What do you think?
Rate this book
Creep Con
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.
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.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
16 people want to read
About the author
Kim Firmston
17 books8 followersKim Firmston is a real life mutant – though one without any cool powers. When she is not writing or cursing obvious villain mistakes, she warps young minds in her Reality is Optional Kid’s Writing Club and various writing camps. Kim has written and produced many plays, had a few short stories make it into print, and published five novels (one of them by herself). Kim encourages play, be it in her classes or on her interactive websites. She has also been known to build diabolical devices out of cardboard and old chip bags with prominent DO NOT PUSH buttons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 24, 2017
"Batgirl could do this. So can I.”
Disclaimer: A copy of this novel was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mariam is new in town. When she meets Tya, a fellow nerd, they decide they have to go to a convention together. Family obligations keep Tya from going and Mariam decides to go alone. She ends up finding a group cosplaying the rest of the characters from her favourite show. Unfortunately she realizes that for one of the boy’s these are more than costumes. Their characters are meant to be in love and he’ll take what he has to.
This book reads more like a cautionary tale than an enjoyable story. The characters fit well known tropes; the shy innocent girl, the extremely pushy best friend, and frighteningly overprotective single mother. The anime and comic references are tossed around but feel more like a thin veil to try and cover up the very Lifetime movie story line.
The set up for the event takes far too long without adding anything important. The book is at it’s halfway mark before the convention promised in the synopsis even happens. While these sort of things do happen at cons the whole set up seems terribly convenient. Not to mention the glorification of terrible choices like taking on angry, dangerous men yourself instead of getting help from the law.
The story attempts to tie itself with a nice bow. Everything is clean cut, none of the real drama that’s always involved with these sorts of situations. However, Mariam’s mother and Tya both get off withut ever living up to their actions. Tya puts a huge amount of pressure trying to force her friend to wear revealing clothing she isn’t comfortable with. She manipulates Mariam the same way Rick does but is never dealt with properly. Mariam’s mother on the other hand is a whole different beast.
Mariam’s mother keeps her child on a leash so short she’s choking. Mariam is seventeen, and not allowed to go anywhere without supervision. Is not allowed to have any autonomy, not allowed to have a real job or friends of the opposite sex. Calgary is a big city, but this style of parenting was going to cause Mariam to lie eventually. This issue is dealt with lightly but Mariam’s mother never accepts any responsibility for what happened even grounding her daughter after a traumatic experience. She did lie but a parent should be able to recognize when they were part of the problem.
Over eighty percent of the book can be picked up from the official synopsis. It tells you everything but the ending, which is far too neat. It attempts to be a critical look on sexual assault but doesn’t look into any of the problems girls face when trying to prove their cases. It’s convention background also make it inaccessible to a large number of readers. It’s just an uncomfortable read with an ending that nullifies any good discourse it could have started
Disclaimer: A copy of this novel was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mariam is new in town. When she meets Tya, a fellow nerd, they decide they have to go to a convention together. Family obligations keep Tya from going and Mariam decides to go alone. She ends up finding a group cosplaying the rest of the characters from her favourite show. Unfortunately she realizes that for one of the boy’s these are more than costumes. Their characters are meant to be in love and he’ll take what he has to.
This book reads more like a cautionary tale than an enjoyable story. The characters fit well known tropes; the shy innocent girl, the extremely pushy best friend, and frighteningly overprotective single mother. The anime and comic references are tossed around but feel more like a thin veil to try and cover up the very Lifetime movie story line.
The set up for the event takes far too long without adding anything important. The book is at it’s halfway mark before the convention promised in the synopsis even happens. While these sort of things do happen at cons the whole set up seems terribly convenient. Not to mention the glorification of terrible choices like taking on angry, dangerous men yourself instead of getting help from the law.
The story attempts to tie itself with a nice bow. Everything is clean cut, none of the real drama that’s always involved with these sorts of situations. However, Mariam’s mother and Tya both get off withut ever living up to their actions. Tya puts a huge amount of pressure trying to force her friend to wear revealing clothing she isn’t comfortable with. She manipulates Mariam the same way Rick does but is never dealt with properly. Mariam’s mother on the other hand is a whole different beast.
Mariam’s mother keeps her child on a leash so short she’s choking. Mariam is seventeen, and not allowed to go anywhere without supervision. Is not allowed to have any autonomy, not allowed to have a real job or friends of the opposite sex. Calgary is a big city, but this style of parenting was going to cause Mariam to lie eventually. This issue is dealt with lightly but Mariam’s mother never accepts any responsibility for what happened even grounding her daughter after a traumatic experience. She did lie but a parent should be able to recognize when they were part of the problem.
Over eighty percent of the book can be picked up from the official synopsis. It tells you everything but the ending, which is far too neat. It attempts to be a critical look on sexual assault but doesn’t look into any of the problems girls face when trying to prove their cases. It’s convention background also make it inaccessible to a large number of readers. It’s just an uncomfortable read with an ending that nullifies any good discourse it could have started
January 21, 2016
NetGalley provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
Mariam and her mother move to a new city. New city, new school, new friends and difficult choices drive this novel as Mariam tries to fit into her environment. Young adult readers interested in the world of comic books, manga and anime will enjoy Creep Con.
Kim Firmston explores topical issues including but not limited to cosplay, peer pressure, sexual abuse, financial pressure, trust, and honesty. The short chapters move the story quickly. Mariam’s voice is strong and distinct. She is a likeable character and the reader will feel for her. Reluctant teen readers will enjoy Mariam’s journey.
Mariam and her mother move to a new city. New city, new school, new friends and difficult choices drive this novel as Mariam tries to fit into her environment. Young adult readers interested in the world of comic books, manga and anime will enjoy Creep Con.
Kim Firmston explores topical issues including but not limited to cosplay, peer pressure, sexual abuse, financial pressure, trust, and honesty. The short chapters move the story quickly. Mariam’s voice is strong and distinct. She is a likeable character and the reader will feel for her. Reluctant teen readers will enjoy Mariam’s journey.
September 12, 2025
Creep Con is about a girl named Miriam who has moved to Calgary with her mom for a fresh start. She makes a new friend named Tya who introduces her to anime and manga and they plan to go to a fan convention. When Tya can't go, Miriam goes on her own and meets a group of boys who are dressed as characters from the same manga as her. One of them takes it too far.
The main character, Miriam, is a people pleaser and a pushover. She just wants to be a normal teenager and hang out with her friends. The issue is that she never says no to Tya. Read this book! Ok. Wear the outfit I made myself and take pictures with everyone. Ok!
Miriam's mom is overprotective, which leads her to lie about where she's going and who she'll be with. I feel like a lot of things in this book could've been easier if the characters just communicated. I didn't really like any of the characters except Samir from the comic book shop.
I can't really recommend this one and I don't think the Lorimer titles are for me. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The main character, Miriam, is a people pleaser and a pushover. She just wants to be a normal teenager and hang out with her friends. The issue is that she never says no to Tya. Read this book! Ok. Wear the outfit I made myself and take pictures with everyone. Ok!
Miriam's mom is overprotective, which leads her to lie about where she's going and who she'll be with. I feel like a lot of things in this book could've been easier if the characters just communicated. I didn't really like any of the characters except Samir from the comic book shop.
I can't really recommend this one and I don't think the Lorimer titles are for me. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 19, 2023
A teenage girl moves to a new town. She finds a kindred spirit in a school mate. She has to go to a con on her own. This shows the good and bad of cons and why we need codes of conduct and incident response team.
June 9, 2018
A short book about cosplay & consent.
December 16, 2018
The trees didn't deserve this
May 20, 2016
*I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.*
As a fan of anime, manga, and comic books, I felt at home with this novel. Many recognizable shows and characters, such as Haruhi of Ouran High School Host Club and the countries of Hetalia, were mentioned, some of which even come to play big roles in the plot.
