Copyright Date:
2019
Edition Date:
2019
Release Date:
08/20/19
Pages:
347 pages
ISBN:
0-06-256084-0
ISBN 13:
978-0-06-256084-1
Dewey:
Fic
LCCN:
2019286806
Dimensions:
22 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
Content creators strive for subscribers at a Canadian gaming con.Newly minted gamer-girl celebrity 18-year-old ShadowWillow is building her brand by capitalizing on her rumored relationship with 21-year-old Code of YouTube Team Meister fame. Seventeen-year-old Lainey—Code's sister and put-upon roadie—intends to reform her brother by revealing his off-camera racism and sexism—even if that reformation involves destroying his career—while also getting closer to sad-sack love interest LumberLegs. Overflowing with righteous indignation, Lainey wants to fight "rape culture and misogyny" but seems oblivious to collateral damage. Finding solace in online gaming, 15-year-old SamTheBrave—overweight and embarrassed by his dermatillomania—wants to share his fledgling stream with Code at LotSCON but discovers bullies are everywhere and heroes are rare. In contrast to the established digital demigods, Sam displays the most genuine geeky passion. A comic/gaming convention is a temporary, isolated, and intense world, but this fictionalized Blizzard-like con seems unmoored from both reality and fandom. Priemaza revisits Legends of the Stone from Kat and Meg Conquer the World (2017) to discourse on sexism in gaming (through the much-too-eloquent Lainey) and doggedly dissect how to gain internet fame but offers little in the way of frivolous fun. Most characters are white, and whiteness in the gaming world is called out.Celebrity has never felt so calculated. (Fiction. 14-18)
Sometimes before you can build something up, you have to burn it down. Fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie will fall in love with this fiercely crafted YA novel about followers, fame, and fighting for what’s right.
Lainey wouldn’t mind lugging a camera around a video game convention for her mega-famous brother, aka YouTube streamer Codemeister, except for one big problem. He’s funny and charming online, but behind closed doors, Cody is a sexist jerk.
SamTheBrave came to this year’s con with one mission: meeting Codemeister—because getting his idol’s attention could be the big break Sam needs.
ShadowWillow is already a successful streamer. But when her fans start shipping her with Code, Shadow concocts a plan to turn the rumors to her advantage.
The three teens’ paths collide when Lainey records one of Cody’s hateful rants on video and decides to spill the truth to her brother’s fans—even if that means putting Sam and Shadow in the crosshairs.
Told through three relatable voices, this contemporary YA novel from the author of the widely praised Kat and Meg Conquer the World skillfully balances feminism, accountability, and doing the right thing—even when it hurts.