Does time just keep slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ into the future? Are you starting to feel out of touch with the youth today? Catch up on the latest YA lit, games, and media, relive your dramatic teen years, enjoy animated rants about the struggles of adulthood, and spread out into stories that may not be teen lit, but are still fun to daydream about long after you put the book down.
Fellow Youths is hosted by Audrey, Ashley, and Nicole, three twenty-somethings desperately trying to keep up with the world, and is presented in partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library.
Contains explicit content.
Art by Shreyas Vangala
Media
Fellow Youths: Life is Strange
Ever wanted to go back in time like ten minutes and not embarrass yourself? This week the trio explore the popular game, Life is Strange, where you can control time and alter the course of a small town (or not). Turns out it’s a hard “not” for Audrey and Kathy. Also discussed: how to spot a video game sociopath, what your actions in video games say about you as a person, and Nicole’s continual exasperation at Audrey and Kathy.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
Media
Fellow Youths: The Song of the Lioness
This episode, we are all in the hands of our goddess, Tamora Pierce, as we discuss her first two books ever, from the Song of the Lioness Quartet. Do you like when we talk about periods? Listen. Do you like like when we talk about hotties with bodies? Listen. Do you like magical animal companions? Listen. Do you like angry red haired children? Listen. Do you like when Audrey gets incredibly embarrassed by compliments? Definitely listen.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
Media
Fellow Youths: Akata Witch
“Just write ‘The Nigerian Harry Potter’ and be done. That blurb is everywhere” - Nicole. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is a seriously great leap into middle-grade/YA fiction to the point where Kathy becomes an incoherent, high-pitched, squealing mess. We also harangue each other about what our worst qualities are, so you know. Mad upbeat.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
Media
Fellow Youths: Caraval
Oh boy! Be sure to listen to this episode if you want to hear the one time Kathy is the calm voice of reason to Audrey and Nicole’s UNYIELDING ANGER about this book. There’s a sinister carnival, supposed “magic”, bland love interests, and many, many unfulfilled literary expectations in Caraval by Stephanie Garber.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
Media
Fellow Youths: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
How tough is it being a teenage witch when date rape spells are at your beck and call, your dad is a tree, you have a “hot” boyfriend but need to save your virginity for Satan, and your completely unnecessary British cousin has weird, talking twin snakes. Listen in for our discussion of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by Roberto Aguirre Sacasa and illustrated by Robert Hack.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
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Fellow Youths: Ouran High School Host Club
It’s time to ~~kiss, kiss, fall in love!~~ with Bisco Hatori’s Ouran High School Host Club. The hosts jump into the world of the super rich, various anime tropes and Kathy’s many emotions. But who is the OTP?! Don’t worry, Nicole forces Audrey to play F/M/K with the cast of the show.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
Media
Fellow Youths: American Street
Nicole tricks us all into getting REAL this week with American Street by Ibi Zoboi. We delve into the magical realism of the streets of Detroit, social issues, and WHY, just WHY would Nicole make us read a sad book.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
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Fellow Youths: The Invisible Library
You don’t need an invisible library card to visit Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library. The trio covers deus ex machina, wonderfully over the top characters, and the finer points of cross-species relationships with anthropomorphic fantasy creatures.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
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Fellow Youths: Sloppy Firsts
Jump in the time machine and head back to Y2K with Megan McCafferty’s Sloppy Firsts. We discuss how quickly things become dated, the tunnel vision of youth, and how teen lit creates real life “smutspectations”.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven
Media
Fellow Youths: Ember in the Ashes
This week the trio discusses Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Once again, teenagers need to save another dystopian world, but don’t worry-- they are all still really, really good looking and, apparently, really, really, smelly.
Theme Music is “Nekozilla (LFZ Remix)” by Different Heaven