Best Alli Hoff Kosik Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 284: Uglies 1:08:32

8h ago1:08:32

1:08:32

By popular demand, we are finally covering Scott Westerfeld's Uglies! Alli and her guests talk about the book's unique place in the broader dystopian genre, consider its lack of diversity, and analyze the many messages it sends about everything from body image and aging to beauty standards and friendship. This week's guests are Neha and Shruti, the…

1
Episode 283: Franny and Zooey 59:36

9d ago59:36

59:36

This week, SSR takes it all the way back to 1961 for a discussion about a classic: J.D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey. Alli and her guest talk about the book’s publishing history and deep dive into its content: insufferable men, existential dread, the nature of wisdom, quarter-life crises, and emotional states best shared via AIM away message. TW: su…

1
Episode 282: WTF #1 | Getting to Know You 57:49

8d ago57:49

57:49

Welcome to the first episode of SSR: WriTing Friends! This new monthly series—co-hosted by Abby Wolfe—is a fun look at the writing process from multiple perspectives and stops along the way. Broadly speaking, our goal with WTF is to make the writing process transparent at every stage and to further connect readers and writers in this community and …

1
Episode 281: A Journey to the New World (Dear America) 49:55

28d ago49:55

49:55

Timed appropriately (and accidentally) with the 4th of July holiday, Episode 281 is a return to the beloved Dear America series! This time, Alli and her guest tag along on a frankly miserable journey on the Mayflower with Remember Patience Whipple in 1620. The book is A Journey to the New World and it was written by Kathryn Lasky and published in 1…

1
Episode 280: Keep Out, Claudia! (Baby-Sitters Club #56) 1:02:59

18d ago1:02:59

1:02:59

For the first time this year, we’re back to Stoney Brook with our favorite sitters! The fifty-sixth book in the series explores blatant racism… while the girls produce a musical with their young charges. There’s a lot going on! Episode 280 breaks down the way race and racism are portrayed in Ann M. Martin’s fictional world, looking closely at which…

1
Episode 279: The Tale of Despereaux 40:01

25d ago40:01

40:01

Like the book at its center, Episode 279 will feel like a warm hug! Kate is back, this week to discuss the Newbery Medal-winning The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. The conversation covers everything from dysfunctional families and empathy to fairy tale tropes and the author's origin story. Kate Czyzewski is an educator turned bookstore manag…

1
Episode 278: Bookseller Q&A 37:04

1M ago37:04

37:04

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a bookseller at an independent bookstore? Kate from Thunder Road Books in Spring Lake, NJ—who you might also recognize as @thesaltybookworm—is on SSR to answer all of your questions! Kate tells us… * How she transitioned from being a teacher to a bookseller * How the team chooses backlist titles to stock …

1
Episode 277: The Two Princesses of Bamarre 1:04:49

2M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

If you’ve been missing SSR’s signature approach to the literary throwbacks of your teen and tween years, the wait is over! Episode 277 marks our official return to the pod’s usual format—and this time, it’s all about Gail Carson Levine’s The Two Princesses of Bamarre. Published in 2001, the book is a story of bravery and sisterhood, and it creates …

1
Episode 276: Welcome Back! 41:56

2M ago41:56

41:56

SSR is back after Alli’s maternity leave! We’ll be back to discuss a new literary throwback next week, but we’re kicking things off (again!) with a little catch-up session. Chelsey Feder of @chelseyreads and Novel Pairings plays co-host to help bring the SSR community up to speed on what’s been happening since you last tuned into the podcast. Alli …

1
Episode 275: Listenersode 2023! 45:22

7M ago45:22

45:22

Thanks to all of the listeners who participated in this year’s crowd-sourced episode: Abby, Diane, Julia, Holly, Kat, Shira, and Tracey. Tune in to hear them answer questions about their favorite childhood reading, times when they disagreed with the podcast, book recommendations for 2024, and more!By Alli Hoff Kosik

