Paperback Crush

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

Gabrielle Moss author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Quirk Books

Published:30th Oct '18

Should be back in stock very soon

Paperback Crush cover

A hilarious and nostalgic trip through the history of paperback pre-teen series of the 80s and 90s.

Bustle features editor Gabrielle Moss takes the reader on a nostaglic 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.Every twenty-or thirty-something women 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 commerical success of Sweet Valley High and the Babysitters Club, these paperbacks were cheap, short, and utterly beloved. Paperback Crush revists this golden age with affection and just a little snark. Readers will discover (and fondly remember) girl-centric series on everything from correspondence (Pen Pals and Dear Diary) to sports (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). Some were bllatant rip-offs of successful series (Sleepover Friends), some were sick-lit tear-jerkers (Abby, My Love) and some were plain perplexing (Uncle Vampire?)? But all of them represent that time gone by of girl power and sustained silent reading.

“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

ISBN: 9781683690788

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

256 pages