Game Over, Pete Watson

by Joe Schreiber, Andy Rash (Illustrations)

When videogame obsessed Pete Watson discovers his dad is not only a super-spy but has been kidnapped and is now trapped inside a video game, he has to use his super gaming skills and enter the game to rescue him.  Will he be able to save his friends and family and the entire world from giant mechanical cockroaches and a massive cyber attack set to take down the world's network?  And if he succeeds, who will save Pete from his massive crush on Callie Midwood?
   From the comedic mind of Joe Schreiber ( Lenny Cyrus School Virus, Au Revoir Crazy European Chick, Perry's Killer Playlist) , comes an action-packed Alex Rider-meets-Greg Heffley middle grade romp that grabs readers by the funny bone and doesn't let go! Illustrated throughout with black and white comic drawings by Andy Rash.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Science Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Action

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Joe Schreiber was born in Michigan but spent his formative years in Alaska, Wyoming and northern California. Until recently, he has never lived in the same address for longer than a year. Before settling in Hershey he lived in New York, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland (OR), and Philadelphia. Becoming a parent forced him to consider a career with more reliable income, and he got a job as an MRI tech at Hershey Medical Center. Joe is married and has two children. He is the author of Chasing The Dead, Eat The Dark, and his newest tale of terror; No Doors, No Windows, which went on sale the same day as STAR WARS: DEATH TROOPERS. You can find him on the web at his blog ScaryParent.Blogspot.Com and on Suvudu.Com, where he is an occasional horror columnist.

Reviews

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't go into this expecting great literature or feasibility. If you go in looking for what it sets out to be: a high-interest, wacky, fun chapter book that lives somewhere between Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Alex Rider and Grasshopper Jungle, appropriate for upper elementary and middle schoolers, you will have a great time.

Pete tells his story - and it's one of video games, secret missions, creepy villains, and secret identities.

I used this as my opener for every booktalk presentation I did in 2016 (my booktalk included the most epic "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" scream I could muster, and an actual, physically-present NES), and it brought down the house.

I wish this book wasn't so white, in every way (the white President felt particularly weird for a book coming out while Obama is in office), but that is really my only complaint here.

Killer.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you can imagine a Wimpy Kid-Captain Underpants-Scooby-Doo fusion, this might just be it. But that’s also exactly the reason why this book makes me feel old – I wanted to enjoy it so badly, but it had so much fun-yet-nonsensical material that my brain just refused to process certain scenes. Game Over, Pete Watson is a middle-grade spy thriller that feels more bizarre than funny to me, but I think that kids who actually fall in the middle-grade range will enjoy this more than young adults and adults will.

Introduction
Pete Watson is super excited to buy Brawl-A-Thon 3000 XL, but on the day that the game comes out, he discovers that his mom borrowed twenty dollars from his Brawl-A-Thon savings jar without telling him. Desperate times call for desperate measures – Pete holds an impromptu garage sale, digging up things that he’s sure his parents won’t miss, including his dad’s old game console. But the CommandRoid isn’t just any old game console, and when it gets into the wrong hands, Pete’s dad gets trapped inside a video game and the president of the United States starts behaving strangely on TV. Pete needs to get the CommandRoid back in order to save his dad and also save the world from a potentially disastrous cyber attack.

Discussion
Pete is pretty much like any other videogame-obsessed boy (but hopefully other boys get permission from their parents first before holding a garage sale), with awkward friends and a huge crush on his ex-babysitter. He has a great sense of humor, and he’s consciously writing this book, which makes it more amusing. Pete even boasts about how the digital version of this book will be able to play sounds and videos and do other high-tech things… and the chapter titles (such as “Hooray! Everything’s Great! Until it isn’t.”) are hilarious.

The artwork in Game Over, Pete Watson is also fantastic. Andy Rash is an amazing illustrator (who is also an author!) and this book wouldn’t have been half as good without the cute cartoons strewn about.

The plot, on the other hand, is bewildering at best. If a plot could be on steroids, this is what it would look like. The transitions from game-lost-oh-no to who-stole-the-game to who-wants-to-destroy-the-world-with-the-game are rushed and confusing, and it doesn’t help that the backstory isn’t completely explained. A younger audience might not care since the action and adventure bits are quite exciting, and really, this is meant to be a quick and entertaining book, so who cares about the details when you might get a killion dollars?

