Trapped in a Video Game Book 1

Trapped in a Video Game #1

by Dustin Brady, Jesse Brady (Illustrator)

Kids who love video games will love this first installment of the new 5-book series about 12-year old Jesse Rigsby and the wild adventures he encounters getting sucked into different video games.

Jesse Rigsby hates video games—and for good reason. You see, a video game character is trying to kill him. After getting sucked in the new game Full Blast with his friend Eric, Jesse starts to see the appeal of vaporizing man-size praying mantis while cruising around by jet pack. But pretty soon, a mysterious figure begins following Eric and Jesse, and they discover they can't leave the game. If they don't figure out what's going on fast, they'll be trapped for good!

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Video Games, Adventure, Fantasy

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2016

Reviews

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'll wait to rate this until my soon to be children have read it but it was rompy. My husband bought this for the younger boy we are adopting for all those hours we don't let him play video games and ask him to do other things instead. Like read a book! Even if it's about video games. Ha.

[iamGamz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesooommmeee!!

Read this with my grandson over Easter weekend and we both LOVED it! It was different, exciting and so much fun!

It tells the story of 6th grader Jesse who finds himself and his best friend Eric trapped in a video game. They have to save the earth from aliens that has invaded the Earth. What should have been a simple video game mission turned really dangerous when a game glitch causes a self protection program to try killing Jesse and Eric.

We had a wonderful time reading this book. I highly recommend if you have a 7 year old boy who is always begging to play video games in your life. It's an excellent distraction from the actual games!

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked up this book after my son started reading it with his cousins. They read every night before bed and he was hooked after the first few chapters. We picked up the eBook as soon as we were home. My sone read it to me as part of his daily reading. A few times he even read well beyond the minimum 20 minutes a day. And we are already halfway through the next volume. Any book that inspires my son to keep reading when the timer goes off is a big winner in my books. And because of that it got a solid 5/5 stars from both of us.

This is the first installment in a five book series. We are a little late to the game, in that the whole series has already been released. It just means we can read them back to back. The story was first self published in 2016, then picked up and published in 2018 by Andrews McMeel Publishing.

This is a story about friendship, about video games, and about survival. Jesse Rigsby who hates video games. His best friend is Eric Conrad loves games and can’t wait to play the latest and greatest. Eric sends a text to Jesse and begs him to come over. When Jesse arrives, Eric is no where to be found. He picks up a controller and soon finds himself sucked into the video game under development Full Blast.

Jesse instantly realizes he has been sucked into the game. And his life will never be the same. And hopefully he can figure out the game enough to find his way out and back home.

The book has a definite homage to Heinlein’s Starship Troopers feel to it, or at least the game that they are sucked into. The book is fun and very fast paced. The story is a lot of fun. It is a good clean read. The characters are great. And there are a few twists I did not see coming. My son kept reading and raced through the book, and even asked to order book 2 before we had finished. We both have the eBooks on our readers for the rest of the series.

This is a great beginning to what looks like an excellent series. This family gives it top marks and highly recommend it.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

[Dennis Castro · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t need to read any book to my son that uses the phrase “he screamed like a girl”. Get this outdated junk out of here.

[Lisa Hardaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining read. Enough said.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I'm an assistant librarian, right? We have an elementary school next door, and classes come over once a week for a lesson and to check out/return a book. Today I had a student come to check out book 3 of this series, and I did my normal small talk thing, asking him how he was liking the series and what-not. I said that I'm a bit of a video game dork, but hadn't read this one. He then immediately walked over to the shelves, grabbed book 1, and told me to get to reading. He said it was that good.

Well, I suppose I should trust his recommendations from now on, because I had a blast reading this. Sure, it's juvenile, and a some of the gross-out humor doesn't work on me as much as it would have 30 years ago. But the story is something I would have daydreamed about at in school, and some of the other jokes made me straight up laugh out loud. Ya'll know how rare it is to actually, physically laugh at a book for me?
There's some fun little nods to game culture, like out-of-bounds areas and speed running, and the ending is actually making me consider grabbing book 2 to find out what happens next.

[Angela Lambkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique and different type of story involving a. video game!

I thought the author really did a great job in painting one scene after and after another quite vividly too! So, I want to recommend this for those ages 4-12 and or In grades 3-7 who loves to play video games like this of playing war type of games with different levels. I received this book for free, in return, here is my honest review. Super work Dustin B.! By Sunny.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my 4th grade class and I had so many of them beg me to keep reading during read a loud. A few of my boys even ordered their own copy because I wasn’t reading it fast enough! Now they are begging me to get the next book to read to them. I love that they were so excited to read every day and actively listened. Awesome book!

[Garima & Hemendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

The book was full of action and humor. It was a fun read,-11 year old son. It was super amazing

[Etienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy it as much as the others readers seem to have, but it definitely not a bad book. It's original, had good action, and may be the kind of the book that will attract boys to reading, and if it does, well it's more then enough to justify it's existence. But for me, I don't know why but I just not get into it, I'm not a big fan of those book based on video game, and I like video game a lot, but I when I play, I love to play, and when I read I read, it's not because I like both of those activities that I enjoy mixing them up.

[Ann Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly fun read my boys and I both enjoyed. Super quick chapters that always ended with a cliffhanger, there was more than one, “Just one more chapter pleeeeease!” The boys in the book enter a “reality mode” on a new video game and find themselves trapped in a glitch. It reminded me of the newer Jumanji movie, very clever! We’re looking forward to book 2!

[Alicia Flatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is three stars in quality but five stars in my heart. This is the first book where my son meaningfully read large portions to me. He's not a big gamer but that didn't stop him from loving the story, gasping in fear about the volcano or laughing maniacally during fight scenes with giant praying mantis enemies.

[Lyndsi Kay]

Read it with my 6 year old who loved it.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute book! I don’t know that it is worth as many 5 stars as it has but a strong 3 for sure! Great read with my kids at bedtime. Will be reading more in this series!

[Danalli Calhoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my 5 year old and he absolutely loved it! It kept his attention focused on the book and what was going to happen next. We can't wait to read the next book to see what happens to Jesse next!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I bought this with the intention of having my son read this independently, but he roped me into reading this together. I was dreading it because as much as I enjoy reading books together I would never choose to read a book about a boy trapped in a video game. The moment my kids start talking to me about their video games I tune right out. I was pleasantly surprised as we got a few chapters in and might even consider reading the next one in the series together.

[Ms. Goodbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for middle grades

This book is about a couple of kids who get trapped in a video game. I think the book is perfect for my students who are struggling to find books they like. It’s funny and kids have to ready work their comprehension muscles to visualize the events as they read. This will become part of my classroom library.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

:3 cute

[Faith Felice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for upper elementary. Students were engaged as we read it together. We then purchased the entire set and are on book 2.

[Michelle Nunya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy, where do I even begin with "Trapped in a Video Game: Book 1" by Dustin Brady? This children's book is an absolute rollercoaster of laughs, thrills, and more video game references than you can shake a joystick at!

From the moment I picked up this book, I was sucked into the digital world faster than a "Game Over" screen. The story follows Jesse, a typical kid who gets unexpectedly trapped inside a video game. And let me tell you, Jesse's journey is like nothing you've ever seen before.

First things first, the humor in this book is off the charts. I found myself chuckling on every page, and at times, I even burst out laughing, much to the confusion of my fellow subway passengers. Brady's witty writing style is a perfect match for the zany adventures Jesse finds himself in. Whether it's battling virtual monsters or trying to figure out the logic of a glitchy game world, the humor never misses a beat.

Now, let's talk about the characters. Jesse is an absolute gem. He's not your typical hero, but that's what makes him so relatable and lovable. His reactions to the absurd situations he encounters are pure gold. And the supporting cast? They're a delightful bunch too! From quirky allies to formidable foes, each character brings their own unique charm to the story.

And boy, oh boy, the video game references! If you're a gaming enthusiast, this book is an absolute treat. You'll find nods to classic games, hidden Easter eggs, and puns that will make your inner gamer jump for joy. It's like a treasure trove of geeky goodness, and I couldn't get enough of it.

The pacing of the story is another standout feature. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think things can't get any crazier, Brady throws another wild curveball that'll leave you breathless. I couldn't put the book down until I reached the very last page.

Now, I must warn you: once you finish this book, you'll be desperate for more. It's like getting a taste of your favorite virtual reality game and then being forced to wait for the sequel. So, make sure you have Book 2 nearby because you'll want to dive right back into the digital world!

