Throwback Paperback: A Young Adult Novel Podcast

Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. This week we have a special episode covering the debut novel of Jade Shyback. She takes a new spin on dystopian literature as human society has collapsed under the burden of climate change. Society has moved under water, and now Marisol Blaise has to come to terms with growing up as the adoptive daughter of the admiral of Aqueous station. It’s a dramatic and suspenseful book that kept us wanting for more.  Listen to the end for a very special announcement.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TW: This episode includes topics of death, violence, and self harm. Please take care of yourself and only listen if these are safe topics for you. If you need to talk to someone or need further resources, you can visit the resources page for National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here: ​​https://ncadv.org/RESOURCES. Please listen at your discretion.  Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. It’s another intense and violent episode this week on Throwback Paperback. We’re covering the second half of They Return so in addition to Francesca bringing back Leonard’s friends and withering away, the other friends make and execute a plan to attack Leonard and get rid of him for good. We have a lot to say about plans as usual. There is some wonderful romance, so that is a high-note, but we also have some more withering opinions about the reading so be prepared for that.  Next week we will be reading a new book in one week, Aqueous. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TW: This episode includes topics of death, violence, and self harm. Please take care of yourself and only listen if these are safe topics for you. If you need to talk to someone or need further resources, you can visit the resources page for National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here: ​​https://ncadv.org/RESOURCES. Please listen at your discretion.  Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. It’s another week of craziness this week as we cover the first half of They Return. Miles is adjusting to his new life, and the lovers are recovering from their battles. Francesca is being forced to bring back all of Leonard’s friends which is super evil and twisted. We have a lot to say about that, and what creeps us each out individually. There’s hope for romance, but also a lot of suspense and tension. So be prepared for a dramatic episode.  Next week we will be reading chapters 24-45 of book 3 in the series, They Return.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TW: This episode includes topics of mental abuse, death, violence, kidnapping, gun violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, and PTSD. Please take care of yourself and only listen if these are safe topics for you. If you need to talk to someone or need further resources, you can visit the resources page for National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here: ​​https://ncadv.org/RESOURCES. Please listen at your discretion.  Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. This week we finish They Whisper, and if it was chaotic before, things just get even crazier. There is violence and attacks and a plan to swap Miles’ spirit into a new body because his is really falling apart. There’s some passion for the lovers of romance, but also some jealousy and complications so that sucks. Overall we have a lot to say about the content, though it still is a page turner. We just can’t stop reading.  Next week we will be reading chapters 1-23 of book 3 in the series, They Return. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TW: This episode includes topics of mental abuse, death, violence, kidnapping, gun violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, and PTSD. Please take care of yourself and only listen if these are safe topics for you. If you need to talk to someone or need further resources, you can visit the resources page for National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here: ​​https://ncadv.org/RESOURCES. Please listen at your discretion.  Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. It’s time for more darkness and spook factor as we dive into the first half of They Whisper. The haunting continues as the super sleuth team tries to both chase down Leonard and deal with their own problems like a decaying zombie and a love triangle. These books have been crazy busy already, but we’re going to throw in even more elements this week.  Next week we will be reading chapters 20-38 of book 2 in the series, They Whisper. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TW: This episode includes topics of physical and mental abuse, death, violence, kidnapping, gun violence, alcohol abuse, references to suicide, sexual abuse, and bullying. Please take care of yourself and only listen if these are safe topics for you. If you need to talk to someone or need further resources, you can visit the resources page for National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here: ​​https://ncadv.org/RESOURCES. Please listen at your discretion.  Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. This week we finish They Stay the first book in Claire Fraise’s series. The haunting continues as Shiloh tries to save her brother Max from Leonard’s evil clutches. The squad also includes Miles, Jonah, and Francesca, who discovers that she has some of her own powers. The tensions in the relationship rise, and we have lots of commentary on it, unsurprisingly. We get some of our questions answered but more arise, and we are left with a dramatic cliffhanger that you cannot miss.  Next week we will be reading chapters 1-19 of book 2 in the series, They Whisper. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TW: This episode includes topics of physical and mental abuse, death, violence, kidnapping, alcohol abuse, references to suicide, implied sexual abuse, and bullying. Please take care of yourself and only listen if these are safe topics for you. If you need to talk to someone or need further resources, you can visit the resources page for National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here: ​​https://ncadv.org/RESOURCES. Please listen at your discretion. Throwback Paperback was gifted complimentary copies of this book by the publishing house, but received no other compensation in exchange for us reading this book. In a darker turn we start Claire Fraise’s thriller series They Stay this week. In a spooky turn of events we follow Shiloh as she tries to protect her little brother Max from their abusive father until Max is eventually kidnapped. Simultaneously, Francesca is speaking to ghosts and is disturbed by occurrences in the world of the dead. The two unlikely friends have to team up to both try to save Max and the eternal rest of the dead. Of course there is much more to discuss, as we break down the first half of this thriller. Next week we will be reading chapters 20-39 of book 1 in the series, They Stay. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

