Kristen Martin
@kwistent.bsky.social
Author of THE SUN WON'T COME OUT TOMORROW, out now from Bold Type / critic with words in NYRB, NYT Mag, WaPo, The New Republic, and elsewhere / member Freelance Solidarity Project and National Book Critics Circle / Philly / kristenmartin.net
Pinned
Kristen Martin
@kwistent.bsky.social
· Nov 9
The Sun Won't Come Out Tomorrow: The Dark History of American Orphanhood a book by Kristen Martin
The real history of being an orphan in America is nothing like the myth, and nothing like the American dream. The orphan story has been mythologized: Step one: While a child is still too young to fo...
bookshop.org
Hi new pals! I am a cultural critic based in Philadelphia, and my first book, THE SUN WON'T COME OUT TOMORROW: THE DARK HISTORY OF AMERICAN ORPHANHOOD, comes out the day after the inauguration (gulp). bookshop.org/p/books/the-... (1/2)
Top NYS family court judge calling for more investment in social safety net supports like universal pre-K to address the family policing cases that end up before judges...we love to see it! gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/n...
Family Court Is Flooded by Cases It Can’t Address, Top N.Y. Judge Says
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Top NYS family court judge calling for more investment in social safety net supports like universal pre-K to address the family policing cases that end up before judges...we love to see it! gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/n...
Sad to see you leave the Baffler but wishing you all the best back in NZ!
February 10, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Sad to see you leave the Baffler but wishing you all the best back in NZ!
With more Leon Botstein/Bard connections in the Epstein files, I’m thinking about Sarah Gerard’s Carrie Carolyn Coco, which I reviewed for WaPo in 2014. Gerard contextualizes the killing of her friend Carolyn Bush within the larger culture of misogyny at Bard. (gift link: wapo.st/4arzzww)
Review | ‘Carrie Carolyn Coco’ is true crime through a different prism
In looking back at the life of a friend who was fatally stabbed, Sarah Gerard pushes against the typical arc of such a story.
wapo.st
February 9, 2026 at 11:39 PM
With more Leon Botstein/Bard connections in the Epstein files, I’m thinking about Sarah Gerard’s Carrie Carolyn Coco, which I reviewed for WaPo in 2014. Gerard contextualizes the killing of her friend Carolyn Bush within the larger culture of misogyny at Bard. (gift link: wapo.st/4arzzww)
Reposted by Kristen Martin
A lament for a lifetime of folded publications—and for WaPo Book World: substack.com/home/post/p-...
In the Folds
RIP Washington Post Book World, and all the publications I loved before
substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
A lament for a lifetime of folded publications—and for WaPo Book World: substack.com/home/post/p-...
Maybe what we need is to bring back the Teen People Book Club?
February 8, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Maybe what we need is to bring back the Teen People Book Club?
A lament for a lifetime of folded publications—and for WaPo Book World: substack.com/home/post/p-...
In the Folds
RIP Washington Post Book World, and all the publications I loved before
substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
A lament for a lifetime of folded publications—and for WaPo Book World: substack.com/home/post/p-...
I couldn't help myself after she used hyaluronic acid on me!
February 6, 2026 at 11:56 PM
I couldn't help myself after she used hyaluronic acid on me!
Had the honor of informing my esthetician about the Olympic ski jumper hyaluronic acid dong injection rumors
February 6, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Had the honor of informing my esthetician about the Olympic ski jumper hyaluronic acid dong injection rumors
Reposted by Kristen Martin
*all the money* is on the side of building families with other people’s children rather than preserving families, or giving them a chance to exist. 🥚
the National Council for #Adoption will be running a Super Bowl ad. That’s about $16 million for a 60-second spot.
does anyone even fucking care how far that money could go to allowing vulnerable people to keep rather than lose their own children?
does anyone even fucking care how far that money could go to allowing vulnerable people to keep rather than lose their own children?
