The Teenage Textbook

When The Teenage Textbook was first published in 1988, it became an instant bestseller. Since then, the novel and its sequel, The Teenage Workbook, have become recognised as popular and classic titles in the canon of Singapore literature, appealing to generations of Singaporean readers. Both books have sold close to a total of 90,000 copies in regular reprints.

Attesting to its appeal, The Teenage Textbook has been adapted as a movie, stage plays and a television series. In 2015, it was listed by The Business Times as one of the top 10 Singapore books in English from 1965 to 2015.

— from Landmark Books

I chose this book in memory of my classmate Adrian. On his passing in July 2023, I reread it and found myself laughing and crying as I could hear his voice through the pages.

[Curator's note: This was first published in 1988 and was a national bestseller in Singapore, with adaptations into a stage play, a film, and a TV series. Bringing this gem back to light which may have been dusted away as time passed.]

— Valerie, SD