Find a book
Donate

Level Up

by Tom Nicoll, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar

Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 8+

Published by Stripes publishing, 2019

  • Adventure
  • Chapter books
  • Funny
  • Science fiction

About this book

Flo’s mum is a brilliant engineer. So brilliant, she has found a way for Flo to play her favourite video games using an avatar which is exactly like her. But Mum’s invention isn’t quite ready yet.

Does Flo take notice of the multiple notes Mum has left forbidding her to try out the device until it’s completely finished? No, she does not and she and her reluctant friend Max find themselves transported inside the Star Smasher game coming face-to-face with armies of Space Soldiers, far too many laser cannons, a cheating hacker and the very real possibility that they may not be able to find a way out!

Overconfident Flo and understandably worried Max are a great character combo for a fun and mildly scary virtual romp through a computer game packed with space paraphernalia and gadgetry.

As in all the best first chapter books, the youngsters often get the better of the adult characters and entertaining black-and-white illustrations add atmosphere and more than a few laughs.

About the illustrator

Anjan Sarkar is a British illustrator from a mixed-race British/Indian background. He has been illustrating professionally since 2010 and is currently working exclusively on children’s picture books and chapter books. He loves to draw expressive characters and try to inject a bit of humour into every image. Although he thinks of himself as British, his Indian heritage has influenced some of the projects he has been commissioned to work on, including Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas (about a mixed Jewish/Hindu family celebrating Hanukkah) and Rum Pum Pum (a story inspired by the Indian landscape, its wildlife and culture). He thinks picture books are a great way to introduce children to ideas, people and places that they wouldn’t normally come into contact with. He lives in Sheffield, Yorkshire.

More books like this

Explore our Bookfinder

Lists of recommended reads

  • Books for fans of video games

    Video games are a hugely popular and exciting medium, and they can tell great stories too. Through gaming, children can become the main character in fantasy adventures, can build their own creative worlds, and even manage their favourite football team! The following recommendations embrace the joys of gaming. There are books based on video games, books that explore the social side of gaming, and even books that allow the reader to interact and play with the story itself as it progresses.

  • 12 great books for 8 year olds

    Our favourite 12 modern-day books for eight year olds.

Discover more booklists
Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn