Play the Game

YA fiction

     Where we're on the tail end of Memorial Day weekend you know what can't be far off.  The long awaited pre k to grade 12 summer vacation.  If you're a parent familiar with the concept of summer slump you'll probably want your kids to read at least a few books between June and September.  This may not be on their to do list.  If you have a child much more into games Charlene Allen's Play the Game may be a relatively easy sell.  The action segues seamlessly between beautifully created tangible and virtual worlds.

     Not so long ago VZ had been part of an unlikely tightly knit trio.  He'd been the sensible anchor.  Jack had been the clown, the extrovert, the one who got pumped from playing to crowds.  Ed had been the computer geek, bad joke loving game creator...

     ...until Ed had been killed by a guy, Singer, who got off free.  The two survivors had tackled their grief in drastically different ways.  Jack has been with the protest, striving to get justice for his fallen friend.. VZ has been keeping a low profile.

     Then Singer is killed in the same spot Ed had been fatally shot.  It's right outside the restaurant where VZ and Jack work.  When the cops come around looking for more information and start trying to intimidate their beloved boss Jack gets up in their face.  One cop has said that the only way the case will end is with an arrest.  

     "I can't see his face, but I know it's screwed up, red heat burning through his light brown skin.  'How you gonna fix your face to say that?" he asks.  'It didn't end that way when Singer killed our friend.  Now, Ms. Fox told you she doesn't know anything, all right?  Hell, wouldn't nobody tell you if they did.'"

     Needless to say, that statement goes over like a lead balloon with the boys in blue.  Suddenly they're seemingly sure that they know who took Singer down.  Jack is nowhere to be found.  And VZ is trying to find a way to prove Jack's innocence.  Some leads turn out to be dead ends.  Perhaps the video game that Ed was working on when he was murdered might hold some clues.

On a purrrsonal note, I can't imagine a more purrrfect Memorial Day weekend.  Three days of blue skies, sunshine, and moderating breezes.  Eugene and I spent most of it at camp.  I had no homework.  Eugene did all the cooking.  So I was free to sit in the rocking chair on the porch and read book after book.  I finished three and started on a fourth.  (Jules)

My people are finally back.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to Eugene.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone