By: Marie Lu

Published: 2017

AR level: 5.6

AR points: 16.0

Word Count: 100,298

I suggest 6th through 12th grade.

If you are ready for stories for the next generation, then Warcross is your novel.

Warcross brings readers to a near-future world where virtual reality (VR) is literally everywhere.

However, when the protagonist  glitches into a globally broadcast VR game, the stakes are higher than she ever imagined, with both her life and her heart on the line.

For those worried this plot smacks of too much romance, don’t worry. Lu is subtle with the romance. However, her virtual world building and video game expertise play into making this a thrilling novel that leaves big questions at the end. Just the type of story I love!

Here’s more from the publisher:

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.