Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction

(Paperback)

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A hilarious and nostalgic trip through the history of paperback pre-teen series of the 80s and 90s. Every twenty- or thirty-something woman knows these books. The pink covers, the flimsy paper, the zillion volumes in the series that kept you reading for your entire adolescence. Spurred by the commercial success of Sweet Valley High and The Babysitters Club, these were not the serious-issue YA novels of the 1970s, nor were they the blockbuster books of the Harry Potter and Twilight ilk. They were cheap, short, and utterly beloved. PAPERBACK CRUSH dives in deep to this golden age with affection, history, and a little bit of snark. Readers will discover (and fondly remember) girl-centric series on everything from correspondence (Pen Pals and Dear Diary) to sports (The Pink Parrots, Cheerleaders, and The Gymnasts) to a newspaper at an all-girls Orthodox Jewish middle school (The B.Y. Times) to a literal teen angel (Teen Angels- Heaven Can Wait, where an enterprising guardian angel named Cisco has to earn her wings "by helping the world's sexist rock star.") Some were blatant ripoffs of the successful series (looking at you, Sleepover Friends and The Girls of Canby Hall), some were sick-lit tearjerkers la Love Story (Abby, My Love) and some were just plain perplexing (Uncle Vampire) But all of them represent that time gone by of girl-power and endless sessions of sustained silent reading. In six hilarious chapters (Friendship, Love, School, Family, Jobs, Terror, and Tragedy), Bustle Features Editor Gabrielle Moss takes the reader on a nostalgic tour of teen book covers of yore, digging deep into the history of the genre as well as the stories behind the best-known series.

Reviews

Gabrielle Moss pays homage to the pastel-tinted golden years between Judy Blume and J.K. Rowling.The Washington Post

A love letter to and analysis of the books that an entire generation read voraciously.Buzzfeed News

A researched and nostalgic look back at what made the genre so successful, from cover art and feminist themes to fan favorite authors and publishers.Chicago Tribune

A history lesson, sociological study, and nostalgia trip in one.Hello Giggles

A nostalgic and hilarious tour through teen bookshelves and the Golden Age of YA literature.Bitch Media

Remember the days ofThe Baby-Sitters Club,Sweet Valley High, andThe Saddle Club If not,Paperback Crushwill jog your memory in the loveliest possible way.Brit+ Co

Writer Gabrielle Moss has a chatty, let's-dish tone that works well for this trip down nostalgia road.Deseret News

Ahumorous and nostalgic ode to favorite YA series of the era, fromThe Baby-Sitters Club,Sweet Valley High, and beyond.Publishers Weekly

Part history, part snark, part love letter to the past,Paperback Crushis the hilarious pop culture history book millennial readers have been waiting for.Bustle

YA history buffs and academics alike will want to read, reminisce, and chuckle through this fun and well-done work.School Library Journal, Starred Review

Moss' lovingly snarky writing style will fuel former teen-girl paperback readers' appreciation, and the 1980s-style graphic design adds to the nostalgia.Booklist

Reading the book is like having a conversation with a close friend with a shared obsession for young adult literature.Foreword Reviews

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fictionfilters the Rosebuds of Moss's literary innocence through the bright lens of experience.The Amazon Book Review

This is not your typical history of fiction book, as it is funny, quirky, self-deprecating, and just downright fun.Geeks of Doom

A deep retrospective of teen romance novels of the 80s, 90s, and early 00s.Geek.com

Author Bio

Gaby Moss is a Features Editor at Bustle and the author of GLOP- Nontoxic, Expensive Ideas That Will Make You Look Ridiculous and Feel Pretentious (HarperCollins, 2016). A self-proclaimed "elderly tween," her writing has appeared in Slate, GQ.com, The Hairpin, and many other fine publications. She lives in New York with a massive collection of BSC books.