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Emmy Levels Up

Book Synopsis

Emmy is brilliant at the computer game, Illusory Isles. Her avatar is a powerful fire elemental with magma claws and flaming breath. When Emmy’s gaming video gets a front-page feature, thousands of devoted fans flock to watch her battle the ultimate online baddie, the Mulch Queen herself. Life at school is the exact opposite. Emmy is friendless and bullied by Vanessa AKA the Queen of Mean. To Vanessa and her gang, Emmy is a weirdo with bad handwriting, horrible fashion sense and no dad.

But if Emmy can take on the Mulch Queen online, perhaps she can also find a way to take on Vanessa too? Emmy decides to level up and solve this challenge alone. But then Emmy discovers that Mulch Queens and Mean Queens are much easier to face when you have a little help from new friends…

Our Review Panel says...

There’s plenty to relate to in this story for young readers aged 8-12. Emmy’s love of gaming will be an immediate draw for many readers. In the gaming world, Emmy can create what she feels is her true self, while in real life she feels like she has to adapt to fit in and so much is outside her control. The story explores the positive side of gaming for young people – the creativity, empowerment and problem-solving skills help Emmy to overcome obstacles at school and home. I’m pleased to see middle-grade authors embracing the important role that gaming plays for the current generation of children, and in this case countering some of the bad press and parental guilt around screen time for children by exploring the benefits.