Many requests later, SSR has finally answered the call to cover The Hundred Dresses. Written by Eleanor Estes, published in 1944, and granted a Newbery Honor in 1945, this beautiful little book tackles the well-trod bullying narrative with a uniquely soft and empathetic hand. It creates space for conversations about what it means to play the bystander to bad behavior, rising above one's bullies, what justice looks like, and everything in between.

Kirsty Greenwood was once a book editor, but is now a full-time writer of love stories that make readers belly laugh and ugly cry, including The Love of My Afterlife. Follow her on Instagram @kirsty_greenwood.

CHECK OUT KIRSTY'S BOOKS:

He Will Be Mine

The Love of My Afterlife

CHECK OUT KIRSTY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

All Fours by Miranda July

MORE READING:

"Realistic Fiction: The Hundred Dresses" (The Western Corner of the Castle, 2019)

"The Hundred Dresses: A Little Book with a Long Impact" (Nerdy Book Club, 2018)

"The Hundred Dresses" (The Good and Beautiful Book List)

"The Hundred Dresses" (American Library Association)

"The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes" (Children's Lit Love, 2020)

"Book Review—The Hundred Dresses" (GC Annison, 2022)

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Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2025 with a conversation with a friend from across the pond, highlighting a series and book that's been a particular favorite for young readers in the U.K. Jacqueline Wilson's Girls in Love takes center stage! Tune into Episode 307 for discussions about fake boyfriends, shifting friendships, diet culture, self-image, and more.

TW: attempted assault, body image, diet culture

Lucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader, and coziness-seeker. Her debut novel is Rewitched. Follow her on Instagram @lucyjanewood and YouTube.

CHECK OUT LUCY'S BOOK HERE!

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

CHECK OUT LUCY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION:

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

MORE READING:

"Girls in Love" (Publishers Weekly, 1997)

"Are we too young for Jacqueline Wilson's Girls in Love" (The Guardian, 2011)

"Book Review — Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson" (Yipee Ki-Yay, Motherbooker)

"Jacqueline Wilson to release new adult sequel to Girls in Love book series" (Independent, 2024)

"Girls in Love" (Jacqueline Wilson Wiki)

"Everything that happened in the Jacqueline Wilson Girls series" (Penguin, 2024)

"Review — Girls in Love — Jacqueline Wilson" (Blog of a Bookaholic, 2012)

"Why do Jacqueline Wilson's books resonate with young people, especially girls?" (Quora)

"'These books captured our hearts': Jacqueline Wilson's Girls series is back—and millennials are rejoicing" (The Guardian, 2024)

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The Magic Tree House has been making readers, history buffs, and science geeks of kids for more than thirty years—and at long last, SSR dives in! Episode 306 covers all things Magic Tree House with a special focus on the first installment, Dinosaurs Before Dark. Alli and her guest chat about everything from the origin of Magic Tree House and unpopular opinions about the books to the allure of treehouses and time travel. Also... dinosaurs.

Kat Tang is a former lawyer turned fiction writer with an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. Her debut novel Five-Star Stranger has made most-anticipated and must-read lists by many outlets. Follow her on Instagram @tangkat.

CHECK OUT KAT'S BOOK HERE!

CHECK OUT KAT'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

Half a Life by Darin Strauss

MORE READING:

"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly about Magic Tree House" (Big Books, Little Ears)

"30 years and 65 books later, Mary Pope Osborne reflects on 'Magic Tree House'" (Today, 2022)

"Book Reviews: An Unpopular Opinion about the Popular Magic Tree House Series" (Dragon Bite Books & Crafts, 2021)

"Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Magic Tree House Collection" (First Book, 2022)

"Series Review: The Magic Tree House" (The Starving Artist, 2017)

"The Magic Tree House's Magical Popularity" (Pine Reads Review, 2021)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.