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SkyWake #1
SkyWake: Invasion
An exciting and original debut sci-fi adventure trilogy for the gaming generation
Fifteen-year-old Casey Henderson is obsessed with smash-hit game SkyWake – and she’s good at it, too. Little does she realize it’s actually an alien training tool created by the mysterious extra-terrestrial Red Eyes. When the aliens swoop down on a national gaming tournament, Casey and her teammates discover they’re abducting the best gamers to fight in a distant alien war across the galaxy. Casey’s gaming skills are her best hope of stopping the aliens and rescuing her little brother – but first she and her online teammates must learn to work together in real life…
Fifteen-year-old Casey Henderson is obsessed with smash-hit game SkyWake – and she’s good at it, too. Little does she realize it’s actually an alien training tool created by the mysterious extra-terrestrial Red Eyes. When the aliens swoop down on a national gaming tournament, Casey and her teammates discover they’re abducting the best gamers to fight in a distant alien war across the galaxy. Casey’s gaming skills are her best hope of stopping the aliens and rescuing her little brother – but first she and her online teammates must learn to work together in real life…
304 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2021
17 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Russell
27 books18 followersWhen Jamie was five, he saw a Space Invaders arcade machine in a greasy fish and chip shop at the seaside. It blew his mind and started a lifelong love of videogames.
After graduating from London University, Jamie became a film critic for the BBC and a contributing editor for Total Film magazine. He was sent to special movie screenings and fed free sandwiches. He thought it was the best job ever.
But he was wrong…
A little later, he wrote for videogame magazine EDGE and realised that you could actually get paid for shooting aliens in the face with shotguns.
Since then he has worked as a screenwriter, speechwriter and as a narrative consultant for a big US tech company that swore him to secrecy. He has written several non-fiction books for grown ups on everything from videogames to zombies.
His fiction debut is the SKYWAKE trilogy for readers 9+ launching in March 2021. It's a story about videogames, aliens and what it takes to be a leader.
After graduating from London University, Jamie became a film critic for the BBC and a contributing editor for Total Film magazine. He was sent to special movie screenings and fed free sandwiches. He thought it was the best job ever.
But he was wrong…
A little later, he wrote for videogame magazine EDGE and realised that you could actually get paid for shooting aliens in the face with shotguns.
Since then he has worked as a screenwriter, speechwriter and as a narrative consultant for a big US tech company that swore him to secrecy. He has written several non-fiction books for grown ups on everything from videogames to zombies.
His fiction debut is the SKYWAKE trilogy for readers 9+ launching in March 2021. It's a story about videogames, aliens and what it takes to be a leader.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 13, 2021
There were a lot of great elements with this book and overall I think it has a lot of potential as a Middle Grade/ Sci Fi series that a lot of readers will love.
I am always apprehensive when I come across male authors, trying to write female characters, particularly teenage female characters, however the way Casey was portrayed in this book was a really pleasant surprise to me. As a whole, I think the author did a great job at portraying all of the characters in this book, with a lot of diversity and also personal detail being written into each one without making them caricatures of their respective roles. I certainly wasn't expecting the conversations on prejudice, individual morality/ethics and loss, the friendship element and ultimately the way the characters grew whilst supporting each other,r was a joy to read.
I loved the Video Game and Alien Invasion mashup storyline and the story itself read really vividly, it totally took me back to watching the Sarah Jane Adventures when I was younger and would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy that sort of TV but are perhaps a bit more reluctant towards reading.
At first I was a little bit confused about the age range this book is targeted towards, there are some pretty brutal scenes however the writing style is more simplistic and straight to the point. Howeveer, I do think this would be great for older readers who perhaps don't have the skill or attention span yet to emmerse themselves in longer YA or even Adult SciFi novels as they can be hard to find sometimes. Just use your own judgement as to whether you think your child would find some of the scenes upsetting.
Overall a super great read and one with many elements I was not expecting.
