Patreon Episode List
2023
DECEMBER 2023 - The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
NOVEMBER 2023 - Dolls of Our Lives Q&A
OCTOBER 2023 - Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek by Thea Glassman
SEPTEMBER 2023 - Wishbone (PBS)
AUGUST 2023 - Tamagotchi Pets
JULY 2023 - American Girl Fans in a Barbie World - Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Doll by Robin Gerber
JUNE 2023 - Like a Diamond: Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith
MAY 2023 - Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen
APRIL 2023 - Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume
MARCH 2023 - Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii, 1941 by Barry Denenberg
FEBRUARY 2023 - Everything I Need I Get from You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It by Kaitlyn Tiffany
JANUARY 2023 - The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot and a Prince's Memoir
2022
Going for the Gold
DECEMBER 2022 -Alison Goes for the Gold. On this very special Patreon episode, you can find us in the club…the Magic Attic Club, of course! In the mid-1990s, the Magic Attic Club line of dolls and books was launched during a peak moment of popularity for American Girl. While AG taught kids all about history, Magic Attic leaned into fantasy. In the Magic Attic Club universe, a tight group of pre-teen girls (Alison, Keisha, Megan, and Heather) have access to a mysterious mirror. When equipped with the right outfit, they can use the mirror to have great adventures and learn a few lessons. Using our own kind of special mirror (an old Magic Attic Club catalogue) we explore this iconic brand and make the inevitable comparisons with AG. We also revisit the great American MAC classic Alison Goes for the Gold. This layered story features a hardworking and stressed girl named Alison who wants to be a class president AND a gold medalist. Find out whether Alison comes in first … and savor the quirky delights of this lesser known, girl-centered brand. Want to read along? You can check out Alison Goes for the Gold from Internet Archive.
Getting Into Ancestor Trouble
NOVEMBER 2022 - Ancestor Trouble. What does your family tree say about you? Maud Newton tackles this question in her new and powerful book, Ancestor Trouble. Through this project, Newton asks probing questions about a number of her ancestors, questioning family myths and stories along the way. Using her talent as a researcher, Newton uncovers the true stories of relatives whose lives were or are complex, fascinating, and at times, troubling. As we go along for the ride, Newton teaches us about genetic genealogy, ancestor worship, and much more. Part memoir, part social commentary, Newton’s book is great to sit with as we head into the holidays. Trigger warning: We do reference sexual assault and domestic violence in the course of discussing the content of this book.
Happy Halloween!
OCTOBER 2022 - Stonewords. Would you befriend a ghost? Better yet, would you leave the 1990s to spend time in the 19th century? Young Zoe, the protagonist of Stonewords, decides she's cool with doing both. From a young age, Zoe develops a bond with a girl named Zoe Louise. The relationship is rocky, and one of their main issues is that Zoe Louise is dead (or half dead, depending on the chapter). We go on a journey with Zoe to try and prevent her BFF's untimely demise in the 1800s. This episode includes discussion of time travel, Halloween, and our favorite scary stories.
Mean Baby, Fascinating Adult
SEPTEMBER 2022 - Mean Baby. Earlier this year, Selma Blair published her memoir entitled Mean Baby. Described as “mean” in her early years, Blair has been searching for labels that fit for decades. A self-described seeker, Blair has looked to psychics, fellow celebrities, teachers, and writers to figure out how to write her own story. In this book, Blair talks about some of her more famous roles (Cecile in Cruel Intentions, Vivian in Legally Blonde) and her great loves (a prep school, actor Jason Schwartzman, and her son, Arthur). A note from us: readers/listeners should know that Blair describes her experiences with eating disorders, mental health, substance abuse, and chronic illness with great detail.
The Birchbark House
AUGUST 2022 - The Birchbark House has finally moved off the Patreon TBR list. This beautifully written novel by Louise Erdrich has been much requested by you, our listeners! Set in 1847, The Birchbark House is a story about an Ojibwa girl named Omakayas. Throughout the book, we spend several seasons with Omakayas and her kin as they weather a smallpox outbreak. Omakayas learns more about her own history and starts to see herself as a healer. We discuss Erdrich's beautiful writing, how Birchbark House connects to themes prevalent in American Girl collections, and why this widely acclaimed book ought to have a place on your shelf.
