YALSA-bk is a listserv with lively discussions among librarians, educators, and beyond about all things YA lit. Sometimes one listserv member will ask for help finding books around a certain theme or readalikes for a particular title. This post is a compilation of responses for one such request.
The original request
I am putting together a 1980s party for winter break and I want to have a book list or display to go along with it. Can you help me think of any books that really have to do with the 1980s? So far I have Eleanor and Park and Ready Player One. Thanks everyone!
Fiction
- White Lines by Jennifer Banash
- Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
- Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty-Girl by Carolita Blythe
- The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
- Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci
- The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth
- Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd
- Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
- Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy by Elizabeth Kiem
- Scowler by Daniel Kraus
- Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
- Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- The Boy on the Bridge by Natalie Standiford
- Zero Fade by Chris Terry
- Summer of Yesterday by Gaby Triana (to be published June 2014)
Nonfiction topics
- AIDS
- Princess Diana
- Michael Jackson
- Breakdancing
- MTV
- Boy George
- Bill Cosby
- Valley Girl speak
- Rubik’s Cube
Movies
- ET
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- The Breakfast Club
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- Out of Africa
Additional booklists
Have more titles you think should belong on these lists? Add them on the YALSA wiki or leave a comment! Looking for more compiled booklists? Check out the YALSA wiki or other booklists here at The Hub.
— Gretchen Kolderup, currently reading Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones
Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt, an Alex award winner, is also a great book set in the 80s and dealing with the topic of AIDS.
Non fiction topics: How about an (age-appropriate) biography about Madonna? What 80s teen didn’t completely idolize the Material Girl?
As far as movies: The Goonies, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Dirty Dancing, anything starring Molly Ringwold… Also, The Wedding Singer (PG-13) is set in the 80s.
“I love the 80’s” by Megan Crane is a fantastic book to add to your fiction list, telling the story of an 80’s fan travelling back in time to that era.