The Perfect ‘90s Snack and Book Pairings
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Maybe it’s all the tie-dye, butterfly clips, and promises from Taylor Swift that she’ll “come back stronger than a ‘90s trend” – or maybe it’s because Anna Carey’s latest young adult novel This is Not the Jess Show came out this week – but we’re feeling super nostalgic for the age of landlines and dial-up internet. And we don’t know how to explain it, but we’re kind of craving ‘90s junk food too. To celebrate the release of This is Not the Jess Show, we’re pairing some of our favorite books about the ‘90s with some truly retro snacks.
This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey
Remember War Heads? We used to eat those way too sour candies for fun. They were so potent that one candy was enough to jolt us awake. And because Jess is in for the biggest wakeup call of her young life – um, finding an iPhone from the future while the rest of the world is experiencing the Clinton impeachment hearings – we’re pairing this sour candy with This is Not the Jess Show.
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Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Before she warmed our hearts with Simon Snow and the rest of the Carry On universe, Rainbow Rowell was writing about the advent of email and the thrill of writing to your office crush. Because it’s sweet and ends in a happily ever after, we’re pairing the delightfully impractical Ring Pops with Attachments – a story that will make you love email again.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
You know that Elena Richardson was the kind of parent who saw Lunchables Pizzas as a special treat, which is why we’re pairing this truly strange pre-packaged meal with Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. But there’s no way Elena let any of the Richardson kids take Lunchables to school, especially when being the perfect stay at home mom was the name of the game. What would the other parents think if they found out?
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Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed
So much of the first half of The Black Kids takes place at lunch tables and pool parties in the hot Los Angeles sun, which is why we’re pairing this book with the ultimate ‘90s lunchbox snack: Gushers. At its core, this book is a phenomenal coming of age story about police brutality and the beating of Rodney King. But at the end of the day, Ashley Bennett and the rest of the teens in this book still have to eat – even if they don’t talk about it.
Buy the book:
Amazon | Books A Million | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
There’s so much to love in the central friendship of The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Even in the middle of a conversion camp, these teens are able to escape – however briefly – to be their true selves. And while God’s Promise is the absolute last place we would want any teen to be, LGBTQIA+ and otherwise, those quite moments of friendship were truly special. We like to imagine Cameron, Jane, and Adam sneaking 3D Doritos when they sneak off campus. It goes with their laidback stoner vibe.
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