Throwback - by Maurene Goo

About the Book

"Samantha Kang has always butted heads with her mom. 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 clichâed 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 Now, Sam has to deal with outdated tech, regressive '90s attitudes, and a time-crossed romance with the right guy in the wrong era.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"--

Book Synopsis

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Now, Sam has to deal with outdated tech, regressive '90s attitudes, and her growing feelings for sweet, mysterious football player Jamie, who just might be the right guy in the wrong era.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

Review Quotes

An ABA April 2023 Kids' Indie Next Pick
A Junior Library Guild Selection
2024 Rise Honoree
Amazon Best YA Books of 2023
Kirkus Best YA Books of 2023
Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Read
Seventeen Book Club Pick
Book Riot Great Books to Read in 2023
Boston Globe Best New Books of 2023
Epic Reads Most Anticipated
Goodreads Top Reader-Recommended Young Adult Books
PopSugar Best YA Books of 2023

"Throwback takes powerful turns that highlight the author's skill with emotional material, too . . . 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, without shying away from some of the problems of the era, Throwback is a complete joy." --Buzzfeed

"A poignant reflection on the immigrant experience and understanding one's parents, Goo's trippy adventure is sure to warm the hearts of readers." --PopSugar

"Throwback is both nostalgia bait for 90s kids and a charming coming-of-age story about how far we've all come since then." --Paste Magazine

"With a hauntingly hilarious premise--getting flung back in time to be besties with your mean girl mom in high school--Throwback is bright, warm and wholly engrossing." --Mary H.K. Choi, New York Times bestselling author

"I inhaled this book in a single sitting, lost in the magic of this tale of mothers and daughters and the weight of generational divides." --Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Skyhunter

"A tour de force from Maurene Goo, and a book I know I'll be returning to again and again." --Morgan Matson, New York Times bestselling author of Save the Date

"With all the humor and heart that are Maurene Goo's specialty, Throwback is the fresh, funny, yet profoundly thoughtful time travel story you didn't know you needed--but trust me, you definitely do." --Veronica Roth, New York Times bestselling author of Divergent and Chosen Ones

"Inventive, fun and fresh, Throwback explores the mysteries of destiny, identity, and more than one kind of love." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award medalist and bestselling author of When You Reach Me

"Throwback is as fun and feel-good as your favorite '90s teen flick but wrapped up in a beautifully written and poignant story of mothers, daughters, the immigrant experience, and the 'American dream.'" --Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of I'm the Girl and Sadie

"Throwback is one of those rare books that manages to unearth deep truths with the lightest of touches." --Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing

★ "Goo's masterful storytelling examines the complex nature of familial relationships. A deft, delightful, and emotionally complex examination of intergenerational relationships." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Via sharp-witted humor and multidimensional characters, Goo crafts a layered, intergenerational telling of compassion and empathy." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Sit back and enjoy the ride because Goo fills the story with a range of emotions and universal experiences . . . a delightfully adventurous story." --School Library Connection, Recommended Review

"Perfect for those looking for a lighthearted read, the story also introduces plenty of Korean cultural elements into a tale of family relationships and intergenerational connections." --Horn Book

"In an arrestingly charming story with plenty of heart, Goo expertly takes readers on a mother-daughter relationship journey . . . the magical time-travel element fits seamlessly into a narrative that is ultimately about generational differences and seeking common ground." --Booklist

"Goo's characters are wonderfully drawn, and she explores the challenges and joys of intergenerational relationships with empathy and heart.'" --BookPage

"Charming, fun story where a teen goes back to 1995 to help her then-teen mother and finds not only herself but her mother in the process." --YA Book Central

"A truly fantastic read. Get your copy ASAP!" --Pine Reads Review

"Much more than a Back to the Future story, Throwback is a story about mothers, daughters, the immigrant experience, high school, and finding your dreams." --Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC