Erebos by Ursula Poznanski

Erebos by Ursula Poznanski

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publish Date: January 19, 2012
Publisher: Annick Press
Interest: debut author (in U.S.), realistic
Source: Netgalley

A computer game is sweeping through Nick's high school. People are becoming so obssessed with it that they start to miss school and extra-curicular activities. But, no one is talking about the game; that's one of the first rules when you agree to play. To play the game, you have be invited and you are forbidden to talk about any aspect of the game. Somehow, the game knows when you break the rules and your character is punished, maybe even killed off. It's very unsettling how much the game knows about your personal life; it's as if it is alive. If it's not bad enough that players start to neglect their real-life responsibilities, they then have to start fulfilling missions in the real world that are possibly dangerous and illegal. Nick becomes suspicious of the game and its programmer's motive when he is asked to poison his teacher who has become a threat to the game's existance.

At first, I thuoght this was a thinly veiled story about the dangers of drug abuse: addiction to something that causes you to lose interest in favorite activities and to withdraw from family and friends. But, it was more than that.

I gave it 5 stars because it is the most different book that I have read in awhile. It's realistic without being just about teen angst and hearbreak. There is a little bit of angst and a little bit of "does she or doesn't she like me", but it's very minor. There's also some action and intrigue, but not too much that it is completely unbelievable. You don't have to be a gaming geek to enjoy this, but gamers will get a kick out of it. Highly recommend.



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