Bicentennial Red, White, and Blues
JULY 2022 - 1776 musical. With so much recent discussion about the ideas and intentions of the "founders," we decided to watch the film version of the musical 1776...so you won't have to. Clocking in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, this performance will give you more questions than answers as to how the Declaration of Independence was actually written. We talk about Mr. Feeny's (a.k.a William David Daniels's) turn as John Adams, what's really going on with the depiction of Thomas Jefferson's wife, and the general fixation with leading white men of this era.
The Story of Watergate (for Kids!)
JUNE 2022 - Fifty years after the Watergate scandal, and endless “gates” later, what can we learn from a children’s book about one of America’s most famous crooks? For this Patreon episode, we looked at the dense and at times, baffling children’s book called The Story of Watergate. Though this is hardly a cool bedtime read, it does shed light on an important moment of reckoning.
From Sarah to Sydney to Mary to Allison
MAY 2022 - From Sarah to Sydney
In 1951, Sydney Taylor introduced All-of-a-Kind Family to the world. Her novel about a Jewish family living on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century features five American girls: Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie. These tight-knit sisters love to read, eat candy, and occasionally, dust for their mother. We talk about our (first) read of Taylor's book, which holds up all these years later as an absolute delight. We also discuss the biography From Sarah to Sydney (2021), by the late Jane Cummins and Alexandra Dunietz. How much of Sarah Brenner’s life was put into the all-of-kind-family? How did Sarah become Sydney Taylor? Join us in separating fact and fiction.
Highlights from Dear Highlights
APRIL 2022 - Dear Highlights: What Adults Can Learn from 75 Years of Letters and Conversations with Kids. Picture it: you are sitting in a doctor's office sometime in your childhood. What magazine is strewn about the waiting area? For this episode, we tackled a publication that is probably tucked away in the recesses of your memory bank: Highlights Magazine. For decades, young people have sent in letters to Highlights, a magazine especially designed by psychologists for kids. Some of these letters have been preserved in an archive in Ohio. Dear Highlights is a curated collection of some of these letters and a kind of "time capsule" of childhood. We talk about what changes over time in these letters--and what doesn't change in the responses. We also learn a thing or two from the editors' replies, such as how to get Baby Beluga out of your head once it's stuck (a real question asked of Highlights staff).
Midwife’s Apprentice March
MARCH 2022 - The Midwife’s Apprentice. Do you remember this classic novel by Karen Cushman? Set in the Middle Ages, The Midwife’s Apprentice is about a girl named Alyce who is anything but mid. In spite of many challenges, starting with the fact that she sleeps in a dung-pile, Alyce finds her way in the world (and makes a few friends) while learning to be a midwife. We talk about our own medieval times, the transmission of medical knowledge, and what happens when cats name themselves (purr!).
International Relations: Meet Michelle Kwan
FEBRUARY 2022 - With the 2022 Olympic Games warming our hearts and making us wish for brand new ice skates, we knew it was time...time to learn more about the one and only (Ambassador) Michelle Kwan! Join us in reading Heart of a Champion, one of Michelle Kwan's many autobiographies. Some people might wait to finish high school before writing a memoir, but Michelle had lived enough to write a book at 17. We talk about Michelle's years of training, her family's commitment to greatness, and of course, "the Tara Lipinski of it all." No coach has put us in, but we are ready to skate.
