BOOK MARKED
14 Books for
Young Gamers
CELEBRATE NATIONAL VIDEO GAMES DAY ON
SEPT. 12 BY TURNING OFF THE ELECTRONICS
AND PICKING UP A BOOK
BY AMY K. ALAPATI, HEAD OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES AT THE DAMASCUS BRANCH,
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Your kids have read and re-read all of the “Press Start” series, the Unofficial
Minecraft novels and the teen classic “Ender’s Game,” so what’s next?
Explore this selection of titles to satisfy gamers of all types.

PICTURE BOOKS
“Pokémon Primers ABC Book”
Written by Simcha Whitehill
Screen time is a no-no for babies, so this board
book ticks the boxes for avid gamer parents
who can’t wait for their tiny tikes to get started.

With over 100 flaps to lift on candy-colored
pages, your baby will discover a range of
beloved characters and alliterative vocabulary.

Collect all the primers in the series so that your
Trainers-in-training can learn shapes, colors and
numbers, too.

“Future Engineer”
Written by Lori Alexander,
illustrated by Allison Black
Who creates the video games we love to play
and the machines we play them on? Engineers,
that’s who! This board book explores various
engineering jobs and compares job skills
with baby’s skills: asking questions, building
and learning from mistakes. A diverse cast of
scientists and babies will spark confidence in
aspiring engineers.

“Rocket Says Look Up!”
Written by Nathan Bryon,
illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Rocket is always looking up at the stars,
while big brother Jamal is always looking
down at his phone. Can Rocket convince her
family and neighbors to unplug and enjoy the
natural wonders of earth and sky? The story
is interwoven with facts about space and
exploration, with expressive illustrations that
bring the characters to life.

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EARLY ELEMENTARY
“Morgan’s Got Game”
Written by Ted Staunton,
illustrated by Bill Slavin
When all of the coolest kids bring their Robogamer
Z7s to school, Morgan is left out until he gets one of
his own. But when the class bully accuses awkward
Aldeen of having a fake Robogamer, Morgan finds
that some things are more important than fitting in.

The “Be Brave, Morgan!” series of chapter books for
young readers includes dyslexia-friendly features.

“Awesome Dog 5000” series
Written and illustrated by Justin Dean
In the first three books of this popular series,
video gamers Marty, Skylar and Ralph encounter
nosy spybots, an evil mayor and a supervillain
toy-designer with an army of robotic kittens.

Luckily, their superhero pal Awesome Dog 5000
is around to help them save the day. These
hilarious illustrated chapter books will appeal to
gamers and fans of Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man.”
“The Boy Who Thought Outside
the Box: The Story of Video Game
Inventor Ralph Baer”
Written by Marcie Wessels,
illustrated by Beatriz Castro
Kids love to play them, but do they know how
video games came into our homes? A Jewish
refugee from pre-World War II Germany, Ralph
arrived in the United States and worked his way
up from radio and television technician to “The
Father of Video Games.” This nimbly illustrated
biography spotlights the creator of the first
console that connected video games to TV sets.




BOOK MARKED
an unusual arcade game token that takes
them time traveling all over the globe.

During these magical adventures, they
learn a lot about history, geography and
themselves ... but someone else is after
that token. For older readers ready to
move up from “The Magic Tree House,”
these four books provide plenty of action,
humor and heart. Start with “Arcade and
the Triple T Token.”
MIDDLE GRADE
“Level 13”: A Slacker Novel
Written by Gordon Korman
Steer Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
fans in this direction — they will delight in
the escapades of slacker Cameron Boxer,
who thinks he can become an internet
sensation by gaming online with Elvis, a
rescued beaver. Hilarity ensues as Cam
gains followers while risking his reputation
as a slacker in order to attain the game’s
mythical highest level.

SPAXIAX / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
“The Gauntlet”
and “The Battle”
Written by Karuna Riazi
These companion novels pit the Mirza
family against an evil game architect. In
“The Gauntlet,” Farah’s aunt sends her
a beautiful box containing a dangerous
game where players can easily become
trapped. Four years later, in “The Battle,”
her younger brother Ahmad must foil a
dastardly plot that freezes time when the
game is unboxed. Evocative of Chris Van
Allsburg’s “Jumanji,” these thrillers are
notable for their exquisite writing.

“Glitch” Written and illustrated
by Sarah Graley
Like many girls, Izzy enjoys playing a
good video game. Unlike those girls, Izzy
can actually enter her game! But as Izzy
becomes enmeshed in her secret life, she
alienates her best friend, Eric, and tensions
escalate when Izzy loses a “life” in the
game. This vibrant graphic novel will draw
upper-elementary readers into a deliciously
gruesome virtual universe.

Coin Slot Chronicles series
Written by Rashad Jennings
Arcade Livingston and his sister Zoe have
“Get Coding 2: Build Five
Computer Games Using HTML
and Javascript”
Written by David Whitney,
illustrated by Duncan Beedie
For kids tired of playing the same old
games, this manual provides detailed
steps to design and build personalized
games of their own, including graphics and
animation. Best for ages 9 to 12.

YOUNG ADULT
“Girl Gone Viral”
Written by Arvin Ahmadi
Teen tech-prodigy Opal risks her future
and her friends to discover the fate of her
missing father. It starts with one simple
hack, then another and another, until Opal
is entangled in a world of deception and,
possibly, murder. Best for older teens due
to mature themes and language.

“Ready Player Two”
Written by Ernest Cline
In a world addicted to virtual reality,
the “Ready Player One” sequel takes VR
questing to a dangerous level, packed with
action and peppered with romance. For an
enhanced experience, listen to the audio
version expertly narrated by Wil Wheaton
of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a
renowned master gamer in all formats,
from video and tabletop to arcade. For
mature readers.

“Don’t Read the Comments”
Written by Eric Smith
Divya is a popular sponsored-gamer,
but her followers have no inkling of her
grim home life. Aaron faces different
challenges, but they become virtual
friends. When online trolls incite real-life
violence, the two must combine forces to
keep themselves and their families safe.

Older teens will identify with the angst of
college looming. T
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