1
Episode 274: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1:01:01

7M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

For the final book episode of 2023, Alli and her guest turn their attention to a real classic: Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It’s the first time reading the 1943 semi-autobiographical novel for both of them… and there’s a lot to discuss in this hefty volume! Topics of conversation include imperfect adults, the importance of education, pra…

1
Episode 273: Among the Hidden 59:45

8M ago59:45

59:45

At long last, Alli and her guest turn their attention to a book that’s been requested many times by listeners: Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Among the Hidden. The first installment in the Shadow Children series, Among the Hidden explores the consequences of a totalitarian government taking extreme measures to combat (alleged) overpopulation. Episode 2…

1
Episode 272: Fantastic Mr. Fox 41:36

8M ago41:36

41:36

With New Reads November 2023 behind us, we’re back to throwbacks, starting with Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Alli’s guest recently read the 1970 novel with her own children… and she has thoughts. Episode 272 features conversations about gender representation, fatphobia, the power of illustrations, violence, and the glorification of stealing. Bes…

1
Episode 271: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute (New Reads November) 59:45

8M ago59:45

59:45

It’s the grand finale of SSR’s New Reads November 2023… and the perfect time to discuss Talia Hibbert’s YA debut, Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. With a trio of fantastic guests, Alli gets into the details of the book’s plot and pays special attention to OCD representation, outdoorsy scholarship experiences, romance tropes, and the extent to w…

1
Episode 270: Throwback (New Reads November) 1:05:34

8M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

Week 3 of New Reads November takes a very close, very fun look at Maurene Goo’s Throwback. The book inspires conversations about everything from the complicated nature of mother/daughter relationships and empathy between generations to high school homecoming experiences and the tension between conformity and standing out. Alli and her guest also co…

1
Episode 269: Their Vicious Games (New Reads November) 58:44

9M ago58:44

58:44

Week 2 of New Reads November 2023 is all about Joelle Wellington’s Their Vicious Games. The book feels like a real return to the heyday of YA, with the addition of organic, fresh threads about class, race, and privilege. On Episode 269, Alli and her guest do plenty of fangirling over the book and discuss concepts like performative allyship, white s…

1
Episode 268: Friday I'm in Love (New Reads November) 1:01:07

9M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

New Reads November is BACK for a SIXTH year! This time around, we get things rolling with a conversation about Camryn Garrett’s Friday I’m in Love, which was published in January 2023. The book inspires conversations about “coming out narratives,” casual racism, self-aware narrators, the subversion of tropes about sweet sixteens, and the pressures …

1
BONUS EPISODE: Behind-the-Scenes of Bookish Content Creation + Maternity Leave Plans 39:17

9M ago39:17

39:17

On this special bonus episode, Alli is joined by Sara Hildreth of Fiction Matters and the Novel Pairings podcast! As she prepares to take a brief podcast maternity leave in early 2024, Alli looks to Sara for advice on how to manage a pause in sharing content with her community. They take you behind-the-scenes of the business of podcasting, Patreon,…

1
Episode 267: Danger at the Zoo: A Kit Mystery (American Girl Mysteries) 1:05:29

9M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Listener favorites Allison and Mary from Dolls of Our Lives are BACK for Episode 267! This time around, they join Alli to discuss Danger at the Zoo: A Kit Mystery, a 2005 installment in the American Girl Mysteries series that was written by Kathleen Ernst. They talk broadly about Kit’s storyline and the AG mysteries as an offshoot of the rest of th…

1
Episode 266: Fall 2023 Q+A! 18:53

9M ago18:53

18:53

On this special episode, Alli answers listener questions about… * How she handles tricky situations with podcast guests * Whether she would rather deal with a boring book or a boring guest * The books she’s most excited to share with Baby K * The best marriage advice she’s ever received * The books that are still on her podcast wish list * Her curr…

1
Episode 265: Fifteen 1:00:02

10M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

On Episode 265, Alli and her guest explore a new side of all-time kid lit rock star Beverly Cleary — a more ~mature~ side! This week, the focus is one of Cleary’s books for teen readers, Fifteen. The conversation covers everything from awkward first date moments and ‘50s crush etiquette to class undercurrents and the importance of confidence. Alli …

1
Episode 264: Because I'm Worth It (Gossip Girl #4) 1:02:19

10M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Let’s get back to the Upper East Side, listeners! Episode 264 explores the fourth book in the bestselling Gossip Girl series, Because I’m Worth It. Alli and her guest consider the specific place that Gossip Girl occupies in their shared millennial pop culture history and talk through some especially disturbing parts of the book. Jamie Lilac is the …

1
Episode 263: First Test (Protector of the Small #1) 54:00

10M ago54:00

54:00

On Episode 263, Alli’s guest walks her through the first installment of one of her all-time favorite series: Tamora Pierce’s Protector of the Small. They discuss the ins and outs of First Test, as well as why the book has meant so much to the guest over the years. They also talk about toxic masculinity, the importance of quiet good deeds, protagoni…

1
Episode 262: New Moon 1:03:15

10M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Five years after our first foray into the world of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, SSR finally returns to the Twilight universe. At long last, Alli and her guest take a look at 2006’s New Moon, the book that gave Team Jacob Twihards their moment in the spotlight. Tune in for conversations about mental health, toxic relationships, and more, along with…

1
Episode 261: All-of-a-Kind Family 55:30

10M ago55:30

55:30

At long last, Episode 261 dives into the oft-requested All-of-a-Kind Family, the 1951 novel by Sydney Taylor that represented an important step for Jewish representation. Conversation topics range from model minorities and fatphobia to Jewish holidays and shocking romantic twists. Taleen Voskuni is the author of Sorry, Bro. Follow her on Instagram …

1
Episode 260: It's Not the End of the World 59:09

11M ago59:09

59:09

Let’s have a Judy Blume moment, shall we? Episode 260 takes a close look at the iconic author’s 1972 “divorce book,” It’s Not the End of the World. Alli and her guest discuss the ways in which our conversations with kids about divorce have changed… but also the ways they’ve stayed the same! They also talk about the emotional immaturity of the adult…

1
Episode 259: The Secret Garden 54:20

11M ago54:20

54:20

Episode 259 centers around The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett! Originally published in 1911, this is one of the oldest books covered on the podcast yet, making it a unique case for discussion. Alli and her guest talk about the notion of “classics” as a whole, as well as colonialism, disability, manifestation, the supernatural, unlikable k…

1
Episode 258: Surprise Island (The Boxcar Children #2) 52:51

11M ago52:51

52:51

For the first time in YEARS, SSR once again takes on Gertrude Chandler Warner’s beloved Boxcar Children series. Episode 258 is all about the second installment, Surprise Island… and the biggest surprise of all might just be that it’s a pretty quiet story! All aboard for the discussion about the general appeal of the Boxcar Children, gender roles, w…

1
Episode 257: Jessi and the Jewel Thieves (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery #8) 57:23

11M ago57:23

57:23

Tune in for a special announcement in the episode intro! Get ready to investigate, listeners, because we’re revisiting the Baby-Sitters Club Mystery spin-off series. Episode 257 is all about Jessi and the Jewel Thieves, in which BSC junior officer Jessi Ramsey takes a trip to the Big Apple, plans to break-up with her long-distance BF, and somehow m…

1
Episode 256: Choose Your Own Adventure 45:30

12M ago45:30

45:30

On Episode 256, Alli and her guest cover not just one throwback read, but a whole series of them! Adventurers and decisive bookworms, this one’s for you, because it’s time to take a walk down memory lane to chat about the Choose Your Own Adventure series. This episode offers lots of insight into the history of these books, along with why so many ki…

1
Episode 255: Cheaper By the Dozen 1:03:59

12M ago1:03:59

1:03:59

On Episode 255, Alli and her guest consider Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey’s Cheaper By the Dozen… and it’s absolutely nothing like the romp of a Steve Martin movie you remember from your childhood. Instead, the book that inspired the movie(s) opens up conversations about the problematic nature of efficiency experts, narcissism, the…

1
Episode 254: The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5) 51:32

12M ago51:32

51:32

Buckle up for some real darkness this week, listeners, because we’re heading back to the world of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events! Episode 254 is all about the fifth installment in the series, The Austere Academy, in which the Baudelaire orphans are dropped off at an absurdly horrendous boarding school. Join Alli and her guest as th…

1
Episode 253: Ramona the Pest 1:04:58

1y ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Join us on Episode 253 for a nostalgic journey back to Beverly Cleary’s Klickitat Street, more specifically, a discussion about the 1968 classic Ramona the Pest. Alli and her guest discuss their favorite Ramona-isms, fangirl over this self-aware young heroine, and chat about the many things that Cleary gets so incredibly right about childhood. Kara…

1
Episode 252: Amelia's Notebook 58:05

1y ago58:05

58:05

Grab your favorite pens, markers, and stickers and prepare to jump back into the pages of Amelia’s Notebook! Listen to Episode 252 for a cozy, nostalgic visit back to the days of handwritten documentation and old school creativity. It’s a super fun ride that features discussions about likability, sass, jelly roll noses, and more. Mikki Hernandez is…

1
Episode 251: Beautiful Creatures 55:20

1y ago55:20

55:20

SSR is BACK from summer break and jumping right into a conversation about 2009’s Beautiful Creatures, a southern gothic novel that explores witchcraft, first love, and teen angst. Tune in to hear Alli and her guest discuss everything from revisionist history and slut shaming to the “not like other girls” trope and iPods. They also discuss one major…

1
Episode 250: Hope Was Here 59:36

1y ago59:36

59:36

Five years of the podcast and 250 episodes… it’s a big week! And what better way to celebrate than by revisiting one of Alli’s deep cut childhood favorites, Joan Bauer’s Hope Was Here? Join the party as Alli and her guest take a sweet walk down memory lane with the help of this Newbery Honor book, covering topics ranging from Gilmore Girls parallel…

1
Episode 249: Six Months to Live 58:58

1y ago58:58

58:58

The subject matter of Episode 249 is HEAVY because it mirrors the equally heavy subject matter of Lurlene McDaniel’s long career in YA “sick lit.” More specifically, Alli and her guest chat about Six Months to Live, the 1985 novel that began the Dawn Rochelle series. In it, seventh grader Dawn is diagnosed with cancer and forced to completely reord…

1
Episode 248: Dawn (California Diaries) 58:08

1y ago58:08

58:08

The SSR Podcast has spent no shortage of time on Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club and their idyllic life in Stonybrook, Connecticut… but what happens when we take one member of the BSC to the west coast? Well, you get the California Diaries series. On Episode 248, Alli and her guest discuss the first installment of that series, Dawn. Their convers…

1
Episode 247: Bloomability 1:01:53

1y ago1:01:53

1:01:53

On Episode 247, Alli finally gets the chance to revisit a book that’s been at the top of her personal SSR wish list for years: Bloomability by Sharon Creech. With the help of her guest, Alli follows main character Dinnie on a journey from her nomadic life in the U.S. to a Swiss boarding school, where she makes new friends, is forced to see her fami…

1
Episode 246: And Then There Were None 52:41

1y ago52:41

52:41

Episode 246 takes a sweeping look at the mystery genre and Agatha Christie, paying special attention to a book that has made many a teenager a mystery fan over the last decades: And Then There Were None. Alli and her guests — whose recent work was inspired by Agatha Christie — talk about reading and writing mysteries. They also discuss the racist l…

1
Episode 245: Matched 1:00:41

1y ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Let’s talk about the eerie world of Ally Condie’s Matched! In it, main character Cassia Reyes anticipates her Match Banquet, during which Officials from the Society in which she lives will dictate her future husband. The Officials are responsible for just about everything in Cassia and her community’s lives… but the events of the Match Banquet kick…

1
Episode 244: Princess in the Spotlight 57:27

1y ago57:27

57:27

At long last, the podcast turns its attention back to Mia Thermopolis with a conversation about the second book in Meg Cabot’s beloved Princess Diaries series, Princess in the Spotlight. Alli and her guest cover core reading memories, toxic best friends, secret admirers, the world of AIM, sick days, sex talks, public platforms, and fancy weddings. …

1
Episode 243: The Summer I Turned Pretty 55:36

1y ago55:36

55:36

Prepare to swoon, listeners, because Episode 243 is all about sweet summer romance! Alli and her guest gush about Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, which they both read for the first time for the show. They reflect about the significance of summers in their own lives and cover everything from the male gaze and tankinis to love interests and f…

1
Episode 242: Emily of New Moon 1:11:35

1y ago1:11:35

1:11:35

Episode 242 is all about L.M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon. With the help of her guests, Alli digs into orphan tropes, universalism, atheism, cats as reading buddies, grief, and more. She also auditions to be their friend! Sadie Carpenter and Gavri’el HaCohen are the hosts of the Leaving Eden Podcast. Follow the show on Instagram (@leavingedenpod…

1
Episode 241: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle 56:08

1+ y ago56:08

56:08

Is your child talking back? Refusing to bathe? Staying up past their bedtime? Call Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, the star of Betty MacDonald’s 1947 novel Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a series of other books that followed. Alli’s guest on Episode 241 was a major fan of these books when they were growing up, and they’re here to jump into MacDonald’s wacky world all …

1
Episode 240: The Truth About Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club #3) 1:00:12

1+ y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

Whether you’re looking for lessons in beating your competition in business, being an advocate for your own health, designing a Kid Kit, or simply being the best babysitter (AKA person) in the game, you can find your answers in The Truth About Stacy. The book covers Stacy McGill’s journey to find her voice as her parents seek more support for her di…

1
Episode 239: Flowers in the Attic 56:57

1+ y ago56:57

56:57

Episode 239 takes a close look at the polarizing 1979 novel by V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic. Alli and her guest work through the complicated nature of the discourse around the book and talk about its triggering content, as well as the author’s quirky behavior and incredible talent. TW: attempted murder, child abuse, child death, incest, poiso…

1
Episode 238: Dear Sister (Sweet Valley High #7) 1:01:03

1+ y ago1:01:03

1:01:03

There’s never a dull moment in Sweet Valley, California… and there’s never a dull moment on SSR when Alli and her guests dive into the Sweet Valley High series! On Episode 238, book podcasts collide as hosts of Double Love Anna and Karyn join the pod to discuss Dear Sister, the seventh book in Francine Pascal’s series. Tune in to hear conversations…

1
Episode 237: Baby-Sitters on Board! (Baby-Sitters Club Super Special #1) 55:41

1+ y ago55:41

55:41

Baby-Sitters Club Super Specials take the standard BSC format and make them even more, well, super… by alternating POVs so readers get takes from all of the club members and taking the gals on bigger and better adventures so they have great stories to tell. Baby-Sitters On Board! was the first installment in this series extension — and it does not …

1
Episode 236: Catching Fire 46:43

1+ y ago46:43

46:43

Published in 2013, Catching Fire was the follow-up to Suzanne Collins’s wildly popular The Hunger Games… and on Episode 236, we’re back in the proverbial arena to discuss it! Tune in to hear conversations about love triangles, celebrity culture, trauma bonding, PTSD, movement-building, and more. Alli’s guest is an expert in public policy and econom…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Alli Hoff Kosik Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide