Dragon Babies

Episode 82 - The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

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. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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.

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? MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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)! MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We're continuing our journey through Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series! The King of Attolia continues to deceive both the reader and protagonist as Eugenides plays his best hapless fool and his guard Costis puzzles through the ensuing mess. Political intrigue abounds as we sprint from one end of the palace to the other, trying to keep the hunting dogs in their compound, thwarting assassination attempts and desperately grabbing for a crust of bread where we can get it. What is this, a metaphor for 2020?? Join us! And if you haven't heard our episodes on The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, be sure to check those out. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We’re SO thrilled to share our discussion of Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi! We revel in the unique trio of coming of age stories showing how Zélie, Amari and Inan branch off into their young adult selves. Madeleine and Grace laugh, cry and get into a very strange discussion about the “shampoo effect” - with a book this magnificent guiding the episode, we’re fully out of control. This book was requested by many listeners - thank you! If you’d like to make an episode request, leave a comment or email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In which we have a wonderful time returning to the first Chrestomanci book and remembering how it all began - with a very confused little boy, his parasitic sister and her parallel universe counterpoint. Diana Wynne Jones’ characteristically complex child protagonists are in fine form as we follow Cat, Gwendolen and Janet along on intentional and unintentional capers and world-hopping. Madeleine and Grace reflect on the stressors of childhood and the all-consuming effort to stay out of trouble, made even more complicated by a mysterious half-burned matchbook and grim specters hanging around the castle. Put on your silk dressing robe and join us! More Chrestomanci books have been requested by many listeners - thank you! If you'd like to make a request, email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We have a grand time journeying through Elizabeth Goudge’s fantasy-tinged coming of age tale (and eating every single meal along the way). Madeleine and Grace unpack the strange feminist(ish) messages and Goudge’s ultimately progressive, fascinating approach to subverting capitalism in the name of God. Grace loses herself in endless mountains of food (including a yet-unseen butter well) and Madeleine has plenty of animals to keep her company, from a cat who can write to an ethically dubious (but very pretty) dog. We really enjoyed producing this one, hope you enjoy the listen! This episode was a listener request - thank you, Clarissa and Hannah! If you'd like to request a book for coverage, email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Perks of dragon travel: moonlit views, in-flight wild mushroom snacks, and a map drawn by an enterprising rat. Cons: a bloodthirsty alchemical monster tracking your every move from below. We’re revisiting Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke! This fast-paced action-adventure novel takes us across Europe and Asia in search of the Rim of Heaven, and the cowardly dragons lurking within. Madeleine and Grace discuss the unique characteristics of Funke’s dragons and reminisce over mushroom memories. *Please note - We are aware that we called Firedrake “Firebeard” for the first ten minutes of the episode and we are ashamed. This episode was a listener request - thank you, Debbie! If you’d like to request a book for coverage, email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is a glorious magical coming of age story. We follow along as Sunny grapples with cultural clashes between her American and Nigerian identities, and her outsider status as a Free Agent within the Leopard People. Madeleine and Grace expound on their love for magical education novels, discuss the perfection of knowledge as currency, and appreciate Okorafor’s anti-capitalist themes. Enter Leopard Knocks and join us! This book was a listener recommendation - thank you, Nina! We’re working on broadening our podcast and would love to hear any recommendations you may have for YA fantasy novels by Black authors - email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com! MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones has it all: enchanted cats, enchanted carpets, and a squid-loving dog. We head to Zanzib in the sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle, and encounter old and new friends along the way. Madeleine and Grace discuss where DWJ gets her depictions of Middle Eastern cultures right and where she steps into Orientalist stereotypes - and whether a white writer satirizing non-European folk tales is ever a good idea. We also attempt to unravel the book’s confusing feminism and learn how cats can travel in style. Hop in your cloud castle and join us! This episode was a request from many listeners - thank you! If you have a request, email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In which we return to Earthsea only to witness it quickly unraveling! The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin has ego death, mutiny and some excellent dragons - but can you make it through the despair of Earthsea’s magical apocalypse? Grace and Madeleine compare their personal experiences with this book and discuss Le Guin’s motivation for destroying her own creation. We mourn the lack of female characters and tasty food, but still have plenty to explore as we accompany Lookfar out into the endless ocean. Join us! MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Head out on an adventure while a magically large house cat lays eternal chase - we’re covering The Castle of Llyr, by Lloyd Alexander. The third book in the Chronicles of Prydain makes excellent use of Alexander’s well-developed, charming characters as they get into scrapes outside of the series’ main storyline. Eilonwy determines her own path and every character investigates their identity - but sadly, Gurgi rarely opens his everlasting food wallet. Many listeners have requested that we cover more Lloyd Alexander, and we’re more than happy to comply - we’re hoping to continue the Chronicles in the not-so-distant future! If you have a request, email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com. We also open this episode with a call for your favorite YA fantasy books by Black authors as well as other authors of color - please share! We are looking to diversify our very white podcast catalogue and would love to hear them. MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/