What if you were stuck in a virtual reality Medieval castle video game (complete with wizards, ghosts and a huge dragon)? If you get killed in the game, you must begin over and over and over again. But if don't eventually triumph, you will die - for real! Fortunately, with each new trial, the protagonist Giannine reacts differently to the situations finding clever ways to win alliances and change the outcome of events to progress into the game. There is no "one way" to win the game, but Giannine will have to figure it out fast after she receives a warning from the game store owner that her life is in danger because of a malfunction in the equipment caused by protesters outside the video game store - you know, the ones who believe video/virtual reality games are destroying the minds of children and teens. Some things never change!
I am not a video gamer and to be honest, I was not looking forward to reading this book, but it was a decent story/game. I loved the way the story takes place in the future, in a game set in the past and I really admire the author for the unusual format she used to tell a fictional fantasy tale. I also think the smart, sarcastic protagonist is a very believable and typical teenager. Some family issues are thrown in for good background development and factor into her reactions in the game.
Recommended for grades 7-10. Quotes could be taken from last paragraph on page 9 and the first two paragraphs on page 10. Alternately, quote last paragraph on page 7 and all of page 8.
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