I downloaded this on Netgalley because the e-gaming scenario intrigued me. As a boy mom, video games are definitely part of our daily life. I enjoyed this book much more than I anticipated.

The author did a great job of capturing the middle grade experience: pushing against family rules, dealing with mean kids at school, and starting to notice girls. I liked how supportive the friendships were in the book. I really liked how even though Jaden wants to do what he knows he shouldn't (compete in the video game tournament) he struggles with defying his parents. He makes really smart decisions for a twelve year old.

I'm actually curious to know what happens in the second book in the series. I think it's great that there is a series that includes e-gaming as it is common and growing.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley; this is my honest review.

He won with a godlike combo, got invited to a tournament, what could go wrong?

Jaden loves to play Cross Ups, a popular video game, and he’s really good at it. So good at it that a competitor that he smacks down with a godlike combo asks him to attend the T3 video tournament and even offers to waive the entry fee. There’s just one problem, his mom won’t let him play video games. Soon Jaden isn’t just hiding his video games, he’s lying about tutoring sessions, planning to sneak off to a tournament, and pretty much weaving a web of lies that’s spinning out of control. But Jaden want to win the tournament even more when he discovers that the prize is two thousand dollars – something that could build a wheelchair ramp for his best friend Cali’s mom so she doesn’t have to move to Montreal to live with her dad.

This is an immersive story that pulls you right into middle school, complete with BFFs, frenemies, bullies, and quirky teachers that really champion kids. Can Jaden convince his mom to let him attend the tournament? Can he help Cali and her mom out? Or will he freeze and choke with all his schoolmates watching as he’s streamed live on Twitch?

There are good lessons and conversations in this story, from the debunked theory that violent video games cause violent behavior (only if a child is already prone to violence), bullying, friendship, honor, the consequences of lying, the meaning of family, and much, much more. Kids and parents alike can enjoy this book and share experiences.

Highly recommended and enjoyed as a fun, fast read that will appeal to a wide range of readers and especially gamers.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

A fun and suspenseful read that combined the thrill of gaming with more substantial issues like friendship, family, and bullying. The one thing that stuck out to me was the awkward use of Chinese. I'm a native speaker and the parts where it was Incorporated felt really forced.

Jaden is a likeable character who learns a practical lesson while gaining self-confidence. The characters have different races and backgrounds, Jaden, his family, and next door neighbor are Chinese, and Jaden’s friend Dev is Indian. This will enable children to see themselves represented in the narrative.

A fun, quick read for the whole family. Perfect for young hesitant readers who like video games.

This is a great middle grade story about video games.

I really liked Jaden. He matured through the story. He went from being a gamer at home to competing in a tournament. He was even able to convince his strict parents that video games aren’t all bad. I’ve played video games my whole life, and they can be very educational. Even if the game doesn’t seem to be obviously teaching something, you can still learn strategies and problem solving skills.

Another great part of this story is the diversity of the characters. Jaden and his friend Cali are Chinese. One of his friends was Indian and I believe his sister’s boyfriend was black. This is great, because young kids can see themselves represented in this book. This diversity was also demonstrated in the illustrations, where you can clearly see how different they all look.

This is a great book. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book in the series.

As a gamer myself, I had a feeling I'd really enjoy this book. Luckily I was right but also pleasantly surprised by the morals in the story. I was impressed that the author would take the story and turn it into a lesson on the importance of honesty, even if you feel that it would be working against your goal. He shows how, in the end, you're happier because of it. Besides the moral lesson, the story itself is actually good. There are quite a few funny parts and situations the main character gets himself into that I could relate to. I especially enjoyed the ending and what it has to teach kids too. I refuse to spoil it. Overall, definitely a good read and one that's good (and safe) for the whole family to read.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So Jaden isn't allowed to play violent video games and he does anyway and becomes good enough to enter a tournament. It was a fun quick read and I know that middle game gamer kids will love it.