Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Brenna Clarke Gray and Joe Lipsett
  • 4.9 (34)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

A weekly podcast about young adult literature, their film and television adaptations and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1D AGO

    Forever

    We're back for our third Judy Blume text with Forever! The 1975 book was written to candidly discuss a sexual relationship between teens and even if some aspects don't quite hold up, Brenna and Joe find its frankness refreshing. On the flip side, the Netflix series from 2025 falls somewhere between IP cash grab and spiritual adaptation. Creator Mara Brock Akil interprets the text through a celebratory Black lens, though we could do with less blocking and breaking up between Keisha and Justin. Plus: musicality, stereotypical secondary characters, the most excessive house porn we've seen, and Brenna's pandemic speculation about the series' 2nd season. Reference: Candace Frederick. "Mara Brock Akil Grew Up With Judy Blume’s Very White Characters. In Forever, She Made Them Black." Refinery 29 Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question or a contribution to July's Book Club on Felix Ever After (before July 18)? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com  Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  2. 5D AGO · BONUS

    Mailbag 44: Corrections, Elaborations, and Recommendations

    We're doing a mega mailbag round-up with bits and pieces from listeners Neera, Victoria, and Sophie. First up: an apology to Neera about Inkheart and an observation about 2000s YA and middle grade fiction. Then: More fall-out from Quiet on Set with regard to Drake Bell's sexual misconduct charges, as well as the Pride Month murder of Indigenous gay man Jonathan Joss. Finally, a few recommendations from Sophie, including a pair of titles by director Lukas Moodyson. Reference: Kelly Lynne Dangelo. We All Need to Be Talking About the Murder of Jonathan Joss This Pride and Beyond. Harper's Bazaar Recommendations: > Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson > Show Me Love (1998, dir: Lukas Moodyson) / Lilya 4-ever (2002) Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  3. Skins Series 2: Episodes 1 & 2

    JUL 1

    Skins Series 2: Episodes 1 & 2

    Class is back in session as Brenna and Joe kick off Skins Series 2 with a look at the first two episodes. From the bold decision about Tony's traumatic brain injury to the sidelining Cassie to Maxxie's dancing to...Sketch (?) it's a brand new summer of the kids are not alright! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min

  4. JUN 27

    Book Club: Just Listen (2006)

    Book Club returns as Brenna and Joe discuss Sarah Dessen's 2006 novel Just Listen, along with responses from Miriam, Victoria, and Tea, Books & Chocolate. C/W: sexual assault and disordered eating. We *loved* this book, which feels fresh, accessible and side-steps glamorizing or wallowing in the trauma. Plus: girlhood, placelessness, glass house metaphors and radical honesty. Wanna connect with the show or comment on July's selection Felix Ever After (due July 18)? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  5. JUN 24

    Uproar (2023)

    Brenna and Joe check out coming of age film Uproar (2023), directed by Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett and written by Bennett and Sonia Whiteman. The 80s-set New Zealand movie follows Josh (Julian Dennison), a Maori boy who becomes politically engaged when his small town hosts a South African rugby club during Apartheid. It is an unintentionally timely text considering the recent wave of protests and the reticence of older people to get involved. Plus: Minnie Driver and Rhys Darby stunt casting, rugby factoids, and why white "allies" are the worst! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky: @HKHSPod > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  6. JUN 17

    Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between

    It's easy, breezy time as Brenna and Joe check out our first Jennifer E. Smith text with Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between (2015) and Michael Lewen's 2022 Netflix adaptation. This feels like a classic first year HKHS combo: a beach-read book and an enjoyably slight romantic film, anchored by likeable leads. We're especially shocked at the negative reviews for the latter! Plus: our fave stops on the tour, Jordan Fisher's music, Joe's frustration with book Clare, and a surprising film development around diverse inclusion. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  7. TRAILER

    Book Club Announcement: June 20 Reminder & July's Pick

    A quick reminder that your responses to Sarah Dessen's Just Listen is due Friday, June 20. And also: the announcement of our July 2025 selection, which is Kacen Callender's Felix Ever After (2018). If you wanna read along, the due date for responses for July is Friday, July 18. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min

  8. JUN 3

    Inkheart

    Thanks to listener requests, Brenna and Joe dig into the fantasy world of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and its 2008 film adaptation starring Brendan Fraser. It's...not what we expected. In addition to less driving, Joe wanted more fantasy, while Brenna wanted more famous characters. Possible reasons this didn't connect for us: translation issues and the revelation that it may have been meant to be read aloud at bedtime! Plus: Helen Mirren doing Judy Dench, obvious sequel set-up, our interest in Fenoglio (but not Elinor) and the surprising longevity of the film's FX! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod: > Brenna: @brennacgray > Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky) Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com   Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
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Trailers

4.9
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

A weekly podcast about young adult literature, their film and television adaptations and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Brenna Clarke Gray and Joe Lipsett
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    386
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brenna Clarke Gray and Joe Lipsett
  • Show Website
    Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

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