Ready Player One

Book review by Michael Berry, Common Sense Media
Ready Player One Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Exciting, funny, futuristic thriller about online games.

Ernest Cline Science Fiction 2011
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 30 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 103 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this humorous science fiction thriller deals with a high-stakes online contest that mixes puzzles with video game violence. Set in a depressed future United States, where most people escape into virtual reality, it features a bunch of tough-talking teens fighting to keep their online playground out of the hands of an evil corporation.

Community Reviews

theshapetalks
theshapetalks Adult
April 14, 2020
age 13+

this is the best book ever made!

if your a horror, Sci-Fi, Action, Romance like me. then read this! I don't even care if your a kid. this book is for nerds, geeks and any body. the f word is said a lot, but I hate to break it to you, but your kids probably say the f word a lot to while playing video games. And the sex talk is kind of bad, but it's more ACTION then SEX. this book also has a lot of consumerism.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
Aida M.
Aida M. Adult
October 30, 2018
age 16+

dystopian and Godless

It’s not surprising to have a story about a dystopian future where people prefer the virtual world, to the real world. It s surprising that the story goes out of its way to spell out that God is as big a fantasy as the Easter bunny. Also unnecessary to the story is the large amount of cursing, and the detailed section on masturbation. The apparent theme of”live in the real world “ is all but lost through all the glitz and glam of the virtual world. Adults on the other hand will love it for all of the 80’s references and the references to classic fantasy and sci-fi.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 30 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Like nearly everyone on the depleted, depressed Planet Earth, high school student Wade Watts dreams of winning the untold billions at stake in a contest devised by James Halliday, late inventor of OASIS, the immersive virtual utopia that allows anyone to plug in and leave the real world behind. Obsessed with Reagan-era pop culture and technology, Halliday creates a series of puzzles that can only be solved by someone with an encyclopedic knowledge of science fiction, player-vs.-player fighting strategies, and the software mogul's own personal history. As the stakes grow higher and players begin to die in the real world, Wade must decide whether he can trust anyone else in his quest for the ultimate prize.

Is It Any Good?

Layered with inside jokes and sly references that will appeal to a wide range of readers, READY PLAYER ONE is a smart, funny thriller that both celebrates and critiques online culture. The author is accomplished at developing suspense even though much of the narrative is set in virtual reality. The puzzles are intriguing, the action is intense, and the payoff at the end is worth all the buildup.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about making predictions of the future based on current trends. Does the setting of the book seem plausible? What assumptions is the author making about changes in politics and economics between now and 2044?

  • What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having so much information available 24/7? How might near-ubiquitous social media affect our culture?

  • The protagonist, Wade Watts, spends a lot of time hiding his location and true identity. How do his precautions compare to the strategies you use to work online safely?

  • Do you think the contest in the novel could really be solved by one person working entirely alone? What are the advantages or disadvantages of working as a team?

Book Details

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