February 5, 2026 at 6:04 PM
*all the money* is on the side of building families with other people’s children rather than preserving families, or giving them a chance to exist. 🥚
Reposted by Kristen Martin
If you have ever used this gif then you have to read this interview
February 5, 2026 at 8:33 PM
If you have ever used this gif then you have to read this interview
and they say print is dead (I'll see myself out)
February 6, 2026 at 12:06 AM
and they say print is dead (I'll see myself out)
"the highly anticipated Jeopardy Invitational Tournament"...be for real Ken Jennings
February 6, 2026 at 12:02 AM
"the highly anticipated Jeopardy Invitational Tournament"...be for real Ken Jennings
Reposted by Kristen Martin
If you're thinking about Washington Post, "well, to hell with them, they did it to themselves," then count yourself on the side of management. Because, no, labor didn't do this to themselves, didn't grind the paper down, yank it right, & rip out its spine. That's capital. Now we'll all suffer.
February 5, 2026 at 12:28 AM
If you're thinking about Washington Post, "well, to hell with them, they did it to themselves," then count yourself on the side of management. Because, no, labor didn't do this to themselves, didn't grind the paper down, yank it right, & rip out its spine. That's capital. Now we'll all suffer.
she says, get this, that when SAND gets into the sandwich it gives it FLAVOR
February 4, 2026 at 10:36 PM
she says, get this, that when SAND gets into the sandwich it gives it FLAVOR
My aunt talks about ‘em and always says they’re the best sandwich to bring to the beach (insane)
February 4, 2026 at 9:48 PM
My aunt talks about ‘em and always says they’re the best sandwich to bring to the beach (insane)
Reposted by Kristen Martin
A small plug today to consider joining the Freelance Solidarity Project. We're all in this media shitscape together, and it's going to take organizing to rescue its remains from the dumpster fire.
freelancesolidarity.org
freelancesolidarity.org
Home - Freelance Solidarity Project
We are a union of digital media workers raising labor standards across our industry.
freelancesolidarity.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:25 PM
A small plug today to consider joining the Freelance Solidarity Project. We're all in this media shitscape together, and it's going to take organizing to rescue its remains from the dumpster fire.
freelancesolidarity.org
freelancesolidarity.org
Reposted by Kristen Martin
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
February 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
I have loved writing for you! Thank you for all your work shepherding Book World. Best in the biz.
February 4, 2026 at 3:38 PM
I have loved writing for you! Thank you for all your work shepherding Book World. Best in the biz.
I am working on a review for WaPo Book World right now. It has been my favorite place to review for over the past three years. I’m sick over this.
February 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM
I am working on a review for WaPo Book World right now. It has been my favorite place to review for over the past three years. I’m sick over this.
Reposted by Kristen Martin
Am obviously biased as someone who wrote for them often, but the Washington Post’s BookWorld is one of the strongest books sections in the game. Their editors are brilliant, intuitive, and conscientious. They gave me my first cover story and always treated my work with the deepest care. I’m sick.
I’m disgusted, furious — as a frequent contributor to the books section, a friend to beloved people on staff, and as a hometown reader. It’s hard to summon a response beyond “how dare they,” because truly, how dare they smash an entity that performs such crucial, illuminating work.
New: Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray and HR Chief Wayne Connell tell employees to stay home for a zoom webinar ahead of “significant actions across the company.” Widely expected layoffs are scheduled to begin today.
February 4, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Am obviously biased as someone who wrote for them often, but the Washington Post’s BookWorld is one of the strongest books sections in the game. Their editors are brilliant, intuitive, and conscientious. They gave me my first cover story and always treated my work with the deepest care. I’m sick.
CJB 🤝 Baffler 🤝 👞
Happy to present my debut for @thebaffler.com... an interview with Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the man who threw both shoes at George W. Bush
thebaffler.com/latest/a-hum...
thebaffler.com/latest/a-hum...
A Human Experience | Christopher Bell
Muntadhar al-Zaidi discusses his famous protest, its consequences, and the world the war on terror created.
thebaffler.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:33 PM
CJB 🤝 Baffler 🤝 👞
Now I’m getting TEXT MESSAGES
I've been getting AI scam emails for the other Kristen Martin, who self-publishes fantasy, but this is new: one from a "marketing manager" at "Macmillan" (with a gmail account) using the Macmillan logo and about info in his signature
February 2, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Now I’m getting TEXT MESSAGES
This Wednesday! Philly, come thru!
Philly folks! Join me on February 4th (my half-birthday!) for a talk about my book at the Pen & Pencil! We will highlight some of the Philly connections in the book and talk about recent developments in foster care and family policing. Free and open to all; RSVP: www.penandpencil.org/content.aspx...
February 2, 2026 at 5:12 PM
This Wednesday! Philly, come thru!