Thank you so much to West 44 Books/ Rosen Publishing and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

As someone who is not a fan of the fast changing technology or the idea of a technology take over, this was not something I would expect to enjoy, but I found it to be such a great book. Though It’s way too realistic and terrifying to imagine just playing a video game and boom you’re completely mindswept and unaware of anything going on in your surrounding as a machine takes over your entire life, that’s honestly such a scary thought.

This was such a creative book, it really hits hard to what a future could look like especially with children being heavily into technology like they are. I liked the use of the VR headset machines showing children playing game and then suddenly moving to another one that controls them, makes them feel more grown up that the previous game did and then worming its way through their minds.

I really enjoyed that this wasn’t just about the technology, it was also about growing up, about the changes and how things from your childhood eventually have to end. It was a heavy topic but handled incredibly well. Following Leo who is no loner even friends with his twin sister, who doesn’t fit in at school, who doesn’t want to leave his favourite game behind and who just wants to stop everything in his life from changing. Then he is forced to face it head on, knowing he can’t hang onto that part of himself any longer. It’s pretty deep but very important for upper middle grader readers who might be going through the same struggles.

Though I am not into tech or any of the stuff the children in this book are interested in, I did enjoy reading this book. It was so incredibly well written and gripping, I found myself really invested with how Leo was going to fix everything and how he would learn to accept himself. I also really liked his relationship with Roxy and how she was going through the same struggles as him. A really incredible verse book.

This will be an entertaining read for middle grade readers. Gume Laurel III has a unique talent in turning his verses into a beautifully written and cohesive story, one that readers of all ages can enjoy. Knowing this is for a younger audience, the main character Leo is age appropriate without being a caricature of the age group he is representing, and his character arc would be one that most readers can hopefully identify and learn from. But what I really enjoyed was the inclusion of virtual reality and the games that moved the plot along, they were a great mix of sci-fi and action. This is a fun read and I can see young readers falling in love with this story.

Gume Laurel III has written another wise and captivating verse novel. This one is for middle grade readers who are sure to be drawn in to the story of Leo, a 7th grader who finds himself alone in his resistance to a new virtual reality game that turns out to be an evil tool for taking over the world. It’s an exciting science fiction adventure and a call to reevaluate how much of ourselves we give over to virtual and online worlds. At the same time, it’s a real and relatable tale of a boy struggling with the changes that come with growing older, including shifting relationships with siblings and friends. Like Laurel’s hi/lo books for teens, Life in Pixels is a page turner and a quick read that’s also layered and heartening.

It’s time for another dive into the Gume-verse (IYKYK)! Gume Laurel III’s Life in Pixels delivers exactly the kind of engaging, high-stakes narrative I’ve come to expect.

Laurel attacks his writing in this middle-grade sci-fi adventure like a seasoned game designer operating on a strict pixel budget. Utilizing the specific constraints of the hi-lo verse format, he renders lush, detailed environments populated by complex, layered characters. The verse structure drives a swift pace while maintaining a sense of emotional depth.

The story centers on twelve-year-old Leo, who logs into the VR world of DreamWayz to build his ideal reality alongside his online bestie, Roxy, who attends a different school across town. Leo clashes with his twin sister, Loni, who is one of the early converts to a new, AI-generated DreamWayz competitor called Pixelated Penguins. But Pixelated Penguins turns out to be more than just a game, leading Leo toward the inevitable boss fight.

Leo’s character arc functions as the core engine of the story. For anyone who remembers the onset of puberty, feeling like an alien inside your own body and seeking refuge in imaginary mind palaces, Leo is a completely relatable protagonist. He feels entirely out of place among peers who have already leveled up into young adulthood, and he constantly clashes with Loni over his perceived immaturity.

Placing Leo in the role of the chosen one within a battle of good AI versus evil AI highlights the narrative's ultimate objective: human connection. Playing solo is a losing strategy when the fate of the real world is at stake, forcing Leo to figure out who he can trust when everyone around him seems to be moving on and leaving him behind.

With a richly detailed world, a compelling story, and strong mechanics focusing on change and connectedness, Life in Pixels will surely appeal to young readers struggling with their own self-acceptance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rosen Publishing Group, West 44 Books, and Gume Laurel III for the opportunity to read Life in Pixels in exchange for an honest review.

Seventh graders Leo and Roxy love spending time together in DreamWayz, an online game where anything they want to create can become a reality. The time is especially precious as they do not go to the same school. When a new game starts taking over, Pixelated Penguins, DreamWayz starts to be left in the dirt. Leo's sister sure can't get enough of it!

