Hey YA
Episodes
Heroines Don’t Always Have to Be Strong: YA Romance Chat with Jacqueline Firkins
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Hey YA, Tirzah chats with YA author Jacqueline Firkins about YA romance, our favorite rom-com tropes, and book dresses! Follow th...
97.5: Extra Credit: Do These Early YA Reads Hold Up?
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Tirzah re-reads two early YA books and talks about whether or not she would still recommend them today! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple...
Our Favorite Books of 2021, So Far
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Tirzah and Vanessa share their favorite YA releases of 2021 so far, and two upcoming YA releases they’re excited about. Follow the podc...
96.5: Extra Credit: We're Seeing Humans At Their Most Powerful
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Tirzah and special guest Emma Kress, author of Dangerous Play, discuss girls in sports in YA! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts,...
Malinda Lo and Jason Reynolds Share What Books Shaped Them
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Hannah and Tirzah had a scheduling snafu, so we’re diving into the Book Riot podcast vaults to share an episode in which YA authors Malin...
95.5: Extra Credit: You Don't Understand--"Boulder Gay" is Something I Made Up
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Em(ily) Dickson, cofounder of Pronouns May Vary, joins Hannah to talk about gender, shapeshifting, and graphic novels! Please note that this episode c...
Small Towns in the Pacific Northwest and Texas Are Not Similar, and Also, Idris Elba
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Tirzah gush about some of the many wonderful film and TV adaptations of YA books that have been released in recent months. Follow the pod...
94.5: Extra Credit: Community is Everything
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tirzah talks about the fifth anniversary edition of an important queer YA book! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. ...
We Murdered No One, and There Were No Bacchanals
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tirzah and Hannah welcome special guest Sheba Karim, whose latest book is about a topic near and dear to Hannah and Tirzah’s hearts–stories about ...
93.5: Extra Credit: Were You An Extracurriculars Teen or After School Job Teen?
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Hey YA: Extra Credit, Tirzah talks about some great YA books that highlight working class teens with jobs! Follow the podcast via RSS, ...
It Doesn't Add Up, and It's Not Because I'm Bad at Math
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Tirzah talk generation gaps, chronological problems, intergenerational relationships, and multigenerational stories. Follow the podcast v...
92.5: Extra Credit: The Things I'd Do For a New Melina Marchetta Book
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Tirzah discusses her love of everything written by Australian author Melina Marchetta, provides a run-down of her YA fiction, and recommend...
Everything Is Feudal Europe
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Tirzah talk about exciting news from Disney-Hyperion and then dive into standalone high fantasy. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Appl...
91.5: Extra Credit: Coming Soon to a Podcast and VOD Near You
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Summer’s nearly here, and everybody loves summer reading! Hannah is here to give you a preview of some of the books she and Tirzah plan on reading (...
I Found Myself in Walmart
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Tirzah give a lesson on the history of publishing’s paperback and hardcover divide, and intersections with socioeconomic classes, capital...
90.5: Extra Credit: It's Too On the Nose
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Poetry Month! Hannah dives into twenty years’ worth of narrative verse–and a little standalone poetry, too. Also, Kelly’s baby is here and...
Abraham Lincoln Was Gay!
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly departs for maternity leave a few days early, so Hey YA gives an early welcome to its new interim co-host, Book Riot’s own Tirzah Price! Tirza...
89.5: Extra Credit: Bookishly Honoring the Victims of the Atlanta Shootings
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is a lot more important work to be done, but it didn’t seem right to ignore the white supremacist terrorist act last week in Atlanta, so Hanna...
What Do We Do When We're Done With Nancy Drew?
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly talk about awesome YA historical fiction featuring female leads and dig into YA mysteries — where have they gone? Subscribe to th...
88.5: Hey YA Extra Credit: In Honor of My Job Interviews...
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of job interview season in the academic world, Hannah gets introspective and considers what makes a good educator, highlighting five YA books...
Black Futures and More
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly talk about teens and traumatic content, then highlight a range of Black science fiction and fantasy reads. Subscribe to the podcast...
87.5: Extra Credit: YA Horror and the Summer Scares
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly highlights this year’s YA Summer Scares horror selections. Get to know some rad horror books and a rad horror-focused program. Subscribe to ...
The Romance Elephant
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly dive into YA books without romance, then highlight excellent romance YA books. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, ...
86.5: Extra Credit: YA for Tweens and Younger Teens
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and guest author Tiffany Schmidt talk about Cynthia Leitich Smith’s recently re-released book Rain Is Not My Indian Name and dig into where th...
Nightmare in a Crowd
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly talk about the ALA Youth Media Award winners and honorees, then dig into imaginary YA book titles, pairing them with real YA books an...
85.5: Extra Credit: When I Hear "Steam Engine," I Think Of Jack and Kate Running Through the Boiler Room
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and special guest Emily Blaeser compare their experiences on YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks committee and talk about the best in YA recordings…...
Coming Soon: Smizecream
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly talk about YA books set in super short time frames, as well as YA books about the end of the world. Subscribe to the podcast via R...
84.5: Extra Credit: Food and Wine, Chips and Cheese, Picture Books and YA
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah recommends recent picture books that go well with some YA favorites and under-sung gems. She is also happy to provide potato chip and cheese pa...
You Wear a Belt for That?
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly talk about YA books that have been reissued, modernized, or turned into graphic novels and highlight great writing guides by YA autho...
83.5: Extra Credit: Fat Girls in YA
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and guest Crystal Maldonado talk about the 2007 YA book My Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught and how FAT isn’t a bad word. Subscribe to the ...
The R Word and the X Word and YA in Translation
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Hannah take a deep dive into YA nonfiction and YA books in translation, two categories deserving of more love and attention. Subscribe to ...
82.5: Extra Credit: Backlist Gems from YA Award Winners
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly highlights five excellent award-winning YA authors and the backlist titles of theirs you shouldn’t miss. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, ...
81.5: Extra Credit: Fascism! That's Cheery!
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In her first solo Extra Credit episode, Hannah tries not to get too mired in despair and instead focuses on the lessons she learned from Mark Bray on ...
Oops/You're Welcome
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and Kelly record a podcast during the longest week ever and talk about under the radar 2020 reads and books they plan to read before the year e...
80.5: Extra Credit: Becoming a Teacher and YA Reader with Tim Milner
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah and special guest Tim Milner reminisce about high school together and talk becoming YA readers a little late in life and becoming teachers afte...
Welcome To Hey YA
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From great new books to favorite classic reads, from news to the latest in on-screen adaptations, the Hey YA podcast is here to elevate the exciting w...
What Even Is An Oak Tree?
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Hannah take a look at the settings present and absent in YA books and what they wish they saw more commonly, then highlight YA set in the ru...
79.5: Extra Credit: Ghost Stories
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly dives into the wide world of YA ghost stories. This episode is sponsored by Skyhunter by Marie Lu, with Fierce Reads. Subscribe to the podca...
Get In Loser. We're Going Podcasting.
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and new Hey YA host Hannah talk about girls in sports and dig into great stand-alone YA science fiction and fantasy books. This episode is spo...
78.5: Extra Credit: Book Clubbing SLOPPY FIRSTS with Kristina Forest
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and YA author Kristina Forest talk about Megan McCafferty’s Sloppy Firsts, digging into suburban angst, finding yourself, and Marcus Flutie. ...
I Put A Spell On You
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vanessa and Liberty are sitting in this week, talking about recent YA releases and which witchy YA reads they love, witch, er, which makes for a spell...
77.5: Extra Credit: Extolling The Virtues of Darius The Great Is Not OK
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Jessica Pryde, of our When In Romance podcast, dives into Darius The Great Is Not OK by Adib Khorram. This episode is sponsored by Tor...
The Live Experience
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly come to you LIVE from YA-Hoo Fest!, talking great books for new YA readers and what they can’t wait to read this fall. This episode...
Extra Credit: Retellings
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Jessica Pryde, of our When In Romance podcast, talks about her favorite YA retellings! This episode is sponsored by Lerner Books. Su...
Your Heart Still Has Feeling
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about YA where fandoms clash, followed by a recommendationpalooza of recent YA horror. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Ri...
Extra Credit: Cemetery Boys and Bad Choices with Aiden Thomas
26 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Aiden Thomas, author of the highly anticipated debut novel Cemetery Boys, to talk favorite backlist titles and bad reading location ...
The Real Deal On IP
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk YA romance you may have missed this year and take a deep dive into what IP work is and why it’s likely you love it. This episo...
Extra Credit: Latinx YA Extravaganza
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and guest host Carmen of @TomesandTextiles offer up a pile of incredible Latinx backlist YA books for your reading needs. This episode is spon...
