 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
For the Win
- By Cory Doctorow
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Teen gamers vs. corporations; absorbing but violent sci-fi.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this science-fiction version of a not so distant future contains heavy graphic violence. Children are forced into sweatshops and are recruited and united online, but form real-world armies that attack and fight back, killing as necessary in an exciting quest for social justice. The depictions of contemporary life in the poor parts of China and India may shock teen readers who are not aware that similar poverty exists in this country. Parents could read this book to gain an understanding of the attractions that video gaming has for kids, the friendships built in the online communities, the interdependence and loyalties, and the inherent rewards built into the games that keep them playing. The global appeal and the merger of the virtual and real world experiences that many kids experience also comes to life here.
What's the story?
Mala is a 15-year-old gamer in India, Matthew has become his own boss in China through his gaming skills, and 16-year-old Leonard is facing an intervention in California because his parents believe he is addicted to gaming. They have many things in common even though they have never met: they are all connected through the multiple player online games they love, each of them is brilliant, and each has the idealistic conviction of the young -- that life should be good, and fair. For all. Before they know it, they've been recruited to use their gifts for a greater good. The lines are blurred between real and virtual worlds as gold farmers and factory girls alike are joining the cause, masterminded by the enigmatic Big Sister Nor, hiding somewhere beyond the Internet. Can they make the Industrial Workers of the World Wide Web a reality? The corporate world will do anything to stop them, and Mala, Matthew, and Leonard find themselves and their new friends caught up in a revolution. Murder and intrigue mean that only some of them will survive.
Is it any good?
Fast-paced with brilliant and likable characters from all over the globe, even non-gamers will fall into this idealistic and multilayered tale of a brave new world. Readers who enjoyed Little Brother will enjoy this new geek revolution, if they don't find it overly long. Doctorow has a tendency to speak directly to the reader in brief lectures to explain Ponzi schemes or economic theories, which may annoy many of his readers who undoubtedly already understand such concepts.
But his strong female characters and sympathetic boys like Leonard and Lu make it all worthwhile for anyone who has ever played a multiuser video game and felt the thrill of being one part of a larger whole, or been inspired by the possibilities offered by the new world technology.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether video games are addicting. How would one know they were spending too much time online? Do you think Leonard was addicted?
There is some mention of the dangers lurking online in multiuser games. What kinds of rules keep kids safe online and in those games?
Life for the teens in India and China is very different in this book than it is for most teens in this country. Are there teens in the U.S. that are living in similar circumstances to Mala and Matthew, for example?
What were some of the similarities you noticed in the family life depicted?
Was Leonard right to lie to his mother and to travel illegally to China? Does the end justify the means? Would your parents be proud of you if you did something like that? Can you think of real heroes from history that were teens?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Learning the Economy through video games
Ever wanted to have your child understand why there is a labor movement? How about how the value of a product can be artificially inflated? Or even how a child in India or China lives? This book explores all of these but sets it in a relatable world of playing video games.
The story follows an American gamer and kids his own age in Asia as they try to game the system and make it work. It is set in a near future where video games have become an economy to themselves. Corporations like Nentendo and Coca-Cola don't like it, they want to shut down these black market players because they are affecting the economy of the game, and the game players themselves are trying to unionize, so they don't have to play for hours just for pennies.
This book is so smart it will blow the minds of the adults reading it, and give children an understanding how the economy works.
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AGE
Well, I am twelve, and I loved this book. However, I think that I would have understood and been fine with all topics covered a year ago, if not two, which is why I rate it on for 12 year olds. I do not know how others my age would receive it. 12 is to be on the safe side. The length does not bother me, having read more complex books may times before. People I know are generally fine with this level of violence in books. The economics portion was interesting to me, for although older readers may already know about that, I didn't. The language may seem inapropriate for younger readers, but most people who would read this would be used to it. The realism in the descriptions of places and situations in China and India may be worrying for kids, but in my opinion it is one of the things that makes the book so good. As I said, I liked the book
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AGE
just read up to page 41. and itss pretty good. confusing at first. lots of violence.
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AGE
Excellent book, feels quite real!
For The Win (or FTW) is Doctorow's second book for young people. The first was Little Brother (which I despised!). I began reading this book fearing it would be a repeat of last time. I'm happy to say that Doctorow, in this case, proved me wrong. I really enjoyed this book! The only let down for me was the language. While it wasn't as awful as Little Brother, some bad language is in this book, which I think really detracts from it.
The violence may also be a concern. I do appreciate, however, that Doctorow didn't put it in a particularly glamorous or heroic light. Rather, he depicted it as something absolutely awful, through a harsh, realistic lens. Thus, it may be too intense for some younger children, it may also serve as a valuable tool for youth with a less accurate (i.e. Hollywood) view of violence.
It was also quite educational. Doctorow provides lessons on finance in simple terms to understand that actually help advance the story for the reader by providing an explanation of what's happening, and why.
For more info about the book and how I liked it, check out my blog at: thestuffiread.blogspot*/2010/08/for-win.html
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| Author: | Cory Doctorow |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Tor Books |
| Publication date: | May 11, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 480 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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