Sam Nisson

Really good! I enjoyed Miles and Rhys. They felt like real middle-school kids. I also loved their families, and how it acknowledges the landscape of videogames and middle-school friendships is mch different now. It's hard to compare it to the olden days.

Now, the story resolutions were half-baked: All is given rather quickly. There's no real apology, and Miles never explicitly realizes the kids he tryna kiss up to aren't real friends. Real friends don't put you up to bullying, make you feel show more small for not doing something, or disparage something you enjoy that's not harmful.

There's a second book coming, so hopefully those issues get address there. show less

Squad Up is the follow-up to Power Up. It's a simple novel with a simple message. I was hoping for more depth for the middle school library.

The beginning does an excellent job summing up the first book before moving into this new story. Miles and Rhys are now friends and play video games together. They are very good. There is one video game that no one has made it to the 21st level. They make it, but quickly get killed. You have to wait seven days before you can try again. This is the main show more idea--they're trying to beat this game before anyone else. While they wait between tries, we see them go to school and meet their friends. Someone at school creates a character who says things about other kids online. The information is mean. There's also Miles's dad who follows him online, just as a parent would attend a game in person. He feels discomfort with strangers recognizing his son, however. We also meet another group of gamers who invite them to join their elite group, as they also want to conquer level 21.

The lesson learned is a good one: be kind. Overall, it's fine. I don't play video games, so the video game playing was uninteresting to me. Gamers will enjoy it and relate to it. The characters' lives completely revolve around gaming--school life and home life. Seems limited and sad to me. Making money as a gamer seems great--if one has balance. It's a simple book that requires little effort reading-wise or brain-wise. show less