The Cost of Sacrifice: Parenting, Trauma, and YA Fantasy

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Cliodhna O'Sullivan, author of the YA romantasy Her Hidden Fire, and Steph Carse, creator of the picture book I Am Awesomely Made.

First, Jed chats with Cliodhna O'Sullivan about her powerful new YA romantasy that blends magic, romance, and sharp social commentary. We meet Aya, a girl with a rare magical gift who secretly gives her power to her best friend to save his family's status. That one choice pulls her into a darkly enchanting magic academy on remote islands inspired by Ireland's castles and misty landscapes. Cliodhna shares how growing up poor with an alcoholic, gambling-addicted father shaped her understanding of exploitation, sacrifice, and systems built on the backs of vulnerable people—core themes in Her Hidden Fire. She also talks about love triangles done right, multiple POVs across the trilogy, and her long, twisty road to publication that included losing both an agent and a publisher before finally finding the right home for her book.

Later, Jed talks with Steph Carse about I Am Awesomely Made, a picture book and movement rooted in his nonprofit YICount.org. Drawing on his own bullying experiences, Steph explains how the book helps kids build self-worth, understand their incredible bodies, and use the power of words to push back against bullying—especially in the age of social media and cyberbullying. Together, they explore how families can start life-giving conversations that remind kids they matter and are, truly, awesomely made.