Wednesday, January 9, 2008


I confess now before this jury of bloggers that I am not a big reader of realistic fiction (go right ahead and frown you Meg Cabot lovers). And a title like Head Games with a cover practically screaming relational dystrophy was the pinnacle of wary-making. But it was suggested *sigh* and thus I read it. And thus I was surprised.

Head Games is written from the point of view of 15-year-old, Internet gaming obsessed Judith Ellis. Her greatest goal in life is to defeat the homicidal player known only as Irgin the Headcase. But if virtual reality becomes as unfair as the world outside you bedroom what kind of escape is to be found? A string of events bring Jude to drop her game and, surprisingly, Irgin does as well. In real-time Jude struggles with witchy ex-pals, the bad-reputation kid from the screaming family across the hall, a girl with 200 brain cells short of a boxer, and the secret of what happened one night at 58 Seventy-first Street. Tension heightens as she discovers that the mysterious Jonathon, afore mentioned bad-rep boy, is the true persona of Headcase Irgin. But his intentions are as unclear in New York City as they were in the game-o-verse. Judith discovers her own boundaries breaking down as she learns that reality doesn’t always qualify for a C- and sometimes you have to play the game twice to figure out how it works.

Head Games offered many the surprise and sleight of mind. Judith finds solace in the unexpected and danger in those things closest to her, leaving the lingering sensation of alertness for the reader to experience. I read this in about an hour of fluorescent book-light-beneath-covers stunt work. So don’t think of the cover- focus on the plot and excellent writing and you will discover a realistic-fiction novel that borders on the most in-depth of sci-fis.

5.7 out of 7 of whatever the polls decide.

Internet-ing, Avoiding On-line Gaming,

Aella Siofra

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

actually, that cover is pretty cool.

sounds like a good book too, if not quite my thing.

i got Cry of the Icemark yesterday....

Anonymous said...

must completely agree on the realistic fiction thing.
realistic fiction bores me.
not saying it isn't great, just that it reminds me of real life. which is boring. i likes werewolves.

Anonymous said...

That is unfortunate... to be bored with life... When I find myself bored, I realize that it is not life I am bored with, but rather myself... there is too much of life to be bored with and no one has seen it all...

As to real life... well, that depends on how you define "real"....

Anonymous said...

well, let me clarify.
when i say *life* i mean current in-school-year life in suburban New Jersey high school, which is both boring and sucky.
summer, trips to europe, all that other stuff, it rocks.

i rarely get bored with myself. only child bonus!
i do often scare myself, however.

and obviously "real" is underdefined. it's just that people don't *know* kid in my gym class is a werewolf, or other kid is a serial killer, or third kid is a genie. fools.

Bibliovore said...

Hey Aella

I was reading this review, going, "oo, this sounds really good! I think I'd enjoy it! Oh wait. Have I enjoyed it before? That does sound familiar . . ."

Anyway, now that I remember that I did read it (in my defense, with a different cover), I absolutely agree with your sum-up. It was much more than I thought it would be. Great book.

Maureen

Bri said...

SWEET!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for clarifying amie... do you happen to know any banshees? I know a few, they can either be incredibly annoying (screaming shrilly all the time) or completely amazing (honing their haunting voices to reach the highest notes out of anyone in the chorus)... knowing "mythical" creatures is pretty incredible... being one is even more fawesome... but some of you might not know about that...

Anonymous said...

*cough cough super awesome project cough*

Anonymous said...

If you miss us (I have been battling that demon, Homework, all week, who has been attempting to devour my soul) then we should be posting/commenting tonight.... a lot... when I say a lot, I mean more than you probably want, but less than we could shove down your throats....

Anonymous said...

oh, there is no such thing as commenting too much. it's friday, and typing up all the stuff i wrote at lunch this week is boring.

*sigh/snort* homework. i know the demon well. stupid *counting* three honors classes and other class that isn't honors but is still a year ahead of normal....
and yet, i'm still always on. probably becuase i have the art of someone never doing any of it down to perfection.

okay, this is really wierd. i totally remember replying to that banshee comment like weeks ago. freaky, yo. was something about how, though i know many annoying people, none of them appear to be banshees. most people around here and more just clones in Ugg Boots with coach purses decked out in Abercrombie and Hollister and American Eagle with thier over-straightended hair...*reigns in rambling, sighs* me and my homemade Arctic Monkeys sweatshirt and pink hair and skull pajamas and chipped black nails don't fit in no good.
but, unlike this random protag i'm writing about, i'm not an alcoholic oracle haunted by a dead girl!