Spoiler alert! This story contains plot details from prequel novel “Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds.”

Before “Stranger Things” fans can watch what happens next to Eleven on Season 3 of Netflix’s hit series, they can read about what happened before she was born.

The first official “Stranger Things” novel from Del Rey Books, a prequel out Tuesday, goes back to 1969, with plenty of cultural references to The Beatles, the Vietnam War, the moon landing and "Lord of the Rings" to prove it.

“Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds” tells the story of Eleven’s mother, Terry Ives.

Though in the sci-fi Netflix show, Terry (played by Aimee Mullens) is mostly seen in a catatonic state, the book portrays Terry’s vivacious college life, her deep love for her boyfriend, and her participation as a test subject for a government experiment. "Stranger Things" fans will notice familiar themes at play in the book, including those of friendship, fighting against the system and wearing costumes.

Here are five things we learned about life before Hawkins before Eleven and before there was a term for the "Upside Down."

Eleven’s mom names her after a famous Jane

In the “Stranger Things” show, viewers learn that Eleven’s mom Terry called her baby -- who was taken from her at birth -- Jane. Where does that name come from? When Terry is pregnant, she sees a “National Geographic” magazine in a doctor’s office with Jane Goodall on the cover. Since a psychic friend predicts the baby is a girl, Terry decides that the admirable primatologist should be the inspiration for her child’s name.

Terry becomes a drugged test subject before she’s pregnant

In order to make some extra cash outside of school and waitressing, Terry decides to become a subject for a mysterious project called MKUltra (the same name as a real project by the CIA). She and three other college-aged participants undergo experiments led by Dr. Martin Brenner (played by Matthew Modine). She takes acid during secretive weekly tests, and at one point is able to visit the dark place that is referred in the book as "The Beneath."

Eleven’s father doesn't learn of her existence

Terry becomes pregnant over the course of her participation in MKUltra by her adoring boyfriend, Andrew, who gets kicked out of school because of protesting. But Terry doesn’t find out that she’s carrying a child until after Andrew is drafted into the army. When she tries to contact Andrew to tell him the good news, she's told he's gone. Terry's parents also never become grandparents: Their death in an accident predates the events in "Suspicious Minds."

Terry doesn't know she's pregnant for seven months

Terry doesn’t discover that she's pregnant until after her second trimester. She finds out after Dr. Brenner does, and he strategically drugs his expectant patient in a way that could influence how much she’s showing and when she delivers. He calls the growing baby “ours” and is intent taking the baby to raise in his lab to explore her mind's potential.Terry tries desperately to keep her daughter.

Terry befriends young Kali, aka Eight

Before Kali meets Eleven in the Netflix series, she meets Eleven’s mother. In the book, Kali, called Eight by Dr. Brenner, is a five-year-old living in the CIA-funded Hawkins lab, learning how to control her visual illusion powers. Terry sneaks into Kali's room and befriends the young girl, and Kali ultimately helps Terry and her friends break out of the lab with one of her illusions. By the end of the 320-page novel, Kali (who’s played in the show by Linnea Berthelsen) is excited to meet and care for the infant Eleven.