Escape from Sherwood by Beattie Alvarez

Imagine that you could actually leave your real life and get thrust into your favourite computer game... for Michael, his little sister Penny, his friend Darcy and his worst enemy Alex, this is their reality.  In the game, Alex discovers that her missing older brother John has taken on the role of King John and is ruling the game. But it is his ‘housekeeper’ and code ‘cleaner’ Handy Andy (aka Robin Hood) that has the capability to fix the problems that they face. Can they escape the game unscathed or will they be stuck forever, and can Michael protect his little sister from the trials and threats of the game environment?  And can Alex find a way to get her brother back from his life as an avatar? 

This entry into a story with computer gaming has the confusing elements of gameplay. The author has used the premise of ‘what if’ story writing where the characters are able to be thrust into the alt-world of coded play. Readers who understand this strange ‘fiction’ will not be confused, but the story does have some unusual elements for those who are not gamers. The story is not complex, and the chapters are short, and I imagine the target audience would be those who would normally avoid reading, choosing computer games instead. Dialogue within the world of avatars and gameplay is via old-style text boxes as an intriguing quirk. Aspects of trouble at school and home give a hint of the background for Michael and Darcy and create the lead for the ‘falling head long into the game’ scenario. This is the kind of book for reluctant readers aged 9-11 who would rather be playing computer games, but the cover image is very twee and may not attract them to begin the reading journey. This might make a good book to have in a classroom reading box to make available for silent reading, there is enough adventure to keep the pages being turned.

Themes: Computer games, Adventure.

Carolyn Hull