Book review by Aarene Storms: Geekerella

Geekerella by Ashley Poston 

Elle is a nerdy girl with a mean stepmomster and stepsisters. She dreams of attending the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball in a beautiful outfit inspired by her favorite cult TV show, but there's no way she'll be allowed to attend.

With plenty of nods to geek culture and fandoms (especially Star Trek and Firefly) this quick little fractured fairy tale features alternating narration from Elle and from the insecure actor hired to captain a reboot space opera. 

Characters are shallowly built from a dubious combination of boilerplate and dilithium crystals, but the settings of a SciFi Con, the online fandoms, and the vegan food truck called "The Magic Pumpkin" are spot-on.

Some kissing, some bullying (RL and online), one overweight dachshund, a problematic chimichanga, no cussing or nekkidness.

Recommended for nerds, especially girls, ages 10 to adult.

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org