“The killion is a number so large that it would literally kill you, which is why most people haven’t heard of it. It was discovered by a man named Ian Frazier back in the eighties. Most mathematicians who have tried to count that high have started getting really sick and had to stop.”

But alas, I’m not so young anymore, so I’m constantly caught up in how one event leads to another, and Game Over, Pete Watson has such a random plot that it bothered me to no end.

Conclusion
Game Over, Pete Watson is a book seemingly marketed to a very specific reader population. I am, unfortunately, not part of that population. Although the protagonist and the cartoons are awesome, this book lacks a coherent plot and ended up giving me a headache.

Paper Breathers (Book Reviews & Discussions)

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some things are just guilty pleasures. As a person that’s grown up with video games, you have to admit they’ve become part of our culture. Author Joe Schreiber takes that idea and spins it into a fun story involving a kid, an old gaming console, and a secret plot to hack the CIA and every computer on the planet. Game Over, Pete Watson knows how to have fun.

For starters, Pete is a pretty average kid who loves video games. He’s been saving up money for the latest release of his favorite game franchise, but things go wrong and get him into trouble. First he sells his dad’s old gaming console. Then he finds out it’s a CIA device for spies. Next thing you know, terrorists are trying to use the secret CIA device to hack every computer in the world. It’s a heck of a day for Pete.

Throughout the book, there are illustrations by Andy Rash that add to the enjoyment of the story. Sometimes they simply help bring to life certain characters or images. However, more often than not, they add to the humor of the book. From pictures of the President speaking gibberish on live tv to a robotic shark dog, there’s a huge variety of illustrations. It’s a nice touch that young readers are sure to enjoy.

For those who fall outside the targeted age range of the book, you might not want to dismiss this one. Personally, I’m a big fan of Joe Schreiber’s work, so I wanted to check it out. I’m always a little leery when reading young adult books, and this one is actually for middle grade readers. But I’ve come to find that a good author can make a story fit a younger reading audience without sacrificing a good story. With Game Over, Pete Watson, Joe Schreiber does just that. The book is what you might call a safe read, but it has tons of humor and is always entertaining as the story takes unexpected turns. Plus the characters are enjoyable. As an added bonus, the vibe of the book reminded me of my own childhood. Magic like that is hard to come by and well worth the trip.

Readers in the 9 to 12 year old range, and who like video games, are in for some fun and laughs. Author Joe Schreiber does a great job of keeping the story moving, making the characters relatable, and packing in a ton of fun. Yet his skill at storytelling presents a story that even adults can enjoy. If you’re a fan of Joe Schreiber, this is a book worth checking out. It’s a quick, fun read that just might help you feel like a kid again. I give it a five out of five.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up for my nephews. They have gotten into the computer games, so I thought they would like this book. I read it first to see how it was. I liked the book. Pete was a good guy. Someone that my nephews will relate to while reading this book. The adventure that he finds himself in helps keep things moving and exciting. The author does understand his characters. To admit while reading this book, I think the author might have the "Peter Pan syndrome". In fact, he could very well have been Pete growing up. Just in the way that Pete talking and the snide but funny comments that the author would interject throughout the book. Ok, so I never played any video games on a console like the CommandRoid 85 but I first played video games on Nintendo. Which in the present times is considered ancient.

Well anyways back to the book. All the people that Pete met along the way in his adventure were quite the group from his neighbor, to his best friend, and to the "Bug Man." The graphics in this book were not top notch but they were fun. A quick read that will make you kind of wish that this book was not Game Over.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious book that fans of The Wimpy Kid will devour from cover to cover.

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's a simply nutty retro fun book kids will enjoy with a Scooby Dooesque ending! Forget logic! Enjoy!

[AaronB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who loves to play video games. A new game is coming out and he doesn't have enough money to buy it so he sells his dads old game console to a man for $20. It turns out this almost causes a chain reaction to the end of the world. From the help of Pete's friends and odd suspicious neighbors acting like they are on his side, Pete saves the world with his dad in an 8-bit world.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, what do you want from this book? With all honesty, you know what you’re getting into and this book delivers. Plot holes abound and it’s entirely preposterous, but that’s kind of what it’s supposed to be. This is a fun story for people who are interested in video games and it’s a quick, light-hearted read to give you some entertainment and laughs. The art really does add to the story, helping continue the written voice of Pete. Have some fun!

