Episode 81 - Pet, by Akwaeke Emezi

March 29, 2021 by Grace Harnois

We’re visiting Lucille and its angels and monsters - we read Pet, by Akwaeke Emezi! Protagonist Jam, her best friend Redemption and a mysterious creature dubbed Pet seek out evil that lingers even in a supposed utopia. We revel in this nuanced, genre-defying coming of age story and explore the questions it brings up about human nature, restorative justice and children’s access to the unseen. Grace also admits to an entrenched Goodreads beef and Madeleine has some thoughts about ice cream. Listen in! Crow and Chestnut, signing out.

CW: Broad discussion of child abuse.

EPISODE MEDIA

Interview with Akwaeke Emezi in Teen Vogue

Life is Strange on Steam (Don’t let our hesitation to recommend it make you think we didn’t dress as Chloe and Max for Halloween 6 years ago)

Our episode on The Witches of Worm, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Episode 80 - Tehanu, by Ursula K. Le Guin

February 28, 2021 by Grace Harnois

We discussed Tehanu, by Ursula K. Le Guin and nearly broke ourselves in the process! A book so emotion-inducing that we had to take a recovery break before recording, Tehanu takes us across Gont in the capable arms of Tenar. She ponders her identity as she cares for abandoned child Therru and deals with a deeply depressed, stripped-of-his-magic Ged. We dive into women’s anger, women’s work and women’s magic - which is neither wicked nor weak, contrary to the Earthsea aphorism. One of Le Guin’s most controversial and polarizing works, Tehanu is a powerful look at the value of domesticity and the ways we shape our own lives. Join us!

Thanks to all the listeners who requested that we continue on through Earthsea!

CW: Broad discussion of child abuse & assault.

EPISODE MEDIA

Other episodes mentioned:

Episode 79 - Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren

February 14, 2021 by Grace Harnois

We’re disappearing into the wood with Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren! We soak up all the unbridled nature-borne joy, spring yells and siblingship pacts our cold winter hearts desperately needed. Ronia, Birk and their respective robber clans have never been so welcome! Join us in this blessed escape to a forest of rumphops, grey dwarves, wild horses, strawberries and confident-beyond-their-years kids - we savored every page and we’re certain you will, too.

This episode was a listener request - thank you, Michelle! If you’d like to request a book for coverage, leave a comment or email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com.

EPISODE MEDIA

Our Wizard of Oz VHS cover

Sosban Fach, the Saucepan Song

Other episodes mentioned:

Episode 78 - Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke

January 26, 2021 by Grace Harnois

We’re on a metafiction binge! Inkheart by Cornelia Funke has characters, readers and writers galore - and they can’t seem to stop getting mixed up in one another’s worlds. We unpack the dark and often violent situations 12-year-old protagonist Meggie finds herself in, and ponder who is the ultimate Saddest Character. This is what happens when fairy tales and real life collide - a whole lot more sociopathy than you’d expect! Cozy up with your smelly marten and listen in.

Note - Grace’s voice becomes allergy-ridden halfway through because we recorded over a couple days - enjoy?

EPISODE MEDIA

I shan’t embed his image here, but should you wish to gaze upon Worms, Madeleine’s mental picture of Dustfinger, you have been warned - https://pathologic.gamepedia.com/Worms

Inkeart (2008)

Parisian hot chocolate

Other episodes mentioned -

A few martens for you to enjoy

Episode 77 - The Great Good Thing, by Roderick Townley

January 11, 2021 by Grace Harnois

We venture into the metafictional world of The Great Good Thing, by Roderick Townley! A story within a story, this book takes us through four generations of a family as the women write, read and retell the tale of Princess Sylvie and her daring deeds. We discuss our anxieties about characters waiting for us to read about them, wonder how the Invisible Fish feels about its role in the kingdom and even touch on one of Madeleine’s awkward high school dates at Red Lobster. Crack open the Dragon Babies book and join us (just don’t get jam on the pages)!

EPISODE MEDIA

Other episodes mentioned:

Neopets gruel: