In this bonus episode of Were the Kids Alright, Sophie discusses Kalynn Bayron's YA book, Cinderella Is Dead. This episode was originally recorded in February which is why Bud, Not Buddy is mentioned as the most recent release. Content Warnings: sexual assault, sexism, racism, homophobia, murder, immortality, and forced marriage. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Were the Kids Alright?

BONUS: Cinderella Is Dead

This week, we read Ruby Redfort, Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child. We discuss what it takes to write a book-within-a-book, Lauren Child’s Clarice Bean problem, Ruby’s unnecessary sassiness, and how suspicious it is that a supposedly-good non-governmental spy agency needs help from a child. Content Warnings: Cultural appropriation, museum ethics, societal ignorance, discussion of criminal justice systems, teenagers in danger, kidnapping, and murder. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB More About Khotan https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/khotan-i-pre-islamic-history https://www.thoughtco.com/khotan-xingjiang-uygur-autonomous-region-171478 https://isaw.nyu.edu/events/archive/2017/eighth-century-khotan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Khotan

Ruby Redfort, Look Into My Eyes

This "week" we read Divergent, by Veronica Roth. This is the second part of our discussion, where we discuss characters and fanfiction takes and give our final assessments of the book. Content Warnings: Suicide, racism, sexual assault, domestic violence, so much abuse of all different kinds, discussion of homelessness, needles, mind control, and harmful societal ideology. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Divergent (Part 2)

This “week” we read Divergent by Veronica Roth. This is the first part of our discussion, where we discuss story structure, the worldbuilding of the factions, and general what-makes-humanity-what-it-is stuff. Whether you hated or loved Divergent, you’ll find something to agree with in our many, many opinions! Content Warnings: Suicide, racism, sexual assault, domestic violence, so much abuse of all different kinds, discussion of homelessness, needles, mind control, and harmful societal ideology. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Divergent (Part 1)

Hey y'all! We recorded a bonus episode of us taking Divergent faction quizzes. Our official episode on Divergent will be out soon. Hope you enjoy! Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

BONUS: Faction Quiz

This week, we read Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best-Friend Must Do in Europe by Jane Harrington. We discuss realism in portraying (and not overtly critiquing) cultural ignorance, self-confidence during puberty, and why the Star Trek-loving Gorkon is the ACTUAL WORST. We also talk about ALL CAPS versus italics BECAUSE THIS BOOK LIKES TO SHOUT. CW: Racism, European stereotyping, discussion of slurs (for Romani and queer people), discussion of homophobia and body image, objectification, sexual harassment, mental illness as a punchline, and finally a young, culturally-ignorant protagonist. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best-Friend Must Do in Europe

This “week” we read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. And we had a special guest! We discussed fairy tale retellings, fantasy languages, and the Disney movie adaptation of this book that really should have just been its own thing. Content Warnings: Mind control, fairy curses, abuse, death of a parent, neglect, fantasy violence, manipulation, and arranged marriages. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast TikTok: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Ella Enchanted

This week, we read Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka. We discuss the book’s portrayal of culture shock, how unrealistic violin airplaying is, and when parents should let their kid quit a musical instrument. CW: Anti-Asian-American racism, casual racism, immigration, family dynamics, toxic masculinity, and discussions of cultural differences. We’re also two liberal arts white people talking about racism and immigration. We are constantly learning, and sometimes we will mess up. Please, please check out Lensey Namioka's other work because not enough people read her and the source is the best representation of anything we discuss in this episode. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear

This week, we read the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. We talk about the duology’s amazing characters, how Sophie thought there should’ve been fewer points of view, the continuing bias against Fjerda, and Bardugo’s talent for emotional payoff. CW: Graphic violence and injury, abuse of power, sexual assault and exploitation, propoganda, human trafficking, guns, racism and exotification, emotional manipulation, crime, gangs, sexual slavery, general slavery, gambling, kidnapping, forced experimentation and drugging, addiction, discrimination, torture, disease, death, and major character death. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Episode 25: Six of Crows Duology

