Intro to Book
Hello Readers,
I just finished a great series that I’m excited to bring to you. Have you ever been in VR or one of those video games in the arcade where you’re slightly enclosed in the environment of the game? It’s surreal and unsettling, but at the end of the day, you can simply slip the visor off, or step out of the booth. But what if you couldn’t? What if you hated video games and then found yourself in one? What would the stakes be? Well, this series is all about that subject.
We’re looking at Trapped in a Video Game by Dustin Brady. It is a five-book series and I recommend that if you buy it, buy the whole series. It’s fantastic and perfectly suited for that 8-year-old who likes transport literature, or sci-fi, or even a bit of fantasy. This series has elements of each of those subgenres. I picked up the first book not expecting to like it, and was well…trapped. Sucked into the story you might even say.
Summary
The story is mainly about two boys. Jesse and his best friend Eric who continue to get trapped in various video games. The plot is absolute fun and hilarity, as many hijinks ensue once they are in the video game and trapped. Not only that, but throughout the series there is a bigger story afoot. Each book ends in a cliffhanger leading to the next book in the series. This could be made into a TV series with each book being one season. It just works that well.
It is recommended for 8-10 year olds and I’ve never seen a series so well matched for its age group. I believe my 5th grader would fly through these books, but they are perfect for that 2nd to 4th-grade reader who will thoroughly enjoy these stories.
Characters
Having the book series mainly feature Jesse and and Eric, we can look at these two characters in detail. There are many other characters, all of whom I believe are well-developed and make for an intriguing story.
Jesse is a timid boy who despite the series’ name, hates video games. His part is the exact opposite of a character who would be willing to do anything adventurous. In fact, sometimes I dislike his lack of enthusiasm for such a grand adventure. He’s not “fit” for it. But because of all this, I think his character is rather perfect. He is certainly the Main character, with Eric being a supporting character. It is his good sense and groundedness that keep the story rolling and also keep the boys out of immense danger…most of the time anyway.
Eric is that opposite character who is willing to do…well, anything. He’s always “game.” Sorry, couldn’t help the pun. I am a dad and dad jokes are kind of our thing. Eric is adventurous, he runs into danger blindly. But he’s also observant, and his quick thinking pairs well with Jesse’s careful planning. Often, his quick thinking when plans go awry also keeps the boys out of danger. Between the both of them, there is a lot of luck and because of their relationship, luck, and the unreal circumstances they find themselves in, the characters are rather perfect for the story.
Analysis
The series is simple. Far simpler than the cover looks like it would be. These books I am assuming make about that 30,000 to 50,000 word count. I read them each in one sitting, reading for an hour or two. As I’ve mentioned previously, they are simple books. They are definitely middle-grade and I would put them in the 6 to 10 age group. While upper middle grade to young adult is more of my bread and butter, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It brought back many sci-fi themes of discovery and questioning “What would happen if ____ happened?” which were quite enjoyable to read. Dustin Brady asks many great questions, brings in some sharp and witty humor, some inspiration from real-world sources and companies, and some light fantasy elements that also inspire many video games. Overall, I give this series four stars making it an enjoyable recommended read for its age group.
Major Themes:
The major themes for this series are often about doing what is right even when it is hard. The boys often have to make tough choices and those choices have some very real and potentially unforgivable consequences. Yet, they still have to do the right thing even though the right thing may cost them dearly. Doing everything they can to help those around them. One thing lacking in this series is the parents of both boys who rarely make an appearance.
Writing Style:
This was a great narrative, a great story, but quite simplistic writing. It is very easy to read, as I’ve stated. I would imagine a second or third-grader having no problem reading this series and would be able to track along with it easily. To the older crowd, this book may not keep their attention, especially those beyond 10 years of age. But for them, it could also be a fun and light read for something like a good summer read or a good weekend book.
Plot:
Now, one thing I want to mention is the plot. The story, I think, is no good in just a single book. This series needs to be read. Not just one book. I wouldn’t recommend just buying one book because each book ends with a cliffhanger for the subsequent book. When the entire series is read, which I would guess is somewhere around 200,000 words, it is an excellent story. The plot is easy to read for the whole series, but again, I would say it takes the whole series to see the brilliance of the plot. Which is quite brilliant. Very inspiring for any aspiring sci-fi middle-grade writers out there.
Gospel Connections:
So, what are the Gospel connections? I mean, it’s a book about video games, but even still I think there are several connections. Without getting too into detail, there are a lot of examples of self-sacrifice. This series is all about putting others first, it’s about having integrity, and doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing. There are a couple of mentions of church and God which makes me believe that Brady at least has a background in faith. That faith informs how the story is written and develops. But it is in the background. It’s not out front, but you see it in the kindness, generosity, and willingness to sacrifice for others.
One of my favorite things about the series is how Jesse and Eric work together to solve problems. They are boys, but despite their issues, they are working to put the other person first. They even fight about it sometimes. What joy it would be if we lived in a world where we fight to put the other person first. I remember a Berenstein Bears book about this. Also a Christian author, by the way, at least, the son was/is. Where Brother Bear and Sister Bear are at odds, and in the end, fight to be the kindest. That is sort of what happens here. And I love it. What a great example of friendship!
Social Impact:
I’m going to add an element to this portion. While it hits the social impact portion of this podcast in many ways, there are also great elements of leadership seen throughout the book. So I want to discuss both. Like in the Gospel section, there is an element of friendship, these boys exemplify what it means to be a friend to someone. Not just each other, but several characters in the book. They don’t necessarily want to do the things they are. But because they are putting others first, and being neighborly, they also become great friends with those around them.
Likewise, they exemplify great leadership throughout the series. Not because they are decisive and dominant, but because they lead in ways that cause others to be transformed by their example. They infectiously include people in the story and get them involved with helping. They show amazing attitudes of leadership which should be followed by those who read these stories.
Final Thoughts
This is an excellent series for the 6 to 10 crowd. I would put it 4 stars. It is simple, but well-written. My one issue is that it is not a one-off story for each book. Though it could be read that way, the cliffhangers and storyline are seen best when reading the full series. But it is well worth it for the younger middle-grade age group to read this story. I heartily recommend this book series for that age group to enjoy. It doesn’t take long, and they will be entertained throughout the entirety of the series.
Until next time, have a good read.
Trapped in a Video Game