Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Winning teen girl drives cyberpunk virtual reality thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say the book features an engaging plot and well-developed characters in a vibrant virtual reality setting, but contains some romance and kissing scenes that may not be suitable for all younger readers. While many found it exciting and loved the twists and action, critiques include the need for clearer explanations in parts of the story and some felt the romance was forced or predictable.
- engaging plot
- character development
- romance elements
- mature themes
- predictability issues
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
As WARCROSS opens, bounty hunter Emika Chen finds herself on the brink of eviction from her apartment and complete financial disaster. But when she impulsively hacks the opening ceremonies for the international Warcross Championship, she unintentionally reveals herself in front of a global online audience. She becomes a pop sensation overnight and is whisked off to Tokyo to be a wild card contestant in the tournament. On top of that, Warcross inventor Hideo Tanaka takes a personal interest in her, one that will threaten the entire championship and put Em directly in the path of danger.
Is It Any Good?
Cyberpunk fell out of favor for a while, but this futuristic thriller jump-starts the genre and sends it careering in a promising new direction. Marie Lu has proven her skills with dystopian fiction and pseudo-medieval fantasy, and now she displays a steady hand with virtual reality in Warcross. Lu has created a winning protagonist in Em, and her perceptive and plucky narrative voice keeps the story moving, even when the action turns a little talky. Suspense and romance take a while to rev up, but eventually Warcross is firing on all cylinders. Readers should be aware that the book ends with a cliffhanger, but it's a doozy, one almost guaranteed to compel fans to return for the second installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Warcross depicts futuristic online interactions. How can people cope with the rapid pace of technological innovation?
Why do people like to play computer games? Should there be limits on how long kids can play them during the day?
How might strong virtual reality inhibit privacy? What can be done to protect privacy online?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication date : September 12, 2017
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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