Karen Procopio
Princess Geek
by Karen Procopio
Boys don’t like girls who are too smart. That’s all 15-year old Megan Thompson has heard since she decided to enter the Stockwell Computer Engineering Competition. PRINCESS GEEK is the story of a super-competitive, computer-savvy girl who must decide which is more important: winning the competition and a prestigious summer internship or putting on the ditz and glitz to win the attention and affections of hottie Michael Alexander, who also happens to be the competition. Will Megan roll up her lab coat sleeves and fight to win the internship or hide her intelligence for romance and a prom date with Michael?
As a computer science teacher, I wrote this story after observing a disconcerting phenomenon with my female students. In 5th grade, they arrive inquisitive and fearless. By seventh grade, they’ve morphed into ditzy girls who hide their intelligence for the boys’ attention.
Unique to this story is the subtle, embedded storyline through which the reader learns about computer technology, i.e. when Megan prepares for the computer competition, she troubleshoots computer systems, replaces components and programs code. The reader will learn the same concepts as Megan, thus empowering him/her to troubleshoot his/her own system after the book has been read.
Arielle: I think this is a story that teachers, librarians, parents and even girls will love! And I’m convinced you’re the person to tell it based on your credentials. But to get all these people to really get excited, I’d like more information about her entry into the competition. In fact, I’d put the third paragraph second and don’t take it out of the story. Keep it in the story and take out “unique to this story”. Show don’t tell.
David: There’s so much pressure on girls to dumb themselves down. That’s just one of the reasons I like this story. It’s good to have a book that girls can read which puts a 15-year-old female in the position of having to choose between being smart and being popular. I also like that there’s a learning element, in terms of computers. I think you have to be very careful that it blends nicely into the narrative, and doesn’t stop the story dead. And I like the way you use language, for example, putting the words “ditz and glitz” together. Plus, I like that you give us your background so we know there’s an authenticity, because you’ve been there, done that seen it and lived it. But I would like to know more about her relationship and potential romance with Michael. That feels very underdeveloped to me. There’s a great beginning, but not so much of a middle or an ending.
Karen Procopio
March 5, 2012 @ 10:13 pm
Thank you, Arielle and David, for your invaluable comments and suggestions to improve my pitch. I appreciate your wisdom and insight.
admin
March 6, 2012 @ 6:41 am
You’re very welcome, Karen!
Tom Mitchell
March 6, 2012 @ 8:51 am
I know Karen and know her concern for her students. Who better to tell the story than one who lives and breathes computers and teenage girls? And, is a fabulous writer and teller of stories.
jake
March 6, 2012 @ 9:09 am
You rock Mrs. Procopio!
Sarah
March 6, 2012 @ 9:11 am
This is my vote because it won’t let me vote. Again…
THIS IS MY VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
frogoyogo as seen on youtube
March 6, 2012 @ 9:12 am
this sounds awsome! I CANT WAIT TO READ THE WHOLE BOOK
Julia MacKinlay
March 6, 2012 @ 9:13 am
This is a great story! It definitely gets my vote!
Ethan Neeley
March 6, 2012 @ 12:50 pm
Hope u do well and get lots of votes
Victoria Smith
March 6, 2012 @ 12:50 pm
You are a great teacher and I love your book so far and I haven’t even read it. Even if you don’t win I’m so proud my teacher is in the top 25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jacob McKinley
March 6, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Wow, sounds like a great book!!! Can’t wait to hear more
Jacob McSweeney
March 6, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Wow! This seems like an awesome story. I wish I could read the whole thing.
Sam Ruth
March 6, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Awesome, spectacular.
Nayan Nanda
March 6, 2012 @ 12:53 pm
I think this story will be AMAZING and AWESOME!
Ashleigh
March 6, 2012 @ 12:53 pm
I want to read this book so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Macy
March 6, 2012 @ 12:54 pm
Great story!!!!!!!! Definitely is a winner!!! 🙂
Michaley Bloomer
March 6, 2012 @ 12:56 pm
I LOVE the title. I hope that your book is published I REALLY want to read the whole thing.
Crista
March 7, 2012 @ 8:04 am
To vote for Karen’s book, go here: http://thebookdoctors.com/category/2012-nanowrimo
Aviva B.
March 7, 2012 @ 11:06 am
Great! I want to read the book!
Kayla
March 7, 2012 @ 11:06 am
This book sounds really good!!!! This book is a for sure win, I really love it…. hope i can read the rest soon!!!!! 🙂
Shelene
March 7, 2012 @ 11:07 am
This book sound great! I hope she wins!!!!!!!
Holly Adams
March 7, 2012 @ 11:07 am
Sounds like an awesome book. I hope it gets published!!! I would DEFINETLY read the whole book! 🙂 🙂
Luke Benson
March 7, 2012 @ 11:09 am
I hope your book wins!!!!! It sounds like a really good book 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sarah Johnson
March 7, 2012 @ 11:10 am
I hope you win. I love the book and I havn’t even read it yet! 😀 i LOVE THE TITLE 2!* i ALSO REALLY WANT TO READ THE BOOK!:D
Geethika Ameneni
March 7, 2012 @ 11:10 am
This story is definetly going to win
Luke Benson
March 7, 2012 @ 11:10 am
i bet it will be a five star book *****
Natalie aj
March 7, 2012 @ 11:11 am
CLEAR WINNER!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Belle Wang
March 7, 2012 @ 11:12 am
I think your book will win!!!!!!!!!!!!!I read the summary and it was amazing.I hope many people will like it as much as I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!;D
Luke Benson
March 7, 2012 @ 11:12 am
Megan <3 micheal
Nicole A
March 7, 2012 @ 1:30 pm
Greatest Story I’ve heard!!!!;) It is totally going to win!!! ♣ Good Luck Mrs. Procopio, hope you win♣
I would definitly read the whole thing, LOVE it!
Amrita C
March 8, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
I sincerely hope you get selected Mrs.Procopio
Danyelle C. Overbo
March 13, 2012 @ 8:48 pm
I LOVE this concept! What a fantastic twist on a high school story, to have the reader learning how to troubleshoot a computer as they move through the story. I would hope something like this would catch fire and a whole new sub-genre of YA be popularized! Bravo!
Sam Abramowski
March 24, 2013 @ 12:57 pm
This could not be more true. But honestly, why change to impress a guy you’ll only like for a couple of months?
I miss tech this semester!
~Yizzle