As a big movie watcher I thought the idea of a book focusing on high school movies was a cool idea. It's very thorough going back to the 1940's and the early chapters cover movies I was less familiar with.

I think at times I thought the book was too thorough and spent too much time recounting plots or setting the stage with the historical context in which the films were released in. The book was a bit more academic than I expected but I still learned interesting tidbits I didn't know.

3.5 stars

Kudos to this author for what must have been millions of hours of research! Admittedly after reading way more than I ever would need to know about Mickey Rooney, I skimmed through the chapters on James Dean and Frankie and Annette. They just weren’t in my category of interests. But for those who are interested, the details are there! Once I hit the 80s and after, about 50% in, I was invested. Very interesting insights and details on the teenagers (and older actors playing teens) involved in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the John Hughes movies, Clueless, Mean Girls, and more.

If these chapters were about 15 pages shorter, the rating would be higher, but everything drug on too long for me.

See what you think when this book publishes May 20th! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader’s copy!

Come for the faces on the book's cover.
Stay for the fascinating cinematic history with its focus on teen culture.

This book was chock full of behind the scenes stories starting with Mickey Rooney's Andy Hardy whose personal life was anything but the wholesome character he played with his multiple marriages and his naughty shenanigans. Then there's those seminal films like "American Graffiti", "Boyz in the Hood". Their on screen stories resonate today,

The reader will appreciate the author showing how the concept of adolescence became part of society's vernacular but also became the focus of films.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Avid Reader Press | Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Avid Reader Press provided an early galley for review.

I like that Handy starts with an introduction that outlines the early history of when the teenaged demographic came into being in the 1940's. It is a reminder of something we just take for granted now in the 21st Century. That set the stage for the discussion of the seismic shift in pop culture that would follow. I also got a lot out of the earliest teen movies from that era (man, Mickey Rooney was a Hollywood hound at such a young age).

As a teen of the late 70's/early 80's, I found Handy's commentary of this period to be very spot on. Given that, I have every belief that his portrayals of the earlier and later decades in this book to also ring very true. His analysis of the films chosen are also very detailed and reflective of commentary of the teen cultures, serving as mirrors back to their intended target audiences.

In the end, too, I realized that some cherished films from my past (ones that I would consider having influences on views and storytelling) contain problematic elements. But, as Handy shows, that seems to have been the case with teen movies all throughout their eighty-year history. Some things do not change.

This fills a hole in writing on movie history that desperately needed to be filled. Handy's book traces the history of teen movies, from Mickey Rooney to Mean Girls. In doing so, he dives into questions about movie making and the appeal, definition, and impact of teen movies. In that sense, maybe Rooney and Sean Penn have more in common than what we think. And, maybe Mean Girls is more than just teen drama and wearing pink. Handy makes the case that there are trends that transcend decades, connecting the cares and concerns of younger people. The chapter on Boyz in the Hood was really enlightening for me. While it is a great film, I had not considered it a teen movie. Hardy makes the case for its inclusion in the canon, and connecting it to older films like American Grafitti and Cooley High.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand how moviemaking changes throughout the late 20th century, and even for those who might like reading some nostalgia-induced history. Handy's writing is clear and thought-provoking, helping readers to consider the larger mpact from the production side and also the analytical side of film.

This was an extremely interesting history of teen movies and how they reflected the reality of the time period. Beware of spoilers if you haven’t seen the movies mentioned in the book. I recommend this book to all cinephiles, especially those who love teen movies. While reading, I was able to make a lot of connection to YA literature as well and how those books reflect the current times.
.

Look I am a SUCKER for these kinda of books. The entire history of a genre? count me in. I loved this book. You get an in depth analysis on the major films, directors, and actors of the teen movie. From good ol’ Andy Hardy to the John Hughes films to The Hunger Games

You also get side by side views on how America viewed the teenager during these eras of film. From awe to fright to economic pandering, you a great look into American society’s complex relationships with adolescents and how the films handled that as well.

Also, learned a LOT about Mickey Rooney’s “private” life if you catch my drift. I knew that man was a dog but wow.

Overall, great read. I would honestly love to see this book revisited one day as the teen movie genre shifts more and more

4 stars

A treatise on influential teen movies from Andy Hardy to “The Hunger Games” films from a former writer for “Vanity Fair.” Rather than a broad overview of a lot of movies, Handy does a deep dive into some of the most important/influential including “Rebel Without a Cause,” the “Beach Party” genre, “American Graffiti, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” the John Hughes oeuvre, “Boyz N the Hood” and “Mean Girls” among others.

Sometimes there might be too much information if a reader has never seen a particular movie/read the book(s) on which a movie/the movies is/are based, but the book is well done and written by someone who (mostly) appreciates teen movies (although it’s fairly easy to tell which of these movies Handy likes versus those he doesn’t much care for.) This won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to catching at least one Andy Hardy movie sometime.

I loved this book. Honestly, I was mainly interested in Fast Times, the John Hughes films, Clueless and Mean Girls. That being said, even the parts about old teen movies like Mickey Rooney and Rebel Without a Cause were interesting. But for my money, the coverage of Fast Times and John Hughes makes this book worth the price of admission right there. Really great overview of the changing nature of teen movies as well as teen culture.

I received a free e-galley of the book in return for an honest review.

I have always been a fan of film history books so when I saw this title as an option for request on netgalley I knew I had to read it. I was not dissapointed, Handy takes through the history of the term "teenager" and explains all the way that the movies (from 1930s onward) reflect the lives of the teens that were living at the time (1950s movies are very different than present day ones in how they depict teenagers.) An excellent book that should be on any film lovers list.

I studied television and film in college and when I saw this book, I knew I needed to read it. I've always been fascinated with how television and movies play a huge part in our culture. I think Handy compiled a very detailed account of the history of Hollywood shows and a look at the ones that stand out in America. I loved it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.