Game World

by C.J. Farley

Overview

Launching Akashic’s Black Sheep YA imprint, an adventure novel in a video game turned reality, with giant spiders, malevolent hummingbirds, a not-quite-yellow-brick road, and preteen children learning how to be heroes!

“The Narnia for the Social Media Generation.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Drawn from both video gaming culture and the rich tapestry of Jamaican myth and folklore, blending pointed social satire and mystical philosophy, this exuberant, original hero’s journey is a real trip . . . Exhilarating, thought-provoking and one of a kind.” —Kirkus Reviews

Part of Akashic’s Black Sheep YA imprint.

Dylan Rudee’s life is an epic fail. He’s bullied at school and the aunt who has raised him since he was orphaned as a child just lost her job and their apartment. Dylan’s one chance to help his family is the only thing he’s good at: video games. The multibillion-dollar company Mee Corp. has announced a televised tournament to find the Game-Changers: the forty-four kids who are the best in the world at playing Xamaica, a role-playing fantasy game that’s sweeping the planet. If Dylan can win the top prize, he just might be able to change his life.

It turns out that Dylan is the greatest gamer anyone has ever seen, and his skills unlock a real-life fantasy world inside the game. Now actual monsters are trying to kill him, and he is swept up into an adventure along with his too-tall genius sister Emma, his hacker best friend Eli, and Ines Mee, the privileged daughter of Mee Corp.’s mysterious CEO and chief inventor. Along the way they encounter Nestuh, a giant spider who can spin a story but not a web; Baron Zonip, a hummingbird king who rules a wildly wealthy treetop kingdom; and an enchantress named Nanni who, with her shadow army, may be bent on conquering Xamaica and stealing its magic.

In order to save his sister and his friends, Dylan must solve a dangerous mystery in three days and uncover secrets about Xamaica, his family, and himself. But will he discover his hidden powers before two worlds—Xamaica and Earth—are completely destroyed?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617751974
Publisher:	Akashic Books, Ltd.
Publication date:	02/04/2014
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	710L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

C.J. FARLEY was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and lives in New Rochelle, NY. A graduate of Harvard University, Farley is the author of the acclaimed fantasy adventure novel Game World and the best-selling biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman, which was adapted into a hit Lifetime movie. Farley’s young adult novel Around Harvard Square won an NAACP Image Award and was named a 2020 Honor Book by the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. His latest novel is Zero O’Clock.

Editorial Reviews

12/02/2013
In this fanciful adventure, a group of children are drawn into a mystical realm by way of a popular video game, where they must battle dark forces to save the world. Dreadlocked sixth-grader Dylan and his wheelchair-bound best friend Eli are selected as two Game Changers—the best players of the online RPG “Xamaica.” After winning a tournament, they have the opportunity to visit the magical world that inspired the game. Accompanied by famous teenage adventurer Ines Mee, Dylan and Eli venture into an unpredictable and often hazardous land filled with strange creatures and dangers. As Dylan searches for his younger sister, Emma, who went missing after also entering Xamaica, he discovers a startling family secret. Adult author/Wall Street Journal editor Farley’s middle-grade debut draws from Jamaican mythology and beliefs, as well as from other cultures, to weave a fast-paced, whimsical mixture of magic and action. An overabundance of coincidences and logic gaps undermine the story’s strengths, which include a diverse and intriguing cast. Xamaica may bear no resemblance to actual video games, but the setting lends itself well to memorable imagery and a fun experience. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"By the time of Farley’s Game World, gaming had gone digital, and while his book is more fantasy-adventure than puzzle-mystery, there are parallels worthy of discussion, from the nature of the games to the depictions of disabled. Booklist, included in “Conversation Starters: Recontextualizing the Classics”"

included in “Conversation Starters: Recontex Booklist

"Game World is unique in that its fantasy world, as its name suggests, is built upon characters and stories from actual Jamaican folklore."

Philadelphia Review of Books

"Farley blends video gaming and Jamaican folklore in this intense, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that is sure to quickly grab readers."

Booklist

"Game World is more of a good old-fashioned fantasy adventure than I expected—and I loved it for that. You don't have to be an expert gamer to enjoy this book."
—Kidsmomo

"A mixture of fantasy, reality, Jamaican folklore, and history. A great read for all, we love it! My kids and I can relate to the themes and characters in this wonderful adventure. Finally! Thank you, C.J. Farley!"
—Ziggy Marley

"It was amazing to read about a disabled character who regularly surprises and aids the protagonist with just his skill set and mind. I am so used to reading similar adventure stories with secondary disabled characters who only feature for a few chapters before dying or disappearing, so it was great to be introduced to Eli, who appears almost constantly throughout the book...In addition, [Game World is] a captivating read with a fast-paced and intriguing plot. You won't want to put it down. I wholeheartedly recommend it."
—Disability in KidLit

"Fast-paced, fun, and exciting, Game World kept me—and more importantly my twelve-year-old son—turning the pages. It's a unique, refreshing breath of Caribbean-accented fantastical storytelling."
—David Anthony Durham, author of the Acacia Trilogy

"If William Gibson wrote The Hunger Games, it might feel something like this. Cyberpunk for a new generation of readers!"
—Kazu Kibuishi, author of the best-selling Amulet series and Harry Potter cover artist

"There are real children here, who blunder, quarrel, pop blisters, get pissed, suffer bullying, and fart—things almost guaranteed to freak out parents, teachers, librarians, and children's book reviewers. There are mysteries and challenges galore. In sum, there's some adult-level mind stretching here."
—Piers Anthony, author of the Xanth series

"Want a thrill? Ride a longboard down a water slide or plunge into Game World. The rush will be the same."
—Colin Channer, author of The Girl with the Golden Shoes"

From the Publisher

04/01/2014
Gr 5–8—A virtual game world called Xamaica becomes real for three Jamaican sixth graders, who embark upon a quest through a fantastical landscape laden with Caribbean mythology. Monsters, lush forests, giant talking spiders, morphing hummingbirds, ancient witches, plant people, and the overall obeah (magic) of Xamaica are vividly described, often employing the rule of three. For example, "The air smelled like parts of fish you don't eat, and garbage you forgot to take out, and armpits you had neglected to deodorize." Unfortunately, the elements of plot, character development, and pacing are not as strong. The plot fluctuates wildly, as characters' actions frequently contradict their motivations or they suddenly discover some game changer without any prior buildup. Scenes are unshaped and pile one upon the next without change in tone. On the plus side, here (finally!) is a middle-grade action novel that showcases West Indian mythology and features protagonists of color: an Afro-Caribbean boy, Hispanic-Caribbean boy who also is a wheelchair user, and a Korean girl. There may well be many readers whose drive to enjoy the novelty of this unique and vivid book will enable them to consider its flaws mere distractions.—Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC

School Library Journal