First periods, second chances in Joy McCullough’s ‘Code Red.’

On this week’s Fully Booked podcast, Joy McCullough discusses Code Red (Atheneum, June 13), a tremendously enjoyable, engaging new middle-grade novel from the Seattle-based author of young readers books with a feminist bent. In a starred review, Kirkus calls this lively story of menstruation, friendship, and activism,“Character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely.”McCullough’s debut YA novel, Blood Water Paint, won the Washington State and Pacific Northwest book awards, and was longlisted for the National Book Award in 2018. She’s been hard at work since, publishing eight additional titles for young readers of all ages, including the “intense” and “inspiring” YA novel We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire (starred review). In Code Red, she explores the relationship between Eden, a 13-year-old former competitive gymnast, and her mother, Heather Sorensen, the famous CEO of a Seattle-based period products company.

Here’s a bit more from our starred review of Code Red: “Heather’s appearance at a career day assembly to extol her company, MySecret, leaves Eden feeling humiliated and a target for teasing. After she defends herself against a harassing boy with help from classmate Maribel, both girls are suspended. With Heather unreachable, Maribel’s mom brings them to the food pantry she manages, where Eden starts her period.…Learning about period poverty (and poverty, period), Eden ponders ways to fund period products and gets a crash course in income inequality, but her commitment to social justice strains her relationship with Heather. Readers learn about these subjects alongside Eden in a well-integrated way and will root for the quirky, well-rounded characters who challenge outdated cultural taboos.”

McCullough introduces Code Red to listeners. Then she and host Megan Labrise discuss state laws requiring the availability of period products in schools; Eden’s career-ending gymnastics injury; what it’s like when you can no longer do the things that define you; identity crises; Eden’s new friend, Maribel; making assumptions about others (don’t do it); menstruators; inclusive language; Go With the Flow by Karen Schneemann and Lily Williams; first period stories; writing for young readers of all ages; fighting for what’s right; taking credit when credit is due; and much more.

Then editors Laura Simeon, Mahnaz Dar, and Nina Palattella share their top picks in books for the week.

Editors’ picks:

Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins)

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett (Clarion/HarperCollins)

Emergency by Kathleen Alcott (Norton)

Also mentioned on this episode:

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

No One Here Was Lonely by Sarah Everett

Because They Wanted To by Mary Gaitskill

Secretary (film), based on a short story by Mary Gaitskill

Thanks to our sponsors:

The Golden Virtue, Unveiled by Tanja Murgel-Subotic

Healing Visions: An Anthology of Micro Prose and Fine Art Photography by Meg Boscov

Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.