Shipped

Gr 9 Up–For four years, white high school seniors Wesley and Stella battled for the spot of valedictorian and the time to announce the winner is near. They couldn’t be more opposite, or so they think. Both are superfans of a sci-fi show called Warship Seven and find each other anonymously on the Warship fandom website. Their friendship grows online and they decide to meet at SciCon in real life. How will the fierce rivals react once they realize the truth? High schoolers will fall in love with Wesley and Stella, as their obvious hatred for one another is deeply rooted in romance. Social issues such as feminism and gender conformity are presented in small conversations, and these topics are tactfully explored. Stella comes from a poor background, while Wesley grew up in a rich household, and they both find, through their own struggles, that they have more in common than they ever realized. The tension of Wesley and Stella’s building romance is evident, yet readers might find the payoff a disappointment.