Throwback
Books | JUVENILE FICTION / General
5
Maurene Goo
A REESE'S YA BOOK CLUB PICK! A Gen Z Korean American girl gets stuck in the '90s with her teenaged mother in this fresh, funny adventure full of heart, humor, and time-crossed romance. Perfect for fans of Mary H.K. Choi, Morgan Matson, and Nicola Yoon. "No one can blend family, humor, satire, and love into a single perfect story like Maurene Goo can." --Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Skyhunter "Funny and big-hearted, romantic, and delightfully unexpected in the best way." --Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing Being a first-generation Asian American immigrant is hard. You know what's harder? Being the daughter of one. Priscilla is first-generation Korean American, a former high school cheerleader who expects Sam to want the same all-American nightmare. Meanwhile, Sam is a girl of the times who has no energy for clichéd high school aspirations. After a huge blowup, Sam is desperate to get away from Priscilla, but instead, finds herself thrown back. Way back. To her shock, Sam lands in the '90s . . . alongside a 17-year-old Priscilla. Now, Sam has to deal with outdated tech, regressive '90s attitudes, and her growing feelings for sweet, mysterious football player Jamie, who just might be the right guy in the wrong era. With the clock ticking, Sam must figure out how to fix things with Priscilla or risk being trapped in an analog world forever. Sam's blast to the past has her questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom . . . and herself. One thing's for sure: Time is a mother. Brimming with heart and humor, Maurene Goo's Throwback asks big questions about what exactly one inherits and loses in the immigrant experience. "I knew that Throwback would make me laugh out loud. But I was pleasantly surprised to find myself weeping by the book's close, so moved by Goo's story." --San Francisco Chronicle "Filled with the vibes of the 1990s . . . a complete joy." --Buzzfeed "A deft, delightful, and emotionally complex examination of intergenerational relationships." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "Sharp-witted humor and multidimensional characters." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "Sit back and enjoy the ride . . . a delightfully adventurous story." --School Library Connection, Recommended Review "Perfect for those looking for a lighthearted read." --Horn Book "An arrestingly charming story with plenty of heart." --Booklist
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More Details:
Author
Maurene Goo
Pages
368
Publisher
Zando Young Readers
Published Date
2023
ISBN
1638930201 9781638930204
Community ReviewsSee all
"I loved this book SO much I couldn’t put it down. The 90’s nostalgia, the smoothly intertwined romance, and the growth and understanding of immigrant parents, Asian American parents and their children. I cried so much! I didn’t want the book to end but I also wanted to know what happened."
Fefe Luna (she/they)
"An Asian, gen Z remake of Back to The Future. (There is still a time traveling car involved if you are curious.) This one was lighthearted, and felt exactly like a 90s teen movie. But it was also emotional in its portrayal of the Asian American experience, racism, and family. Priscilla starts as one of the most annoying book mothers ever, but when we see her as a teenager she feels so relatable and developed. One plot issue I found weird (minor spoiler ahead) is that Sam’s mom doesn’t even figure out that Sam was in her past, especially since she impacted the future. Like, how is that possible? And the cover has a cute color scheme, but the art style makes the people look AI generated.. Other than these very minor problems, this is a fun, impactful addition to the world of Asian American books."
Isabella Quinn
"Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and their publishing company for a chance to read this book and give an honest opinion about its subject.<br/><br/><br/><a href="https://ebookreview.dreamwidth.org/100962.html">Book Reviews</ia> | <a href="https://www.pillowfort.social/setsuna">Pillowfort</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Revengelyne">Twitter</a>"
Susanna Bloom
