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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.