The Gene musical bits are always my least favorite, but at least they incorporated Little Shop of Horrors this time. Tina's Erotic Friend Fiction, as always, is fab.

Going into this I had no idea that it's a memoir of Shannon's from when she was in elementary school! And oh man, does she ever know how to capture those feelings of isolation and desperation when it comes to those ever-tentative first female friendships. Honestly, the group dynamics of young girls are positively MACHIAVELLIAN. Personally, I could relate to her anxiety and mild OCD; I suffered from both of these as a kid too, although I was never diagnosed, not even when I developed a spastic colon from stress in high school.

TMI? Sorry about that. But you should definitely read this, and have your daughters read this. It's an excellent starting point to talk about developing empathy and self-awareness, especially when others are treating you badly. (Kudos to young Shannon for setting boundaries with her bully while also showing that it was a difficult thing to do even it was also the right thing to do.)