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Pwned
Reagan West has the perfect life. She’s gorgeous, she’s popular, and she’s at the tip-top of the high school food chain as co-captain of the cheerleading squad. She’s also best friends with the most evil girl in Albany, Tawny Perez, which means she’s never on the receiving end of Tawny’s wrath.
The only trouble in Reagan’s perfect life comes from the constant threat of her fellow classmates discovering her dirty little secret—Reagan West is a closet gamer.
What’s more, Reagan absolutely hates her role as the evil cheerleader. But, as any teenager knows, it’s better to suppress your own nerdy tendencies than to submit to a lifetime of being shoved into lockers. So, Reagan bravely soldiers on as a reluctant bully ... until a cute boy from her guild moves to her school and becomes Tawny’s next target. The good-looking newcomer threatens to reveal Reagan’s nerdy little secret and force her to come to terms with who she truly is. Now Reagan has to decide if she’s going to defend her fellow geeks, or if she’ll continue to be a total troll.
The only trouble in Reagan’s perfect life comes from the constant threat of her fellow classmates discovering her dirty little secret—Reagan West is a closet gamer.
What’s more, Reagan absolutely hates her role as the evil cheerleader. But, as any teenager knows, it’s better to suppress your own nerdy tendencies than to submit to a lifetime of being shoved into lockers. So, Reagan bravely soldiers on as a reluctant bully ... until a cute boy from her guild moves to her school and becomes Tawny’s next target. The good-looking newcomer threatens to reveal Reagan’s nerdy little secret and force her to come to terms with who she truly is. Now Reagan has to decide if she’s going to defend her fellow geeks, or if she’ll continue to be a total troll.
185 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
About the author
Shannen Crane Camp
15 books254 followersShannen Crane Camp was born and raised in Southern California, where she developed a love of reading, writing, and anything having to do with film. After high school, she moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she received a degree in Media Arts and found herself a husband in fellow California native Josh Camp. The two now live in Utah with their miniature schnauzer Hemingway. Shannen's true love is Young Adult Fiction though she often dabbles in New Adult, Paranormal, and Mystery. She takes any opportunity to include her love of film and video games in her writing and you might just find a nerdy Easter Egg or two hidden in her works.
Shannen loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her at Shannencbooks@hotmail.com or visit her website for more information: http://shannencbooks.blogspot.com
Shannen loves to hear from readers, so feel free to contact her at Shannencbooks@hotmail.com or visit her website for more information: http://shannencbooks.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 21, 2013
First of all, I am such a fangirl so I really enjoyed this book full of gamer geekiness!! I love comic books, The Guild w/ Felicia Day, Dr Horrible Sing Along, Dr Who, etc.....ok the list can go on. It is my best friends fault, who is my husband aka my pastor, aka gamer geek aka action figure and comic book collector who got me all in this and enjoy every bit of it.
Ok, so back to Pwned......I fell in love with Rekrap aka Parker and Reagan aka Xandris aka Elite Cheerleader.....and the rest of the Voyager Conquest Team!
I recommend this book to young teens because it has a good lesson on bullying & peer pressure which is exactly what kids & teens face in school. Please, give this book a try. If you are not a gamer and trying to avoid the gamer jargon, just get past the couple of chapters and then you will enjoy the rest....
"Parker, I am glad I ended up with a nerd."
Elite Cheerleader, I am glad I ended up with the best.loot.ever!!
Reviews posted on Goodread and Amazon pin name hotninja_angel
Read book 05/01/2013 thru 05/02/2013
Ok, so back to Pwned......I fell in love with Rekrap aka Parker and Reagan aka Xandris aka Elite Cheerleader.....and the rest of the Voyager Conquest Team!
I recommend this book to young teens because it has a good lesson on bullying & peer pressure which is exactly what kids & teens face in school. Please, give this book a try. If you are not a gamer and trying to avoid the gamer jargon, just get past the couple of chapters and then you will enjoy the rest....
"Parker, I am glad I ended up with a nerd."
Elite Cheerleader, I am glad I ended up with the best.loot.ever!!
Reviews posted on Goodread and Amazon pin name hotninja_angel
Read book 05/01/2013 thru 05/02/2013
May 27, 2013
I loved it! I can relate well to the characters because I myself was a gamer too.. Recommended to those who want a light fun read for summer
May 9, 2013
This was a short, kinda fun read. Not as good as I was hoping in regards to the actual plot. Reagan took much to long to start acting. The whole thing was kind of trite of course and the only thing that saved it was the nerdy humor. That was really great xD
The ending surprise was a bit too much, specially because I just can't see it happening.
As I mentioned before the nerdy humor was really the saving grace for this book. Without it I would have given it 2 stars, but it gets a whole 3rd one just for the references. My favorite one:
I was laughing out loud at that one. If you don't get what's so funny then you are not going to really get the rest of it. Which means you'll be missing out on the best part of the book. Therefore, if you have the nerdy humor, by all means read this one, you'll end up enjoying it. If not, you could always give it a go anyway.
The ending surprise was a bit too much, specially because I just can't see it happening.
