusual ties to Felicity and Brenna poses a Stephenie Meyer-inspired question...2019-04-301h 07
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe ChangeoverBrenna and Joe travel to the other side of the world for an investigation into Margaret Mahy's 1984 Carnegie Medal winner, The Changeover and its 2017 film adaptation by Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie. Brenna appreciates the prickly, unconventional mother/daughter relationship, Joe unpacks how the film uses the 2011 earthquake to inform its narrative and, for the first time on the podcast, an ending dramatically alters the pair's appreciation of one of the texts.In homework: Brenna and Joe chat about the impact of Disney's closure of the FOX 2000 studio, which produced Love, Simon, The Hate U Give and...2019-04-231h 09
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Lesser BlessedBrenna and Joe venture to Canada's Northern Territories to spend time with Richard Van Camp's lyrical and melancholy 1996 novel The Lesser Blessed and Anita Dorin's 2012 film adaptation. This is an extremely heavy, but ultimately rewarding pair of texts that merit the extra-long run time (fun fact: when Brenna teaches the book, it takes her three weeks to unpack!)Brenna goes into much-needed teacher-mode to elaborate on the background of Residential schools, one of Canada's most shameful historical events, which is essential for understanding the book's exploration of trauma and pain. Joe, meanwhile, makes a shocking discovery in...2019-04-161h 14
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrChilling Adventures of Sabrina feat. Emily von SeeleBrenna and Joe venture deep into the Greendale woods to perform a dark ceremony in advance of Brenna's birthday and they're joined by a very special guest: Emily von Seele! The three unpack the gorgeous art and risky narrative in Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's 60s-set dark reboot of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and contrast it with the more risk-adverse 2018 Netflix adaptation - just in time for its return on April 5.Along the way Brenna wonders why the goat masks in both Sabrina and its companion series Riverdale mean completely different things, Joe vents about the series' aesthetic choices (enough...2019-04-021h 07
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDivergentBreak out your black tights and your pink hair because Brenna and Joe are headed into the Dauntless Pit with Veronica Roth's 2011 bestseller Divergent and the Neil Burger-helmed 2014 adaptation. Both hosts have mixed feelings, contrasting their initial enjoyment of the texts back in the day with the more complicated, less fun reading of both in a post-Trump, anti-intellectual world. It's not all doom and gloom, though: it turns out Brenna's brother and Joe's husband have nearly identical reactions to the film, Brenna gets far too much pleasure whispering the titular term and the episode ends with a SHOCKING revelation...2019-03-261h 12
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Kissing BoothWelcome to full-on vitriol. Brenna wants to barf and Joe wants to burn this book.In this take no prisoners dressing down of Beth Reekles’ massive Wattpad success The Kissing Booth, Brenna and Joe don’t expect to make any tween fans from Los Angeles happy (or is it South Wales? Or is it South Africa?).Adult listeners wishing to destroy their livers are welcome to play the “Edit!” drinking game as Brenna and Joe lament the inept job that Random House UK did in shepherding a 15 year old’s online serial into a book. Thankfully...2019-02-1252 min