This “week” we read Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. We talk about Alina’s not-like-other-girls problem, how to make her a more interesting character, and about how sometimes fans make things worse. Content Warnings: Violence, injury, abuse of power, referenced sexual assault and exploitation, emotional manipulation, killing animals for both food and sacrifice, internalized misogyny, beauty standards, classism, orphans, and a country at war. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB 

Episode 24: Shadow and Bone

This “week” we read The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart. We talk about the creepiness of the Ten Men, the quality of Reynie’s character, the greatness of Stewart’s action scenes, and how this book compares to the first. We also get a sequel to Sophie’s “kill Mr. Curtain” fanfic take and hear Jacqueline’s theory about the book’s setting. Content Warnings: Kidnapping, running away from guardians, so so much of children in danger, severe injury, torture (both threat and actual), discussion of narcolepsy and “the old hag,” sleep-inducing drugs, threat of death, and discussion of mind control. Note: We recorded this episode in March but had to take a hiatus due to COVID curveballs and Sophie getting distracted by Camp NaNoWriMo (we’ll talk more about it in our next episode). Also, we incorrectly refer to Reynie and Sticky’s ages as eleven. They were eleven in the first book. Now they are twelve. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Episode 23: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

This week we read Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. We talk about uplifting authors of color, the education system (yet again), and the story’s non-linear narrative. We also shout out our favorite fan who send us super nice Instagram messages - check them out at whattoreadnextya.middlegrade for book recommendations from this decade! Content Warnings: Racism, deportation, allusion to learning disabilities, bullying, politics, parent death, discussion of police brutality, injury, incarcerated parents, and classism. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Episode 22: Harbor Me

Ep 21: This week we read Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. We talk about Bud’s greatness as the main character, the lack of closure on Bugs, the portrayal of the Great Depression in children’s literature, and how shameful it is that this is our first book by a Black author. CW: Dead parents, abandoned children, bad foster homes/families, the Great Depression, racism, sunset towns, police violence, child hunger, and child abuse (physical and mental). Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Episode 21: Bud, Not Buddy

This week we finished up the Percy Jackson series with The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan! We talk about the final battle, moments in the story that reflect the Trojan War, and many tiny details that have Sophie sighing more than usual (and just being the best because she puts up with Jacqueline’s love of the series). Sorry this wasn’t released when promised - personal stuff got in the way but everything should be smooth sailing from here. We have a special bonus episode coming out soon so keep an eye out for that! Content Warnings: Major character death, absent parents, abusive and negligent parents, dead parents, kids in danger, kidnapping, exploitive power dynamics, white supremacy and Nazis, the Greek pantheon, self-sacrifice, discussion of suicide, and religion. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Episode 20: The Last Olympian

This week, we read The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riodan. Sophie brings in an article to frame our ongoing discussion of what makes a good main character. We talk about the ridiculousness of Chiron and Annabeth’s secrecy, Percy’s lack of character growth, and the strengths of Rick Riodan’s incorporation of Greek myths into the modern world. CW: Character death, absent parents, abusive and negligent parents, dead parents, kids in danger, kidnapping, discussion of sexual assault, exploitive power dynamics, neocolonialism, the Greek pantheon, discussions of destroying gods, and religion. Sophie continuously criticizes the gods and expresses a desire to “let them fade.” This is only within Rick Riodan’s world and interpretation of Greek mythology. Here are the two sources Sophie used to pull arguments from: Ramm, Kathleen. “9 Signs Your Main Character Is Boring,” June 29, 2020. https://kingdompen.org/9-signs-your-main-character-is-boring/. Autumn. “Percy Jackson Is a Gary Stu.” Percy Jackson Rants, Opinions, and Other Stuff. quotev.com, January 11, 2020. https://www.quotev.com/story/12237056/Percy-Jackson-Rants-Opinions-and-Other-Stuff/30. Our Links Website: https://werethekidsalright.wixsite.com/podcast Twitter: @wtka_podcast Instagram: wtka_podcast Music Intro: I Wear Headphones by Silent Partner Outro: Good Vibes by MBB

Episode 19: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Two friends reread and discuss books from their childhoods! Join Jacqueline and Sophie as they take a critical eye to the books that they loved as children. Read along or don't - it's up to you!

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Were the Kids Alright?

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