[Ripplinger]

Do you have another USB cable you can try? If it's charging, the screen will show a "Computer detected" window with prompts to Cancel or Connect. I'd select Connect and let it fully charge before reading.

If you have any AC plug charger for your cell phones, you might give that a try if the end is the same and fits in the Kobo, many of them will work perfectly to charge various devices, your ereader included. Wall charging would be quicker than USB charging.