Books › In Real Life
In Real Life
208 pages
A vibrant, big-hearted exploration of how our digital avatars connect us to very real, very human global struggles.
What it feels like
Reading this graphic novel feels like stepping out of a brightly colored fantasy world and blinking in the harsh, yet necessary, light of reality. The pacing is brisk and engaging, carried by incredibly expressive, fluid artwork that effortlessly distinguishes between the lush, saturated landscapes of an MMORPG and the quieter, more muted tones of everyday teenage life. It is an earnest and deeply empathetic reading experience that never loses its warmth, even as it wades into complex socio-economic waters. The story wraps you in the comforting familiarity of gaming culture before gently challenging you to look past the screen. It will thoroughly delight readers who love coming-of-age stories that balance joyful geekiness with a thoughtful, globally-minded conscience.
- Mood
- vibrant
- immersive
- warm
- contemplative
- Tone
- earnest
- empathetic
- thoughtful
- hopeful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- digital citizenship · global inequality · virtual vs physical identity · teenage activism · the human cost of convenience
- The writing
- The storytelling relies on a seamless blend of accessible, conversational dialogue and lush, expressive artwork that sharply contrasts the bright fantasy of the game with the muted reality of the physical world.
- The arc
- Moves from the pure, escapist thrill of virtual empowerment to a sobering, complex awakening about real-world consequences, ultimately landing on a hopeful note of actionable empathy.
- Who it's for
- Young adults and gamers who appreciate stories where digital escapism collides with real-world social justice, wrapped in beautifully expressive art.
Content notes
- economic exploitation
- workplace abuse
- bullying
About the book
Anda loves Coarsegold Online, the massively-multiplayer role playing game that she spends most of her free time on. It's a place where she can be a leader, a fighter, a hero. It's a place where she can meet people from all over the world, and make friends. Gaming is, for Anda, entirely a good thing.
But things become a lot more complicated when Anda befriends a gold farmer -- a poor Chinese kid whose avatar in the game illegally collects valuable objects and then sells them to players from developed countries with money to burn. This behavior is strictly against the rules in Coarsegold, but Anda soon comes to realize that questions of right and wrong are a lot less straightforward when a real person's real livelihood is at stake.
From acclaimed teen author Cory Doctorow and rising star cartoonist Jen Wang, In Real Life is a sensitive, thoughtful look at adolescence, gaming, poverty, and culture-clash.
Description from Open Library.
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