Screen Queens

by Lori Goldstein

The Bold Type meets The Social Network when three girls participate in a startup incubator competition and uncover the truth about what it means to succeed in the male-dominated world of tech.

This summer Silicon Valley is a girls' club.

Three thousand applicants. An acceptance rate of two percent. A dream internship for the winning team. ValleyStart is the most prestigious high school tech incubator competition in the country. Lucy Katz, Maddie Li, and Delia Meyer have secured their spots. And they've come to win.

Meet the Screen Queens.

Lucy Katz was born and raised in Palo Alto, so tech, well, it runs in her blood. A social butterfly and CEO in-the-making, Lucy is ready to win and party.

East Coast designer, Maddie Li left her home and small business behind for a summer at ValleyStart. Maddie thinks she's only there to bolster her graphic design portfolio, not to make friends.

Delia Meyer taught herself how to code on a hand-me-down computer in her tiny Midwestern town. Now, it's time for the big leagues--ValleyStart--but super shy Delia isn't sure if she can hack it (pun intended).

When the competition kicks off, Lucy, Maddie, and Delia realize just how challenging the next five weeks will be. As if there wasn't enough pressure already, the girls learn that they would be the only all-female team to win ever. Add in one first love, a two-faced mentor, and an ex-boyfriend turned nemesis and things get...complicated.

Filled with humor, heart, and a whole lot of girl power, Screen Queens is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson, Jenny Han, and The Bold Type.

• ISBN10: 0451481593
• ISBN13: 9780451481597
• Publish Date: 11 June 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Razorbill
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451481597

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

A great story shining a spotlight on the difficulties women encounter in the tech world. Really loved the friendship that developed between this trio, and the women-supporting-women angle. There was also bits about family, trusting yourself, and opening your eyes to a "plan B".

[girlinthepages]

*Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars*

Is there anything more topical than a book about a group of girls killing it in the tech world? I think not, and I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of Screen Queens for that exact reason- to see a book that promotes women breaking down barriers and making history in the Silicon Valley. Following Lucy, Maddie and Delia, three very different girls from very different background and with very different skill sets, I felt as though I had traveled to a Silicon Valley summer start up incubator right alongside them!

While Screen Queens celebrates the achievements of women in tech, it doesn't shy away from the struggles they must deal with either. I was surprised but pleased at how serious the novel tackled issues such as gender inequality, workplace harassment, and more and featured women at all levels of their careers coming forward through the course of the story about the challenges they've faced- and still face- even at the executive level. I also appreciated how the story showed there is more than one way to be successful. You can be bold and play the game like Lucy, you can be creative and out of the spotlight like Maddie, or you can be earnest and do the right thing like Delia. I was impressed that the story was able to take 3 characters who so clearly were NOT a fit together and realistically have them become teammates who had each other's backs no matter what.

Overall: I hopeScreen Queens is indicative of more books about women in tech coming to the YA field! While at times this one did feel a little long for my taste, it was ultimately intelligent and empowering!

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[theyaobsessed]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I could not code my way out of a paper bag but I have the utmost respect for people that can. I especially mean this in relation to my fellow females! Tech has long been dominated by the males of the world and it is so important to showcase in as much media as possible that times are changing for the better. Especially when it comes to young adult fiction. Young adulthood is a time in our lives where we are becoming the people we dream to be and it is important to see people that are strong, driven and smart so that we know we can be too!

This novel does just that. These 3 young ladies are from three very different walks of life and could not be more different. But they learn over the course of this novel that those differences and the strengths they make together are what matters. Valley Start is a big honor but also a big responsibility that has been put upon their shoulders but I believe together that you will enjoy their journey just as much as I did. I am giving this novel my very rare 5 out of 5 stars because it is just that good!

[katie]

Review will be posted on Saturday at http://kaitplusbooks.com but for now just know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book and I already want to read it again.