Book excerpt: From an entertainment writer, “an enjoyable read for anyone interested in pop culture, with particular relevance to those working to overcome struggles.” (Booklist) What does it mean for a woman to be strong—especially in a world where our conception of a “hero” is still so heavily influenced by male characters like Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman? Geek Girls Don’t Cry outlines some of the primary traits heroic women can call upon, like resilience, self-acceptance, and bravery, pulling in stories from real-life women as well as figures from the pop-culture pantheon. Written by Andrea Towers, who has worked for Marvel Entertainment and written about superheroines for such outlets as Entertainment Weekly, Geek Girls Don’t Cry also includes interviews with the creators of our favorite fictional heroines, who discuss how they came up with their inspiring characters and how their creations continue to inspire them. “In a market flush with biographical anthologies of awesome, powerful, and sometimes unknown women, Towers’ book stands out. She puts the creative in creative nonfiction as she takes the biographical details of fictional female characters and associates them with various real-life issues to empower and comfort readers.” —Booklist