Graphic Novel Review: In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang

Title: In Real Life

Author: Cory Doctorow

Illustrator: Jen Wang

Publish Date: October 14, 2014

Genre: Graphic Novel

Why I Read this Book: I found this book at my local library and loved the artwork.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

Anda loves Coarsegold Online, the massively-multiplayer role-playing game where she spends most of her free time. It's a place where she can be a leader, a fighter, a hero. It's a place where she can meet people from all over the world, and make friends. 

But things become a lot more complicated when Anda befriends a gold farmer--a poor Chinese kid whose avatar in the game illegally collects valuable objects and then sells them to players from developed countries with money to burn. This behavior is strictly against the rules in Coarsegold, but Anda soon comes to realize that questions of right and wrong are a lot less straightforward when a real person's real livelihood is at stake. 

From acclaimed teen author (Little Brother, For the Win) and Boing Boing editor Cory Doctorow and Koko Be Good creator Jen Wang, In Real Life is a perceptive and high-stakes look at adolescence, gaming, poverty, and culture clash

Review

The first thing that I fell in love with in this book was the artwork. It is truly amazing. Not only is the cover amazing, but the artwork throughout is some of the best that I have seen in a graphic novel.

The basis of the storyline was also what brought me to want to read this graphic novel. The main character is a female gamer and she helps friends from across the world, not only in the game but also in real life.

I do not want to give away too much of this story, so I will keep this short. You will want to read this graphic novel if you want great artwork and a sweet and engaging storyline.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 13+ for some foul language (2-3 throughout the graphic novel)

Overall Rating: 4/5

Novella Review: Creeperising (The Post-Creepocalypse Saga Book 1)

Book Title: Creeperising

Author: R.K. Davenport

Series: The Post-Creepocalypse Saga (Book 1)

Publish Date: August 9, 2014

Genre: Middle Grade

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

Felix has never seen Minecraft in its true form. Long before he was born his world was taken over by an evil scientist, Deus. He created genetically modified creepers, and split the world into five unique districts.

Felix and his sister live in the poor district, and they're forced to work as slaves for the wicked King Maximus. He killed their parents, and now he's killing them slowly. Eventually something happens, and these two siblings start a revolution.

Why I Read this Book: I saw this book was free on Amazon during one of the last read-a-thons that I did.  I got it for the read-a-thon and did not end up reading it.  I had some time between classes and decided to pick up a novella and this seemed like it would be a fun read.

 

Review

Overall, this was a very fun read.  This book is filled with action.  Some of the battle scenes were a little too gory for me.  I enjoyed that the author started with a Minecraft-based world, but made it his own.  The story was a little simplistic, but I am hoping that it will get more complex with the rest of the series.

Final Statements

Overall Rating: 3/5

Recommended Age: 13+ due to disturbing fight scenes