Teens Who Raise Their Voices
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly take a deep dive into YA books that feature protests, as well as YA books with extensive casts. This episode is sponsored by Read or ...
Extra Credit: The Get Booked Handsell
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As a special bonus for Hey YA listeners, please enjoy this ode to Meg Medina from Get Booked’s Amanda Nelson. This episode is sponsored by the Kid...
Time Is Meaningless
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly are back to talk about YA set in the ’90s and short YA reads for short attention spans. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Rio...
72.5: Extra Credit: Must-Read Fantasy Series
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jenn Northington of Get Booked and SFF Yeah fills in for Eric to talk about two must-read fantasy series! This episode is sponsored by The Extraordi...
The Baby-Sitters Club Adaptation is Everything
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and special guest Amma Marfo talk about The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription servic...
71.5: Extra Credit: Katie Cotugno and the Rules for Being a Girl
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of novels like 99 Days, and recently, Rules for Being a Girl with Candace Bushnell,...
It's a Cookie Conspiracy
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about YA books where the setting is almost a character in and of itself, as well as highlight their summer YA TBRs. This episode...
70.5: Extra Credit: Queer YA With Leah Johnson
17 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and YA author Leah Johnson highlight excellent backlist queer YA books you should pick up ASAP. This episode is sponsored by TBR: Book Riot’...
This Podcast Is Anti-Racist
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly dig into anti-racist YA books and then highlight YA books with food covers that make for delicious reading. This episode is sponsored...
69.5: Extra Credit: Messy, Compelling Queer Characters with Lev Rosen
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and YA author Lev Rosen talk about Far From You by Tess Sharpe and dive deep into queer characters who get to be messy. This episode is sponso...
Don't Make a "Niccceeee" Joke
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly explore summer YA books, as well as highlight incredible new and upcoming queer YA books. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Rio...
Extra Credit: The Life and (Medieval) Times of Jamie Pacton
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Middle Grade and Young Adult author Jamie Pacton, to talk about her recent release, The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly. ...
On YA "Boy Books" and Driving In The Midwest
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly discuss the problematic idea of “boy books,” highlight recent YA with male leads, and dream up surprise books from favorite authors...
67.5: Extra Credit: (Almost) Entirely Historical Fiction with Jordyn Taylor
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Jordyn Taylor, author of forthcoming The Paper Girl of Paris, to talk about World War II YA novels, her debut novel, and two of thei...
Cinnamon Roll Characters
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about YA Star Wars books and feel-good YA books. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering ...
66.5: Extra Credit Humor Reads
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly recommends three must-read backlist female-led YA titles that are laugh-out-loud funny. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot Insiders. Sub...
I'm The One Pushing This Agenda
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about YA takes on Shakespeare, as well as offer up some great sports books for YA readers. This episode is sponsored by Book Ri...
65.5: Extra Credit: THE MOTH DIARIES with Samantha Mabry
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Samantha Mabry talk about the weird, wonderful, and highly-discussable book THE MOTH DIARIES by Rachel Klein This episode is sponsored by ...
The Catnip Episode
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about reading they are -- and aren't -- doing during quarantine and share some recent and soon-to-release YA debuts. This episod...
64.5: Always Bring A Cat With Claribel Ortega
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Claribel Ortega, author of forthcoming Ghost Squad, to talk about ghosts in YA, podcasting, and some favorite backlist titles from t...
Delicious Novels and Dad Music
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and special guest Tirzah Price talk about music and pop culture in YA, and daydream about fictional bands. This episode is sponsored by Book R...
63.5: Extra Credit Backlist Picks with Shveta Thakrar!
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Shveta Thakrar, author of Star Daughter, to talk about two of their favorite backlist titles that you should be reading… and a few...
Live: Podcasting While Eating Chocolate Cake
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly come to you live, highlighting a ton of upcoming YA books, as well as audience recommended reads. This episode is sponsored by Book ...
62.5: Backlist for Black History Month
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly recommends three must-read backlist YA titles for Black History Month. This episode is sponsored by Oni Press. Subscribe to the podcast via...
Catching Feels for YA Dads
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about P.S., I Still Love You, swoony fathers in YA, and what YA rom-coms they’re itching for in 2020. This episode is sponsor...
61.5: Loving On Jenny Han's SHUG
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and New York Times bestselling author Siobhan Vivian talk about SHUG, Jenny Han’s debut novel. This episode is sponsored by b, Book, and Me...
Burnt Toast
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about this year’s winners of the Youth Media Awards and highlight great YA by Black authors coming soon. This episode is spons...