As I mentioned before the nerdy humor was really the saving grace for this book. Without it I would have given it 2 stars, but it gets a whole 3rd one just for the references. My favorite one:
"Sovay, I'm starting to think you're sabotaging us on purpose!", he yelled, starling us enough to make us pull away quickly. "You're a rogue! You don't pull a Jenkins and run into the dungeon before we're ready!"
I was laughing out loud at that one. If you don't get what's so funny then you are not going to really get the rest of it. Which means you'll be missing out on the best part of the book. Therefore, if you have the nerdy humor, by all means read this one, you'll end up enjoying it. If not, you could always give it a go anyway.
February 3, 2014
Normally, I don't read queen bee-type of plots because I cannot relate to them. I wasn't a queen bee, and even though I was different from the popular kids, I wasn't bullied because of that (but because of a heartthrob ex). But Pwned attracted me because I love to play games. I'm not an online gamer like Reagan is, but I can definitely relate to that nerdy feeling while outwardly looking cool. I was awarded the bookworm of the year award thrice in thirteen years in school, which I guess established me as being a reader. However, I guess it's just different in the Philippines, where you're not uncool if you're a bookworm or a gamer.
I admit that Reagan West is the type of girl I hate. She's a bitchy cheerleader, she's passive aggressive, and she doesn't hold herself accountable to her actions. I've also had a few run-ins with this type of bullies, some were cheerleaders, some were just snotty stuck-up prats, but I've managed to hold my ground and look them in the eye because I didn't do anything wrong to them. I almost stopped reading Pwned because up until beyond the middle of the story, she was still the same and I thought beyond redemption. Thank goodness that changed, and she became a likable and better person in the end.
One of the reasons why I didn't stop reading Pwned though is because I remembered high school all too well, and the immaturity that came along with it. I remembered the confusion, and the hesitancy to become who you want to be for fear of ridicule. I remembered the uncertainty of claiming an identity, of knowing who you are and what kind of person you want to be. So I kept on reading, and I finished Pwned with a smile on my face. Honestly, there are just some books that you have to forget to be an adult and let the memories and the silliness wash all over you again as you live vicariously through the characters. Ahhh. The pleasure of reading.
Am I the only one who felt that I was looking through the eyes of Gretchen Wieners from Mean Girls? There were several pop references to it, such as with the 'plastics', the 'mean girl' statements. I felt like in Mean Girls, if Cady didn't go to their school, Gretchen would totally have flipped on Regina George like Reagan West did. Even if the author maybe did not mean for that to happen, that was the vibe I got, and I loved it.
Parker, the love interest, has got me intrigued mostly because I love nerds. They're fun to talk to because they're so passionate about the things they geek out on. And after a particularly stressful relationship with someone who didn't know squat about anything, intelligence has become one of my 'musts' in a guy. Parker has definitely got my heart!
If you're looking for a breezy YA read that's not too dramatic, with a quirky take on queen bees and cheerleaders, give Pwned a try.
as posted on my blog My Book Musings
I admit that Reagan West is the type of girl I hate. She's a bitchy cheerleader, she's passive aggressive, and she doesn't hold herself accountable to her actions. I've also had a few run-ins with this type of bullies, some were cheerleaders, some were just snotty stuck-up prats, but I've managed to hold my ground and look them in the eye because I didn't do anything wrong to them. I almost stopped reading Pwned because up until beyond the middle of the story, she was still the same and I thought beyond redemption. Thank goodness that changed, and she became a likable and better person in the end.
One of the reasons why I didn't stop reading Pwned though is because I remembered high school all too well, and the immaturity that came along with it. I remembered the confusion, and the hesitancy to become who you want to be for fear of ridicule. I remembered the uncertainty of claiming an identity, of knowing who you are and what kind of person you want to be. So I kept on reading, and I finished Pwned with a smile on my face. Honestly, there are just some books that you have to forget to be an adult and let the memories and the silliness wash all over you again as you live vicariously through the characters. Ahhh. The pleasure of reading.
Am I the only one who felt that I was looking through the eyes of Gretchen Wieners from Mean Girls? There were several pop references to it, such as with the 'plastics', the 'mean girl' statements. I felt like in Mean Girls, if Cady didn't go to their school, Gretchen would totally have flipped on Regina George like Reagan West did. Even if the author maybe did not mean for that to happen, that was the vibe I got, and I loved it.
Parker, the love interest, has got me intrigued mostly because I love nerds. They're fun to talk to because they're so passionate about the things they geek out on. And after a particularly stressful relationship with someone who didn't know squat about anything, intelligence has become one of my 'musts' in a guy. Parker has definitely got my heart!
If you're looking for a breezy YA read that's not too dramatic, with a quirky take on queen bees and cheerleaders, give Pwned a try.
as posted on my blog My Book Musings
December 10, 2015
Actuall 3.5 out of 5.
I received this ARC for an unbiased review, so let’s begin, shall we?
Okay, I’m going to come right out and say it, the rating is probably because I do not read contemporary YA romance. It’s just not my cup of tea. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read it in two days.
As a gamer, I appreciated the fact that Reagan, our intrepid main character, is geeky despite the fact that she really tries to hide it from the whole world with the exception of her family. There are very few geeky female characters that don’t exist for male satisfaction, so it’s nice that Reagan exists. I also appreciate that she feels insecure about it since I too have experienced the same emotions. Do I tell people? Will they reject me? Fortunately for me, no. I now embrace it whole heartedly.
For Reagan, this struggle is what the book is all about. She hides her love of games and all things geeky so she can coast through the social circles of high school. She’s best friends with the high school Mean Girl/Bully Extraordinaire, Tawney, to hide from Tawney’s behavior. Reagan is the walking definition of the Bystander Effect. Bad stuff happens, but she doesn’t do anything because she wants to get out of high school without being bullied. And she’s perfectly aware of her behavior. She knows she’s complacent in Tawney’s behavior, and has even added to it. I know I should hate her, but I don’t. I feel bad because I’ve been there. In fact, almost everyone has, and I’m glad there’s a YA book that shows we can move beyond complacency in bad behavior.
Admittedly, Reagan's transformation is a bit slow, and I felt myself yelling at her half the time. I wanted her to cave and tell Parker (the geek love interest) everything because he probably would have helped her get out of Tawney’s clutches. I kind of have a peeve of poor communication between characters (which is probably why I probably don’t read romance that often) but at least her motivation for not telling Parker felt clear even though I didn’t agree with it.
I do have to give credit for trying to not make the antagonist, Tawney, not too cartoonish. She can feel that way at times, but there are little moments to help flesh out her character. Also, when her motivation for targeting geeks at the end is revealed, it fits within the theme of the novel, and works in its own way. Credit for the defeat of the bully not being a cliche talking down. In fact, we don’t even know if Tawney learned her lesson, but it’s not important to the story, so doesn’t detract from the narrative.
All in all I enjoyed this fun little read, and I think other geek girls should give it a try.
I received this ARC for an unbiased review, so let’s begin, shall we?
Okay, I’m going to come right out and say it, the rating is probably because I do not read contemporary YA romance. It’s just not my cup of tea. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read it in two days.
As a gamer, I appreciated the fact that Reagan, our intrepid main character, is geeky despite the fact that she really tries to hide it from the whole world with the exception of her family. There are very few geeky female characters that don’t exist for male satisfaction, so it’s nice that Reagan exists. I also appreciate that she feels insecure about it since I too have experienced the same emotions. Do I tell people? Will they reject me? Fortunately for me, no. I now embrace it whole heartedly.
For Reagan, this struggle is what the book is all about. She hides her love of games and all things geeky so she can coast through the social circles of high school. She’s best friends with the high school Mean Girl/Bully Extraordinaire, Tawney, to hide from Tawney’s behavior. Reagan is the walking definition of the Bystander Effect. Bad stuff happens, but she doesn’t do anything because she wants to get out of high school without being bullied. And she’s perfectly aware of her behavior. She knows she’s complacent in Tawney’s behavior, and has even added to it. I know I should hate her, but I don’t. I feel bad because I’ve been there. In fact, almost everyone has, and I’m glad there’s a YA book that shows we can move beyond complacency in bad behavior.
Admittedly, Reagan's transformation is a bit slow, and I felt myself yelling at her half the time. I wanted her to cave and tell Parker (the geek love interest) everything because he probably would have helped her get out of Tawney’s clutches. I kind of have a peeve of poor communication between characters (which is probably why I probably don’t read romance that often) but at least her motivation for not telling Parker felt clear even though I didn’t agree with it.
I do have to give credit for trying to not make the antagonist, Tawney, not too cartoonish. She can feel that way at times, but there are little moments to help flesh out her character. Also, when her motivation for targeting geeks at the end is revealed, it fits within the theme of the novel, and works in its own way. Credit for the defeat of the bully not being a cliche talking down. In fact, we don’t even know if Tawney learned her lesson, but it’s not important to the story, so doesn’t detract from the narrative.
All in all I enjoyed this fun little read, and I think other geek girls should give it a try.
January 14, 2014
I wanted to like this one more than I did. It was entertaining, but when I finished I just didn’t like how everything played out. I liked the premise of the popular cheerleader being a nerd in her spare time. She currently is dating a popular jock, but secretly has a crush on the nerdy new guy. I guess I got tired of all the drama. I kept waiting for Reagan to get a backbone. She hated who she was as a popular cheerleader, but did nothing about it. She was so passive throughout the entire story. After awhile it just got a bit repetitive. I also didn’t care for her solution to her problems with Tawny.
Overall, it was okay. The gaming stuff was a tad boring (unless you’re into that stuff) and I would have liked more dialog (too much inner thought for my taste). I also would have liked the romance bumped up a bit. I thought Parker was kind of an idiot. Why did he keep falling for the cheerleader crap? You'd think after the first time you'd learn not to trust them.
Content: Clean.
Overall, it was okay. The gaming stuff was a tad boring (unless you’re into that stuff) and I would have liked more dialog (too much inner thought for my taste). I also would have liked the romance bumped up a bit. I thought Parker was kind of an idiot. Why did he keep falling for the cheerleader crap? You'd think after the first time you'd learn not to trust them.
