The Princess and the Fangirl

February 1, 2019
A celebrity wants to be somebody else and a fan just wants to be somebody in this The Prince and the Pauper-inspired sequel to Geekerella (2017).Having played Princess Amara in the movie reboot of cult sci-fi show Starfield, 19-year-old Jessica Stone is ready to move on to more serious roles. High schooler and self-proclaimed nobody Imogen Lovelace idolizes the independent space princess and is campaigning to #SaveAmara. When the look-alikes collide at the annual ExcelsiCon and switch places--a cinematic improbability acknowledged, then cheerfully exploited--each gains a new perspective on fandom. Jess revels in normality and hesitantly explores romance with Imogen's online friend, Harper Hart. Imogen relishes the limelight and spars and sparks with Jess' bodyguard, overly serious 17-year-old Ethan Tanaka. Interracial and same-sex relationships are central--Jess and Imogen are white, Harper is black and female, Ethan is Japanese-American, and Imogen has two moms and a gay brother--all befitting the inclusivity and gender-bending aspects of fandom, cosplay, and cons. Yet Poston (Heart of Iron, 2018, etc.) also ruthlessly dissects the dark side of science-fiction and fantasy pop culture: body-shaming, trolls, social media mobs, and sexual harassment. Sometimes, the best tales are the ones that transport audiences, not serious and philosophical but fun, light, and nerdy.Unabashedly nerdtastic. (Romance. 12-18)

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April 1, 2019

Gr 8 Up-Jessica Stone hopes to leave her role as Starfield's Princess Amara behind and become a serious actor. Imogen Lovelace wants to be noticed and no longer live in her brother's shadow, so she plans to save Princess Amara from an untimely death. When these two strangers meet at ExcelsiCon and decide to switch places, it makes for a Con unlike any other. This fandom retelling of The Prince and the Pauper is a follow-up to Geekerella. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing how happily ever after turned out and meeting a new cast of diverse characters. Told in alternating perspectives between Jess and Imogen, the novel gives readers the opportunity to see how the characters' motives and self-concept evolve. A fun group of supporting characters and pop culture references galore will appeal to the inner fanperson in everyone. Several quotable passages will leave readers feeling empowered and swooning. VERDICT A fun addition to the Geekerella universe and an excellent addition to all romance collections, especially LGBTQ collections looking for books that focus more on the romance and less on coming out.-Ashley Leffel, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2019
Grades 7-10 In this second Once Upon a Con installment, following Geekerella (2017), Starfield co-star Jessica Stone takes center stage. The Starfield movie remake has been a huge success, but what was supposed to be a stepping stone for Jess' career has resulted in having her performance ridiculed by the original show's fandom. When the sequel's movie script starts to leak on Twitter during ExcelsiCon, Jess decides to swap places with a con attendee who is her doppelg�nger, find out who's behind the leak, and save her career. Taking place over four days, this is a loving ode to cons, geek culture, the good and bad of fandoms, and making one's own happy ending. The story may be over the top, but it's a fun romp through fandom and what makes people passionate about the things they love. Both girls find love during the con, and this sweet, romantic adventure is perfect for fangirls and -boys looking for a warm, fuzzy read. A guaranteed match for fans of Sarvenaz Tash's The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love (2016).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)