I am always apprehensive when I come across male authors, trying to write female characters, particularly teenage female characters, however the way Casey was portrayed in this book was a really pleasant surprise to me. As a whole, I think the author did a great job at portraying all of the characters in this book, with a lot of diversity and also personal detail being written into each one without making them caricatures of their respective roles. I certainly wasn't expecting the conversations on prejudice, individual morality/ethics and loss, the friendship element and ultimately the way the characters grew whilst supporting each other,r was a joy to read.
I loved the Video Game and Alien Invasion mashup storyline and the story itself read really vividly, it totally took me back to watching the Sarah Jane Adventures when I was younger and would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy that sort of TV but are perhaps a bit more reluctant towards reading.
At first I was a little bit confused about the age range this book is targeted towards, there are some pretty brutal scenes however the writing style is more simplistic and straight to the point. Howeveer, I do think this would be great for older readers who perhaps don't have the skill or attention span yet to emmerse themselves in longer YA or even Adult SciFi novels as they can be hard to find sometimes. Just use your own judgement as to whether you think your child would find some of the scenes upsetting.
Overall a super great read and one with many elements I was not expecting.
July 15, 2021
Skywake Invasion tells the story of how Casey Henderson – player name: Casey_Flow – goes from insecure gamer to elite warrior in the space of a day. When there’s a tournament for her favourite game, Skywake, at the local shopping complex, she’s right there. Only, the team she plays with online (the Ghost Reapers) thinks she’s a boy and she’s not sure how they’ll react, finding out she’s been lying to them all this time. Her brother, Peter, ends up taking her place on the competition stage… But the squad is in for a shock. Because, it’s not a game. I repeat: this is not a game.
I don’t want to give anything away, but this is an absolutely flawless middle grade sci-fi adventure. It runs smoothly – no hold-ups, no glitches – and swaps brilliantly between the real time threat and the intermittent chapters that build your understanding of why Casey and Peter are who they are, from the death of their gentle father back to the time he first bought them an ancient retro arcade game. Space Invaders.
So what can you expect? Game talk, fighting, armour, gadgets, bravery, sacrifice, team work, missions within missions – an all-you-can-eat buffet of sci-fi thrills.
But as well as being effortlessly entertaining (the pages practically turn themselves), the characters are inclusive and considered: 3D as opposed to 2-ply. I love Casey, with her blue hair and dad's dog-tags - she's your characterful skater-gamer girl, with keen instincts and a bruised heart. But all of them have different personalities, abilities and relationships, and yes, they all learn something about themselves and their place in the world (not telling you which one).
The story also contains some great trivia about the origins of the arcade games, and how the tactics used in defeating descending aliens could be transferred to the ‘field’. (Now, there’s a clue devoid of all camouflage if there ever was one!)
The pace is fast, the characters strong, the plot ingenious, and the ending… Well, it’ll leave you freefalling, as stomach-flipping as if you’ve just realised the tether’s snapped on your moonwalk. But I think this means there’s a sequel. Let’s hope so, because I’m not ready for the story of Casey_Flow and the Ghost Reapers to end. Not yet. They haven’t lost all their lives. I doubt if they’ve even hit their personal best. Surely there’s another level…
Skywake Invasion is fresh and exciting. A big idea with small details that make you believe, this a book that I hope will invade the space on many shelves this summer. It’s a perfect read for reluctant readers, gamers, adventurers and lovers of the questions: what’s out there, and is it coming for us?
Reader, are you ready?
I don’t want to give anything away, but this is an absolutely flawless middle grade sci-fi adventure. It runs smoothly – no hold-ups, no glitches – and swaps brilliantly between the real time threat and the intermittent chapters that build your understanding of why Casey and Peter are who they are, from the death of their gentle father back to the time he first bought them an ancient retro arcade game. Space Invaders.
So what can you expect? Game talk, fighting, armour, gadgets, bravery, sacrifice, team work, missions within missions – an all-you-can-eat buffet of sci-fi thrills.
But as well as being effortlessly entertaining (the pages practically turn themselves), the characters are inclusive and considered: 3D as opposed to 2-ply. I love Casey, with her blue hair and dad's dog-tags - she's your characterful skater-gamer girl, with keen instincts and a bruised heart. But all of them have different personalities, abilities and relationships, and yes, they all learn something about themselves and their place in the world (not telling you which one).