Despite this book having references to things that I'm interested in, it fell short for me in a variety of ways.
The plot was very slow at the beginning, and it felt like there was less of the actual Con than Mariam's personal life, which consists of her extremely over protective mother, (even my mom isn't that over protective!) her new friend Tya, who gets her interested in Anime, and her trying to keep in contact with her old friends via video chat. The characters seemed to be mostly stereotypes, with the sweet, yet manipulative prince charming, the overly-excited
To be honest, Mariam felt like a bit of a push-over. Sure, she was dealing with manipulative characters (Rick, and to some extent, Tya,) but she should have had more of a backbone in order to keep from doing things she wasn't comfortable with. I believe that she could serve as an example of what not to do, such as leaving crowded areas while in dangerous situations and always going with a friend in crowded unfamiliar places. She was our main character, and she seemed to be a very flat character. There was nothing about her that really made me want to root for her, and I didn't feel any connections aside from our shared love of comics and anime.
Still, I won't say that it wasn't a good book. There were plenty of amusing pop culture references and it's definitely an eye opener for people who go to cons. No matter what they say about cosplay and consent, there are always people who will abuse the fun of the con and ruin it for others. People planning to go to cons will probably learn a bit from this book.
Fans of Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi will enjoy this novel, as well as anyone who wants to read about Comic/Anime culture and conventions. People planning on attending a con in the future will find this to be an enlightening cautionary novel.
As a fan of anime, manga, and comic books, I felt at home with this novel. Many recognizable shows and characters, such as Haruhi of Ouran High School Host Club and the countries of Hetalia, were mentioned, some of which even come to play big roles in the plot.
Despite this book having references to things that I'm interested in, it fell short for me in a variety of ways.
The plot was very slow at the beginning, and it felt like there was less of the actual Con than Mariam's personal life, which consists of her extremely over protective mother, (even my mom isn't that over protective!) her new friend Tya, who gets her interested in Anime, and her trying to keep in contact with her old friends via video chat. The characters seemed to be mostly stereotypes, with the sweet, yet manipulative prince charming, the overly-excited
To be honest, Mariam felt like a bit of a push-over. Sure, she was dealing with manipulative characters (Rick, and to some extent, Tya,) but she should have had more of a backbone in order to keep from doing things she wasn't comfortable with. I believe that she could serve as an example of what not to do, such as leaving crowded areas while in dangerous situations and always going with a friend in crowded unfamiliar places. She was our main character, and she seemed to be a very flat character. There was nothing about her that really made me want to root for her, and I didn't feel any connections aside from our shared love of comics and anime.
Still, I won't say that it wasn't a good book. There were plenty of amusing pop culture references and it's definitely an eye opener for people who go to cons. No matter what they say about cosplay and consent, there are always people who will abuse the fun of the con and ruin it for others. People planning to go to cons will probably learn a bit from this book.
Fans of Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi will enjoy this novel, as well as anyone who wants to read about Comic/Anime culture and conventions. People planning on attending a con in the future will find this to be an enlightening cautionary novel.
January 8, 2016
It took me a while to get into this book. I am not familiar with anime and comics and felt like I was in an alternative universe for a while. Once I got my bearings, I realized the characters are well developed and have problems that are universal to teenagers. This book will definitely appeal to a certain segment of the middle and high school population.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 18, 2016
This book has some mature subject matter.
The main character is a normal teen.
The mother is over protective.
I loved that it revolved around anime and comics.
It spoke to my inner geek.
Did think the main character was a prude and a whiner.
But over all this book was entertaining maybe a little to much for what this book was about.
Think it should have been a little darker and a little more serious for what this book was about.
I diffently recommend it.
The main character is a normal teen.
The mother is over protective.
I loved that it revolved around anime and comics.
It spoke to my inner geek.
Did think the main character was a prude and a whiner.
But over all this book was entertaining maybe a little to much for what this book was about.
Think it should have been a little darker and a little more serious for what this book was about.
I diffently recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews