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kategallo's review
4.0
Can I repeat it any more times: I'm a sucker for books with female empowerment and feminist themes. Add in a cool concept - in this case, a five-week tech competition, and I couldn't not enjoy this. The character development throughout, and for all three main girls, was realistic and also satisfying, and in the same way, their development helped to explain the traits they harboured at the beginning of the book. I loved the slow-ish burn way in which the girls began trusting each other, and how they utilised the support of other strong characters around them to flourish.
This book addresses sexism in STEM, and specifically computer technology; casual sexual abuse; and how privilege influences success. It was fun and liberating at times, yet frustrating to hear all-too-real stories of women undermined due to their gender. I think it perfectly combines light-heartedness with representing a major issue in the industry, and makes it accessible to the audience. The coding and business jargon was not too complex or niche to understand, but still showed that the topics were well researched.
A great book to start of the 2020 reading year! Hopefully it sets the tone for the rest of it :^)
This book addresses sexism in STEM, and specifically computer technology; casual sexual abuse; and how privilege influences success. It was fun and liberating at times, yet frustrating to hear all-too-real stories of women undermined due to their gender. I think it perfectly combines light-heartedness with representing a major issue in the industry, and makes it accessible to the audience. The coding and business jargon was not too complex or niche to understand, but still showed that the topics were well researched.
A great book to start of the 2020 reading year! Hopefully it sets the tone for the rest of it :^)
cool_breeze's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I read this book as an adult. It’s not a bad story, and I would definitely recommend it for teenage girls.
bookmaven17's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
emmaemmaemmaemma's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this one, I’m always a sucker for a story with empowering female leads, having 3 just makes it even better.
Loved the commentary on the Silicon Valley boys club, and the character development contained in this story. Honestly, I wish there was a sequel.
Loved the commentary on the Silicon Valley boys club, and the character development contained in this story. Honestly, I wish there was a sequel.
la_ravenreader's review against another edition
3.0
When three female high school graduates enter a five week summer program, they set out to be the first all girl computer team to win the program. While, the story did drag for the beginning half the overall message was empowering. A 3.5 star rating.
lastpaige111's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful story about three very different ambitious girls from wildly different backgrounds who join forces to compete against other brainiacs in developing an app that will win them a prestigious summer internship and street cred as coders and designers. The grown up (loose term) antagonist is a wonderfully despicable techy whose app beats FB in terms of yuck, and the green one is his deluded minion. Compulsively readable, feminist YA fun.
thatlizhunter's review
2.0
I LOVE the Bold Type so when Screen Queens was pitched as something similar to my fav contemporary tv show, well, excited is an understatement. But while the Bold Type is fresh, innovative and mature, Screen Queens is just, lacking.
Screen Queens has lots of potential, but if fell flat in some major storytelling premises. Mainly, the basic believability test.
First, the idea of the Pulse app just never felt real to me. I can't imagine a innovator as entirely self-centered as Ryan freaking Thompson actually selling Pulse to investors. And while it might sell because teens are gullible, where do the free products come from? Who is on this app? How does it actually make money? Call me confused.
And once Pulse becomes mainstream, does every journalist get a blind eye? Does it simply take a girl with a byline in Teen Vogue and a rancid encounter with a sexual predator to bring down Pulse? I feel like this story building could have been so much better fleshed out. For one, a realistic app. And second, rounded villains, not caricatures.
And second, let's talk about girl empowerment. Screen Queens piles on girl hatred, reverses course, and uses an assault to open our main character's eyes more. cue me screaming.
it was very difficult for me to keep reading, especially when one of the main characters is so privileged and treats everyone like dirt. When that privilege leads to constant girl hatred, and excuse making, it was nauseating. For the most part, I felt like the character kept expecting things to be handed to her, and when she finally had second thoughts about her privilege, it felt forced. It didn't make sense for her to suddenly question Ryan. I'm glad she stood up to him, yes, but before the assault, it felt like the author did a 180 with the character.
Also, don't miss your Stanford interview and fail to notify ANYONE and then keep harassing the school to grant you admission. Not a good look.
And then there were Silicon Valley things that just didn't jive. Ryan dissed Zuckerberg in one sentence, only to suggest using his tactics in the next. Is underage drinking so overlooked in the valley? Are investors that fooled with an obviously faulty code?
Now, for all my WHAT THE HECK moments, there was a shining ray of truth moment that i LOVED and which gave the book an entire STAR.
That moment,,,,, the conversation between a tech executive and her daughter about sexism in Silicon Valley. How as a tech leader and women, she felt powerless to lead change. How assault happened and was covered up. How speaking up affected women's careers. How even participating in a forum on sexism felt like a danger to her career.
That was such a GOOD conversation and honestly, the most realistic moment in the entire 368 pages. I wish I could just cut out THAT chapter and send it to all my friends.
Alrighty, not the kindest review but being asked to throw out believability in a story just does't work well for me at all. Maybe I'm too much of a journalist and expect too many answers. Anyway, women in tech are amazing, you can go change the world, people.
Screen Queens has lots of potential, but if fell flat in some major storytelling premises. Mainly, the basic believability test.
First, the idea of the Pulse app just never felt real to me. I can't imagine a innovator as entirely self-centered as Ryan freaking Thompson actually selling Pulse to investors. And while it might sell because teens are gullible, where do the free products come from? Who is on this app? How does it actually make money? Call me confused.
And once Pulse becomes mainstream, does every journalist get a blind eye? Does it simply take a girl with a byline in Teen Vogue and a rancid encounter with a sexual predator to bring down Pulse? I feel like this story building could have been so much better fleshed out. For one, a realistic app. And second, rounded villains, not caricatures.
And second, let's talk about girl empowerment. Screen Queens piles on girl hatred, reverses course, and uses an assault to open our main character's eyes more. cue me screaming.
it was very difficult for me to keep reading, especially when one of the main characters is so privileged and treats everyone like dirt. When that privilege leads to constant girl hatred, and excuse making, it was nauseating. For the most part, I felt like the character kept expecting things to be handed to her, and when she finally had second thoughts about her privilege, it felt forced. It didn't make sense for her to suddenly question Ryan. I'm glad she stood up to him, yes, but before the assault, it felt like the author did a 180 with the character.
Also, don't miss your Stanford interview and fail to notify ANYONE and then keep harassing the school to grant you admission. Not a good look.
And then there were Silicon Valley things that just didn't jive. Ryan dissed Zuckerberg in one sentence, only to suggest using his tactics in the next. Is underage drinking so overlooked in the valley? Are investors that fooled with an obviously faulty code?
Now, for all my WHAT THE HECK moments, there was a shining ray of truth moment that i LOVED and which gave the book an entire STAR.
That moment,,,,, the conversation between a tech executive and her daughter about sexism in Silicon Valley. How as a tech leader and women, she felt powerless to lead change. How assault happened and was covered up. How speaking up affected women's careers. How even participating in a forum on sexism felt like a danger to her career.
That was such a GOOD conversation and honestly, the most realistic moment in the entire 368 pages. I wish I could just cut out THAT chapter and send it to all my friends.
Alrighty, not the kindest review but being asked to throw out believability in a story just does't work well for me at all. Maybe I'm too much of a journalist and expect too many answers. Anyway, women in tech are amazing, you can go change the world, people.
girlinthepages's review
3.0
*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!
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
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!
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads