Bridges & Books: Recent Episodes

Bridges & Books

Bridges & Books is one of the first teen literature podcasts hosted by teens and featuring interviews with YA authors.

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

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On this episode, Riley and Alli talk about balancing extracurricular schedules and interview Skye Quinlan, author of Forward March, as well as Lindsay Liebro, a local Pittsburgh musician!

Things Mentioned In This Episode:

Sailor Moon

It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

You, Me, and Our Heartstrings by Melissa See

The Book Loft of German Village

The Truman Show

Criminal Minds

Spencer Reid

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Meg March

Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Support Skye Quinlan:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Forward March

Support Lindsay Liebro:

Website

YouTube

Twitter

Instagram

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Tobi and Alli discuss all things worldbuilding and interview Ciannon Smart, author of Witches Steeped in Gold and Empress Crowned in Red.

Things Mentioned in this Episode:

  • Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
  • We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
  • Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
  • When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles
  • Wings of Ebony by J. Elle
  • Our Interview w/ J. Elle
  • Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass
  • Celaena Sardothien
  • Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  • Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
  • Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
  • The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
  • Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
  • His and Hers by Alice Feeney
  • The Wicked King by Holly Black
  • Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Support Ciannon Smart:

  • Website
  • Witches Steeped in Gold
  • Empress Crowned in Red
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Find an indie bookstore!

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

In this episode, Molly and Omisa talk about online friendships and what being present on social media is like as a teen. Then, they interview Laila Sabreen, author of YA novel You Truly Assumed, who has a short story in the upcoming collection Study Break, releasing March 7th, 2023.

Things Mentioned in this Episode:

  • Angelina Ballerina (books)
  • Angelina Ballerina (TV show)
  • TikTok
  • Love Times Infinity by Lane Clark
  • Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
  • She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

Support Laila Sabreen:

  • You Truly Assumed
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, hosts Alli and Frances interview Anna-Marie McLemore and talk about the writing process.

Things mentioned in this episode:

  • Jane Austen
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • Pinterest
  • The Red Shoes
  • The Snow Queen
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • The Little Mermaid

SUPPORT ANNA-MARIE MCLEMORE:

  • The Weight of Feathers
  • When the Moon Was Ours
  • Wild Beauty
  • Blanca & Roja
  • Dark and Deepest Red
  • Mirror Season
  • Lakelore
  • Twitter
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Molly and Tobi talk about poetry and interview Mahogany L. Browne, author of Chlorine Sky, Vinyl Moon, and other books!

Things Mentioned In This Episode:

Sierra DeMulder

Langston Hughes

Anne Sexton

Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman

Sonia Sanchez

Audre Lorde

Toni Morrison

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Lil’ Kim

Cardi B

Rihanna

Beyoncé

Elise Bryant

Jason Reynolds

Dear Martin and Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

The Bachelor

Trader Joe’s Pomegranate White Tea

Support Mahogany L. Browne:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Under the Chlorine Sky

Vinyl Moon

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

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On this episode, Molly and Alli talk about coming of age and interview FT Lukens, author of So This is Ever After, In Deeper Waters, and many other YA Novels!

Things Mentioned In This Episode:

Amigurumi

Interlude Press

Simon and Schuster

C.B. Lee

Julia Ember

Julian Winters

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee

The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Dungeons and Dragons

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

The Witcher

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Support FT Lukens:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

So This is Ever After

In Deeper Waters

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Frances & Riley talk about different people having different perspectives and interview Carolyn Tara O’Neil, author of Daughters of a Dead Empire

Things Mentioned In This Episode:

Emery Lord

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Generation Citizen

Author Mentor Match

Fix, Degenerates, and Scar by J Albert Mann

Anastasia

Nancy Drew series

Babysitters Club series

A People’s Tragedy by Orlando Figes

Russian Revolution

The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow & Bone TV Show

Maximum Ride by James Patterson

The Storyteller by Kathryn Williams

Support Carolyn Tara O’Neil:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Daughters of a Dead Empire

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

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On this episode, Omisa & Molly talk about ancestry, and interview Liselle Sambury, author of Blood Like Magic and Blood Like Fate. Later, Robin interviews teens from the Hill Dance Academy Theatre and Pittsburgh Youth Chorus about their collaborative performance called CROSSINGS.