[Korra Kool-Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sly, Funny, and Action-Packed

This is the first book in the planned five book series. Each book slips our heroes into a different perilous video game, so they work almost as standalones. But there's also an overall mystery/thriller arc, and it looks like that will get wrapped up in book five. (Each book concludes its individual story, but leaves behind a cliff hanger that leads to the next book and relates to the overall arc.)

The general idea is that an evil supervillain has an evil supervillainous plan, and our guys keep getting in his way. This time around they escape his clutches by dropping into a blocky, retro, 80's, side scrolling, island adventure game. They have to survive and then get out, while avoiding a robot assassin who has followed them into the game and then surviving the villain's attempts to erase them when they do get out.

But above and beyond that, the book is loaded with sly humor and with inside 80's gamer jokes. For example, at one point the villain starts monologuing about his devious plan for world domination. Eric keeps egging on the villain with inane questions. Jesse keeps trying to get Eric to be quiet because absolutely everybody knows that once the villain has disclosed his plan he has to eliminate the people he just told it to. But Jesse is also torn because the plan really is sort of especially evil and Jesse is sort of curious. Now that strikes me as a pretty knowing joke on the whole structure of action/adventure thrillers, and I would expect a middle grade reader to get that joke and be pretty pleased to get that joke. That's what I mean about the book being "smart". It's entertaining but it also brings the reader into the fun of reading this kind of stuff, (without ever mocking the genre). And the whole book has that kind of generous, knowing, upbeat, Boy's Own, vibe.

So, while the premise looked a little gimmicky at the outset, it really was handled very well, and the book delivered a ripping and amusing adventure in the company of some fine heroes. A nice find.

[Santosh Thapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jestha 14, 2078, Friday

Trapped in a Video Game Book 1 - Dustin Brady, Brady Jesse (2016)
(Trapped in a Video Game #1)

Genres: Adventure Fiction/ Science Fiction/ Middle Grade
Pages: 144
Rating: 8/10

Themes: Exploration/ Thinking out of the Box

Opener:
“Jesse. Come Over. Now. You’re not going to believe this.
That was the text that ruined my life.”

Summary:
Jesse Rigsby hates video games—and for good reason. You see, a video game character is trying to kill him. After getting sucked in the new game Full Blast with his friend Eric, Jesse starts to see the appeal of vaporizing man-size praying mantis while cruising around by jet pack. But pretty soon, a mysterious figure begins following Eric and Jesse, and they discover they can't leave the game. If they don't figure out what's going on fast, they'll be trapped for good!

Verdict:
The book was actually going really well until in the last chapter the author gets around to a clumsy sequel set up. It’s a well-written adventure book with great energy and appreciable style for most parts with stakes being raised regularly. The writer does an excellent job of making the reader feel like they are actually in a video game. I commend the author most in the fact that he assures early on that the kids will not be harmed for real, and that they would just spawn back at the last checkpoint if they died, we as readers still feel on edge when the characters go up against the video game foes. And you have to admit flying around Hawaii in a jetpack does sound cool. The sequel set up could have been handled more smoothly (it kind of reminded me of The Maze Runner) but barring that the book checks a lot of boxes as an imaginative middle grade adventure fiction.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's good for what feels like a "homebrew" book (simple layout, sibling author/artist team, 14-point Times New Roman body??). It feels a bit like a Reboot rip-off* but is a decent enough read for kids, though I'm not sure if I'd go out of my way to find more in the series.

*MAJOR SPOILERS:

So the obvious story is the main character (and a friend) somehow fall INTO a video game the friend is beta testing, and while the friend isn't too worried because he knows how to get back out, suddenly they CAN'T, until they happen to find another player... who turns out to be yet ANOTHER kid... who mysteriously disappeared a month prior... only said kid is now TWENTY YEARS OLDER.

I mentioned this to my spouse, who said it was like TRON, but in TRON it feels like they aged normally, while in Reboot, Enzo gets trapped in the games and ages rapidly compared to the normal system sprites/binomes (this is the biggest flaw in the Reboot universe, that computer time is faster than humans, but game time, with a human player, is faster than computers??).

Recommended for fans of first-person shooter games in specific; I wouldn't recommend for fans of video games any more than I would recommend any specific movie to "fans of movies" (imagine recommending Casablanca to fans of The Avengers).