Content: Clean.
July 18, 2013
Reagan has a dilemma--remain a bully cheerleader or come out of the gaming closet and expose her true nerd self to the high school. On one hand, I could totally understand Reagan's need to keep her real self hidden. On the other hand, it would be soooo tough to keep up a double life. Is it worth it? High school can be tough and unfortunately, it often matters what people think of you. It's so much easier to start picking on others so your weaknesses aren't exposed, but Tawny was W-A-A-A-Y over the top. I honestly cannot believe that someone as sweet as Reagan could be friends with someone as mean and evil as Tawny. I also can't believe that Tawny could get away with everything she did with no one knowing. What a brat!!
I like how Parker helps Reagan realize that there is more to life than having an important label. There is definitely a lesson for all of us here. I loved the ending. :)
This is a great high school story with a great message and even if you're not a gamer (like I'm not), it's still a fun read!!
Content: some kissing.
I like how Parker helps Reagan realize that there is more to life than having an important label. There is definitely a lesson for all of us here. I loved the ending. :)
This is a great high school story with a great message and even if you're not a gamer (like I'm not), it's still a fun read!!
Content: some kissing.
June 23, 2013
As an avid player of role-playing games (both table top and computer based), I totally understand the closet nerd mentality. Reagan West is the perfect example of the popular gamer girl - one persona in life, another in game. It can take a lot to merge them together and be who you truly are - it took an in game friend showing up as a new student at school for Reagan to find herself. Her adventure in discovery and finding who she really wants to be was at times amusing and others thought provoking. She will have to make the choice between her horribly awful "best friend" and fellow cheerleader, and the sweet and thoughtful boy that she talks to online every chance she can. - See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/...
April 1, 2015
I wanted to like this... As a avid MMO gamer I was stoked to read some romantic chick lit with it and although it was there and well explained I just really didnt like this book. I really didnt like Reagan... she was so awful I really had a hard time reading the book at first and wonderd how on earth it would ever come around to making me be on her side... It kind of did but not really... I was ok with her as a gamer and she was cool as a big sister but the rest... meh.
Parker was dence... not bad but a lil dence I thought... and that twist at the very end... I saw it yalms and yalms away.
I gave it two stars though because I didnt HATE it... I just didnt care for it much.
I disliked her attitude so much I even polled my FC members if they would rather be the bullied victim at school or the popular and mean and we ALL chose victim over even a passive bully.
Parker was dence... not bad but a lil dence I thought... and that twist at the very end... I saw it yalms and yalms away.
I gave it two stars though because I didnt HATE it... I just didnt care for it much.
I disliked her attitude so much I even polled my FC members if they would rather be the bullied victim at school or the popular and mean and we ALL chose victim over even a passive bully.
June 6, 2013
This book was delightful. It was the perfect beach read--light and fun, with a spunky heroine and a quirky narrative voice. The main character was a lot more complicated and interesting than she'd first appeared, and though there were times when I was shaking my head at her choices, I was still rather proud when she finally made the right ones.
And Parker was just adorkable.
This book will be a fun read for those into gaming, especially for those who still remember when gaming was embarrassing but did it anyway. It'll be a fun read even for those who don't game at all.
And I think there are bonus points for those who pick up on the Captain Hammer references.
And Parker was just adorkable.
This book will be a fun read for those into gaming, especially for those who still remember when gaming was embarrassing but did it anyway. It'll be a fun read even for those who don't game at all.
And I think there are bonus points for those who pick up on the Captain Hammer references.
May 1, 2013
My wife and I have read every book Shannen Crane Camp has released, and neither of us have ever left disappointed. Her books have the ability to grab the readers attention and keep it until the end, and this happens to myself as a light reader, and my wife who is obsessed with reading.
Her latest book PWNED is a fantastic read, she is spot on with her details of the life of a "closet gamer", which I happen to know from experience :).
Gamer or not, you will love this book!!
Her latest book PWNED is a fantastic read, she is spot on with her details of the life of a "closet gamer", which I happen to know from experience :).
Gamer or not, you will love this book!!
May 27, 2013
I enjoyed the gaming references, but the plot was incredibly boring - I predicted pretty much every single event that happened - and the MC was completely unlikeable. By the time she realised how crappy a person she was I was already totally exasperated with her. I really wish there had been a bit more humanizing of Tawny as well, because we only ever see her as this awful, crazy bitch whose only only joy in life comes from torturing other people. It was all just very formulaic.
May 24, 2013
I loved, loved, LOVED it!!!
January 17, 2019
Ive read " pwned " ,, it was nice but there is something bothered me so much ,, i gave it 3.5 out od 5
June 14, 2013
The Story:
Reagan West. Cheerleader. Bully. Gamer. "One of these things is not the same. One of these things just doesn't belong" Yeah, that's how she feels too. But, she's a girl with a plan-SURVIVE HISGHSCHOOL- well, that plan is about to get difficult. Her favorite nerd friend is moving to her town. Only, he doesn't know it.
When her 2 worlds intersect and she's left to choose who she really is-the sweet/funny gamer or the abrasive/snobby cheerleader. Who will be left when the dust settles?
