Gamer Army

Twelve-year-old Rogan and four other tween gamers are chosen to compete in a prestigious Laser Viper tournament that seems too good to be true. Whisked off to luxury dorms, the gamers are dropped into missions using the latest in VR technology. As players are eliminated, ulterior motives from the game sponsors are revealed. Attempts at an over-arching narrative around the benefits of technology are delivered through monologues from the tournament facilitator, a high-profile figure in the gaming world. Dialogue among the characters acknowledges gender dynamics in video game culture, though the overuse of acronyms and technical language is distracting. The plot is driven by action in each of the gaming missions. VERDICT A solid additional purchase where gamer novels are in demand.—Angela Wiley, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

In this action-packed middle grade adventure, five top American gamers are chosen to participate in an elite tournament as part of a new reality show hosted by one of the world's most powerful corporations. Rogan Webber, 12, is determined to win the competition and be crowned Laser Viper Grand Champion, all to prove himself to his workaholic parents. To succeed, Rogan and the other competitors must work as a team, tackling special Laser Viper missions. One gamer is voted out after every round, and as the contestants are winnowed down, they begin to suspect there's more to the game than they first thought. Pop culture references fly fast and furious as the characters quip, argue, and form unexpected friendships amid constant danger and excitement. Readers will undoubtedly predict some of the tournament's major twists, and Reedy (If You're Reading This) folds in a heavy-handed message about the dangers of virtual reality as a substitute for real life. Still, Reedy offers a diverse cast and an over-the-top sense of excitement. Ages 8-12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Nov.)