The story also contains some great trivia about the origins of the arcade games, and how the tactics used in defeating descending aliens could be transferred to the ‘field’. (Now, there’s a clue devoid of all camouflage if there ever was one!)
The pace is fast, the characters strong, the plot ingenious, and the ending… Well, it’ll leave you freefalling, as stomach-flipping as if you’ve just realised the tether’s snapped on your moonwalk. But I think this means there’s a sequel. Let’s hope so, because I’m not ready for the story of Casey_Flow and the Ghost Reapers to end. Not yet. They haven’t lost all their lives. I doubt if they’ve even hit their personal best. Surely there’s another level…
Skywake Invasion is fresh and exciting. A big idea with small details that make you believe, this a book that I hope will invade the space on many shelves this summer. It’s a perfect read for reluctant readers, gamers, adventurers and lovers of the questions: what’s out there, and is it coming for us?
Reader, are you ready?
July 29, 2021
Well this is just a brilliant book. My kids are going to love this one (now I’ve finished it myself!).
I have gamer girls, who already noted some comparisons to Halo on the cover.
It’s a brilliant MG and I while i have seen some folk here commenting that ‘some scenes may verge on YA’ as there is death/fighting, Inwould argue, that in my opinion, as a gamer and a mum, it’s fine.
If you have kids that game, they know this is part of the gaming experience and it’s done in such a brilliant way that it’s not graphic, nor traumatic, it just is and a lot is still left open to imagination.
I’m so excited to see where this book goes next, it feels like there’s a whole unexplored market here, for gamers and especially gamer girls who FINALLY get a bit of the spotlight. Love it.
I have gamer girls, who already noted some comparisons to Halo on the cover.
It’s a brilliant MG and I while i have seen some folk here commenting that ‘some scenes may verge on YA’ as there is death/fighting, Inwould argue, that in my opinion, as a gamer and a mum, it’s fine.
If you have kids that game, they know this is part of the gaming experience and it’s done in such a brilliant way that it’s not graphic, nor traumatic, it just is and a lot is still left open to imagination.
I’m so excited to see where this book goes next, it feels like there’s a whole unexplored market here, for gamers and especially gamer girls who FINALLY get a bit of the spotlight. Love it.
February 23, 2023
An exciting and fast paced book which exceeded my expectations until the end which was just left completely unresolved. This is obviously for the sequel however it just felt like half a book rather than a book with an ending that could be continued.
This is the last book for the Awesome Book Awards 2023 and is likely to be popular. Interested to hear what my Y6 book club think of that ending.
This is the last book for the Awesome Book Awards 2023 and is likely to be popular. Interested to hear what my Y6 book club think of that ending.
October 9, 2021
I absolutely loved this middle grade sci fi novel. A gamer girl and aliens! Love how she struggles with letting her gamer teammates know she is a girl, very realistic. The descriptions of the alien violence seem to make it an upper middle grade, I would not say it is for a younger crowd because of that. But loved it and would recommend it!
April 9, 2022
This is a fabulous turn-paging piece of escapism from Jamie Russell. Infused with action that will appeal to video gamers with a plot that nods to The Last Starfighter but is bang up-to-date. Plus a host of characters that you'll be rooting for from the off. The story has an arc, but it clearly leads straight into book two and I'll be getting my hands on that very soon...
March 20, 2022
Casey is a brilliant gamer; she's currently the leader of a gaming group who are amazing at a game called Skywake. When invited to an esports event, Casey doesn't want to go as the group will find out she's actually a girl. However, as her team starts to lose the competition she steps up to the plate. But all is not what it appears. The game is actually a recruiting program run by aliens in the game! The shopping mall is soon overrun and Casey must battle her way to rescue her brother, who the aliens believe is Casey!
Things I liked:
- The characters were all distinct and grew as the book went on
- Nice diversity
- Russell squeezed some deep conversations in the plot about ethics, friendship, loss, and prejudice but did so in a non-preachy way
- I liked the flashback sections
- The action was well described and the pace of the book was brilliant
Things I didn't like:
- At times the story felt a little basic. It was very reactive in terms of plot which meant it was hard to reflect on characters and events which were happening.
- The ending was a cliffhanger!
- I wished there had been more backstory to Casey's character, the scenes with her dad were really nice and I wished more of them had been included. As this is a trilogy I imagine Russell is holding some details back.
- As a gamer, we would all like to show off our skills but these kids going full Rambo felt a little out there.
This is a high-action romp that will have you turning pages quickly. The action is fun to read and the characters are likable and grow enough to make them feel real. This book gets straight into the action and would be ideal for reluctant readers. I really enjoyed my time in Skywake but that ending was brutal! Great middle-grade sci-fi.
Things I liked:
- The characters were all distinct and grew as the book went on
- Nice diversity
- Russell squeezed some deep conversations in the plot about ethics, friendship, loss, and prejudice but did so in a non-preachy way
- I liked the flashback sections
- The action was well described and the pace of the book was brilliant
Things I didn't like:
- At times the story felt a little basic. It was very reactive in terms of plot which meant it was hard to reflect on characters and events which were happening.
- The ending was a cliffhanger!
- I wished there had been more backstory to Casey's character, the scenes with her dad were really nice and I wished more of them had been included. As this is a trilogy I imagine Russell is holding some details back.
- As a gamer, we would all like to show off our skills but these kids going full Rambo felt a little out there.
This is a high-action romp that will have you turning pages quickly. The action is fun to read and the characters are likable and grow enough to make them feel real. This book gets straight into the action and would be ideal for reluctant readers. I really enjoyed my time in Skywake but that ending was brutal! Great middle-grade sci-fi.
October 15, 2024
Jamie Russell’s “SkyWake Invasion” catapults readers into an electrifying adventure where the boundaries between reality and gaming blur seamlessly. The story centers around Casey Henderson, also known as CASEY_FLOW, whose fervor for the video game SkyWake takes a thrilling turn when the game’s virtual challenges spill into the real world, ensnaring gamers in an unexpected peril.
As Casey immerses herself in a high-stakes tournament, the emergence of Red Eye aliens adds an unexpected layer of intensity. The narrative unfolds as Casey, with the assistance of her formidable team, The Ghost Reapers, races against time to decipher the enigma behind the game turning into a real-life ordeal.
Russell skillfully weaves a trilogy that is rife with riveting twists, ensuring readers are captivated from start to finish. The relentless pace and unexpected game-changing moments make it nearly impossible for readers to set the book aside.
This best-selling trilogy not only delivers on the promise of an immersive gaming experience but also introduces elements that can be as perilous as they are thrilling. It’s a rollercoaster ride of suspense, strategy, and unexpected alliances.
In conclusion, “SkyWake Invasion” is a must-read for both devoted video game enthusiasts and avid readers who relish science fiction with a penchant for immersive storytelling. Russell’s narrative prowess ensures that readers, whether gamers or not, will find themselves spellbound by the enthralling blend of virtual reality and tangible danger.
As Casey immerses herself in a high-stakes tournament, the emergence of Red Eye aliens adds an unexpected layer of intensity. The narrative unfolds as Casey, with the assistance of her formidable team, The Ghost Reapers, races against time to decipher the enigma behind the game turning into a real-life ordeal.
Russell skillfully weaves a trilogy that is rife with riveting twists, ensuring readers are captivated from start to finish. The relentless pace and unexpected game-changing moments make it nearly impossible for readers to set the book aside.
This best-selling trilogy not only delivers on the promise of an immersive gaming experience but also introduces elements that can be as perilous as they are thrilling. It’s a rollercoaster ride of suspense, strategy, and unexpected alliances.
In conclusion, “SkyWake Invasion” is a must-read for both devoted video game enthusiasts and avid readers who relish science fiction with a penchant for immersive storytelling. Russell’s narrative prowess ensures that readers, whether gamers or not, will find themselves spellbound by the enthralling blend of virtual reality and tangible danger.
