Show Notes
“There were kind of always like two simultaneous stories happening with my coming out. One was the realization and breaking through some of that denial and repression, seeing kind of what was right there in front of me, and I gave that story to Imogen.” – Becky Albertalli What if there were two stories running through your life: the one you’re telling the world, and the one you haven’t even admitted to yourself? That’s the kind of truth Becky Albertalli explores in her writing, and that she’s lived in her own life. Becky is the bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Leah on the Offbeat, Imogen, Obviously, and many more. Her books capture the awkward, earnest, messy work of figuring out who you are–and remind us that coming out, growing up, and becoming yourself rarely happen all at once. In this episode, Becky opens up about growing up and fitting (or not fitting) in a conservative suburb, finding refuge in theater, and The Babysitters Club. She also reflects on how writing helped her work through parts of herself she hadn’t yet named, discusses why queer-coming-of-age stories still matter, and reminds us of the power of Rent. *** For her reading challenge, Queer Coming of Age Stories, Becky has curated a list packed with queer stories, identity shifts, big feelings, and characters trying to make sense of themselves, one awkward moment at a time.
Peruse selected titles and Becky’s complete reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/becky-albertalli. This week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kelly Shelton, an elementary librarian for Garland ISD in Garland, Texas. She’s been an educator for 26 years, and in the library for nearly a decade. She shares how unlocking a love of reading can start with dinosaurs, Dog Man, or a well-timed Taylor Swift Break.
Show Chapters
Chapter 1: Georgia Peach Chapter 2: I Hate School, But I’m Very Good At It Chapter 3: Proud Member of the Babysitter’s Club Chapter 4: The Year of Secret Assignments Chapter 5: Hindsight 20/20 Chapter 6: Best Friends Forever Chapter 7: Reading Challenge Chapter 8: Beanstack Featured Librarian
Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Becky Albertalli Becky Albertalli Instagram Love, Simon film The Babysitters Club Scholastic The Babysitters Club Netflix series Rent musical The Year of Secret Assignments Wesleyan University Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture Jordan Lloyd Bookey Host and Production Credits
Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producers: Mel Webb and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
More from The Reading Culture
Three years strong, y’all! We’re back with our favorite tradition: The Reading Culture Yearbook.
“When we are making books, we are making little homes for our readers that they can return to hopefully again and again and again, just as we return to books and find a sense of home, we return to the person we once were, when we were reading that book.” — Sophie Blackall
“The library is where I felt, I'm safe here. I have friends in Encyclopedia Brown, Junie B. Jones, Amelia Bedelia, Stanley Yelnats, and all these various characters. I think that's the beauty. That's the sanctuary, the sacredness of that physical space.” – Mychal Threets Mychal Threets grew up among the stacks and, from a young age, experienced the magic and shelter of the library. Today, he is a librarian, a social media sensation, a mental health advocate, and the new host of the beloved show Reading Rainbow.
“It's important that my perspective stays flexible because my perspective could need updating, it could need to be changed based on new information.” — Nic Stone
“It’s that old expression that I love, which is ‘wherever you go, there you are.’ So you never really get out of the limbo, because the limbo is you.” — Erin Entrada Kelly There are seasons when life slows down, even as our minds continue to race. When we find ourselves caught somewhere between motion and stillness, haunted by what came before and reaching for what’s next.