Twitter Logo
Instagram Logo
LinkedIn Logo

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

Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction By Gabrielle Moss Cover Image
$22.99
Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

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.

About the Author


Gabrielle Moss is the author of GLOP: Nontoxic, Expensive Ideas That Will Make You Look Ridiculous and Feel Pretentious (HarperCollins, 2016). She is a features editor at Bustle and her work has appeared in the New YorkerSlate, GQ.com, the Hairpin, and many other fine publications. She lives in New York City. She is definitely a Jessica. Follow her on Twitter @Gaby_Moss.

Praise For…


“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 ClubSweet 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 ClubSweet 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.”—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 Fiction filters 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, ’90’s, and early ’00s.”— Geek.com


Coverage from NPR



Product Details
ISBN: 9781683690788
ISBN-10: 1683690788
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publication Date: October 30th, 2018
Pages: 256
Language: English