Reviewed by Kim Broomall
Review Source: Disability in Kid Lit
Book Author: Jen Wilde
This is what makes Taylor, one of the two narrators of Queens of Geek, such a refreshing character. Jen Wilde is autistic and anxious herself, which gives the narrative authenticity that is so lacking in similar books. There’s plenty of truth here that can only come from first-hand experience, which may provide necessary uplift for autistic and anxious girls who don’t always get that, and all wrapped in a fluffy YA romance. Continue reading.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Published by Feiwel & Friends on March 14th 2017
Genres: Bullying, Disabilities, Friendship, LGBTQ, Teen Years
Pages: 288
Reading Level: High School
ISBN: 9781250111395
Review Source: Disabilities in Kid Lit
Publisher's synopsis: Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.
"Full of irreverent humor and in-jokes, it’s geeky and funny, with a heavy dose of self-discovery. . . . . Seeing girls and women uplifting, protecting, and loving each other is extremely powerful especially in the context of fandom." —Teen Vogue
"This is the geeky, queer book of our dreams." —SeventeenCharlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.
Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favorite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, is an empowering novel for anyone who has ever felt that fandom is family.
Praise for Queens of Geek:
"Seeing girls and women uplifting, protecting, and loving each other is extremely powerful especially in the context of fandom. The book deals head on with issues of mental health, body shaming, sexuality, and internet celebrity, handling them with a delicate and skillful touch." —Teen Vogue
"This is the geeky, queer book of our dreams. . . . This fluffy, nerdy book is perfect for cosplayers and convention-lovers." —Seventeen“This is one empowering and uplifting girl-power story you don't want to miss.” —PureWow
"Jen Wilde's book about two best friends—one a bisexual young woman of color, the other a young [autistic] woman . . . dealing with anxiety—will be a favorite of anyone who is a fan of geek culture. . . . This fun book about fierce friendships gives voice to a group of diverse female characters who are so defined by so much more than just their mental health and sexuality." —Bustle
"If you love bisexual characters who actually use the word bisexual, queer characters of color dating each other, geekiness, fan conventions, and realistic but adorable love stories, this book is for you." —Bookriot
"Jen Wilde’s book is a hilarious and insightful look into the world of fan culture; the novel is infused with various spot-on pop culture references and fan-related terminology. . . . Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde is a wonderful well-crafted tale of geek-laden adventures and new love. If you’re looking for queer intersectional representation, strong characterization, and absorbing prose, then this is the young-adult book for you." —Lambda Literary
“Queens of Geek is an emotional, lively story full of characters that leap off the page and slip their hands into yours, inviting you into a world where the geeks and nerds are royalty and fandom is court. Richly realized and defiantly affirming, Queens of Geek reminds us that adventures and romances aren't limited to archetypes but are, in fact, for all of us.” —Katherine Locke, author of Second Position, moderator of #GayYABookClub
"The characters’ diversity provides natural opportunities to explore a number of contemporary teen issues, including race, sexual orientation, feminism, and body image. Some of the most compelling chapters are told from the point of view of Taylor, who fears change, hates crowds, and is on the autism spectrum. . . . Part of Macmillan’s crowdsourced imprint, this celebration of geek culture and fandom promotes diversity and being true to oneself." —School Library Journal
"Queens of Geek is full of book and movie references and is a fun look at the fandom convention phenomena. Taylor's anxiety and experience with Asperger's are treated with sensitivity. . . . Queens of Geek is a fun, quick read that will appeal to romance readers and self-proclaimed geeks." —VOYA
Praise from the Swoon Reads community:
"[Queens of Geek] was an incredibly compelling read, just because it contained a storyline I ABSORBED, and characters so diverse they were a pleasure to read! . . . Mix that with the romance, self-discovery of self-worth, and all the geeky references, this made for a perfect read! I honestly couldn't put it down, reading late into the night to see what happened next! " —Zoie K, reader on SwoonReads.com
"I love how interesting the story was and how the author addressed the characters' diversity without glossing over it or making it all about that. . . . It reminded me a little of Fangirl." —Lizzie, reader on SwoonReads.com
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