My thoughts:
This books is so much fun!! Seriously, from the very beginning I was hooked. The chatting parts between Reagan and Parker in-game were my favorite parts...I mean, A nerd guy spilling his guts while gaming-can you say adorable?
Parker was an epic character(he looks like Andrew Garfield) who you can't help but adore. Reagan has a good heart, but due to the circumstances in the book, I spent most of the book wanting to smack her. I get that it would be incredibly difficult to change your entire life, but as someone who is very into being me(no matter how lame that is)...It just got obnoxious.
This book is cover-cover fun and laugh out loud moments. It does have a deeper side too, one that I think could resonate with every teenager.
s are: I don't think the characters reacted realistically to some situations; and in contemporary, realism is really important to me. Other thing is that I figured out the big, last page, shocking twist very early on.
In Short:
Cover-6/10
Characters-7/10
Pace-9/10
Originality-7.5/10
Overall-
Who should read it?
Gamers/lovers of light-hearted contemporary
Quote:
" "I see you wasted no time in taking advantage of the new hairstyles from the patch"-Parker "You know it! My character is so cute now."-Reagan "You play this game like a girl"-Parker "I guess at least you know I'm not some forty year old man playing the game in my mom's basement and pretending to be a girl"-Reagan "That happens way too often to joke about."-Parker "
Content-
Language-Very Minor- a few minor words/words that only some people consider swear words
Sexual Content-Minor- Kissing, a girl being seen in a guys basement late at night making out, mild innuendo
Violence-Very minor-it's mostly just verbal bullying, but there is some fighting(CAT FIGHT) and some more physical bullying.
Reagan West. Cheerleader. Bully. Gamer. "One of these things is not the same. One of these things just doesn't belong" Yeah, that's how she feels too. But, she's a girl with a plan-SURVIVE HISGHSCHOOL- well, that plan is about to get difficult. Her favorite nerd friend is moving to her town. Only, he doesn't know it.
When her 2 worlds intersect and she's left to choose who she really is-the sweet/funny gamer or the abrasive/snobby cheerleader. Who will be left when the dust settles?
My thoughts:
This books is so much fun!! Seriously, from the very beginning I was hooked. The chatting parts between Reagan and Parker in-game were my favorite parts...I mean, A nerd guy spilling his guts while gaming-can you say adorable?
Parker was an epic character(he looks like Andrew Garfield) who you can't help but adore. Reagan has a good heart, but due to the circumstances in the book, I spent most of the book wanting to smack her. I get that it would be incredibly difficult to change your entire life, but as someone who is very into being me(no matter how lame that is)...It just got obnoxious.
This book is cover-cover fun and laugh out loud moments. It does have a deeper side too, one that I think could resonate with every teenager.
s are: I don't think the characters reacted realistically to some situations; and in contemporary, realism is really important to me. Other thing is that I figured out the big, last page, shocking twist very early on.
In Short:
Cover-6/10
Characters-7/10
Pace-9/10
Originality-7.5/10
Overall-
Who should read it?
Gamers/lovers of light-hearted contemporary
Quote:
" "I see you wasted no time in taking advantage of the new hairstyles from the patch"-Parker "You know it! My character is so cute now."-Reagan "You play this game like a girl"-Parker "I guess at least you know I'm not some forty year old man playing the game in my mom's basement and pretending to be a girl"-Reagan "That happens way too often to joke about."-Parker "
Content-
Language-Very Minor- a few minor words/words that only some people consider swear words
Sexual Content-Minor- Kissing, a girl being seen in a guys basement late at night making out, mild innuendo
Violence-Very minor-it's mostly just verbal bullying, but there is some fighting(CAT FIGHT) and some more physical bullying.
January 14, 2014
Pwned is undoubtedly one of the funnest books I have ever read. Shannen's humorous storytelling combined with a story and characters that you will love, make for the best three hour read ever! I wanted a book that would be fun to read late at night and this book did it.
This book was very much like "The Summer I Became A Nerd", which I loved. However, despite having the same "popular-girl-who's-a-secret-nerd-and-no-one-can-know" track, it's very much it's own story. With that being said, I absolutely adored the nerdy aspect of this book. Frankly, I'm not a gamer, and I will never be a gamer, so I will never understand what it's like to be a gamer. So I'm intrigued and always curious to read about it. And needless to say it was very fun! I didn't get like HALF the terms but what the heck. It's virtual reality.
Reagan was a fun character. She has a fun snarky voice that's easy to follow. But within the humor there are lots of insecurities about fitting in and just being yourself. I thought it was interesting to see her being mean to protect herself from being a victim of said meanness. I won't say that there weren't times when I didn't want her to just get her act together sooner and use that backbone. Because there were. But still, the process of Reagan changing and finding herself was like...(let's get poetic here)...a flower opening ittself up to the sun. Just beautiful! (now you Oooh and Aaah)
Of course, like all good chick-flicks there's a romance! And with a nerd romance, it's usually a fellow nerder! And seriously, Parker was like ADORABLE. Okay well that's what you would use to describe a little girl. He was cute and kinda swoony. His character was so much fun to read about. They're nerd relationship was so cute and hilarious and totally awkward like a teenage romance is.