TIme to finish another series on Throwback Paperback, as we finish Extras, and thereby Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series. In this book we get the conclusion of Aya’s quest to be popular and discover the hidden goals of the aliens. Tally comes back with strong main character energy, and Shay comes back as the classic worst. Aya reveals that this whole series is bigger than we ever thought, and we thoroughly enjoy the reading. You can’t miss this episode as we finish the whole series. Next week we will be reading chapters 1-19 of They Stay, book 1 in our new series, They Stay. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

Thank you Scott Westerfeld for writing another book because we are incredibly excited and happy to stay in the Uglies world with the follow-up fourth book, Extras. We’ve switched to a new protagonist, whom we enjoy, and we love the haunting and scary social media aspect of this book. Is it maybe a little too close to home? Possibly, but we really get into it. We follow Aya Fuse on her meteoric rise from complete nobody as an Extra to one of the most popular people in the city and Tally Youngblood sliding into her DMs. The book is a treat, and hopefully our episode is too.​Next week we will be reading chapters 28-54 of book 4 in the series, Extras. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

We finish the original Tally Youngblood arc this week as we finish off Specials. All hell breaks loose with Tally’s city attacking the newfound city of Diego. Tally and Shay make plans to prevent a full war, but those plans are obviously derailed, so it, as always, falls to Tally to save the day. Will she? The most main-character energy person we’ve ever read about? Will she win it all? Do all the boys still flock to her? On a more serious note, both hosts have truly enjoyed reading the Uglies series, and we’re very grateful that there’s another book in the series for us to dive into. Next week we will be reading chapters 1-27 of book 4 in the series, Extras. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

Specials hits the ground with quite a bang as Tally has been made into the thing she always swore she wouldn't become. Working for Shay, Tally is a powerful operative of the city, but that facade starts to crack as she sees her one true love Zane again. Once again they depart the city, and once again Shay and Tally fight. We have a lot to say about that, let me tell you. Twilight vampires are fully back this week, so just brace yourself for that. Next week we will be reading chapters 26-50 of book 3 in the series, Specials. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

Tally is off on another adventure as we finish out Pretties. After Peris disappoints us once again, Tally makes her escape from the city only to discover the reach of the city’s influence. It turns out that the city keeps active experiments of pre civilization savages for academic study in nearby reservations. She then makes her way to the new smoke successfully only to have a bunch of plot twists unleashed on her (and us the reader). Join us as we get the answers about the cure and all of Tally’s boyfriends. Next week we will be reading chapters 1-25 of book 3 in the series, Specials. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

Forging right ahead, this week we cover the first half of Pretties in Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series. Things have changed because Tally has been made a Pretty, and she has a new best friend and love interest in Zane. They start a journey of rediscovery as they start to question the Pretty system. They develop a strategy to resist Pretty-brain, and try to inspire their friends to follow. It’s a great reading, and we’re definitely still enjoying the series. We’re both holding out hope that this series continues to be excellent. Next week we will be reading chapters 21-39 of book 2 in the series, Pretties. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

It’s the second week of Uglies, and this book has really turned around for us. Can it be? Are we both in complete agreement to enjoy this series? This episode introduces romance for Asia and really great plot-twist/worldbuilding for Charles, so it really has everything. Tally truly commits to the Smoke, only to have everything burned to the ground. She and David have to mount a dramatic rescue, so there’s action as well. We also compare this series so far to other dystopian series touchstones, so you can’t miss that. Next week we will be reading chapters 1-20 of book 2 in the series, Pretties. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

New series time, we are starting Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, and we are pleasantly surprised to discover that these books really were at the beginning of the Dystopian revolution. We enter a post-cultural world where everyone becomes surgically beautiful when they reach adulthood, except the rebels who live out of the society in the Smoke. Will our protagonist Tally join them? Will she develop a personality? Will this book continuously and pleasantly surprise us? We shall see! Next week we will be reading chapters 25-50 of book 1 in the series, Uglies. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

It’s series wrap-up week here at Throwback Paperback. Are the tears flowing? Well we finish the Children of the Lamp with the Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan, and unsurprisingly we have a lot of thoughts. You do not want to miss the spice as we go on another jetsetting adventure: Italy, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Mongolia this week. The wrap up of the series just leaves us with lots of feelings that we can’t spoil here in the description. You just have to listen to find out. Next week we will be reading chapters 1-25 of Uglies, book 1 in our new series, Uglies. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

Let’s do the time-warp again! Book 6 of the Children of the Lamp is possibly our most chaotic as the children discover the secrets of the Five Fakirs of Faizabad. The characters spread all across the globe with trips to the UK, Morocco, Yellowstone, Tel Aviv, and finally Tibet. We reconnect with Mr. Rakshashas only to lose him again, and we spend a good deal of time unpacking the very surprising ending. We also get into the tone and vibe of this book. Does it seem different to anyone else as well? Next week we will be reading a new book in one week, The Grave Robbers of Genghis Khan, book 7 of the The Children of the Lamp series. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

It’s time for book 5 of the Children of the Lamp, by P.B. Kerr, the Eye of the Forest. This book takes our main characters plus some new additions off to South America where they have to both save the planet from Djinn related catastrophe and solve climate change. Unlike previous books in this series, it seems our characters are mostly together this week following one direct plotline, so we make up for in action what we miss in complexity. See some returns of known characters as well as some new ones as we explore another culture with Djinn connections. Next week we will be reading a new book in one week, The Five Fakirs of Faizabad, book 6 of the The Children of the Lamp series. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

If the last book was intricate and complicated, just wait until you read this week’s book, The Day of the Djinn Warriors. Week 4 of the Children of Lamp has many many plot lines starting with the resurrection and subsequent installment of Faustina as the new Blue Djinn, the downfall of Dybbuk as Jonathan Tarot, and the rise of Iblis. We go to China as the Ifrit, or big bad as Asia calls them, try to invert all luck in the entire world in favor of evil. Of course, as always we have a breakneck rush to the finish and resolution, though for the first time, this book definitely does not end in a perfect happy ending, so we are taking the turn towards more serious topics. Next week we will be reading a new book in one week, The Eye of the Forest, book 5 of the The Children of the Lamp series. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support

Week 3 of the Children of the Lamp, and this week the adventure is off to Kathmandu in Nepal. Definitely the grossest book in the series, the twins have to save their friend Dybbuk and then save their uncle Nimrod which takes them to a snake cult in Nepal. This is the most intricate and complex of the plots we’ve had in the series and really sets up some important story lines moving forward. Mr. Groanin takes on an even larger role in this book, cementing himself as a main character and iconic comic relief. Next week we will be reading a new book in one week, The Day of the Djinn Warriors, book 4 of the The Children of the Lamp series. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/throwback-paperback/support