Geek Girls Dont Cry

“In a market flush with biographical anthologies of awesome, powerful, and sometimes unknown women, Towers' book stands out, and not just because the women she discusses do not technically exist. She puts the creative in creative nonfiction as she takes the biographical details of fictional female characters and associates them with various real-life issues to empower and comfort readers. She looks at pop culture favorites from books, TV shows, movies, and comic books (aka Geek Girls), from Hermione Granger to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Xena, Warrior Princess to Black Widow, and how these women deal with topics like trauma, grief, depression, overcoming adversity, and isolation. Relating to a beloved icon can help readers deal with their struggle. Even if a reader is unfamiliar with one of the characters, they can still personalize and engage with Towers' interpretation of their story. The power of using Geek Girls' stories in this context does not discount the fun of discussing their stories, making this an enjoyable read for anyone interested in pop culture, with particular relevance to those working to overcome struggles.” —Booklist (Starred review) “In a market flush with biographical anthologies of awesome, powerful, and sometimes unknown women, Towers' book stands out, and not just because the women she discusses do not technically exist. She puts the creative in creative nonfiction as she takes the biographical details of fictional female characters and associates them with various real-life issues to empower and comfort readers. She looks at pop culture favorites from books, TV shows, movies, and comic books (aka Geek Girls), from Hermione Granger to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Xena, Warrior Princess to Black Widow, and how these women deal with topics like trauma, grief, depression, overcoming adversity, and isolation. Relating to a beloved icon can help readers deal with their struggle. Even if a reader is unfamiliar with one of the characters, they can still personalize and engage with Towers' interpretation of their story. The power of using Geek Girls' stories in this context does not discount the fun of discussing their stories, making this an enjoyable read for anyone interested in pop culture, with particular relevance to those working to overcome struggles.” —Booklist (Starred review)