Dragons vs. Robots (Dragon Ops #2)

by Mari Mancusi (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Dragon Ops

In this sci-fi adventure, the beloved author of Dragon Ops takes readers on a thrilling and heart-pounding journey through a high-stakes video game world. Now safely back at home, Ian and Lilli are free to return to normal life. Except there's a major problem: Ian keeps seeing the big bad boss dragon Atreus everywhere, and he can't tell whether it's real or in his imagination. So the internet is no longer an option. That's right. Ian, king of online gaming, is out on the soccer court instead. When Atreus shows up . . . everywhere, he knows he needs his sister. But he's legally obligated to never say Dra-er, the name of the game, so how is he supposed to ask for help?

When Ian and Lilli finally sign back online, it's clear that Atreus has truly been released on the open web--and even worse, Ikumi has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a video game. It's back into virtual reality, but this time it's to Mech Ops, a futuristic world of zombies and evil robots--and the game's not even finished. Will Ian and Lilli have what it takes to jump through unfinished levels undetected? Or will they get booted . . . and even worse, are there do-overs in VR that isn't even built yet?

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School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--Still traumatized from their harrowing experiences while trapped in the Dragon Ops VR game, where they were hunted by a cunning AI dragon and forced to fight their way out or (literally) die, siblings Ian and Lilli have signed an NDA and are laying low when they overhear the news that Ikumi, an in-game friend from Dragon Ops, has been kidnapped and is being held captive in Mech Ops, a different VR game designed by one of Dragon Ops' main competitors Admiral Appleby. Discovering that they can sign up as beta testers for Mech Ops, they team up with Starr, a professional gamer, Yano (their dragon guide from the previous game who has mysteriously traveled the interwebs into the new game), and Ian's soccer nemesis Josh, who just happens to be the Admiral's grandson. Making their way through the various levels, the kids bounce back from destruction time after time, determined to rescue Ikumi. The biggest thing standing in their way is Atreus, their AI nemesis from Dragon Ops, who has tracked Ian to this new VR world. Unless Ian can confront his own fear, the quest will be doomed. Readers will appreciate the main character, a boy who learns to admit to and deal with his fear, playing on his strengths to overcome his weaknesses. Although not as do-or-die as the first book, readers who enjoyed that installment will be happy to get their hands on this one, too. VERDICT Fast pacing and one dangerous situation after another build an exciting genre introduction for fans of sci-fi VR games. Purchase where the first book is popular--or buy both.--Elizabeth Friend, Wester M.S., TX

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publisher's Weekly

With this adventure, Mancusi (Geeks and the Holy Grail) employs common gaming tropes, interweaving fantasy and mundane elements to create a world that feels familiar and yet enjoyably dangerous. The concepts--rogue AIs, theme parks gone haywire--may be well visited, but Mancusi successfully delivers a sense of urgency to her entertaining tale.

Review quotes

 
Mari Mancusi
Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately, the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small, so she chose to write about them instead. As a former Emmy Award-winning TV news producer, she now works as a full-time author, having published over two dozen books for kids, teens, and adults. When not writing, Mari enjoys traveling, cosplay, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and playing video games. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Jacob, daughter, Avalon, and their two dogs.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780759555181
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
June 20, 2021
Series
Dragon Ops
BISAC categories
JUV053000 - Juvenile Fiction | Science Fiction
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV002270 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical
JUV056000 - Juvenile Fiction | Robots
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
Friendship
Adventure and adventurers
Adventure stories
Robots
Dragons
Fantasy
Fantasy fiction
Kidnapping
Zombies
Virtual reality
Video games

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