Gamerville

Gr 4-7–Max loves video games and he’s good at them. In fact, he made the championship finals for his favorite game, “Lone Wolf of Calamity Bay,” and is going to Gamerville! But his mother is overprotective; she worries about his safety and that video games will make him weird. As a result, she pulls strings to get him into Camp Reset, which starts the next day. Max schemes to escape from this tech-free camp, and the story’s perspective shifts to Zanzi, a Camp Reset lover and veteran, and to Dylan, who struggles to control his anger. The shift to these and many more camp characters turns Max’s singular narrative into additional story arcs that add depth but can sometimes be tricky to follow. But messages about unhealthy habits, conflict resolution, connection, and being open to new challenges even out the wonkiness of the storylines. Structured into 12 chapter “levels,” Max’s journey to redemption ties together all characters. Christmas’s art is clean and dynamic with striking colors and a variety of panel layouts. Immersion into the world of “Lone Wolf,” with asides of Max strategizing, will resonate with video game players, as will the parallels between Max’s gaming mind and the survival and collaboration skills he gains at camp.