[Sebas Capuano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about two kids that get trapped in a video game and they go through many adventures together. Some twists it had was that Jesse thought that Eric had Died. The characters in the hole book are Eric and Jesse. Jesse is the main character and he doesn’t like to play video games. Eric loves to play video games. I observed that the author’s voice was narrative because its a story based on an imaginary event. The most important part of the book is where Jess gets sucked into the video game because it is where the interesting part starts. This book changed my perspective of books because before I had the perspective that books were super boring and I actually enjoyed this one. I would recommend this book to everyone that doesn’t like books because it will change their perspectives too. Three quotes of the book: “With no weapons to defeat the alien and no way around him, I tried the only other video game move I knew. I jumped on his head like Mario. BOING!”. “I flew around Hawaii by jetpack.” “Get sprayed in the face with a fire hose full blast then watch someone else play video games.”

[Alexandra Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse, a sixth grader, wanted to find out what his friend, Eric, had texted him excitedly about. When he arrived at Eric's house, all he saw was a video game, Full Blast, but no Eric. Jesse grabs the controller and gets sucked into the game. As they play, Eric and Jesse accidentally activate the Hindenburg Protocol causing them to be trapped in the game.

I read this book with one of my 3rd-grade guided reading groups. The boys in the group rated this book 5 stars. It felt like a huge teacher-win when some of the boys searched for the rest of the books in the series. The girl in the group felt the book was boring. The storyline was similar to the modern version of Jumanji. I enjoyed the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. One of my boys liked the Hindenberg aliens the best; he said they were the "coolest characters in the book." Another boy said, "I think it was the best book that I read."

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very prepared to not like this book, but I actually think it hits really well for it's target - kids who are reluctant readers. A lot of "Hi-Lo" books are stiff and simple. This book combines just what I think a lot of kids want - a fast moving story with lots of dialog, accessible (but not dumbed down) language, and a relatable story. I do think boys and girls will like the story (despite there being zero girls in the book) and I think it will be well received by students in 3rd-5th. I do object to several references of "screamed like a little girl." Do better! But overall I won't feel bad at all giving this to my struggling/reluctant readers who are looking for a fun book that will make them feel like readers. Now we need more authors who realize girls can be reluctant/struggling readers too.

[Lori Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

My homeschool book club read this together, and we all really enjoyed it!

I loved how the whole book encompasses maybe a few hours inside of a video game. It reads very quickly, and the chapters are short, so it's easy to stop if needed and come back to.

Everything was explained simply enough to understand, even if you aren't a gamer. The cliffhanger ending was a total surprise! I really did not think it would end how it did.

Slight trigger warning: it briefly mentions a boy who is missing and presumed to have drowned by everyone in town. It doesn't go into any details surrounding it, really, and the boy is later "alive" in the video where he has been trapped when he started playing. I only mention cause some kids may be sensitive to that. It glossed over his disappearance quickly, and it isn't written depressingly at all.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not the best book i read because i do not like how the author introduced the sires. if i could tell the author to change one thing then i would tell him that his first book in the sires is pretty confusing until you read to like page 100. the first book was basically about a boy who hates video games but he gets a text from his friend telling him to go to his house then the main character, Jesse went to his friend, Aries house. Then he got sucked into a video game in the game and Jesse hated it until him and Eric started to get into a fun game. they find there friend mark and almost get him out of the game but a alien almost killed them and marked saved there life and let them go home and not him.

[J.C. Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and entertaining read. Lots of laughs and enough excitement to keep a middle grade reader turning pages. Jesse is a likable MC that a wide audience can connect with. The game elements were woven in to great effect, though sometimes I wonder if they weren't more for the edification of a grownup audience, with a bit of nostalgia thrown in--hence the loss of one star, as young readers don't really have any nostalgic tendencies, and won't feel so connected to some of the references. Over all it's a fun series and one that I would recommend to my middle-grade level students.

[Kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about some people named Jesse and Eric and they enter video games in their journey while other monsters try to stop them. When Jesse came over to Eric’s house Jesse wanted to play a game named Full Blast. When he pressed start the room went dark. He wanted to go back but he fell into the pit. When Jesse woke up he heard a person say wake up. He said to walk around and jump. The sergeant told him to practice his aiming at target practice. He was in a place named the impossible fortress!

My favorite character is robot mr Gregory because he mimics Charlie’s dad!