Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good

February 1, 2021

Gr 7 Up-White, Jewish high school senior Zoe Rosenthal is a serious life planner in a serious relationship with serious plans to find the perfect college that she and her boyfriend, Simon, can attend together. She does not have time for nonsense. Which is why, when she becomes obsessed with the sci-fi/horror TV show Bleeders and runs off to Dragon Con to see the Season 2 premiere, she knows this is a one-off adventure that she can't tell anyone about, especially Simon. But as Zoe befriends fellow Bleeders fans Liv, Cam, Sebastian, Meldel, and Todd, she gets drawn into a plan to save the struggling show from cancellation. What started as a small lie spirals out of control as Zoe falls increasingly in love with Bleeders and the fandom world in general. This is a fast-paced character-driven story full of geekiness. Werlin highlights the need for racial and gender inclusivity in geek culture, demonstrating how fandoms can allow people to truly express themselves, though most characters' own ethnicities aren't clearly stated. Teens will also relate to Zoe's relationship and college search woes. Unfortunately, constant Bleeders details often disrupt the flow of the story. Likewise, Zoe's transition from Type A super-planner to self-absorbed drama queen is perplexing, adding to a lack of believability. VERDICT Though inconsistent, this novel may be a hit for geeky teens who want a quick, fun read. Recommended for middle school libraries.-Lara Goldstein, Forsyth County P.L., NC

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2021
Zoe Rosenthal lives by her bullet journal and her clearly outlined plan for the future. Just like her parents, Zoe found her soul mate in high school. She and Simon will attend college together, make a commitment, and get married after graduation. It's the perfect plan. But first, she just needs to get the diverse, feminist, science fiction TV show Bleeders off her brain. Simon has no time for pop culture, and, therefore, neither does Zoe. According to Simon, her time is best spent working hard at serious things. Whether it's college essays, voter registration, or volunteering with a political campaign, Zoe and Simon are saving the world together. Then why is she secretly on a plane to Dragon Con in Atlanta to get a midnight sneak preview of the Season 2 premiere of Bleeders? Zoe's journey of self-discovery is a nerdy trip through pop-culture easter eggs that will have like-minded readers smiling knowingly with each allusion. Although occasionally confusing to follow, the story draws readers in right from the first page. Zoe and her friends aren't always easy to sympathize with; however, the fast-paced and enjoyable plot make this book a fun, quick read. Jewish Zoe is presumed White; secondary characters who are diverse across multiple dimensions make this book a great fit for today's teen readers. A charming story of a closet nerd realizing her full potential and finding her fandom family. (Fiction. 14-18)

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July 1, 2021
Zoe Rosenthal is a rule follower and a planner, attached to her bullet journal (whose pages are interspersed). She's a devoted girlfriend, hoping to attend the same college as her boyfriend. And she's a fan of the sci-fi TV show Bleeders, a women-led vehicle about a virus that turns each victim, briefly and graphically, into "a bleeding sack of skin." Such a fan, in fact, that in an out-of-character move, she secretly flies from Boston to Atlanta to attend a comics convention that is screening the season two premiere. When it appears that the future of Bleeders is in jeopardy, Zoe's new "Bloodygit" friends agree to keep attending cons to promote the show and try to save it. And Zoe continues to lie to her parents and boyfriend in order to join in. The novel highlights the unique atmosphere of the con -- a community in which "anybody belonged who wanted to be here" -- and brings its attendees, in all their passionate, cosplaying glory, to life, including Zoe's friends: Sebastian, who's on the autism spectrum and who (hilariously for plot purposes) faints at the sight of blood; Cam and Liv, affable twins who are gay and nonbinary, respectively; and Meldel, an enthusiastic fanfic author and reformed bully. Their influence helps Zoe to discover her spontaneous side and imagine a different, less-scripted future for herself, in this joyful story of fandom, friendship, and finding common purpose. Rachel L. Smith

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2021
Zoe Rosenthal is a rule follower and a planner, attached to her bullet journal (whose pages are interspersed). She's a devoted girlfriend, hoping to attend the same college as her boyfriend. And she's a fan of the sci-fi TV show Bleeders, a women-led vehicle about a virus that turns each victim, briefly and graphically, into "a bleeding sack of skin." Such a fan, in fact, that in an out-of-character move, she secretly flies from Boston to Atlanta to attend a comics convention that is screening the season two premiere. When it appears that the future of Bleeders is in jeopardy, Zoe's new "Bloodygit" friends agree to keep attending cons to promote the show and try to save it. And Zoe continues to lie to her parents and boyfriend in order to join in. The novel highlights the unique atmosphere of the con -- a community in which "anybody belonged who wanted to be here" -- and brings its attendees, in all their passionate, cosplaying glory, to life, including Zoe's friends: Sebastian, who's on the autism spectrum and who (hilariously for plot purposes) faints at the sight of blood; Cam and Liv, affable twins who are gay and nonbinary, respectively; and Meldel, an enthusiastic fanfic author and reformed bully. Their influence helps Zoe to discover her spontaneous side and imagine a different, less-scripted future for herself, in this joyful story of fandom, friendship, and finding common purpose.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)