[Gabriel Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave it a five star rating because its really funny and its about video games. my favrite part is when they took off ms.werteys mask.

[Stacey Miner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book to my kids. Totally loved it! Many much laughs. 10/10 recommend.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Kidnapping of a parent

[Hank Kiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and quick read with lots of funny parts. If you like humor and gaming this might just be the book for you.

[Jayden]

It was good at the start needs more of a hook to keep you in there but all around pretty good.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really my thing.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. My 9yro gave it 4 stars. I give it 3

[Venus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted here at Children's Atheneum.

Pete Watson is a bit video game obsessed. When he doesn't have enough money to buy a new video game, he quickly grabs some junk from around the house and has an impromptu yard sale. What he can't know is that his dad is not only a super-spy, but he has also been kidnapped and is now trapped inside the very video game that Pete sold at his yard sale.

Pete Watson is the kind of character that a lot of boys will be able to relate to. Heedless, headstrong, video game obsessed, with a love of comics this book felt like a sure winner. I wanted to enjoy this, I wanted to be sucked into this middle-grade spy thriller, but instead I just felt old. I know the Wimpy Kid crowd is going to love this, yet I couldn't.

Even though his mother has proven she is good for her money with her IOUs, Pete decides that his video game is so important that he decides to sell things that belong to his parents. Of course, the grown up in me really balked at this, but I took a deep breath and read on. Next comes the adventure where Pete's father is apparently a secret agent stuck inside a video game. This is where the story just felt like something that is completely in Pete's head. In fact, that was what I was expecting. The plot was so ridiculous that I thought, given the unreliable first-person trope, that Pete would reveal that he made the entire thing up. He didn't, which just made the story more ridiculous. A younger readership may not care, but then again I think children are very discerning, I can't help but wonder if they will let this fly.

Pete boasts about the digital version of this book and how it will be interactive, which made me wonder if the publishers would be able to make an actual eBook seeing as it would really need to deliver on its promise. Obviously, with its illustrations and goofy characters, we are aiming for a certain age group, but it isn't nearly as successful as some other books out there in this genre.

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete Watson has just saved up enough money to buy the newest, best video game ever: BRAWL-A-THON 3000 XL. But on the day of the release, when he goes to his savings jar to get the money, he finds an IOU from his mom saying that she borrowed $10. Panicked, Pete starts an impromptu garage sale to earn the money back. His parents won't miss any of this old junk, right? There's no way his dad's ancient video game system actually contains top secret coded CIA secrets, right? Unfortunately, Pete sets into motion a series of events involving secret agents, grammar books, the President of the United States, a small piece of string, a key plot point from Superman: The Movie, absurdly large amounts of money, and a computer virus that threatens to end the world as we know it. All Pete has at his disposal are impressive video game skills and the help of his best friend. Can he save the world? Will this book ever be made into a deluxe digital edition with in-story gameplay and high quality sound effects? Press START to find out.

I really enjoyed this book when I accepted it for what it is. It's absurd, it's goofy, and the humor makes you facepalm. But this is another book that will booktalk itself to middle grade readers, especially boys. It's full of goofy pictures and one-off jokes and references to video games. The adventure is ridiculous but the pacing is consistent and doesn't drag on. A quick, enjoyable read.

I would recommend this book for grades 3-6, especially boys, fans of video games, or fans of humor and adventure. This would be a great one for a kid who has been assigned to read science fiction. Readalikes might include Zombiekins by Kevin Bolger (similar style of humor) or Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities by Mike Jung (for the adventure, science fiction, and humor).

[Bruce Gargoyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at http://thebookshelfgargoyle.wordpress...

I received a digital copy of this book for review from the publishers via Netgalley.

Ten Second Synopsis:
Pete Watson, doyen of video game Brawl-a-Thon 3000, indadvertently enters a world of state secrets, espionage and giant mechanical cockroaches when he holds a garage sale to raise money to buy Brawl-a-Thon 3000 XL.

