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Trapped in a Video Game #5
Trapped in a Video Game: The Final Boss
Kids who love video games will love this fifth and final installment of the 5-book series about 12-year old Jesse Rigsby and the wild adventures he encounters inside different video games.
Age 8-12 Grade 3rd and up
Jesse and Eric have ten minutes to save the world. In those ten minutes, they’re supposed to dive into a massive video game universe, track down an all-powerful madman, and stop his evil plan before it’s too late. Sound impossible? It’s super impossible. There will be fire-breathing pterodactyls, angry green giants, and unicorns that shoot lasers out of their hooves. If Jesse and Eric are going to survive long enough to fight the final boss, they’ll need to rely on each other like never before. Do they have what it takes? The clock is ticking.
Age 8-12 Grade 3rd and up
Jesse and Eric have ten minutes to save the world. In those ten minutes, they’re supposed to dive into a massive video game universe, track down an all-powerful madman, and stop his evil plan before it’s too late. Sound impossible? It’s super impossible. There will be fire-breathing pterodactyls, angry green giants, and unicorns that shoot lasers out of their hooves. If Jesse and Eric are going to survive long enough to fight the final boss, they’ll need to rely on each other like never before. Do they have what it takes? The clock is ticking.
208 pages, Paperback
Published February 26, 2019
208 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 24, 2020
The end of the line! This story and series has run it’s course. Dustin Brady has wrapped it up in this fifth and final book. And what a fitting title for a series of books about video games. These books were an interesting exploration of video games, fads, trends, and styles of play. There was also a volume that focused on retro style games and game play. And yet the books were great fun to read. My son read the 5 of them to me over a few months. We had picked up the first book in this series, Trapped in a Video Game, 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, and my son devoured it. And now we have finished the whole serries. It has left my son at a bit of a loss for what to read next. And I have a feeling we might end up returning to this series soon and rereading it.
This is the fifth and final installment in this series. And there has been no indications that the series will expand beyond the five books, unlike Adam’s Hitchhiker Trilogy. We were late to the game, in that the whole series has already been released before we started it. That just meant we can read them all back to back. Without having to wait for the next volume to release.
This is a story about friendship, about video games, and about survival. In this one the video game elements have changed. The friends have been sucked back into a computer world, the Rubenverse, and it is truly a battle of life and death for all humans. That is a lot to put on some young guys shoulders. And soon the two are fighting their way through world after world. Some fun and some very much not so. They must learn and adapt in each new environment. And soon the two are at odds with each other about how to proceed. And there might be a very high price to pay for their conflict. Can friendship survive when you are trying to do whatever it takes to win.
The story draws you in and really keeps your attention. It is interesting seeing the mix of cutting-edge technology and how both kids and adults interact with it. The story is very well written. The characters after 4 stories is like visiting old friends. And it ends with a surprising twist after finally meeting the real Final Boss and not just holograms of him.
It is a great read in an excellent conclusion to the series. Our family gives it top marks and highly recommends the whole series!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Dustin Brady.
This is the fifth and final installment in this series. And there has been no indications that the series will expand beyond the five books, unlike Adam’s Hitchhiker Trilogy. We were late to the game, in that the whole series has already been released before we started it. That just meant we can read them all back to back. Without having to wait for the next volume to release.
This is a story about friendship, about video games, and about survival. In this one the video game elements have changed. The friends have been sucked back into a computer world, the Rubenverse, and it is truly a battle of life and death for all humans. That is a lot to put on some young guys shoulders. And soon the two are fighting their way through world after world. Some fun and some very much not so. They must learn and adapt in each new environment. And soon the two are at odds with each other about how to proceed. And there might be a very high price to pay for their conflict. Can friendship survive when you are trying to do whatever it takes to win.
The story draws you in and really keeps your attention. It is interesting seeing the mix of cutting-edge technology and how both kids and adults interact with it. The story is very well written. The characters after 4 stories is like visiting old friends. And it ends with a surprising twist after finally meeting the real Final Boss and not just holograms of him.
It is a great read in an excellent conclusion to the series. Our family gives it top marks and highly recommends the whole series!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Dustin Brady.
October 21, 2020
Kids loved this series! They really got into it and we were all anxious to see how it ended.
December 30, 2020
We really enjoyed reading this series as a family. The final boss battle is very epic, but a little anticlimactic and strange ending. Overall would recommend this series for any little boys (or parents) who love video games!
December 28, 2018
A Socko Finish
This is the final book in the "Trapped in a Video Game" series, and possibly my favorite. The first four books took our two heroes into various games, (I liked the retro side scroller from Book Four's Doom Island), as they tried to figure out the mystery they were caught in. But this Book Five brings it all together, allows them to confront the Final Boss, and is a fine example of middle grade LitRPG.
I think of LitRPG as consisting of a hero following a traditional path that you'd find in an RPG, (say, "save the Princess"), but aware of the fact that he is actually in a Role Playing Game, either voluntarily or by unhappy chance. So, you get to see how well the author can mix and match the conventions of romantic adventure novels with the conventions of role playing games. Some tip more to one side and some tip more to the other. This one leans heavily to the RPG side and spends lots more time on the game-ish parts than the actual adventure plot, which is almost an afterthought.
That's fine by me and that's what makes this series fresh and interesting. Lots of twists and surprises that turn on how games work. And it's also loaded with inside jokes that knowledgeable young gamers will recognize. (Example. At one point our narrator refers to "XP points". He is advised that "XP" stands for "experience points" and that "XP points" means "experience points points". So get it right.)
Surprisingly, the two heroes have become more engaging and interesting as the series has progressed. Sometimes in a series like this a lot of effort is put into the first book to establish the characters, and then they just stay put. Here, our narrator and his partner have gotten funnier and more insightful as the story has developed, and they are better characters now than when we started out, which is a nice treat and helps keep interest and engagement up.
My bottom line is that I enjoyed this series and would expect a middle grade reader who enjoyed either adventure or computer gaming to be interested in giving the books a try. A fun find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is the final book in the "Trapped in a Video Game" series, and possibly my favorite. The first four books took our two heroes into various games, (I liked the retro side scroller from Book Four's Doom Island), as they tried to figure out the mystery they were caught in. But this Book Five brings it all together, allows them to confront the Final Boss, and is a fine example of middle grade LitRPG.
I think of LitRPG as consisting of a hero following a traditional path that you'd find in an RPG, (say, "save the Princess"), but aware of the fact that he is actually in a Role Playing Game, either voluntarily or by unhappy chance. So, you get to see how well the author can mix and match the conventions of romantic adventure novels with the conventions of role playing games. Some tip more to one side and some tip more to the other. This one leans heavily to the RPG side and spends lots more time on the game-ish parts than the actual adventure plot, which is almost an afterthought.
That's fine by me and that's what makes this series fresh and interesting. Lots of twists and surprises that turn on how games work. And it's also loaded with inside jokes that knowledgeable young gamers will recognize. (Example. At one point our narrator refers to "XP points". He is advised that "XP" stands for "experience points" and that "XP points" means "experience points points". So get it right.)
Surprisingly, the two heroes have become more engaging and interesting as the series has progressed. Sometimes in a series like this a lot of effort is put into the first book to establish the characters, and then they just stay put. Here, our narrator and his partner have gotten funnier and more insightful as the story has developed, and they are better characters now than when we started out, which is a nice treat and helps keep interest and engagement up.
My bottom line is that I enjoyed this series and would expect a middle grade reader who enjoyed either adventure or computer gaming to be interested in giving the books a try. A fun find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
February 24, 2020
This was the last book in the trapped in a video game sires and honestly the best. in this book the characters Jesse and Eric are tasked to become ninja warier and they have to pass a set of tests in order to prove that they are worthy there last best is to kill each other but instead they try to kill the evil man forcing them to do this who name is Max. Max sends Eric to a box that is super hard to escape and Jesse gets super mad and sends Max to a different box that is even harder to escape. Finally there friend who worked for max helped Eric out of the box using a technique that only he knew. This book of course is non-fiction so the events in the book are fake. the author made this book to entertain readers.
March 9, 2019
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Finally, face to face with the Boss. A fantastic wrap-up to an extraordinary adventure.
Everything is tied up nice and neatly in a huge bow in this book. All unaswered questions are answered and the MCs finally achieve their ultimate goal. Character development is done with humorous effects. Plot and pacing are fast and true.
Lots of relatable gamer inside information and a perfect ending.
This is a great series for any lad or girl to become entranced with while working on reading skills. I can’t recommend it enough.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Finally, face to face with the Boss. A fantastic wrap-up to an extraordinary adventure.
Everything is tied up nice and neatly in a huge bow in this book. All unaswered questions are answered and the MCs finally achieve their ultimate goal. Character development is done with humorous effects. Plot and pacing are fast and true.
Lots of relatable gamer inside information and a perfect ending.
This is a great series for any lad or girl to become entranced with while working on reading skills. I can’t recommend it enough.
October 12, 2024
4.5 stars says my 11 year-old son Thomas! The book would have been a 5 star review but, the plot got confusing at times. This was an exciting conclusion to the book series. My son and I especially liked the arena fighting scenes and the ending where Jesse confronts and defeats Max Reuben. It was a nice touch to see Beans come from the Reubenverse and we enjoyed the happy ending when Eric returned. What a fun book series. I recommend this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2022
These are just fun. Fast, a little snarky, works through friendship troubles. Always have a good cliffhanger. My son was so mad at the second to last chapter-how could they end the series like this!? Lesson in the need to finish a book. It ends well.
June 23, 2022
All I can say is thank goodness I don't have to listen to a bunch of screaming any longer. This was one of the better in the series and my kids absolutely loved it (they say 5 stars, but 4 is way generous). These were the perfect length for 9-13 year olds to enjoy while riding in the car.
June 2, 2024
My son says: “Best book ever for gamers!”
Personally, I was disappointed that only one book in the series featured a female. All the other characters in the book including main parents and bad guys, were all male.
Personally, I was disappointed that only one book in the series featured a female. All the other characters in the book including main parents and bad guys, were all male.
July 13, 2025
I think this was my favorite in the series. I read this series with my 10 year old and it was perfect for kids who love adventure and parents who don't love screen time! I also loved the added touch of a secret note given to kids who complete the whole series. so creative and good, clean fun!
Read
February 24, 2020Great ending to such a fun series.
July 9, 2020
A boss of greatness. The end of video greatness.
February 1, 2021
A great way to end the series.
February 22, 2021
This series is just so much fun
April 15, 2021
My son loved this book and was disappointed it was the last book. He was really into the story.
February 3, 2022
Great conclusion to an awesome series.
February 15, 2022
I liked it because there were a lot of battles and then I thought Eric died but he came back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2022
Entertaining
Great series for 9 and 10 year old boys who love video games. They couldn't wait for each new chapter.
Great series for 9 and 10 year old boys who love video games. They couldn't wait for each new chapter.
January 10, 2024
It is such a good book if you like video games. It gets sad at the end though.
April 11, 2024
i'm currently reading this and it's SO COOL! What i'm trying to say is this book is crazy good and I love it. Like, I think i'm on chapter 16 or 17 and it's pretty cool.
July 22, 2025
Read through with the kids. It was a great ending to the series.
September 19, 2025
Enjoyed reading this series with my 5th grader.
January 1, 2026
I liked "pizza boy," a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2024
Rating feom my 7 yr old. Loved listening to these audiobooks with him.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews