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January 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 When introverted Evie's father dies, she is sent to live with her popular yet insufferable cousin, Mallory. Knowing how hard high school has been on Evie, her father constructed a virtual world for her before he died, called E.Scape. But when Mallory forces her way inside this imaginary paradise to cause destruction, Evie must finally find her courage and stand up for what she believes in. Though there's not a lot of subtlety in either the story or dialogue here, that's hardly the point in this action-packed, gaming-focused adventure. Both Evie and Mallory wear their hearts on their sleeves, directly broadcasting their thoughts and feelings at any given moment, which many young readers will instantly recognize. Sugg and Whyman's brisk pace moves swiftly past setup and world building in favor of thrilling battles between Evie and Mallory. The full-color, superhero-style artwork only amplifies the over-the-top popcorn action, and the manga-inspired characters carry it off well. Tweens and teens looking for an action adventure outside mainstream superhero comics will find plenty to like here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)