Johnny January
JANUARY 2022 - This month we tackled a much-requested book: Esther Forbes's Johnny Tremain (1943). For some authors, winning a Newbery Medal would be enough. Others might dip out after a Pulitzer Prize. Esther Forbes won a Newbery and a Pulitzer within a few years--all while a war was on. During this episode, we discuss Forbes's fascinating career (read as: obsession with Paul Revere). Against this backdrop, we also track Johnny Tremain's puzzling journey from apprentice to American revolutionary. At the start of the book, Tremain is yet another young man trying to make his way in colonial Boston. Then, an injury forces Tremain to rethink his career plans, his love life, and the stories he's been told about his lineage. Despite the challenges in front of him, Tremain somehow feels both despondent and totally prepared to pivot from "aspiring silversmith" to international super spy/soldier. We talk about Tremain's transformation, the timing of the book's publication, and the author's push for men to "stand up" and fight.
2021
V is for Vanderbilt
DECEMBER 2021 - There comes a time in every woman's life when she must...flee from her family's summer estate holding precious heirlooms in trash bags? For this month's Patreon episode, we read Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. This short, punchy, and very readable family biography was written by Anderson Cooper (descendent of Vanderbilts) and Katherine Howe (descendent of some of Salem's finest). This book chronicles some of the Vanderbilts' finest moments during their ascent into America's elite, along with some of their more challenging times (see opening anecdote, and/or anything to do with Gloria). We consider what motivated Cooper to write the book, and what we can learn from another collective biography of the rich during a period of great economic inequality.
Patreonish
NOVEMBER 2021 - Tis the season … to be bombarded with MLM offers, fanatic workout club ads, and thought-terminating cliches (well, it is what it is!). For this month’s episode, we discuss Amanda Montell’s Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. Montell is a linguist interested in why people end up in cults and how cultish language shapes all of us.
Something Upstairs
OCTOBER 2021 - Happy Halloween! On this episode we read Avi's Something Upstairs (1988). Seeing your favorite childhood keychain may take you back for a moment. But what if that keychain could also take you to another time period? Would you do what needed to be done to stop an injustice from repeating? Avi’s 1988 classic Something Upstairs asks and answers those questions, and boldly breaks the space time continuum. When protagonist Kenny moves to a new place, he finds that he's not alone in his attic bedroom. A ghost named Caleb has also been forced to reside there for centuries. Through this time travel story, Avi explores race and power across three centuries in Providence, RI. We talk about this twisty plot, the uses of ghost stories, and the real real estate that serves as the setting for this book.
Lisa Frank Talk
SEPTEMBER 2021 - "I'll never forget the day I got stuck on Lisa Frank!" With these immortal words, Mila Kunis launched her career and the sticker obsessions of at least a million young people. In this Patreon episode, we talk all about the world of Lisa Frank. We share our own favorite characters, discuss the complex naming conventions of some of the more popular designs, and delve into the dark world of the Lisa Frank Factory. We have also included some other bonuses you will want to put right next to your vintage Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers. **This summer, it was our pleasure to work with Rebecca Doyle, a student and designer who dazzled us with her talent and sharp instincts.** Check out Rebecca's awesome work!
Nights at the Museum
JUNE 2021 - Filing cabinet fans, here we go! For this Patreon episode, we are diving right into the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This 1967 classic features the Kincaid kids, who just need a break from home — and the allure of solving an art mystery. Whether you really love hanging files, eccentric older people, or beds in museums, this book has a little bit of something for everyone (and a chauffeur). If you’ve never dreamed about sleeping in The Met, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler still has an enduring appeal. We talk about the value of stories that center smart and funny young people, without a moralizing "parents just don’t get it" ending. So, will you accept this rose, we mean, invitation to the Met?
Like the Willow Tree
APRIL 2021 - Lois Lowry has written more than 40 books. As of this month, she is
also featured in half of our 2021 Patreon episodes. This is incidentally very close to the total number of surviving Shakers. Just in time for spring, we read Lowry's Like the Willow Tree, a Dear America journey for the ages. Based on meticulous research at the
Sabbathday Lake Shaker community, this book features a young diarist
named Lydia who loses her parents to the flu pandemic. Though the
Shakers initially wreck her plans, Lydia eventually teach her how to
bend to the wind. We discuss Shaker controversies, our varying levels
of interest in intentional communities, and much more. Like to read along? You can support the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village by purchasing Lowry's book here:
https://www.maineshakers.com/product/like-the-willow-tree-by-lois-lowry/.
Many Mysteries of the Lilac Inn
MARCH 2021 - “Shine bright like a diamond / Find light in the beautiful sea / I choose to be happy…” Did you know that these lyrics were written about The Mystery At Lilac Inn, the fourth Nancy Drew mystery? Ok, before you call Rihanna on us, we know that they're not. However, we do hope that you'll still stand with us under a proverbial umbrella for a re-read of a Nancy Drew classic*. In this bizarrely action-packed story, Nancy has to find a jewel thief, save herself from a submarine, and navigate a stolen identity. While the true mysteries of Nancy’s world are not discussed within the pages of this book, we take on the hard questions such as whether Nancy actually had a job, and why she is single. We also consider what Nancy Drew meant to us as children, what she means to us now, and the many uses of a Nancy tote bag or purse.
*Like most "classic" books, this one had to be heavily edited between the 1930s and 1960s for racist language and themes.
Number the Stars
FEBRUARY 2021 - Lois Lowry's classic novel Number the Stars shares the true story of the Danish resistance movement during the Holocaust. For a generation of readers, the story of Annemarie Johnansen and her friend Ellen Rosen served as an introduction to the experiences of children raised in Europe over the course of World War II. When we first meet Annemarie, she is unsure as to whether she has courage, but she learns her own strength when she is compelled to stand up for her friend. For this month's Patreon episode, we talked about Lowry's achievement with this book and the challenges of writing violence and trauma into books for young adults.
Meet Phillis
JANUARY 2021 - This month we read The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. This book of poetry examines the inner life and historical worlds of Phillis Wheatley Peters. Jeffers first learned of Phillis in school as one of America’s firsts. In this telling of Phillis’s story, Jeffers begins in West Africa, with the life that came before Phillis was an enslaved poet in Boston. Using historical research, Jeffers probes the under-examined aspects of Phillis Wheatley Peters’s life. How did she fall in love, nurture her faith, and make lasting friendships? Join in our discussion of this rich book.
2020
The Meaning of Mariah Carey
DECEMBER 2020 - For our twelfth Patreon episode, we chose the memoir of a modern diva and one of the most accomplished recording artists of all time. Join us as we consider The Meaning of Mariah Carey (2020) - an autobiography and fascinating portrait of race and fame in modern America. Why did Mariah have to sneak out to Burger King? What’s the deal with Carson Daly? Is Mariah the Queen of Christmas? We consider these pressing questions and more. Also—a very special thank you to everyone who’s been with us for a WHOLE YEAR! We look forward to bringing you more episodes in 2021.
Coal Miner’s Daughter- the Remix
NOVEMBER 2020 -This month, we read A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska. This fictional diary was written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, who doesn’t shy away from complex or dark histories. Our lead Anetka marries a miner at age 13 and is a widow by 14. The book builds to the Lattimer massacre, with Anetka narrating her story and the challenges of being young and far from home along the way. Join us as we talk labor history, Loretta Lynn, and the purpose of diaries.
Oh, and ... did we mention how grateful we are for YOU?
Season of the Witch (of Blackbird Pond)
OCTOBER 2020 - Join us in exploring the magic that is The Witch of Blackbird Pond! We take you into author Elizabeth George Speare's world (1958) and her take on Connecticut Colony (circa 1680s). Trees will be used to harbor important charters, Quaker heroes will hide out by the town pond, and one spunky Kit will win you over as she avoids legal charges for witchcraft. Light a pumpkin spice candle and grab your map of the 17th century colonies--it's the season of the witch.
You can also explore our StoryMap!
Dear America…
SEPTEMBER 2020 - Did you read The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple?
. . . .Well, we seem to have not remembered and this story may have tested our patience. In this episode, we re-read the first Dear America book, set on and off the Mayflower in 1620-1621. Protagonist/diarist Remember a.k.a.
"Mem" experiences a lot of hardship and seasickness in this 1996
ribboned classic. She gets jealous when her friend is the "first" to
step on Plymouth Rock and that's just the beginning. In our coverage,
we talk about life in the 1600s, the limits of historical fiction, and
representations of indigenous life in "pilgrim" stories. Want to learn more re-indigenizing education? Check out the Akomawt Educational Initiative - @akomawt on Twitter.
Full House: A Jane Addams Mystery
AUGUST 2020 - When author Frances McNamara isn't "sailing on the Charles River in Boston or beaching on Cape Cod," she's dropping red herrings & killing characters living in 1890s Chicago. Join us as we talk about "Death at Hull House," McNamara's second Emily Cabot Mystery. This former librarian has a brand (Progressive-era crime solving in Illinois) and we respect it. Grab a spare chair from a settlement house near you and settle in for a discussion on death, intrigue, and smallpox.
Allison and Mary’s Great Idea*
JULY 2020 - On this episode, we talk the first Babysitter's Club book and the latest Netflix adaptation. We talk about which member of the BSC we identified with as young readers and how we feel now, and much more. This episode is dedicated to Grandma Mimi, forever prom queen.
*Due to Covid restrictions, we were not able to record this in Stoneybrook, CT.
Marsha, Marsha, and Andre
JUNE 2020 - This Pride month, we chose to cover three biographical projects that focus on Black queer experiences. First, we talk about two different approaches to presenting the life of Marsha P. Johnson, an important activist involved in the 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn. With the Drunk History episode "Marsha P. Johnson Sparks the Stonewall Riots," and the short film "Happy Birthday, Marsha!" we see two paths to sharing Johnson's story & her connection to Pride. We also talk about the gaps in the documentary "The Gospel According To André" - a recent study of the icon Andre Leon Talley. Join us for this look at the man called "the Kofi Annan of what you've got on" and the woman who insisted: "no pride for some of us, without liberation for all of us!" Also mentioned on this episode: Mini-Syllabus: Memes and Blackness by Amber Officer-Narvasa.
Open Book
MAY 2020 - Ashlee Simpson may have gifted us with her "Autobiography," but on this episode we take a deep dive into Jessica Simpson's latest memoir, Open Book. We discuss memoir as a form, Newlyweds, the Nick Lachey of it all, the toxicity that is John Mayer, and more.
This is Not a Drill!
APRIL 2020 - This month our Patreon bonus features commentary on Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic.We talk about the iceberg-level cultural fascination with the ship, the Titanic Historical Society, and survivors' videos on Youtube. The Titanic documentary we discuss can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HchZvjV_4o
Little Women
MARCH 2020 - Buckle up for a real ride. We're taking you on an Alcott odyssey. First, we talk about the latest film adaptation of Little Women and ponder questions like: why didn't Greta Gerwig win ....everything? Is Thoreau a precursor to tiny house builders everywhere? We play a spirited game of scam or real Bronson Alcott business endeavor, and perhaps most importantly, report on recent communications by Comrade Spears.
50 Shades of Red, White, and Blue
FEBRUARY 2020- Clear your calendars. Burn a chakra candle. Prepare yourself for the
greatest love story that never needed to be told. Join us as we tackle
Ann Rinaldi's first and most unforgettable historical romance: Time
Enough for Drums (1986). The cover poses the question: "Can Jem ever
love a Tory?"Please trust us that this will be lowest on your list of
questions after following along with our Rinaldi read.
Seeing the American Girl Store…Through Silver Eyes
JANUARY 2020 - In October, we set out one morning for NYC to take a VIP tour of the American Girl Store. What happened next cannot be described in a mere text box. Did we do a photoshoot on a train? Did we learn about a heretofore unknown to us diagnosis? Did we read the main floor display of the store through the lens of 90s figure skating? Listen as we explore the store, visit the doll hospital, fix a hair crisis, and more. OUR FIRST PATREON EPISODE!