Basically this book is just pure fun. The cast is very fun, the plot is engaging and it's totally got it's share of nerdiness. If you are looking for a quick light read, then pick up Pwned! It'll do the job!
**For more reviews, visit me @ Book Haven Extraordinaire**
This book was very much like "The Summer I Became A Nerd", which I loved. However, despite having the same "popular-girl-who's-a-secret-nerd-and-no-one-can-know" track, it's very much it's own story. With that being said, I absolutely adored the nerdy aspect of this book. Frankly, I'm not a gamer, and I will never be a gamer, so I will never understand what it's like to be a gamer. So I'm intrigued and always curious to read about it. And needless to say it was very fun! I didn't get like HALF the terms but what the heck. It's virtual reality.
Reagan was a fun character. She has a fun snarky voice that's easy to follow. But within the humor there are lots of insecurities about fitting in and just being yourself. I thought it was interesting to see her being mean to protect herself from being a victim of said meanness. I won't say that there weren't times when I didn't want her to just get her act together sooner and use that backbone. Because there were. But still, the process of Reagan changing and finding herself was like...(let's get poetic here)...a flower opening ittself up to the sun. Just beautiful! (now you Oooh and Aaah)
Of course, like all good chick-flicks there's a romance! And with a nerd romance, it's usually a fellow nerder! And seriously, Parker was like ADORABLE. Okay well that's what you would use to describe a little girl. He was cute and kinda swoony. His character was so much fun to read about. They're nerd relationship was so cute and hilarious and totally awkward like a teenage romance is.
Basically this book is just pure fun. The cast is very fun, the plot is engaging and it's totally got it's share of nerdiness. If you are looking for a quick light read, then pick up Pwned! It'll do the job!
**For more reviews, visit me @ Book Haven Extraordinaire**
December 3, 2015
I loved this book! Everything about the way that Shannon Crane Camp wrote this one took my right back to my high school days and the way that everyone has to hide how they truly are in order to be popular or even just to be okay. I've always thought that this whole situation was a sad one, especially looking back on my high school days now. At the time that was my whole life and I was never happy with not being one of the "popular" kids, but looking back now, I realize that it wasn't worth it in the first place.
I loved Reagan, I loved the way that she really hated her cheerleading friends and especially Tawny, yet everything that she did was basically to impress them. I liked that she recognized that it was wrong, even though she wasn't willing to change it. The author did a great job getting into her head and writing her character, along with all of the others. And I really enjoyed seeing her change from the beginning of the book to the end. I didn't like Tawny or Reagan's boyfriend, they were both terrible people and that was obvious to me very early in the story.
It was kind of funny when the boy that was part of Reagan's guild moved to her town. I loved seeing her torn over letting him know just who she was and even seeing if he could like her as a girlfriend and not having him tell all of her friends about her secret gaming life.
If you love clean teen romance, you won't want to miss this great book!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Reagan, I loved the way that she really hated her cheerleading friends and especially Tawny, yet everything that she did was basically to impress them. I liked that she recognized that it was wrong, even though she wasn't willing to change it. The author did a great job getting into her head and writing her character, along with all of the others. And I really enjoyed seeing her change from the beginning of the book to the end. I didn't like Tawny or Reagan's boyfriend, they were both terrible people and that was obvious to me very early in the story.
It was kind of funny when the boy that was part of Reagan's guild moved to her town. I loved seeing her torn over letting him know just who she was and even seeing if he could like her as a girlfriend and not having him tell all of her friends about her secret gaming life.
If you love clean teen romance, you won't want to miss this great book!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2013
Reviewed on Clean Teen Fiction
Shannen Crane Camp is such a fun author! Love her. If you like Janette Rallison then you'll like Shannen Crane Camp.
The voice of Reagan cracked me up from the very beginning. She was pretty silly at times, especially at the beginning. She was insecure with skewed priorities. Not a great combination. At least the reason why she acted the way she did was explained even if I didn't think it was the best choice. But hey, it's fun to watch a character grow. Paker/Rekap was awesome, such a great friend and a good looking "nerd."
This wasn't a super intense book that I just couldn't put down, but when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it and wondering what was going to happen next in Reagan's life. I've never played an online computer game, but that didn't matter. Reading about a hard-core gamer was like reading a book with a soccer player main character when you don't play soccer. It was fun to learn a little more about gaming, a world on its own.
Read Pwned whether you game or not. It was laugh out loud funny and a fun insight into high school life.
Content Ratings:
sexual: mild
language: none
violence: very mild
*I received an eARC from Shannen Crane Camp. I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.*
Shannen Crane Camp is such a fun author! Love her. If you like Janette Rallison then you'll like Shannen Crane Camp.
The voice of Reagan cracked me up from the very beginning. She was pretty silly at times, especially at the beginning. She was insecure with skewed priorities. Not a great combination. At least the reason why she acted the way she did was explained even if I didn't think it was the best choice. But hey, it's fun to watch a character grow. Paker/Rekap was awesome, such a great friend and a good looking "nerd."
