Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Twisty, deadly thriller finds YouTube star out of his depth.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Around the world, 1,000 strangers receive a deluxe message from MrBeast of YouTube fame, inviting them to participate in THE MOST DANGEROUS GAMES, personally designed by MrBeast himself and meant to select the person who's got what it takes to be The One: a charismatic leader to save the world (a recognizable but fictionalized and seriously dystopian version of our own)—and receive a billion dollars to fund the vision. It's the first of many messages and situations that not only are not what they seem, but are being controlled by an unknown force for—what? The contestants who make the cut are old and young, rich and poor, some driven by kindness, some self-serving, some coerced—and also MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, intentions unknown but seemingly a competitor as well as the games' creator. As contestants, including some we've really gotten to like, start dying from falls, spider bites, and other deadly hazards, MrBeast realizes his work has been hijacked—he may be known for over-the-top stunts and situations, but nobody's supposed to die. How to prevent more deaths is a complicated problem—especially since while a number of competitors favor teamwork, others are determined to do what it takes to win. Killing, no problem.
Is It Any Good?
Survivor meets Hunger Games in this dark, twisty thriller pitting apparently random strangers against lethal perils, including each other. YouTube superstar and now author MrBeast (also a character) and master storyteller James Patterson team up to tell this wild survival adventure, and looming over it all is a dark agency surveilling the games in search of a charismatic leader to advance its agenda under the guise of saving the world (which, in the story, needs a lot of saving). Many of the teen and adult characters are appealing, relatable, often downright lovable—and sadly, between the snakes, the caves, the duels, and the betrayals, not all of them will be around, or alive, by the time the epilogue hints at more challenges to come. Fans of MrBeast have a whole new branch of his empire to explore, and it promises to be a phenomenon.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the world of MrBeast. Is The Most Dangerous Games your first introduction to the YouTube superstar and his work? If so, does the book make you want to check out his channels? If you're already a fan, how do you feel about this new venture?
Deadly competitions for fabulous prizes have been a huge theme in storytelling for millennia. Why do you think this kind of tale has such a compelling appeal to this day? What are some of the best examples—ancient or modern?
Would you take part in a competition like The Most Dangerous Games? Or would you stay far, far away? What's your thinking?
How do character strengths like teamwork and compassion play out in these high stakes, life-and-death games? How have these qualities helped you in stressful situations?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrators : Patrick Arrasmith , Steven Noble
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Competition , Dystopia , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Humility , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : William Morrow
- Publication date : September 1, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18
- Number of pages : 480
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 28, 2026
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