April 14, 2022
So the saying goes, "When life throws a curveball hit it out of the park."
Well.
Does that really apply when a full out Alien Invasion is commenced on planet Earth?
If so. Here's a slight edition.
"When life throws curveballs. Go with the FLOW."
This book reviews that it's okay to be different, and that in the end, it's the bond that you have with those people or community really count. There's no "I" no team.
Throughout the book, we see the characters facing situations individually, and overcome them together. Especially in the department of kicking alien butt. We see adventure, family, fantasy, struggles and determination featured throughout the book.
Not mention, that girls rock at video games.
Well.
Does that really apply when a full out Alien Invasion is commenced on planet Earth?
If so. Here's a slight edition.
"When life throws curveballs. Go with the FLOW."
This book reviews that it's okay to be different, and that in the end, it's the bond that you have with those people or community really count. There's no "I" no team.
Throughout the book, we see the characters facing situations individually, and overcome them together. Especially in the department of kicking alien butt. We see adventure, family, fantasy, struggles and determination featured throughout the book.
Not mention, that girls rock at video games.
March 1, 2024
I really enjoyed Skywake Invasion - it was a lot of fun and I have no choice but to read the next one as it finishes on a cliffhanger.
It's hard to put into an age range as from the writing style I'd say it's more of a 9-12 book but there are some darker themes of loss, grief and violence so it's definitely up to the parents discretion. The main characters are well rounded and individual without feeling like stereotypes and there's a fair bit of diversity which is good to read.
Such a cool idea and I think it would go down really well with kids (and adults) who are fans of Doctor Who or sci-fi in general.
It's hard to put into an age range as from the writing style I'd say it's more of a 9-12 book but there are some darker themes of loss, grief and violence so it's definitely up to the parents discretion. The main characters are well rounded and individual without feeling like stereotypes and there's a fair bit of diversity which is good to read.
Such a cool idea and I think it would go down really well with kids (and adults) who are fans of Doctor Who or sci-fi in general.
May 12, 2021
I hate to feel like I am suffering a generation gap but this title was like a mix of middle grade trying to be YA trying to be middle grade ... does that make sense? Simplifying text but YA killing. Online teams playing a shoot to survive alien game that then happen to become real .... I didn’t struggle to get through it but I was not completely sold by it. I think some grammatical errors put me off - one purposefully in a chapter heading as identified within the chapter but “Not for nothing Skywake players called them the Romans of outer space” ... that reads wrong to me?!? A missing comma? I don’t know. I love Walker Books ... maybe not this one so much.
August 31, 2022
Pacy story about a team of gamers, led by Casey, a girl who had been using a male voice because of stereotypes, arriving in person for a gaming tournament. It becomes all too real when aliens arrive and the team has to put all their skills to work to rescue Casey’s little brother and to stop themselves being taken as prisoners. The book is diverse, addresses stereotypes, has a gentle but deceased military father and great Jaws references for those of us old enough to stop them. Upper middle grade and reluctant readers should get the most out of this.
June 18, 2024
Wow that was a brilliant book, I've had this book on my shelf since release day and I'm mad I didn't start it sooner. This book was very good, I enjoyed the story to this book it flowed very well, the plot was very entertaining and the ending was not what I expected 😅 the characters in this book were all amazing to read about, seeing the growth and trust in their friendship was brilliant! I loved the little flash backs to casey and her dad was adorable and a great addition to the story. This book is full of action and heartfelt moments! I highly recommend this one! 4/5 ✨️
December 17, 2023
Giving this five stars on behalf of my kid, who's read and loved the whole SkyWake trilogy. He is a big fan of all the action and gamer vibes, and given that he will drop a book immediately if he starts to lose interest, the fact that he's read all three is huge praise indeed! Needless to say, these books have become firm favourites.
July 9, 2021
This had a great concept and premise but to me, the execution just didn't follow through. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and the plot just felt one-dimensional and dragged out. I really wanted to like it more than I did.
