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American Teen Dramas: From Sunnydale to Riverdale
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 20, 2025
I love Teen Television. It’s one of my favorite genre for a myriad of reasons. You just ask me about Buffy, Gilmore Girls or The OC and I will jump right with a long winded discourse on themes of isolation, classism, depression, and hope. I am 100% that girl who watches for the literary allusions.
I thought this would make me the ideal audience for Hagen’s text, but perhaps this took me outside of the demographic. When it came to shows I know well, I didn’t find new information within the pages. Maybe I’ve read too many Buffy books (I may have ant entire bookshelf devoted to Buffy texts.) The author does a great job of summarizing a variety of shows, but this kept me from waiting to dive deeply into the shows I was less familiar with. What if I decide to watch all fifteen seasons of Supernatural or finally finish The Vampire Diaries? If you’re afraid of spoilers, like I am, beware!
However, what I applaud the author for, and truly why I appreciate the book, is the utter celebration of this often overlooked genre of television. There’s a reason people still actively discuss shows that have been off the air for decades. Many of these characters are their stories shaped is into the people we are today.
My biggest complaint is the lack of attention paid to two Teen Television icons - Beverly Hills 90210 & My So-Called Life. Surely they brought more to the genre than Once Upon a Time.
A worthy book for those starting their journey into the world of teen television.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this would make me the ideal audience for Hagen’s text, but perhaps this took me outside of the demographic. When it came to shows I know well, I didn’t find new information within the pages. Maybe I’ve read too many Buffy books (I may have ant entire bookshelf devoted to Buffy texts.) The author does a great job of summarizing a variety of shows, but this kept me from waiting to dive deeply into the shows I was less familiar with. What if I decide to watch all fifteen seasons of Supernatural or finally finish The Vampire Diaries? If you’re afraid of spoilers, like I am, beware!
However, what I applaud the author for, and truly why I appreciate the book, is the utter celebration of this often overlooked genre of television. There’s a reason people still actively discuss shows that have been off the air for decades. Many of these characters are their stories shaped is into the people we are today.
My biggest complaint is the lack of attention paid to two Teen Television icons - Beverly Hills 90210 & My So-Called Life. Surely they brought more to the genre than Once Upon a Time.
A worthy book for those starting their journey into the world of teen television.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2025
When I saw this on Netgalley and read the description I was so excited since I'd been looking for something exactly like this for a while. Unfortunately, it had already been archived but thankfully I requested it and I still was able to get it. It did not disappoint at ALL.
Hagan goes through several teen dramas, not just the ones that specifically targeted teen audiences, but dramas that ended up with a huge teen fanbase, which is usually what happens more often than not. I found it so interesting to find out more about the behind the scenes of some of my favorite shows. As someone who was born in 2006, many of these beloved TV shows I've watched only recently which I think may have added a lot more to my enjoyment since I was finding out new things.
There were times where it felt repetitive, especially in the middle of the book, but I think what this book did perfectly was to answer the why. Why were/are these dramas so impactful? Is it because of the soundtrack? The characters? Or was it just too hard to look away that it stuck to you? Everything is answered in this book by someone who loved these dramas just as much as the readers do. While I'd obviously recommend this to people that have already pre-existing knowledge of these shows, I think if someone has watched just one of these or none, it could prove to be a way more fun read. If they don't mind spoilers of course.
Hagan goes through several teen dramas, not just the ones that specifically targeted teen audiences, but dramas that ended up with a huge teen fanbase, which is usually what happens more often than not. I found it so interesting to find out more about the behind the scenes of some of my favorite shows. As someone who was born in 2006, many of these beloved TV shows I've watched only recently which I think may have added a lot more to my enjoyment since I was finding out new things.
There were times where it felt repetitive, especially in the middle of the book, but I think what this book did perfectly was to answer the why. Why were/are these dramas so impactful? Is it because of the soundtrack? The characters? Or was it just too hard to look away that it stuck to you? Everything is answered in this book by someone who loved these dramas just as much as the readers do. While I'd obviously recommend this to people that have already pre-existing knowledge of these shows, I think if someone has watched just one of these or none, it could prove to be a way more fun read. If they don't mind spoilers of course.
November 9, 2025
Recognize the lyrics below?
"I don't want to wait for our lives to be over,
I want to know right now what will it be.
I don't want to wait for our lives to be over,
Will it be yes or will it be sorry?"
How about these?
"I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been tryna be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind"
Or, maybe this one?
"Where you lead
I will follow
Anywhere, that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow
Where you lead"
If your answer is "yes", then you are part of the generation when teen dramas had you tune in at a specific date, time.
These three are just a few of the many teen drama featured in this read. From 90210 (guessing that this predated the author's generation as not much focus on this one, sadly enough) to Buffy and Supernatural, the author examines the soapy to the supernatural. She addresses the cultural impact both at the time the show aired and how it is looks in today's streaming world. She also shows how fandoms whether via "MySpace' and other later, online sites can influence the writing. You'll also see how certain characters were birthed after producers/directors met with actors that were auditioning for other roles or ones that had not yet existed.
The reader is rewarded with an expansive read.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Pen & Sword | White Owl, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#AmericanTeenDramas #NetGalley
"I don't want to wait for our lives to be over,
I want to know right now what will it be.
I don't want to wait for our lives to be over,
Will it be yes or will it be sorry?"
How about these?
"I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been tryna be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind"
Or, maybe this one?
"Where you lead
I will follow
Anywhere, that you tell me to
If you need, you need me to be with you
I will follow
Where you lead"
If your answer is "yes", then you are part of the generation when teen dramas had you tune in at a specific date, time.
These three are just a few of the many teen drama featured in this read. From 90210 (guessing that this predated the author's generation as not much focus on this one, sadly enough) to Buffy and Supernatural, the author examines the soapy to the supernatural. She addresses the cultural impact both at the time the show aired and how it is looks in today's streaming world. She also shows how fandoms whether via "MySpace' and other later, online sites can influence the writing. You'll also see how certain characters were birthed after producers/directors met with actors that were auditioning for other roles or ones that had not yet existed.
The reader is rewarded with an expansive read.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, Pen & Sword | White Owl, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#AmericanTeenDramas #NetGalley
October 11, 2025
Given teen dramas are one of my forever greatest television loves, this was a book that I HAD to read. I loved the recaps of shows, including both development, plot, casting, and other facts about their runs. What I loved even more was the chapters focused on shows I hadn't watched. As a testament to how great the recaps of these shows were, these chapters made me want to watch these shows I'd never seen before. As a further testament to how great the recaps were, I wanted more - I would have loved more a deeper dive into my all-time fave of Dawson's Creek, and I thought Friday Night Lights (and teen sports dramas) was a big omission - This could have easily been expanded with more shows and been even more comprehensive and wonderful! My one qualm was the inclusion of Once Upon A Time. While no doubt a great show, it's a stretch for me to put it in this category. But still all-around, a great body of work on a beloved genre. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a look at this November 2025 release.
October 10, 2025
What a delightful romp through TV shows I have loved. As the cover suggests, we start with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and weave our way through the blockbuster ten dramas as they aired.
20% of the book is devoted to Buffy and it helped tremendously that I've seen the show several times. I enjoyed the anecdotes and the "reasons why".
Gilmore Girls features next and the description of how this was such a different show was really enlightening.
If you don't know a show quite well, you're potentially going to be a little lost (Lost features heavily) but reading through has given me some news shows to try.
20% of the book is devoted to Buffy and it helped tremendously that I've seen the show several times. I enjoyed the anecdotes and the "reasons why".
Gilmore Girls features next and the description of how this was such a different show was really enlightening.
If you don't know a show quite well, you're potentially going to be a little lost (Lost features heavily) but reading through has given me some news shows to try.
October 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book takes the reader through the recent history of teen dramas from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Riverdale. I really enjoyed the detailed summary of shows I haven't seen before - but it was also fun to re-live shows that I have seen like The O.C. There is so much about the actors and small details about these shows that I'd never heard - I liked the connections to link all of the shows.
If you enjoyed any teen dramas over the past 2o years, I strongly recommend this book!
This book takes the reader through the recent history of teen dramas from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Riverdale. I really enjoyed the detailed summary of shows I haven't seen before - but it was also fun to re-live shows that I have seen like The O.C. There is so much about the actors and small details about these shows that I'd never heard - I liked the connections to link all of the shows.
If you enjoyed any teen dramas over the past 2o years, I strongly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews