Parents' Guide to

Geekerella: Once Upon a Con, Book 1

By Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Charming "Cinderella" update set in world of sci-fi fandom.

Book Ashley Poston Romance 2017
Geekerella: Once Upon a Con, Book 1 Poster Image

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What's the Story?

GEEKERELLA is a modern take on the classic "Cinderella" fairy tale. Elle works in the Magic Pumpkin vegan food truck and runs a blog about Starfield, her favorite sci-fi TV show. She has the requisite evil stepmom and stepsisters to contend with, as well as a profound loneliness from having no friends. Darien's a teen idol soap opera star tasked with bringing the cult sci-fi show to the big screen. He lives in his own kind of emotional isolation, but no one would believe it based on the paparazzi pictures and gossip magazine stories. A text message to the wrong person sparks a texting romance between Elle and Darien, but neither can reveal their identity for fear the other will be put off by the reality of who they are. The two are unknowingly on a collision course to meet at the big ExcelsiCon sci-fi and comic convention.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (10 ):

This cute, modern update of the "Cinderella" fairy tale is a fun romp for lovers of light YA romance. Geekerella humorously captures the battle between the fandom of cult sci-fi shows and the newbies who jump on the big-screen reboot bandwagon. Author Ashley Poston accurately depicts the anger and sadness hard-core fans experience when their beloved, quirky shows hit the mainstream. The chapters alternate narration between Elle and Darien. The approach works well because it gives the readers good insight into the interior lives of each, both of whom are sad and lonely and feel they don't fit in. Elle's connection to her late father through the show Starfield is bittersweet, and Darien's desire to have his dad be a real dad rather than a pushy manager is heartbreaking.

The action is fast-paced and entertaining though predictable, given that most readers know the story of "Cinderella" pretty well. Because of the predictability, some of the supposedly suspenseful plot points feel forced. The awfulness Elle faces at home is hard to read at times, but it makes you cheer all the more for her at the end.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the portrayal of social media stardom in Geekerella. Elle's stepsisters want to be famous on YouTube. What do you think about people who get famous via social media? What value do you think it brings to their lives?

  • What do you think is the downside of idolizing famous actors, writers, and directors? Have you ever been really into a story series only to be disappointed by the direction it took?

  • Would you ever be allowed to skip school for something you were really into, such as Comic-Con? What kind of deal would you offer to make it happen?

Book Details

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