Hybrid Event: The Education of Kia Greer, Alanna Bennett

East City Bookshop welcomes Alanna Bennett to discuss her book, The Education of Kia Greer, in conversation with Linda Holmes.

Note on Format: This hybrid event will have both an in-person component with limited seating as well as a virtual broadcast via Zoom Webinar. Both in-person and virtual attendees will be able to pose questions to the author during audience Q&A.

About THE EDUCATION OF KIA GREER:

How can you trust your heart in a world that’s plastic? The story of a teen girl who longs to escape the spotlight, and the PR relationship that helps her find real happiness.

"Smart, fearless, romantic, and so very alive." — Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White and Royal Blue

Growing up in the public eye, Kia would gladly give up her privileged life as the daughter of a reality star for the freedom to find her own way—go to high school parties, gossip with the drama club, apply to college, make mistakes, and fall in love like any other teen.

Then she meets Cass, and he offers a glimpse at the ordinary life she craves. But Cass is a rising star in his own right, and what starts as something sweet and undefined soon becomes a magnet for rumor and speculation—as if first love wasn’t messy enough on its own.

The pressure of the spotlight takes its toll, chipping away at Kia’s sense of self, pushing and pulling and reshaping her—body and mind—to fit the expectations of everyone around her. But what does Kia want for herself? And can her fragile new relationship survive the fallout?

ALANNA BENNETT is a screenwriter and culture writer living in Los Angeles. Born in Hollywood and raised in Portland, Oregon, she’s written for film and television, notably Roswell, New Mexico; The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy; and the Emmy-nominated XO, Kitty. Through her published work for BuzzFeed News, The New York Times, Teen Vogue, The Cut, Vulture, Refinery29, Glamour, Eater, and more, she’s tackled topics as diverse as homelessness, celebrity culture, and the cultural touchpoint that was Captain America’s butt. She also runs writing classes through her company, The Spring School. This is her first novel, but as with all her creative pursuits, Alanna is only just getting started.

LINDA HOLMES is a correspondent for NPR and the host of Pop Culture Happy Hour. She began her professional life as an attorney, but in time, she turned her attention to cultural criticism. Holmes was a writer and editor at the groundbreaking web site Television Without Pity, and her work has appeared in The New York Times and Vulture.  She is the author of the novels Evvie Drake Starts Over, Flying Solo, and Back After This. 

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