Things Mentioned In This Episode:

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

NaNoWriMo

Story Genius by Lisa Cron

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

Trigger Warnings

Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osbourne

Judy Moody by Megan McDonald

Avengers

John Rutter’s Mass of the Children

Pittsburgh Symphony

Mendelssohn

Les Misérables

Vogue

A capella

Support Liselle Sambury:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Blood Like Magic

Blood Like Fate

Support PYC and HDAT:

HDAT’s website

PYC’s website

CROSSINGS Tickets

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, hosts Molly and Robin talk about what they think about the Gay Straight Alliances in schools, and dive into how we can be sure to include and represent everyone correctly. Then, listen to them interview Julian Winters, author of Running with Lions, How to Be Remy Cameron, The Summer of Everything, and Right Where I Left You.

Things Mentioned in this Episode:

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters

Julian’s Books Playlists

Darius the Great is Not OK by Adib Khorram

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Running With Lions by Julian Winters

How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters

The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters

Bridgerton

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Claire

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

Anne With an E

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

SUPPORT JULIAN WINTERS:

Right Where I Left You

Running With Lions

How to Be Remy Cameron

The Summer of Everything

Julian Winters Twitter (@julianw_writes)

Julian Winters Instagram (@wintersjulian)

Julian Winters Website

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Robin & Alli talk about asexual representation in literature and importance of friendships author-fan connections, and interview Rosiee Thor, author of Tarnished Are the Stars and Fire Becomes Her.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Marie Lu
  • The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
  • Common Bonds: A Speculative Aromantic Anthology edited by Claudie Arsenault, C.T. Callahan, Ro Anna Sylver, and B.R. Sadders
  • Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
  • LGBTQ+ Glossary
  • If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann
  • The Marvelous by Claire Kann
  • The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath
  • What We Devour by Linsey Miller
  • Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller
  • Rosiee’s Instagram reel about books with asexual representation
  • The City of Strife by Claudie Arsenault
  • Baker Thief by Claudie Arsenault
  • The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
  • The Kindred by Alechia Dow
  • Ralph Nader

SUPPORT Rosiee Thor:

  • Tarnished Are the Stars
  • Fire Becomes Her
  • The Meaning of Pride (illustrated by Sam Kirk)
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Frances and Robin talk about family relationships and interview Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of Starfish, The Infinity Courts, and many other YA novels.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Animal Crossing villagers Dobie and Erik
  • Three Ninjas
  • The Cruel Prince
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • Pride and Prejudice: The Musical
  • Percy Jackson
  • Radio Silence
  • Once and Future

SUPPORT AKEMI DAWN BOWMAN:

  • Starfish
  • Summer Bird Blue
  • Harley in the Sky
  • The Infinity Courts
  • The Genesis Wars
  • Akemi’s middle-grade novels: Generation Misfits and Where the Lost Ones Go
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Omisa & Robin talk about the importance of female friendships and interview Sajni Patel, author of The Knockout and My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • Emily Henry
  • Roshani Chokshi
  • X-Men (TV Series)
  • Mary Sue
  • Percy Jackson series
  • Calvin and Hobbes
  • Emery Lord

SUPPORT SAJNI PATEL:

  • The Knockout
  • My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
  • Sajni’s adult romance novels: The Trouble with Hating You and First Love, Take Two
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 3 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Omisa & Frances talk about the publishing industry and interview Aden Polydoros, author of The City Beautiful, Project Pandora and its sequel Project Prometheus. He also has an upcoming novel, Bone Weaver, releasing this fall.

Things Mentioned in this Episode:

Harper Collins

Penguin Teen

Scholastic

Cinderella

Publishing jobs

Antique fairs

Persephone and Hades

Achilles

Percy Jackson

Stephen King

Brass Armadillo

Antique folk belts

Online role plays

Dark Fantasy

Horror

Imperial Russian history

Grishaverse

Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo

Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Star Wars

Support Aden Polydoros:

Project Pandora

Project Prometheus

The City Beautiful

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

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Welcome back to the final episode of Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

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On this episode of Bridges & Books, Riley and Tobi talk about being vulnerable when writing and interview Emery Lord, author of The Start of Me and You duology, The Names They Gave Us, and other books about teenage girls.

Things mentioned in this episode:

Cake or real

Meet Cute

Dhionelle Clayton

Ashley Woodfolk

A Little Devil In America by Hanif Abdurraqib

Saved!

Mandy Moore

Spotify Round-up

Support Emery Lord:

Open Road Summer

The Start of Me and You

When We Collided

The Names They Gave Us

The Map From Here To There

Website

Twitter

Instagram

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Robin, Molly, and Tobi talk about history we don’t hear about in school and Robin & Molly interview Christina Hammonds Reed, author of The Black Kids.

