In Real Life by Cory Doctorow (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: In Real Life by Cory Doctorow April Spisak Doctorow, Cory In Real Life; illus. by Jen Wang. First Second, 2014 175p ISBN 978-1-59643-658-9 $17.99 R Gr. 7-10 Anda is thrilled when she’s invited to join a huge online game called Coarsegold. At first wandering for a while, she is then sucked into a situation where she kills off the avatars of farmers (characters who are paid real money, albeit very little, to gather items for other players). It initially feels good to be powerful in ways she can never be in person, until she befriends one of the farmers and learns he is a real guy in China who is being severely exploited. Suddenly, the consequences of gaming, and the people who participate around the world, become much more complex to Anda, even if she doesn’t yet fully comprehend the nuances and economic machinations. Although the core story was originally published in 2004 (on Salon.com), every element is still relevant, and the addition of Wong’s stunning artwork adds a great deal. Lush, hyper-saturated colors of the game environment contrast elegantly with the muted but complementary shades used to represent the real world. Free and loose formatting allows for striking full-page emphasis or meandering visual cues that reflect the text, but there is enough paneling to keep readers easily following the story. An educational introduction offers further insight into gaming and the economies and political implications behind them; if readers take the time to actually delve into it, their experience of Anda’s journey will be richer for it. Copyright © 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois