All the Feels

May 1, 2016

Gr 10 Up-When the fifth "Starveil" movie is released in theaters, superfan Liv Walden is devastated at the ending. Spartan, the character she is obsessed with, has died. The credits erase all hope that the actor, Tom Grander, will play Spartan again. The college freshman has no idea how she will cope with this immense loss until she decides to take action. She calls on the fandom, and her friends heed the call, posting fiction, manips (photo-manipulations), and vids (video recordings). Liv feels like this campaign can bring Spartan back to life, but will it cause more trouble in her real life than she expects? This is an insider's look into the life of a fangirl. Liv has always felt like an outsider at school, but her online life is where she thrives. Her reaction to the death of Spartan may seem melodramatic as the book begins, but Stone explores Liv's involvement in fandom, and her feelings emerge realistically. Texts, tweets, and descriptions of the vids Liv creates with her best friend, Xander, bring the "Starveil" fandom to life. Liv's college life, filled with awkward crushes and her inability to express her feelings, contrasts very well with the confident online Liv. Liv's experiences with fandom will resonate with many teens, but it is her struggles to understand her goals for the future, her feelings for Xander, and even the drudgery of college that will compel teens to stick with this story.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.