Things Mentioned in this Episode

  • Clueless (1995)
  • Colson Whitehead
  • The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DÍaz
  • One True Loves by Elise Bryant
  • Elise Bryant
  • Afterparties: Stories by Anthony Veasna So
  • Yolk by Mary H. K. Choi
  • LA Times - Understanding the Riots
  • The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins by Brenda Stevenson
  • Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith
  • A Love Song for Latasha

Support Christina Hammonds Reed

  • The Black Kids
  • Instagram

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode of Bridges & Books, hosts Nick and Robin talk about sex education and consent and interview Sonia Hartl, author of The Lost Girls, Not Your #Lovestory, and Have a Little Faith in Me.

Things Mentioned in this Episode:

  • Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey
  • I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre
  • Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
  • Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
  • The Rope: A True Story of Murder, Heroism, and the Dawn of the NAACP by Alex Tresniowski

Support Sonia Hartl:

  • The Lost Girls
  • Not Your #Lovestory
  • Have A Little Faith In Me
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Robin & Riley talk about misogyny and interview Namina Forna, author of The Gilded Ones. Later in the episode, we share an excerpt of Starless Skies and Broken Dreams, a self-published novel by teen author Sophia Kunkel.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Redwall by Brian Jacques
  • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
  • The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
  • Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
  • Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
  • A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
  • Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
  • Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray
  • I May Destroy You
  • Promising Young Woman
  • Cuties
  • 300

SUPPORT NAMINA FORNA:

  • The Gilded Ones
  • The Merciless Ones
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

SUPPORT SOPHIA KUNKEL

  • Starless Skies and Broken Dreams
  • Instagram
  • Blog

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Molly & Nick talk about the way the pandemic changed school activities and interview David Valdes, author of Spin Me Right Round. Later in the episode, Tobi & Omisa interview Riley Kirk, the 2nd place winner of the 2021 Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest in the “Short Prose” category.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Drive by the Cars
  • Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
  • Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
  • Vitamin String Quartet
  • Bridgerton
  • Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
  • Toni Morrison
  • The Boston Globe
  • Ready Player One (book and movie)
  • The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordova
  • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callendar
  • They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
  • The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
  • Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
  • Maurice by EM Forster
  • Stranger Things
  • Back to the Future
  • Shameless
  • Butterfly Effect
  • Hamilton
  • Taylor Swift
  • Bo Burnham
  • Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest (2021)
  • Normal People by Sally Rooney
  • John Green
  • Out of Love by Hazel Hayes

SUPPORT DAVID VALDES:

  • Spin Me Right Round
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Tobi & Molly talk about joyful YA stories and interview Emery Lee, author of Meet Cute Diary. Later in the episode, they interview high school student Dylan Shapiro and talk about his work in advocating for youth voices in policy movements.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Mulan
  • Hero’s Journey
  • All Signs Point to Yes edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
  • Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
  • Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
  • Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
  • Pittsburgh Public Schools: Student Voice
  • Steel City Stonewall Democrats

SUPPORT EMERY LEE:

  • Meet Cute Diary
  • Pre-Order Café Con Lychee
  • Pre-Order All Signs Point to Yes
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

FOLLOW PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS: STUDENT VOICE

  • Instagram

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CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode of Bridges & Books contains discussions about death and grief. We encourage you to take care of yourself and only listen to what makes you feel safe and comfortable.

Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Molly & Riley talk about writing about therapy and interview Mason Deaver, author of I Wish You All the Best and The Ghosts We Keep. Later in the episode, Nick & Molly interview Connor Dalgaard, a teenage mental health advocate.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
  • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
  • Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales edited by Ashley Herring Blake & Rebecca Podos
  • Billie Eilish
  • Lady Bird
  • Honey Boy
  • Hereditary
  • The Farewell
  • The Trevor Project
  • The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson
  • Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
  • You Will Get Through This Night by Daniel Howell
  • Stand Together
  • Hart’s Ladder of Youth Participation

SUPPORT CONNOR DALGAARD:

  • Read Connor’s article on PublicSource “Activism beyond trends: How I went from a teenage reposter to a real world advocate”

SUPPORT MASON DEAVER:

  • I Wish You All the Best
  • The Ghosts We Keep
  • Pre-Order The Feeling of Falling in Love
  • Instagram
  • Website

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CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this episode of Bridges & Books contains a discussion regarding writing about sexual assault that might be harmful for some of our listeners to hear. The discussion happens between 52:30-57:30 minutes, so please skip that section if you need to and take care of yourself.

Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Molly, Robin, and Tobi talk about writing about tough topics and Molly & Robin interview Zack Smedley, author of Deposing Nathan and Tonight We Rule the World. Later in the episode, the team interviews AnnaJean, a former host and founding member of Bridges & Books.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Parenthood
  • Guide to Literary Agents
  • More Happy Than That (Deluxe Edition) by Adam Silvera
  • Honestly Ben by Bill Konigsberg
  • Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
  • Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
  • The Social Network
  • The Newsroom
  • Molly’s Game
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

SUPPORT ZACK SMEDLEY:

  • Deposing Nathan
  • Tonight We Rule the World
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Sarah & Riley talk about fandom culture and interview Roseanne A. Brown, NYT Bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin and A Psalm of Storms & Silence.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Percy Jackson Fandom
  • Monsta X
  • Criminal Minds
  • Star Wars
  • His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
  • An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
  • Pitch Wars
  • The Last 8 by Laura Pohl
  • Nelson Literary Agency
  • “My Shot” from Hamilton
  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini
  • The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord
  • Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
  • The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry
  • ARYSE
  • City of Asylum
  • City Theatre
  • Hello Neighbor

SUPPORT DANIELLE OBISIE-ORLU:

  • City of Asylum’s 2021-22 Allegheny County Youth Poet Laureate
  • Instagram
  • The ChatterBox Instagram

SUPPORT ROSEANNE A. BROWN:

  • A Song of Wraiths & Ruin
  • A Psalm of Storms & Silence
  • Pre-Order Shuri and t’Challa: Into the Heartlands (an Original Black Panther Graphic Novel)
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Molly & Robin talk about overthinking and awkwardness and interview Vitor Martins, author of Here the Whole Time.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
  • How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi
  • They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
  • Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
  • The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch
  • The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
  • Big Star by Lorde
  • Solar Power by Lorde
  • Evermore by Taylor Swift
  • Cowboy Like Me by Taylor Swift
  • Tolerate It by Taylor Swift
  • Folklore by Taylor Swift
  • Reputation by Taylor Swift
  • Speak Now by Taylor Swift
  • From Eden by Hozier
  • Have a Little Faith in Me by Sonia Hartl
  • The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
  • Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

SUPPORT VITOR MARTINS:

  • Here the Whole Time
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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On this episode, Molly & Sarah talk about morally grey characters and interview Kat Cho, international bestselling author of Wicked Fox and Vicious Spirits. Later in the episode, Omisa & Tobi interview Lucy Potts, one of the winners of City Theatre’s 2021 Young Playwrights Festival in Pittsburgh.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The Shadows Between Us
  • Serpent & Dove series
  • Free Hexel
  • The Glass Castle
  • The Astonishing Color of After
  • School 2013
  • Strong Woman Do Bong-soon
  • Write or Die
  • First Draft
  • PubCrawl
  • Once Upon a K-Prom
  • Once Upon a K-Prom Playlist
  • Exo Next Door
  • Love, Hate and Other Filters
  • Prophecy series
  • The Last Fallen Star
  • The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
  • Scavenge the Stars
  • I Wish You All the Best
  • You’ve Reached Sam
  • Instructions for Dancing
  • The CAPA Chronicle
  • “A Boring Street in the Middle of Nowhere” (stream Lucy’s play on November 6)

SUPPORT KAT CHO:

  • Wicked Fox
  • Vicious Spirits
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

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Welcome back to Season 2 of Bridges & Books!

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, or visit our website.

On this episode, Riley & Omisa talk about inspiration and interview Victoria Lee, author of the Feverwake series and A Lesson in Vengeance. Later in the episode, Molly & Robin interview Shelby Powers, one of the winners of City Theatre’s 2021 Young Playwrights Festival in Pittsburgh.

THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Alan Silvestri
  • The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
  • Young Gods by Halsey
  • The War by Syml
  • all the good girls go to hell by Billie Eilish
  • New York Public Library Reading Room
  • The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
  • The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He
  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
  • Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
  • The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
  • The Secret History by Donna Tartt
  • The Likeness by Tana French
  • Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
  • Ryan La Sala
  • Crier’s War by Nina Varela
  • The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
  • Percy Jackson
  • Stream “Spring in the Underworld” by Shelby Powers on Nov. 6

SUPPORT VICTORIA LEE:

  • The Fever King
  • The Electric Heir
  • A Lesson in Vengeance
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Tumblr
  • Website

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On our last episode of Season 1, Molly & Sarah talk about #periodpower and interview Romina Garber, New York Times Bestselling author of Lobizona and The Zodiac Series.

