YA novel annotation

Author:  Maurene Goo

Title: Throwback

 

Genre: YA (Relationship Fiction)

            Note: NoveList puts this as a Science Fiction novel. I disagree. The time travel is only a plot device to get Samantha and her mother together as peers and remove the mother-daughter drama. This allows Samantha to explore who her mother is, why she is the way she is, and it also leads to self-discovery on Samantha’s part. That fits the Relationship Fiction genre better.

Publication Date: April 11, 2023

Number of Pages: 368

Geographical Setting: LA, California, USA

Time Period: 2025 and 1995

Series (If applicable): N/A

Plot Summary:

While this story appears at first glance to be about time travel, it is actually about a mother-daughter relationship, focusing on the challenges that arise when mothers put their personal desires onto their daughters. Samantha Kang is a senior in high school and is struggling against her mother’s efforts to push her to do things that her mother thinks are important. Samantha’s relationship with her grandmother is strong, and both grandmother and granddaughter struggle against the mother in this story. Samantha travels back in time 30 years to her mother’s senior year in high school. In that experience she comes to learn more about her mother and develops a respect and understanding of why her mother has the drive she has. She also becomes more aware of her grandmother’s flaws. By the end of the story all three women have matured in their relationships with each other and have come to love and understand each other. There is a minor plot point of a romance that begins to develop. This relationship helps Samantha to come to see that she has value as her own person.

I loved how Samantha grew as a person throughout her experience. I particularly loved watching her find her own self, as defined by what she likes and enjoys, rather than as a response to those around her. I did not love how 1995 was portrayed. Some things were hard to see but important to notice, like the amount of racism (both overt and covert). But Goo works to incorporate 1990’s language and clothing styles and based on my memories she doesn’t quite hit the mark there. It’s a big challenge but it made some of the 1990’s scenes difficult to digest. Having said that, the storyline was compelling enough that it was easy to let those weak points go.

Subject Headings:

Fiction – Young Adult

Fiction – mother/daughter relationships

Fiction – racism

 

Appeal:

Tone: Relationship fiction novels “offer uncomplicated but not unsophisticated stories” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 196).

Samantha believes her journey back in time is meant for her to resolve the relationship between her mother and her grandmother. But during that process she also learns about herself, and comes to understand why her mother is as driven as she is. 

Story Line: “These are novels of high drama, inner conflict, and domestic disrepair played out on a small, intimate scale, reflecting the trials and concerns of everyday life” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 196).

As Samantha comes to know her mother as a high school senior and peer, and as she learns more about what life was like for her in that time, she appreciates what her mother is doing and much of her anger against her dissipates. Samantha also comes to learn that she has a gift of story-telling, and that she needs to identify her own dreams and follow them, rather than pushing against what her mother is encouraging her to do.

Characterization: “Although characters are of central importance, the genre is not noted for its extensive and dimensional characterizations” (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 198).

Samantha does represent a “typical” teenager, or at least a “typical” Korean American teenager. While the connection to Korean American culture is strong, it also can apply to any other immigrant group that is working to assimilate into American culture. 

3 terms that best describe this book:  

Character-driven, relationship-focused, witty

Similar Authors and Works:

Your Life Has Been Delayed, by Michelle Mason

 

A teenager boards a plane in 1990’s New York and gets off in 2020 St. Louis. This book has more romance than Throwback and less personal growth, though the main character is forced to face issues of death and loss. 

Common appeal: 90’s culture, romance, young adult (teen)

Heiress Apparently, by Diana Ma.

 

A Chinese American actress travels to China for a part in M. Butterfly. While there she learns about her family and herself.

Common appeal: Asian-American culture, romance, family discoveries

The Sun is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon

 

A video game developer falls for her intern. Her work life is full of challenges related to gender discrimination.

Common appeal: immigrant experiences, Korean culture, romance

 

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

Almost American girl: an illustrated memoir, by Robin Ha

 

This graphic novel memoir confronts issues of immigration and mother-daughter relationships.

Common appeal: own voices, 1990’s, immigration

Rising class: how three first-generation college students conquered their first year, by Jennifer Miller

 

The story of three first-generation college freshmen as they deal with the challenges of entering college while dealing with responsibilities of their families at home.

Common appeal: social issues, personal growth, transition to college

We too sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim, and Sikh immigrants shape our multiracial future, by Deepa Iyer

 

This book considers racial tension in America up to around 2016 (published in 2015).

Common appeal: ethnic and racial discrimination, immigration, Asian Americans.

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

We Are Not Free, by Traci Chee

 

This novel tells about second-generation Japanese American teens growing up during World War II, when Japanese Americans were being incarcerated.

Common appeal: Asian Americans, racial and ethnic discrimination, own voices

Starfish, by Akemi Dawn Bowman

 

This realistic fiction novel explores a young woman’s journey to escape from her mother and their toxic relationship. She learns about herself and life as the novel unfolds.

Common appeal: complex character, own voice, mother-daughter relationships

 

Hungry Ghost, by Victoria Ying

 

This graphic novel is about a teen hiding her eating disorder. Mother-daughter relationships are confronted as the main character learns to love herself.

Common appeal: mother-daughter relationships, personal growth, dysfunctions

 

References

 

Wyatt, N.  & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (3rd ed.). ALA Editions.