What Makes Young Adult Actually Young Adult, Westerns, and Being A Good Friend
What separates a young adult novel from everything else? We get into it, sharing favourite YA reads, then bring three offerings and dig into chapter three of A Little Life — the one where the plot finally arrives.
Timestamps
Readalong
Books Discussed
Show Notes
What separates a young adult novel from everything else — is it the age of the protagonist, the writing style, or just the absence of explicit content? We get into it, sharing favourite YA reads (The Hunger Games, Noughts and Crosses, Maximum Ride) and unpacking why so many books end up in the wrong section of the library entirely.
Sallie brings Lessons in Chemistry for veneration. Sophie makes a passionate case for Lonesome Dove, a 900-page western that converted a committed non-western reader. And Sarah offers The Summer I Turned Pretty, with a verdict that will surprise anyone who’s heard her talk about the TV show.
Then chapter three of A Little Life — the one where the plot finally arrives. Was Willem a good friend to Jude, or was he protecting himself?
⚠️ Content note: this episode discusses self-harm. Spoilers for A Little Life chapters 1–3.