Only You Can Save Mankind

Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett, 207 pages

"Twelve-year-old Johnny endures tensions between his parents, watches television coverage of the Gulf War, and plays a computer game called Only You Can Save Mankind, in which he is increasingly drawn into the reality of the alien ScreeWee." I enjoyed this more than I expected to, frankly.  I liked Johnny and I loved his interactions with the game and with his peers.  I enjoyed watching his character grow and figure things out.  I’m hoping the sequels are just as good.  I would give this to kids who like humorous science fiction.

The Game Of Lives

The Game OfLives by James Dashner, 337 pages

“Michael used to live to game, but the games he was playing have become all too real. Only weeks ago, sinking into the Sleep was fun. The VirtNet combined the most cutting-edge technology and the most sophisticated gaming for a full mind-body experience. And it was Michael's passion. But now every time Michael sinks, he risks his life.  The games are over. The VirtNet has become a world of deadly consequences, and Kaine grows stronger by the day. The Mortality Doctrine--Kaine's master plan--has nearly been realized, and little by little the line separating the virtual from the real is blurring. If Kaine succeeds, it will mean worldwide cyber domination. And it looks like Michael and his friends are the only ones who can put the monster back in the box-- if Michael can figure out who his friends really are.”  This is the third and final book in the trilogy.  I liked the series pretty well, better than the Maze Runner series.  Fans of science fiction and dystopian fiction will probably want to read this.