Scan barcode
A review by jbrooxd
Con Quest! by Sam Maggs
4.0
4.5 stars. I am a huge fan of comic conventions and books about comic conventions. And this particular book is a lot of fun. There are three protagonists who tell the story - a pair of twins - Cat and Alex - and their older sister, Fi. Alex is on the autism spectrum which at times makes him hesitant to dive into something new or potentially uncomfortable. He's at the con to help Cat with the Quest and also to meet his animation/art hero. Because of Alex's hesitation, Cat often takes charge and steamrollers right over him, which creates conflict. She's also especially driven to complete the quest, forgetting at times that the whole con is supposed to be fun. Fi is responsible for the twins at the con in order to prove to their parents that she is old enough to go on a group camping trip with the popular kids from school. She thinks the whole con, and by default the rest of her family, is nerdy and beneath her. So there's tons of family dynamics and personal growth points for the three main characters.
At the con itself, all three kids deal with a volunteer/staff person who embodies all the worst stories of con-goers and fans who feel like they are the only "real fan" and these other "posers" are ruining the purity of "their" con. This was pretty realistic and I love how it was handled.
There's a romantic subplot for Fi that surprised me. I'm not used to standard middle grade stories (ages 8-12) having much romance in them. I expect that more in maybe an older middle grade (10-14). Some younger readers might be less interested in that subplot.
Con-goers will see a lot of familiar pieces in this, but nothing too "inside" that will leave kids out who have never been to a con. The author does a great job creatively referring to familiar fandoms without naming them. There's a TON of fun in this book and I think kids will enjoy it!
(LGBTQ+: F/F relationship, references to non-binary characters)
At the con itself, all three kids deal with a volunteer/staff person who embodies all the worst stories of con-goers and fans who feel like they are the only "real fan" and these other "posers" are ruining the purity of "their" con. This was pretty realistic and I love how it was handled.
There's a romantic subplot for Fi that surprised me. I'm not used to standard middle grade stories (ages 8-12) having much romance in them. I expect that more in maybe an older middle grade (10-14). Some younger readers might be less interested in that subplot.
Con-goers will see a lot of familiar pieces in this, but nothing too "inside" that will leave kids out who have never been to a con. The author does a great job creatively referring to familiar fandoms without naming them. There's a TON of fun in this book and I think kids will enjoy it!
(LGBTQ+: F/F relationship, references to non-binary characters)