In Real Life
By: Cory Doctorow, Jen Wang
Category: Graphic Novel, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, International
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: E-book copy provided by the publisher/author/agent in return for an honest review.
Pages: 192
Description: Anda begins playing a MMORPG after receiving a RL invitation to join a girls-only guild. In the game she meets and befriends a teenage Chinese boy who is a gold farmer. Morals and ethics are questioned as Anda fights for her new friend.
In Short: This beautifully illustrated graphic novel tackles themes of child labor, bullying, and poverty, against the backdrop of a sweet and inspiring story. I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy video games. Being a gamer girl myself I was drawn to this book and I was not disappointed.
Pros: I love the protagonist, Anda. She is such hero. She defends the oppressed. She befriends the excluded. Anda is someone who appears to be an underdog herself, a new girl that doesn’t have a lot of friends. But she really is a fighter for the little guy. Not to spoil it or anything, but she does make a difference. Overall awesome story. Fun to read and beautiful artwork.
Cons: I have no notable issues with this book.
Parent’s Guide: There is cartoon violence. No nudity or sexual content.
If you are interested in this book you may also enjoy this great Rom-Com about a gamer girl that I previously reviewed here: Gamer Girl by Glynis Astie. (This book is also a Book of the Month winner and in a couple days it will be one of the prizes in a big giveaway!)
I like the sound of this one:). What is the age range of this one do you think?
I’d say it’s geared toward teens/young adults. The characters are about that age. The book is clean enough for children while also being relatable to adults. Also, automatically, anyone who plays video games is in the age range for this one. 🙂 Thanks for dropping a line