60.5: Extra Credit: I Hope You Get This Backlist with Farah Naz Rishi
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Farah Naz Rishi, author of I Hope You Get This Message to talk about two of their favorite backlist titles that you should be read...
One Chonky Beautiful Book
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly offer up a boatload of YA book recommendations for this year’s Read Harder tasks. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot’s 2020 ...
59.5: Extra Credit: The Walls Around Us And Phil Stamper
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric is joined by Phil Stamper, author of The Gravity of Us, to talk one of their favorite backlist titles from Nova Ren Suma, The Walls Around Us. ...
The Count of Monte Crisco
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about their 2020 reading goals, then offer up an array of their most-anticipated upcoming YA books. This episode is sponsored by B...
Wearing Real People Clothes
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly highlight some of the undersung YA of 2019 and scream about what they’re reading this winter. This episode is sponsored by The Read ...
Coming At You In Claymation
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You asked, and Kelly and Eric answered. It's the holiday YA book recommendation extravaganza! This episode is sponsored by The Read Harder Journal an...
Remember To Unclick Lumbersexual
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Eric talk about underrated YA gems of the last decade and highlight great reads for Native American History Month. This episode is sponsored...
Gentle Trolling
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and guest host Amanda Nelson talk about crossover reads, as well as their Swiss Army YA recommendations. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot...
Being Petty Is An Important Reason To Read
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Eric talk about the return of vampires and go deep into YA book cover trends for 2020. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot’s Blind Dat...
Our Comics and YA Crossover Wishlists
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Jenn talk about speculative YA, and their wishlists for YA writers who should take on comic characters. This episode is sponsored by Read Th...
Class Projects About Chlamydia
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Eric talk about YA book-writing duos then highlight some of the fall titles that are falling under the radar — but shouldn’t. This episo...
Welcome To College: Death Comes For Us All
04 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Eric talk about YA books that’d make great picks for college freshman to prepare for their school lives, then scream about their huge fall...
Extra Credit: It's Ok If You Don't Love Me by Norma Klein
28 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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Complicated Trips To Other Planets
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and Eric celebrate their 50th episode and 2nd podcast anniversary with 50 rapid-fire backlist YA recommendations. This episode is sponsored by ...
Exta Credit: MOM, THE WOLFMAN, AND ME by Norma Klein
14 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and special guest Brandy Colbert talk about Norma Klein’s Mom, The Wolfman, and Me, well-rendered non-traditional family dynamics, city life ...
Every 90s Teen Movie Ever
07 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and guest host Tirzah Price talk about 2019’s queer YA offerings and dive deep into the full-names-in-book-titles trend. This episode is spons...
48.5 NO MORE SATURDAY NIGHTS by Norma Klein
31 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly digs into No More Saturday Nights, the lack of teen fathers in YA, and more in this Hey YA: Extra Credit episode. Subscribe to the podcast via...
I Don't Want To Go To Murder Island, Ok?
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about vacations from hell and then share ghost stories to be enjoyed on said vacations. This episode is sponsored by #BookSquadGoa...
#47.5: BREAKING UP by Norma Klein
17 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and special guest Tom Ryan talk about Norma Klein’s Breaking Up, progressive representation of queer couples, toxic adults, and more in this ...
I Cried Waiting For My Pizza Today
10 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about trends in YA this year they’ve seen, as well as offer up some cool reading for summer and hot reading for winter. This epi...
#46.5: Love Is One Of The Choices by Norma Klein
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly talks about Norma Klein’s Love Is One Of The Choices, immature adult figures, and student-teacher relationships in the third Hey YA: Extra Cr...
#46: Suzanne Collins OWNS The Mountain
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eric and Kelly talk about their favorite YA books of the year so far, highlight 2019 YA comics, and scream about the upcoming Hunger Games prequel. Th...
#45.5: Family Secrets by Norma Klein
19 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly talks about Norma Klein’s Family Secrets, problematic weight stuff, and childish adults on the second Hey YA: Extra Credit episode. Subscribe ...
45: I'm Not Stephen King's Publicist
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly and special guest Sarah Dessen talk about teen life today, how YA has grown and changed in the last two decades, and what “strong female chara...
Extra Credit: Domestic Arrangements by Norma Klein
05 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly talks about Norma Klein’s Domestic Arrangements, manipulative adults, and teen love on the first Hey YA: Extra Credit episode. Subscribe to th...