This wasn't a super intense book that I just couldn't put down, but when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it and wondering what was going to happen next in Reagan's life. I've never played an online computer game, but that didn't matter. Reading about a hard-core gamer was like reading a book with a soccer player main character when you don't play soccer. It was fun to learn a little more about gaming, a world on its own.
Read Pwned whether you game or not. It was laugh out loud funny and a fun insight into high school life.
Content Ratings:
sexual: mild
language: none
violence: very mild
*I received an eARC from Shannen Crane Camp. I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.*
November 23, 2013
Pwned. I still don't know what that means, but this was a delightful read with messages about bullying and standing up for yourself and others.
Raegan is a high school senior who hides her nerdy love of gaming behind her cool cheerleader persona. But when fellow guild member, Parker, moves to her town and the other cheerleaders decide to make him the target of their next prank, Raegan has some tough decisions to make. Should she go along with the crowd, or stop what is happening to her best online friend? The answer seems obvious, but knowing and doing are sometimes two different things. To complicate matters, Parker is kind of cute, well, really cute, and he sees something in the real life Raegan that makes her wonder why she's been hiding who she really is.
Raegan shows the amount of character growth I expect in a YA protagonist, and I really liked that she had parents who expected her to live up to a standard of responsibility (absent in many YA reads). I also found much to admire in Parker's character--his bravery a clear contrast to Raegan's cowardice.
I really liked that Pwned offers a cute, clean, relevant story for teens and adults who may face similar problems, when so many young adult books these days are going for sensationalism to get readers. Camp proves you don't need violence, sex, and gore to develop a good story. I recommend this to readers of all ages who enjoy a cute romance with a moral.
Raegan is a high school senior who hides her nerdy love of gaming behind her cool cheerleader persona. But when fellow guild member, Parker, moves to her town and the other cheerleaders decide to make him the target of their next prank, Raegan has some tough decisions to make. Should she go along with the crowd, or stop what is happening to her best online friend? The answer seems obvious, but knowing and doing are sometimes two different things. To complicate matters, Parker is kind of cute, well, really cute, and he sees something in the real life Raegan that makes her wonder why she's been hiding who she really is.
Raegan shows the amount of character growth I expect in a YA protagonist, and I really liked that she had parents who expected her to live up to a standard of responsibility (absent in many YA reads). I also found much to admire in Parker's character--his bravery a clear contrast to Raegan's cowardice.
I really liked that Pwned offers a cute, clean, relevant story for teens and adults who may face similar problems, when so many young adult books these days are going for sensationalism to get readers. Camp proves you don't need violence, sex, and gore to develop a good story. I recommend this to readers of all ages who enjoy a cute romance with a moral.
August 15, 2014
I really enjoyed this book i had so much fun i could not stop reading it this book is perfect for the summer as it is light and fluffy i love all of the second in command popular girl has something to hide and stops being mean i thought all of the characters were realistic and real especially tawny and reagan, the plot was executed perfectly with a fun light writing style i definitely recommend this if you like light fluffy reads in the summer i really also liked the gaming parts the only problems i had were that this book is extremely predictable i even predicted the huge twist at the end also the "revenge" reagan took on tawny was kind of anti climactic and a no brainer it also would have been nice if reagan told tawny everything she needed to tell her as well other than that it was awesome if you liked this book you will love "The Summer i Became a Nerd" they have the same popular girl is actually a nerd plot.
December 7, 2015
Pwned is a great book that brings out the inner-gamer in us all! I loved getting to know and learn "gaming terminology". Very fun! I really liked Reagan and her journey to find who she really is. Tawny was awful, sometimes a bit over the top for me (are girls really that evil?), but Shannen wrote her well. I was pleasantly surprised with the sweet relationship between Reagan and her brother, Cannon. I loved the scenes where they would interact, especially when they played Cannon's matching game. What a great kid. I also liked that there was parental involvement too, and I appreciated some of the actions taken by Reagan's mom. Actually there were lots of fun surprises in this book, one at the end, that I suspected, but when it was revealed, made complete sense. I say this a lot, but the boy stole the show for me. I loved Parker, he truly was a great guy and a great match for Reagan.
Received a PDF copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Received a PDF copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2015
“To be or not to be, that is the question”.
Trying to survive high school without being thrown in a locker or be mocked till graduation is the worst fear for Reagan, so she has to live a double life: Hot mean Cheerleader to everyone, Nerd in her room alone with her computer and her Guild in the game she has being playing for years.
We can see the struggle that she thinks every kid has to fit in. If you are not cool enough, you’ll be outcast. So you have to pretend being someone you are not and maybe becoming that alter ego in the end just to be left at peace and not be mocked and ridiculed.
This book address some currently issues about bullying and how it can destroy friendships and lives.
I think this book is a must read for teens. With this tale, they can have a reality check, and know that everyone is unique and should be appreciate for their qualities IRL not the outside shell they go by.
PWNED= Owned= Empowered.
Trying to survive high school without being thrown in a locker or be mocked till graduation is the worst fear for Reagan, so she has to live a double life: Hot mean Cheerleader to everyone, Nerd in her room alone with her computer and her Guild in the game she has being playing for years.
