IRL: In Real Life

Tue, 06/02/2015 - 9:54am by hanxanth

In Real Life written by Cory Doctorow and illustrated by Jen Wang is a slice-of-life graphic novel for anyone who loves video games. It takes a look at Anda, a high school girl who gets involved in a massive-multiplayer online game called Coarsegold Online. She loves the game because it lets her be a warrior and a hero, fighting with her friends and slaying monsters. It's all battle and earning experience points until Anda meets a poor Chinese boy who plays a gold farmer in the game. This boy, along with many other Chinese kids, gathers valuable items in the game to sell to people for real money, a practice that is illegal in the game. Follow Anda as she struggles to come to terms with the fact that right and wrong isn't always clear, and as she tries to help her new friend get a better life from across the world.

If you're wanting more teen fiction written by Cory Doctorow, check out Little Brother and Homeland, or any of the other novels he's written here.

You can also check out Jen Wang's other book at the library, Koko Be Good, or any of her other books here.