SHOW NOTES:

Lobizona by Romina Garber

Cazadora by Romina Garber

We Need Diverse Books

ROMINA GARBER INTERVIEW:

Buenos Aires Book Fair

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Harry Potter

Vicious Spirits by Kat Cho

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

SUPPORT ROMINA GARBER:

Lobizona

Cazadora

Zodiac series

Twitter

Instagram

Website

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

The Charles Bridges in Prague

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Subscribe to Bridges & Books and follow us on Instagram and our website to get updates for Season 2, releasing this fall. Thanks for listening!

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On this episode, Tobi & Riley talk about sibling relationships and interview Rhiannon Richardson, author of The Meet-Cute Project.

RHIANNON RICHARDSON INTERVIEW:

  • Big Dog Coffee
  • Rainbow Kitten Surprise
  • Elise Bryant

SUPPORT RHIANNON RICHARDSON:

  • The Meet-Cute Project
  • Sweet Clarity
  • Instagram

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

  • Learn more about the West End Bridge
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

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On this episode, Tobi & Sarah talk about why they love diverse books and interview Ashley Woodfolk, author of The Beauty That Remains, When You Were Everything, the Flyy Girls series, & Blackout.

SHOW NOTES:

  • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Tomi Adeyemi
  • Jason Reynolds
  • The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais
  • Left Out by Tim Green
  • Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, & Nicola Yoon
  • Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
  • justin a. reynolds
  • Kat Cho
  • This Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda

ASHLEY WOODFOLK INTERVIEW:

  • Odd One Out by Nic Stone
  • Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
  • Blackout is now available to read and purchase!
  • A Phoenix First Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell (editor)
  • Let It Snow
  • Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our Americas by Dustin Lance Black
  • Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
  • Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali

SUPPORT ASHLEY:

  • Blackout
  • Flyy Girls series
  • When You Were Everything
  • The Beauty that Remains
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION

  • Learn more about the Fort Pitt Bridge
  • Slay by Brittney Morris
  • Warcross by Marie Lu

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On this episode, Molly & AnnaJean talk about friendship and interview Kit Frick, author of I Killed Zoe Spanos, All Eyes on Us, and See All the Stars.

SHOW NOTES:

  • Shadowhunters & Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader by Cassandra Clare (editor)

KIT FRICK INTERVIEW:

  • A Better Bad Idea by Laurie DeVore
  • The Cheerleaders and That Weekend by Kara Thomas
  • Allegedly and Grown by Tiffany Jackson
  • I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
  • See All the Stars by Kit Frick
  • I Killed Zoe Spanos mention in People Magazine
  • I Killed Zoe Spanos as the Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Pick: July 2020

SUPPORT KIT FRICK:

  • I Killed Zoe Spanos
  • See All the Stars
  • All Eyes On Us
  • A Small Rising Up in the Lungs
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

TEEN BOOK REVIEW

  • Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite (review by Megan, a 13-year-old Pittsburgh teen reader)

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

  • Learn more about the Rachel Carson Bridge
  • Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

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On this episode, Molly & Tobi talk about fantasy that reflects the real world and interview J.Elle, New York Times Bestselling author of Wings of Ebony.

SCRIPT NOTES:

  • Wings of Ebony by J.Elle
  • How you can help fight against police violence

J. ELLE INTERVIEW:

  • The Sims
  • Civilization
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth
  • Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  • Dear Martin by Nic Stone
  • George R. R. Martin
  • Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984
  • Things you can do to fight against anti-Asian hate
  • How to talk about racism with children
  • Be Dazzled and Reverie by Ryan La Sala
  • A Promised Land by Barack Obama

SUPPORT J. ELLE:

  • Wings of Ebony
  • Website
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Tik Tok

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

  • Learn more about Washington Crossing Bridge
  • Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi

View Details

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In this episode, Riley & Tobi talk about religion and interview Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating.

SHOW NOTES:

  • The Henna Wars and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
  • The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

ADIBA JAIGIRDAR INTERVIEW:

  • Ace of Spades Book by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
  • Malinda Lo
  • Everything Leads To You and We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • We recorded this interview before the We Need Diverse Books announcement about no longer using the term #ownvoices. We are grateful for this guidance and will also no longer use the term #ownvoices in future seasons.
  • Adiba’s Pronunciation Guide
  • The Names They Gave Us and The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
  • A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
  • Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
  • Like Home by Louisa Onome

SUPPORT ADIBA JAIGIRDAR:

  • Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating
  • The Henna Wars
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

TEEN WRITING EXCERPT:

  • "Find Me" by teen writer Abby (Abby was 16 when we recorded this but is now 17)

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

  • Learn more about Bloomfield Bridge
  • Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
  • Running with Lions Julian Winters
  • Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

View Details

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On this episode, Riley & Molly talk about queer representation in all genres of YA and interview Ryan La Sala, author of Reverie and Be Dazzled.

SHOW NOTES:

  • Reverie by Ryan La Sala
  • Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala
  • A Brief History of Queer Young Adult Literature
  • Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop’s Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
  • Ryan La Sala’s Horror Novel

RYAN LA SALA INTERVIEW:

  • Ryan’s Tweet
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
  • John Green
  • Ryan’s TikTok
  • As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper
  • Julian Winters

SUPPORT RYAN:

  • Reverie
  • Be Dazzled
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok
  • Website

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

  • Rialto Bridge in Venice
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
  • Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

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On this episode, AnnaJean & Sarah talk about the future and interview Joan He, author of The Ones We’re Meant to Find. Sarah and Tobi also chat with Inyaa Ashok, the teen graphic designer who created the Bridges & Books logo.

JOAN HE INTERVIEW:

  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth
  • Legend and Skyhunter by Marie Lu
  • Spirited Away
  • NaNoWriMo
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book 1) by Rick Riordan
  • Attack on Titan
  • Castle in the Sky
  • We Need Diverse Books
  • Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan
  • This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
  • Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 1 by Mizuho Kusanagi

SUPPORT JOAN HE:

  • The Ones We're Meant to Find
  • Descendant of the Crane
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

INYAA ASHOK INTERVIEW:

  • Inktober
  • Noelle Stevenson
  • Rebecca Sugar
  • Studio Ghibli
  • Princess Mononoke
  • Instagram
  • Etsy

View Details

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On this episode, AnnaJean & Tobi talk about mental health and interview Elise Bryant, author of Happily Ever Afters.

SHOW NOTES:

  • If you are struggling with your mental health, remember that you’re not alone. Here are some resources for you:
    • Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741 741)
    • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Call 1-800-273-TALK)
    • notOK App
    • Please Stay Resources
    • To Write Love On Her Arms Resources
    • 24-hour Helplines
    • Mental Health Resources from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
    • If you are a resident of Allegheny County, you have access to resolve Crisis Services for free. You can call them at 1-888-796-8226 or see a full list of their resources here.

ELISE BRYANT INTERVIEW:

  • The Wedding Date and The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
  • The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
  • Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
  • The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • The Push by Ashley Audrain
  • Dread Nation and Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland
  • Nicola Yoon
  • Leah Johnson
  • Wings of Ebony by J.Elle

SUPPORT ELISE BRYANT:

  • Happily Ever Afters
  • Preorder One True Loves
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Website

BRIDGES & BOOKS RECOMMENDATION:

  • Learn more about the Millau Viaduct
  • The One’s We’re Meant to Find by Joan He

View Details

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On this episode, Riley & AnnaJean talk joyful queer representation in YA and interview Rachael Lippincott, author of The Lucky List. Riley & Molly also interview Vincent Folkes, the 2020-2021 Allegheny County Youth Poet Laureate.

SHOW NOTES:

  • The Lucky List
  • Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agendaby Becky Albertalli
  • They Both Die at the Endby Adam Silvera (we say Adam Silva in the episode - oops! We meant Adam Silvera, and we stan - sorry, Adam)
  • What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

RACHAEL LIPPINCOTT INTERVIEW:

  • We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
  • To All the Boys I’ve Loved Beforeby Jenny Han
  • Five Feet Apartby Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis
  • The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott
  • Sorcery of Thornsby Margaret Rogerson
  • Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
  • Top Ten by Katie Cotugno
  • Enola Holmes

SUPPORT RACHAEL LIPPINCOTT

  • The Lucky List
  • Five Feet Apart
  • All This Time
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • Listen to theOn the Books podcast

VINCENT FOLKES INTERVIEW

  • Meet Vincent Folkes
  • BlackTeaBrownSuga Network
  • Youth Poet Laureate Applications are due on June 16!

View Details

Join the Bridges & Books team as they give you a sneak peek of their first season full of book recommendations, author interviews, and honest conversations with teens.  Bridges & Books premieres the week of May 31st!