First published 2007
Meltzer chronicles the complete history of Sassy magazine, which ran from 1988 to 1994 and transformed teen publishing in America. The publication attracted devoted readers from middle school through their twenties, creating such lasting impact that back issues now command high prices online. Meltzer conducted interviews with staff members, columnists, and key figures to reconstruct the magazine's journey from startup to closure. She examines how Sassy brought girl culture into mainstream conversation while mixing feminist ideas with accessible content. The book details the magazine's candid coverage of previously taboo subjects including adolescent sexuality and suicide, along with the conflicts these editorial choices sparked with both advertisers and conservative groups. Meltzer also traces how Sassy's anonymous writers evolved into recognized cultural voices and how the publication laid groundwork for both unfiltered blog writing and contemporary women's publications like Bust and Bitch.
Genres: feminism, media-tie-in, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, journalism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-voices, unfiltered-writing
Setting: America
Period: 1988-1994
144 pages · ebook · Farrar, Straus and Giroux