August 8, 2021
Perfect for reluctant readers that love videogames! Can't wait for the next one!
March 13, 2022
Enjoyable lower middle grade action. Gamer kids will love it.
May 24, 2022
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Overwatch was the Last Starfighter? Well then keep wondering because the start of that is literally where this book ends.
July 29, 2022
Fun middle grade sci-fi story that I'm very excited to see escalate in space!
Yes, I'm still trying to get my Star Trek fix.
Yes, I'm still trying to get my Star Trek fix.
March 13, 2024
It was ok...
August 16, 2024
I found this book a bit boring could be c longer and more uum creative.
September 11, 2024
this went above my expectations!!
March 8, 2025
This book has lots of action and made me unable to put it down. the variety of characters just showed how amazing it is and now it has Mr begging my library to get the next books of the series.
July 25, 2022
Amazing! I love how much girl power Casey shows and courage, especially when she reveals that she was using a voice changer to her teammates! Truly an inspiration!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2021
I’m a gamer at heart and lately I’ve tried to read more books with the gaming theme. So I got real excited when I found SkyWake. The cover is so awesome that I was drawn to the book at first sight. The story about Casey and her Reapers was just as good as I imagined it would be. Filled with action that drives the story forward. Just FYI: This book ends with a cliffhanger. Great start to the series and I can’t wait for the next book.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Walker Books!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Walker Books!
September 17, 2023
Representation: Side Asian and Black characters, a character with a physical disability
Trigger warnings: Abduction of a brother, death of a father, explosions, fire
7/10, this was an interesting sci-fi book and after I read Prodigy by Marie Lu maybe this would be good as well--it was--but not as good as Prodigy just as I had thought due to the few flaws I saw in this but the positives outweighed them, where do I begin. It begins with the main character Casey Henderson and her brother Pete; the special thing is that she's really into this game called SkyWake which is a team shooter so she goes to a mall to participate in a tournament. For some reason her brother Pete gets chosen into the team called the Ghost Reapers and they play against another team whose name I forgot, Pete made the team lose since he made some mistakes then Casey had to step in and the Ghost Reapers were disqualified which was an understandable result. Out of nowhere some aliens called Red Eyes which were just like the ones in SkyWake arrive and Casey and her team are the only ones who can stop them. Is this another one of those "chosen one" stories where only a select few people will save the world from destruction, I don't know but it's not that original and it feels like War of the Worlds but with video games. Anyways they try and fight off the aliens, then they go to the dropship which coincidentally is a map in SkyWake so they know what's going on and in the end, they arrive on an alien planet which is another SkyWake map ending the book in a cliffhanger.
Trigger warnings: Abduction of a brother, death of a father, explosions, fire
7/10, this was an interesting sci-fi book and after I read Prodigy by Marie Lu maybe this would be good as well--it was--but not as good as Prodigy just as I had thought due to the few flaws I saw in this but the positives outweighed them, where do I begin. It begins with the main character Casey Henderson and her brother Pete; the special thing is that she's really into this game called SkyWake which is a team shooter so she goes to a mall to participate in a tournament. For some reason her brother Pete gets chosen into the team called the Ghost Reapers and they play against another team whose name I forgot, Pete made the team lose since he made some mistakes then Casey had to step in and the Ghost Reapers were disqualified which was an understandable result. Out of nowhere some aliens called Red Eyes which were just like the ones in SkyWake arrive and Casey and her team are the only ones who can stop them. Is this another one of those "chosen one" stories where only a select few people will save the world from destruction, I don't know but it's not that original and it feels like War of the Worlds but with video games. Anyways they try and fight off the aliens, then they go to the dropship which coincidentally is a map in SkyWake so they know what's going on and in the end, they arrive on an alien planet which is another SkyWake map ending the book in a cliffhanger.
March 4, 2022
Update: reread for readers cup questions
All action, all fast-paced, it's all on!
Team work, leadership and courage.
Mind the cliff-hanger end.
All action, all fast-paced, it's all on!
Team work, leadership and courage.
Mind the cliff-hanger end.
March 16, 2024
I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews