Published by Random House Graphic

Summary:  Addie remembers a happy childhood with two parents who loved her and encouraged her interests, but after her mom’s bike accident, she changed and no longer lives with the family.  When Addie’s dad gets a chance to work on a virtual reality project at a university, he takes Addie with him to live on campus for the summer.  There Addie discovers VR and the immersive worlds it can create, while tentatively making steps toward Mateo, her across-the-hall neighbor.  Addie’s virtual discoveries help her uncover some truths about her real life, and by the end of the summer, she’s willing to confide in Mateo and to learn about a tragedy that occurred in his family.  As Addie begins to accept the reality of what’s happened to her mom, her whole family finds a way to heal and move forward together.  224 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  There’s a lot going on in this appealing graphic novel, and fans of the middle school realistic fiction graphic novel genre will be only too happy to discover Wendy Mass (and maybe try some of her excellent non-graphic novels).  The artwork is inspired, particularly the way Gabi Mendez differentiates the virtual reality sequences.

Cons:  This seems like a book that would appeal to elementary kids, but reviews seem to recommend it more for middle school, maybe due to the addiction storyline.