Description
Product Description For fans of vintage YA, a humorous and in-depth history of beloved teen literature from the 1980s and 1990s, full of trivia and pop culture fun. Those pink covers. That flimsy paper. The nonstop series installments that hooked readers throughout their entire adolescence. These were not the serious-issue novels of the 1970s, nor the blockbuster YA trilogies that arrived in the 2000s. Nestled in between were the girl-centric teen books of the ’80s and ’90s—short, cheap, and utterly adored. In Paperback Crush, author Gabrielle Moss explores the history of this genre with affection and humor, highlighting the best-known series along with their many diverse knockoffs. From friendship clubs and school newspapers to pesky siblings and glamorous beauty queens, these stories feature girl protagonists in all their glory. Journey back to your younger days, a time of girl power nourished by sustained silent reading. Let Paperback Crush lead you on a visual tour of nostalgia-inducing book covers from the library stacks of the past. From School Library Journal Bustle features editor Moss (Glop: Nontoxic, Expensive Ideas That Will Make You Look Ridiculous and Feel Pretentious) takes a chatty and nostalgic dive through the history of the frivolous yet formative and influential genre of popular tween and teen series fiction of the 1980s and 1990s. Introducing readers to the early pioneers of modern-day YA literature, which began to solidify in the 1970s, the author then explores the themes and historical context of the paperback frenzy that resulted in the first book for young readers to make the New York Times Best Sellers list (a "Sweet Valley" entry, of course) and the career-making stardom of some its authors-including Ann M. Martin, R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, Caroline B. Cooney, Susan Beth Pfeffer, and more. Moss points out the lack of diversity of most of the series and problematic story lines but also highlights works that were ahead of their times in representation and themes. Full-color reproductions of classic covers, interviews with cover artists and models, and profiles of editors and authors scattered throughout add visual interest. VERDICT YA history buffs and academics alike will want to read, reminisce, and chuckle through this fun and well-done work.-Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journalα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review “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 of The Baby-Sitters Club, Sweet Valley High, and The Saddle Club? If not, Paperback Crush will 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 “A humorous and nostalgic ode to favorite YA series of the era, from The Baby-Sitters Club, Sweet Valley High, and beyond.”—Publishers Weekly“Part history, part snark, part love letter to the past, Paperback Crush is 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.”—Bookl