About this item
"The Narnia for the Social Media Generation."--The Wall Street Journal"Drawn from both video gaming culture and the rich tapestry of Jamaican myth and folklore, blending pointed social satire and mystical philosophy, this exuberant, original hero's journey is a real trip...Exhilarating, thought-provoking and one of a kind."--Kirkus Reviews"Adult author/Wall Street Journal editor Farley's middle-grade debut draws from Jamaican mythology and beliefs, as well as from other cultures, to weave a fast-paced, whimsical mixture of magic and action...the setting lends itself well to memorable imagery and a fun experience."--Publishers Weekly"Farley blends video gaming and Jamaican folklore in this intense, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that is sure to quickly grab readers."--BOOKLIST "Here (finally!) is a middle-grade action novel that showcases West Indian mythology and features protagonists of color."--School Library Journal"Game World is unique in that its fantasy world, as its name suggests, is built upon characters and stories from actual Jamaican folklore."--Philadelphia Review of BooksOne of This Spring's Hottest Teen Books, Huffington Post"I found it very hard to set down this excellent novel and do something else without thinking about it....I highly recommend his book to fans of fantasy. Because you will love it!!"--Middle Shelf (reviewed by Teak, age 13) "Farley writes in a straightforward way that is both accessible to younger readers but still interesting to adults."--Persephone Magazine"In his metaphorical world, Farley spares neither the dubious machinations of high finance nor the heartbreak of an orphan."--Center for Fiction"I highly recommend Game World for kids in 4th-12th grade. Parents can read it too and love the characters and story just as much as the kids."--The Family Coach"Game World is more of a good old-fashioned fantasy adventure than I expected--and I loved it for that. You don't have to be an expert gamer to enjoy this book."--Kidsmomo"A mixture of fantasy, reality, Jamaican folklore, and history. A great read for all, we love it! My kids and I can relate to the themes and characters in this wonderful adventure. Finally! Thank you, C.J. Farley!"--Ziggy MarleyDylan Rudee's life is an epic fail. He's bullied at school and the aunt who has raised him since he was orphaned as a child just lost her job and their apartment. Dylan's one chance to help his family is the only thing he's good at: video games. The multibillion-dollar company Mee Corp. has announced a televised tournament to find the Game-Changers: the forty-four kids who are the best in the world at playing Xamaica, a role-playing fantasy game that's sweeping the planet. If Dylan can win the top prize, he just might be able to change his life.It turns out that Dylan is the greatest gamer anyone has ever seen, and his skills unlock a real-life fantasy world inside the game. Now actual monsters are trying to kill him, and he is swept up into an adventure along with his too-tall genius sister Emma, his hacker best friend Eli, and Ines Mee, the privileged daughter of Mee Corp.'s mysterious CEO and chief inventor. Along the way they encounter Nestuh, a giant spider who can spin a story but not a web; Baron Zonip, a hummingbird king who rules a wildly wealthy treetop kingdom; and an enchantress named Nanni who, with her shadow army, may be bent on conquering Xamaica and stealing its magic.In order to save his sister and his friends, Dylan must solve a dangerous mystery in three days and uncover secrets about Xamaica, his family, and himself. But will he discover his hidden powers before two worlds--Xamaica and Earth--are completely destroyed?
About the Author
C.J. Farley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in Brockport, N.Y., and graduated from Harvard University, though not necessarily in that order. He is the author of the novels "Game World," "Kingston By Starlight," and "My Favorite War," and the nonfiction books "Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley" and "Aaliyah: More Than a Woman," which was the basis for the Lifetime TV movie "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B." Farley co-wrote and co-edited the book "The Blues" (Harper Collins) the companion volume to Martin Scorsese's PBS documentary series and his work on that project has allowed him to justifiably drop Scorsese's name into biographies like this one ever since. Farley's short fiction has been featured in a number of anthologies including "The Vintage Book of War Fiction," a survey of the best war stories of the last 100 years, and "Kingston Noir," a short story collection that came out in 2012. Farley was the consulting producer on the acclaimed HBO documentary "Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown," but now wishes he had just taken a writing credit because nobody quite understands what a consulting producer does. Farley is a former editor on the staff of the Harvard Lampoon and he deeply regrets any unfunny pranks he may have pulled in his college years.
