teen fiction (8th-11th grade? cosplay, comic cons, romance--kissing only, also touches on consent issues)
The plot is fairly predictable but who doesn't love a good cosplay meet cute? And with a diverse cast, too (Edan's friends are racially diverse and her bestie is also lesbian).
This was the first of C.Castelluci's teen books that I've read, but I am a big fan of her geekery. ( )

Reseña en español: http://boisde-merveilles.blogspot.mx/2018/01/dont-cosplay-with-my-heart-cecil_3....

This is a short book, a fast paced and light read. It has an interesting approach to geek culture, I hadn’t read a book that focuses on geek stuff before, so it was a novelty for me that kept me interested because I like attending to conventions, and I like videogames, comics and anime. I got this book at San Diego Comic Con, a convention mentioned in this book.

I think Edan’s fanatism was sometimes extreme to the point she wanted to merge herself with her favorite character. I suppose it’s something that happens to some people, but I thought she was being kind of ridiculous sometimes.

I’m not sure if Team Tomorrow is a real comic, because when I looked up for Gargantua it turned out there is a Marvel character with that name and the same abilities, but it’s a male instead of female like in the book. There were sections after each chapter where there is information about Team Tomorrow, the characters and the creators of the comic. This information was a filler, the book is short but this helped it to stretch more. I read all the information in those sections, but if you don’t read them, it doesn’t really make a difference.

Even if Team Tomorrow and Gargantua’s story don’t add much to the plot, it’s still interesting and I think it’s good book material. If Rainbow Rowell wrote a book about a fanfic featured in Fangirl, I think Castellucci can write one about Team Tomorrow.

The characters in the book are okay, but I couldn’t feel connected with them at all, maybe because the book is short. Edan is an interesting main character, even thou I liked her geeky self, I still found her self-centered and selfish with those around her. She enclosed herself in her pain and ignored everyone else’s. Also, besides the second love interest, the rest of the characters were really mean with her, sometimes exaggerating and I couldn’t like them anymore afterwards.

The ending feels rushed and kind of abrupt; I still have some questions that were not answered in the end. There is a part in which she is blamed for something serious she didn’t do, and none believes her and that issue is never really resolved, the culprit doesn’t pay for what he did.

I must admit the characters were diverse, there was a lesbian character, but as always it was side character who also happened to be Asian, killing two birds with one stone. I was surprised that one of the love interests was a latino boy, it’s rare to find latinos represented in books, thou at first he and his cousin had this cholo stereotype vibe.

I liked the romance, it’s slow but healthy and portrays a good relationship that blooms out of a good friendship, and they support each other even in the hardships.

Don’t Cosplay with my Heart (I still think the title is kinda funny) is a light and enjoyable read, I think it’s perfect if you like geek stuff like conventions and superheroes. It shows a main character growing and overcoming her difficulties, and also shows a contrast of an unhealthy vs. a healthy romantic relationship, and the stigma that girls can’t enjoy of geek stuff, or if they do they are fake fans trying to seem special. If you like comics, cosplay, or geek stuff in general, you’ll probably like this book. ( )

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Very Good
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Recommended: Recommended

Edan's father has just been accused of embezzlement at the beginning of this novel, prompting her to turn to cosplaying as her favorite superhero/supervillain Gargantua. Pretending to be Gargantua makes Edan feel strong and powerful, but it also exposes her to the ugly realities of fandom, including disrespect and harassment of women in the industry, online, and at conventions. Castelluci confronts sexism in comic fandoms with a delicate touch, never seeming didactic or heavy-handed but nevertheless exposing the realities women at conventions have consistently faced. Adding to the narrative is a rather predictable but well-written love triangle, Edan's awakening to her own inner strengths, and a very realistic depiction of Edan's growing struggles with anxiety caused by the loss of her father as he is sentenced to prison time. Edan's supportive grandmother and the diverse cast of characters are all delightful, if a little two-dimensional. ( )