Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi

Title: Gamer Girl

Author: Mari Mancusi

ISBN: 9780525479956

Publisher: Dutton Children's Books

Summary:

"ZOMG, IT ROX TO BE A GAMER GIRL!

Maddy's life: not so rockin'. Her parents split, she's stuck in a new, small town at a school full of Aberzombies and Haters, she has a crush on someone she really shouldn't like, and she's stuck with the nickname Freak Girl. Sometimes it's enough to retreat into her drawing - her manga is totally important to her - but when she gets Fields of Fantasy for her birthday, she knows she's found the one place she can be herself. In the game world, Maddy can transtorm from regular outcast high school studen to Allora, a beautiful Elfin princess with magical powers to take down enemies with a snap of her fingers and wave of her wand.

As Allora, Maddy's virtual life is perfect, and she even finds a little romance. But a real gamer girl understands that real life comes first - Maddy can't escape from her IRL problems. She has to find ways to kick back at the Haters, rock her manga, and find the new, real-life friends she knows she deserves."

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Review:

This book was so fun! I really got excited to read this book when I read the summary and all. It just sounds like such an original story! And it definitely was that... in that the idea was original - even if the execution wasn't (original, that is).

It's absolutely a girly YA book that has all the makings of "chick lit." And I think this book can go for just about any age. The topics - like manga, online gaming, etc - are really up to date and just about any teen/tween can probably relate. I almost wish the story had been longer so I could have kept myself in that world for a little longer.

I do have to warn you that the ending is very, very predictable. Enough so that you can see it coming from almost the beginning. But that makes it a fun and almost drama-free read. So I would say that it's on the lighter side of YA fic, but that's a really good thing sometimes.

There are plenty of other people who agree with me :). See? Here, here, and here.