While not the best of the bunch of books in this format and genre floating about, there's plenty here that's new and different to appeal to middle grade boys in particular. The book is easy on the eye, with different fonts and illustrations used throughout the short chapters. The content is spot-on in terms of appeal for this age-group - there's video games,mystery, an older, unattainable love interest (his best mate’s big sister), the troubles with having a nerdy best friend and how this will affect one’s position on the social ladder, and the opportunity to be a hero and save the day.

Pete is a likeable, (if at times, shockingly clueless)and funny narrator who has great plans for the digital, interactive version of the book when it is released. (When will that be, publishers? I can't wait to have a go at it!). There's also a good bit of humour and some one-liners that had me laughing out loud. This isn't a book with wide appeal outside the age group that it's aimed at, but for middle graders, it will be another fun addition to the likes of Wimpy Kid and Origami Yoda.

I'd recommend this for confident middle graders who are looking for an action/mystery story with lots of humour and video game playing. Also, it would make a great read-aloud for the more reluctant lads in this age group.

[Jennifer Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a review copy from Amazon Vine.

I requested this book, because I thought my 4th grader would like it. And he did -- sort of. He picked it up right away, which is great, because he's kind of picky (or at least stubborn, if he decides he doesn't like something!). He read through it pretty quickly and ended up passing me up (we often have dueling bookmarks if we are both reading).

There was a lot to like -- a sort of mystery/adventure when Pete has a yard sale to raise money to buy the newest and greatest video game, which results in selling a special piece of equipment his dad uses that could have worldwide consequences -- even the President of the U.S. is affected! The conversational style made it easy to read. Pete Watson is writing it all down, and even says that the full electronic version will have clips and videos. It is accompanied by black and white hand-drawn kid-style illustrations as well. There's a fun flip book at the bottom as well.

For some reason my son said he did't like the ending. I don't usually hear this as a complaint from him, but for some reason the ending downgraded the whole experience for him overall. I thought the ending was okay, kind of exciting even, but I did think that the whole book overall was just okay, kind of cheesy.

But if the cover and description calls out to your video-game loving child, as it did to mine, I'd say to put it in his or her hands. It was a pretty fun read, and any time spent with a book is preferable to time spent gaming, in my opinion.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pete Watson has been saving up to buy the newest version of his favorite video game. One the day it goes on sale he finds an IOU from his mom and is $20 short. So he decides to have an impromptu garage sale where he sells his dad's old gaming console to a bug guy. When he goes to buy his new game he sees his dad kidnapped and learns from his neighbor that dad was really a CIA analyst and the game console has all the CIA secrets on it. Pete enlists the help of his friend Wesley and Wesley's sister to stop the bad guys and rescue his dad. At this point dad has been digitized and downloaded into the console. Pete goes in after him and together they have to save the world.

So this is definitely a book that will appeal to middle grade boys. It has a lot of action and humor and is about video games. As an adult reader I thought it was pretty silly. It is a mix of War Games, Scooby Doo and a spy caper. I really liked the chapter headings -- they are hilarious -- and the illustrations. The story takes a lot of suspension of belief to read without rolling your eyes, but I am sure the intended audience will eat it up.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: I received a copy of Game Over, Pete Watson for free from Goodreads First Reads. The review below is entirely of my own opinion.

"Aren't you ever going to do anything but play video games?"

It's something we hear from our parents on a regular basis. For Pete Watson, it's getting old hearing his parents tell him that video games are a pointless waste of time. But when his father is kidnapped and put into a video game, Pete's "useless" skills become more important than even he imagined.

Game Over, Pete Watson is a hilarious, fast-paced read. I spent about two hours total reading it. It is targeted toward early middle school readers, with simple language and an outrageous plot, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is reminiscent of Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, both of which are book series that I enjoyed.

I really enjoyed Game Over, Pete Watson, and I hope to read more from Joe Schreiber in the future (especially the digital version - one can hope - or a sequel to Game Over, Pete Watson!)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Pete Watson loves video games. He's been saving up for the latest and greatest video game. In order to make some money, he sells his father's old video game console. Unfortunately for Pete, that console was actually a spy device and now everyone wants it to crack the code into every computer system in the world. How can Pete possibly survive without his game being over.

My thoughts:
This is a fun book. It is often humorous and has some twists that were unexpected. There is a bit of a mystery going on which I think kids will enjoy. There are a ton of antics that will definitely have you chuckling, and I think that was the best part. There were so many times that I just smirked and shook my head and went along for the ride. For a younger (4th grade) boy, this will be an excellent read. For upper middle school, they will still chuckle but it will not be as big of a hit. For adults, there are enough references within the book that you will laugh at some of your old time video game favorites and then have to explain to your child why you are laughing.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Game Over, Pete Watson is a novel by Joe Schreiber. Well Pete is really the author of the story, insisting that certain parts will be different in the "digital version" of the book. Pete tells the story of how he saved the world when his CIA dad got trapped in a video game. Yeah.

Game Over, Pete Watson is a really easy read. But it's not that entertaining or enjoyable. There are some funny moments, but nothing amused me that much or surprised me. Pete is kind of a jerk with a fat, dorky friend, which reminded me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The whole book reminded me of that series, except that those books are a lot funnier. Also, if you're looking for a book with lots of gamer slang, this is not the book for you. Basically, it's an easy read that I would give a 4th grade boy to get him into reading. Which isn't a bad thing at all.

[Patrice Sartor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my 13-year old son, who grants it 3.5 stars. He liked the illustrations, and the video game theme appealed to him. It was probably a bit young for him, but it was a fast read.

The book offered some amusement, even if a lot of it involved me rolling my eyes. My favorite present as a kid was my Atari 2600, so I felt comfortable with the gaming references and that part of the story helped to keep my interest up. It was too silly for me, the characters were too stereotypical, and the self-references got a bit old.

Still, a decent title if you're in the right demographic and like gaming stories with a dash of spy/adventure action.

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another nominee for the 2015/2016 Surrey Schools Book of the Year award.

A book that will appeal to students, especially boys, thanks to the front cover, but left me hoping it doesn't take the Best Book prize. The storyline is cute and exciting, but I was left thinking: is the main character, Pete Watson, not a bit mean and conceited? I'm not sure he is a good role model for students, especially the way he speaks about and treats his off-again on-again best friend Wesley.

Definitely not my favourite out the 2015/2016 Surrey Schools Book of the Year nominees but I do think students will enjoy it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this since it is a choice for the incoming 6th grade summer reading, I wanted to help them decide which of the 15 books to read and report on...

I didn't care for this book and found it very hard to get through, but I'm not the target audience... This reminded me of Captain Underpants, with the stupidity and Scooby-Doo, towards the end... I felt like this tried to be too much like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with a main character whose best friend drives him crazy, while also making terrible decisions...

I feel like my 5th graders would think this book is too babyish for them, so I'm interested in who winds up reading it...

[Merrilyn Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wickedly funny and is a very fast read. Kids grades 4-7 will eat it up. Cleverly written, this book will be especially enjoyed by boys who play online games. Pete Watson finds himself embroiled in a plot to end the world. His father has been shrunk to the size of a computer game character; a retired militant English teacher is out to reform Pete's grammar; an exterminator is following Pete around; and Pete's best friend, Wesley, tries to help solve the mysterious goings on.

Joe Schreiber's humor is contagious and Andy Rash's illustrations serve to enhance the silliness.

[Meghan Nels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Game Over, Pete Watson is hilarious, fast-paced read perfect for middle grade readers. Fans of video games and far-fetched tales will delight in this story. The pictures and humor about the enhanced version of this book mentioned by Pete repeatedly enhance the story and hilarity of this novel. I can see many students clamoring to read this title focused on video games and an outlandish, unbelievable story.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book isn't exactly my cup of tea, there will be some reluctant readers, especially boys, who will like this for the light and silly reading that it provides. A dash of Diary of a Wimpy Kid with a bit of War Games and Wreck-it-Ralph will make kids want to pick it up. If it's easily available for me to purchase it - through Scholastic Book Fairs perhaps - I will definitely pick it up for them.

[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this one up to try to encourage my reluctant reader to dip her toes into the world of chapter books. I'm going to keep looking.

I was hoping that this would be a Ready Player One for the younger set, but it just didn't work. Some of the reviews on this book are funnier and wittier than the actual story turned out to be. I refuse to settle for children's literature that is just so-so. Onwards!