Sarah Miller needs to reboot her life. No more comics. No more cosplay. No more men. It’s a great plan—until Sarah cosplays as Catstrike at Comic-Con and meets Adam West McKinny. Adam offers Sarah a job cosplaying every weekend at his superhero-themed escape room, and…Yeah, no. Except that a little spare change would come in handy, and Adam is clever and ever so charming. To make sure cosplay does not take over her real life, Sarah keeps her true identity a secret from Adam. She’s content to be his Catstrike and to have fun flirting with him in costume, but that’s where it ends. With the extra funds from her side hustle, Sarah signs up for an Econ 101 class, and would you look at that: Adam is her TA. Sarah for once has no tight vinyl, whip, or mask to hide behind. Worlds, alter egos, and fantasies collide in this delightful, escapist, sweet rom-com.

Feeling like an outsider in a new city and at a new school, Mariam finds that her love of comic-book superheroes overlaps with the interests of a new friend who is otaku, crazy about manga and anime. Together, Mariam and Tya plan their costumes for the big fan convention. Mariam is comfortable with her choice of character, partly because as Haruhi, she can dress in a costume that doesn't bare too much skin. When Tya can't go to the convention, Mariam is relieved to meet up with some boys who are dressed as the rest of the group from Haruhi's manga. Rick, dressed as Haruhi's love interest, insists that Mariam spend all her time with him, doing things that their characters like to do and playing out their romance. When he tries to physically force himself on her, Mariam realizes that Rick is taking the game way too seriously, but how can she escape his attention? This novel explores the appealing world of comic books and graphic novels that has growing numbers of young people exploring role playing and attending fan conventions.

Exposing a subculture only beginning to enter the imagination of mainstream America, this is the story of live action role-playing (LARP) games. A hybrid of games—such as Dungeons & Dragons, historical reenactment, fandom, and good old-fashioned pretend—LARP games are thriving and this book explores its multifaceted culture and related phenomenon, including the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval reenactment group that boasts more than 32,000 members. The history of LARP is detailed and is shown to have arisen from the pageantry of Tudor England and is currently being used as a training tool for the U.S. military. Along the way, the author duels foes with foam-padded weapons, lets the great elder god Cthulhu destroy her parents' beach house, and endures an existential awakening in the high-art LARP scene of Scandinavia.

"Maitland Ward joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful as a teenager and found fame as the loveable, sexy (but not too sexy) co-ed Rachel McGuire in the later seasons of the beloved ABC sitcom Boy Meets World. Forced into the "good girl" role time and again, she was denied the darker, meatier roles she truly wanted to sink her teeth into. And so she turned away from Disney gold, and eventually established herself as one of the most-respected actresses in porn today. Full of jaw-and panty-dropping anecdotes, as well personal stories from her time on one of the most beloved sitcoms of the '90s, RATED X won't be your run-of-the-mill celebrity memoir. Readers will get to see Hollywood and triple-x stardom up close and personal, and in a whole new light. Her story is not a cautionary tale. It's a story of hope and triumph about a woman who took her desire by the reins, shot to the top of the industry, and has become one of porn's most prominent figures with crossover appeal-all at the age of forty. Sharp, provocative, and unexpected, RATED X is the story of a Disney Princess who-unapologetically-found her fairytale in porn"--

The epic, Eisner Award-winning graphic novel about a jealous witch, a withering curse, and one girl's journey to save her family-- no matter the cost. Recipient of the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids ages 9–12 When Vonceil's older brother, Elber, comes home to their family's Oklahoma farm after serving on the front lines of World War I, things aren't what she expects. His experiences have changed him into a serious and responsible man who doesn't have time for Vonceil anymore. He even marries the girl he had left behind. Then a mysterious and captivating woman shows up at the farm and confronts Elber for leaving her in France. When he refuses to leave his wife, she puts a curse on the family well, turning the entire town's water supply into saltwater. Who is this lady dressed all in white, what has she done to the farm, and what does Vonceil's old uncle Dell know about her? To find out, Vonceil will have to strike out on her own and delve deep into the world of witchcraft, confronting dangerous relatives, shapeshifting animals, a capricious Sugar Witch, and the Lady in White herself--the foreboding Salt Witch. The journey will change Vonceil, but along the way she'll learn a lot about love and what it means to grow up. Hope Larson is the author and illustrator of the Eisner Award nominated All Summer Long and the illustrator of the Eisner Award winning A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. Salt Magic is an utterly unique graphic fairy tale complete with striking illustrations by Rebecca Mock. Named to the Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List An ALSC Notable Children's Book An ALA Graphic Novel's & Comics Round Table Top Ten Best Graphic Novels for Children Selection A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year A Booklist Editors' Choice

“This guide offers background information about how contemporary cosplay has developed as well as nuts and bolts practical information.” —Booklist Have you ever wanted to escape into a comic book and become your favourite superhero? Or run away into the world of Disney princesses? Well, who says you can’t? Maybe it’s time you get your cosplay on! Cosplay is a hobby that is sweeping the globe, you can see it at comic cons, book launches, movie screenings and even on popular TV shows such as The Big Bang Theory and Community. A mix of exciting craft skills, heady escapism and passion for pop culture, it’s easy to see why cosplay has become so popular with people no matter who they are, because now they can be anyone they want, and so can you. But how, why and where could you have a go at starting out in the wonderful world of cosplay? With a little bit of help from this handy, dandy guide to cosplay, you can learn about the history of the hobby (it’s been around longer than you’d think!), get your head around picking you’re first costume, find out how about all the amazing skills people are using to make these costumes, and perhaps even try a few yourself. Who knows, you might be rocking out as Captain Marvel or Flynn Rider at the next big comic con! (And don’t worry, there’s a guide to comic con in here too.) “Swinyard captures the ethos of cosplay and its significance, particularly in marginalized communities. Highly recommended for any nonfiction collection.” —Library Journal

An inspirational guide to sewing cosplay Boldly enter the world of cosplay and gain the confidence to design the costume of your dreams! Award-winning cosplayer Amanda Haas helps you translate your ideas from fiction to reality as you research costumes, shop for fabrics, mash-up patterns, and present your cosplay at a competition. A gorgeous photo gallery will have you frantic to join the cosplay community, while the author’s seasoned advice will give you the courage to take the first step. Bonus project: Sew a bum bag to carry your keys and other essentials to a con. Learn the art of making and wearing designer-quality costumes that will transform your persona. Turn fiction into fashion! A step-by-step guide to designing your own cosplay Dive into the fun world of cosplay with the author’s trusted advice Step up your cosplay costumes with inspirational photos, techniques, and more

The authoritative guide to cosplay written by a legend in the community, and packed with step-by-step advice and fascinating investigations into every aspect of the art. Cosplay—a portmanteau combining "costume" and "play"—has become one of the hottest trends in fandom . . . and Yaya Han is its shining superstar. In this guide to cosplaying, Han narrates her 20-year journey from newbie fan to entrepreneur with a household name in geekdom, revealing her self-taught methods for embodying a character and her experiences in the community. Each chapter is information-packed as she covers everything from the history of cosplay, to using nontraditional materials for costumes, to transforming your hobby into a career—all enhanced with expert advice. Illustrated throughout and easy to use, this practical manual also delights with fascinating stories from the past decades' global cosplay boom. It's the perfect gift for anyone interested in learning (or improving their skills in) the art of cosplay.

Key Selling Points Shy thirteen-year-old Bree steps out of her comfort zone to investigate a theft at an anime convention. This story explores themes of friendship, overcoming fears and following one’s passions. The main character’s best friend identifies as female and nonbinary, but this is incidental to the storyline. In recent years, anime and cosplay have exploded in global popularity and have become part of mainstream culture. This book will appeal to both devoted fans and newcomers curious about this community. This is another fun, heartfelt story by Marty Chan with great comedic elements. Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.