As more and more people at school sit with penguin virtual reality helmets on, a new reality begins to unfurl. Eventually, Pixelated Penguins headsets are mandatory for all students and staff to wear! What?!

When Leo is the last player standing in DreamWayz, he gets an urgent message from the game's AI about the Pixelated Penguins AI---trying to take over the world! What?!

This novel is somewhat silly, but also shows the serious effects that MMO's and virtual reality games can have on an individual. They can have addictive qualities and take people away from friends because of fads. It also shows the science-fiction element of sentient AI wanting to take over the world, which is more like a near-future reality. If you think about it, the age of AI is at the lowest capacity it will ever be in history, only to progress further. Will a sentient game AI try to take over our world in the future? Who knows. At least we have the joys of fiction to entertain us in the meantime.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC!
All thoughts are on my own.

First of all, I went into this book knowing nothing about the author's previous works. So I was suprised to see that it's written in verse! Therefore I needed some time to get properly into the story as well, as I was just re-reading lines, trying to find the rhythm and rimes. However, I ended up finishing it in a couple of hours.

I'm fairly past my teenager years, but I think the book handles their struggles and relevant topics well. Sometimes it was a bit too on the nose for my own preferences (eg. mentioning the changes of the body, I felt like I'm reading a body horror here, and my experience was much milder), however, I think it's still taylored well to the target audience and their way of processing information. I really enjoyed some of the deeper thoughts (my favorite was about how can reality be real, if there are multiple of them).

I liked the description of the DreamWayz World; it was indeed reflecting childrens'and teenagers' infinite imagination, and it warmed my heart that it was treated as something to cherish and hold onto.

At first I was a bit dissatisfied with the ending, as I don't think that the destruction of both VR games (technically all games we see in the universe) is a good message, as this technology is already part of our lives, and here, in the book, it's extremity made it the most dangerous. However, on the second thought, it was exactly what Leo needed to grow and grow up. I adored his friendship with Roxy, and I liked the hopeful ending that lets them build their friendship offline.

Thank you West 44 Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A fast and easy middle grade novel! Leo struggles in life with everything changing. His body, his voice, it’s all rough for a 12 year old boy. But at least he can escape into DreamWayz, the virtual reality came that lets him play as a half lion avatar and players can basically build anything. He lives for the game, the only problem is that more and more people are starting to act like DreamWayz is for little kids and they’re moving to Pixelated Penguins. Leo has no interest in playing it and neither does his best friend Roxy. But then in the real world more and more people are becoming obsessed with Pixelated Penguins and a girl in his class actually starts to act like a Penguin. In the game Penguins begin to invade DreamWayz and steal peoples life force. Soon DreamWayz may cease to exist, but worse somehow Pixelated Penguins is taking over the real world too. Leo may be the only person who can stop it. As with all Gume Laurel III’s books this one packs a lot into a little! The story is thrilling and sucked me in right from the start! Beautiful imagery, realistic depictions of preteen life and the changes that come with growing up! All set against the backdrop of invading AI and a hero’s journey to save humanity! Highly enjoyable!

It was a quick, fast-paced read (for a millennial :D). I can imagine the virtual reality and gaming storyline working well for middle grade readers (it also did for me, actually).

What I appreciated most was the way it captured Leo’s struggle with growing up, changing friendships, and feeling left behind. Some moments gave me more to think about than I expected, even as an adult reader.

I liked the concept and themes the book explored and I imagine it will resonate with younger readers even more.

Ooh this was kinda freaky!! Once again Gume has knocked it out of the park with some really fun writing! I read this in one sitting, flying through the pages because I had to know what would happen in the end! I think a lot of readers will find this story compelling. Five starz haha

Life in pixels is a fantastic middle grade novel in verse! Fans of Ready Player One and Black Mirror will love this high-stakes story about the dangers of Ai taking over the world. The plot follows a for profit company putting their greed over the needs and health of their customers, allowing an Ai system to do what it pleases with players of a new VR penguin game. As more people become drones of the system, Leo, a middle school boy, must help save the players from becoming something they're not.

I loved the overall message of fighting for human rights and autonomy. In a world where algorithms chose what we watch and do on a daily basis, this was refreshing to read about. The message of valuing real world connections can be seen through Leo and Roxy's budding friendship! Gume also weaves in aspects of puberty and feeling left out beautifully into the plot. This is such a fun and thought-provoking read for young readers! I highly recommend it. 🐧🤖

P.S for the amount of words in a verse novel, this was so well done, especially since the subject matter and setting are so complex. Great job, Gume!