We can see the struggle that she thinks every kid has to fit in. If you are not cool enough, you’ll be outcast. So you have to pretend being someone you are not and maybe becoming that alter ego in the end just to be left at peace and not be mocked and ridiculed.
This book address some currently issues about bullying and how it can destroy friendships and lives.
I think this book is a must read for teens. With this tale, they can have a reality check, and know that everyone is unique and should be appreciate for their qualities IRL not the outside shell they go by.
PWNED= Owned= Empowered.
May 3, 2013
This is perhaps my favorite book by Shannen so far! Of course, that might have something to do with being a gamer myself...
I hated having to put it down to go to work or charge up my phone after spending a couple hours reading it last night. Once I got home this afternoon to find the paperback copy I had ordered, I didn't put it down again until I finished reading it.
Shannen did a great job keeping the gamer lingo simple for the non-gamers - so much so that I plan on recommending it to just about everyone I talk to, gamer and non-gamer alike!
The story did have it's predictable teenage, opposite clique romance thing going on, but the end actually did take me by surprise! I am actually looking quite forward to reading this one again!
For now, time to get back on WoW and recommend it to all my gamer friends!
I hated having to put it down to go to work or charge up my phone after spending a couple hours reading it last night. Once I got home this afternoon to find the paperback copy I had ordered, I didn't put it down again until I finished reading it.
Shannen did a great job keeping the gamer lingo simple for the non-gamers - so much so that I plan on recommending it to just about everyone I talk to, gamer and non-gamer alike!
The story did have it's predictable teenage, opposite clique romance thing going on, but the end actually did take me by surprise! I am actually looking quite forward to reading this one again!
For now, time to get back on WoW and recommend it to all my gamer friends!
April 15, 2016
The "gaming geek" isn't just a twist on the high-school romance story. Reagan isn't just a cheerleader with a geeky hobby... she is a full-bore MMO addict and geek who treats her high school persona as an undercover identity. This colors the whole story. You might get a little lost with all the gaming terms, but most of the time, if they aren't obvious from the context, the author takes the time to explain them. For me, this was the real draw of the book. The characters are very fun and interesting, and while Reagan can get kinda mean in person, she never comes off as irredeemably bad. She's sympathetic yet invested enough in her popular public image that her choices do seem real. A little predictable at times, but it was a fun read for this gamer geek guy who's been out of high school for more years than he'd like to admit.
July 6, 2013
I thought main character was a complete loser! Total coward and I hated her. I just hated the whole "devil made me do it" routine from her. Almost put it down. But when Parker shows up and moves in to the story. I really liked it! She slowly started to realize what an idiot she is and wises up to how great Parker is! I just loved it! This is my favorite Shannon Camp book! I totally loved Parker! And main character then grows on you and the ending is just how I had hoped! I will tell all my friends to read it! Super cute when all said and done!!!
September 30, 2017
Exasperating. That's the word to describe this experience.
It's so... shallow. I can't believed I've read the whole thing. Reagan is so... I don't even have words to describe her properly. Gods, I wanted to bang some sense into her thick skull almost right away.
Such a let-down.
This book's audience is someone else.
Not me.
I cannot recommend this. Not when there are so many better ones around.
It's so... shallow. I can't believed I've read the whole thing. Reagan is so... I don't even have words to describe her properly. Gods, I wanted to bang some sense into her thick skull almost right away.
Such a let-down.
This book's audience is someone else.
Not me.
I cannot recommend this. Not when there are so many better ones around.
January 15, 2019
I don't like to rate things negatively...
I thought this would be kind of like a more realistic Umaru-Chan, and I was wrong. I was really disappointed in the main character through the whole book and most of the book made me sick to my stomach. Idk what to say because I hate giving things poor ratings, but this book upset me and I had to let other people know in case they are on the fence about purchasing, like I was.
I thought this would be kind of like a more realistic Umaru-Chan, and I was wrong. I was really disappointed in the main character through the whole book and most of the book made me sick to my stomach. Idk what to say because I hate giving things poor ratings, but this book upset me and I had to let other people know in case they are on the fence about purchasing, like I was.
June 26, 2013
Loved this book! It was awesome and totally hilarious! It was clean, cute, and totally nerdy and I adored it. It talks about high school issues and trying to fit in. It talks about making tough choices about right and wrong. And it talks about just being yourself. Great moral, good story line, lovable characters, I LOVED IT!! Serious, I'm going to go read it again now!
August 4, 2013
Really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and i really loved Parker (or RekRap). Even though Reagan was hard to like at times you could always see the thought process behind her decisions and as much as i didnt like what she was doing, i could understand. There was just the right amount of gamer specific language to make it detailed but not to difficult to understand :)
October 10, 2013
Let me start by saying I am a HUGE nerd. I am also a fan of Shannen Crane Camp. So I was pretty excited to read this one. I found myself grinning like a crazy person from start to finish, with the odd shriek at some of the geeky references. If you are looking for a book that caters to your inner geek and will put a giant smile on your face, this is definitely for you.
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