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Craig Speakes had dreamed of being an author since he was a teen. An early fantasy adventure novel penned after university was put aside until later in life when he wanted to leave a legacy for his son, an avid gamer. It was this inspiration that motivated Craig to write his newest novel, Final Video Game in which a teen gamer is thrust into an actual virtual video game battle in order to save humanity from artificial intelligence gone rogue.
Craig believes a great book is one that keeps you guessing. He hopes his young readers come away from his story knowing that even when things look bleak, there is always hope, and that this stays with them long after the book is closed.
When he isn’t writing fast-paced adventures for middle grade readers, Craig enjoys photography, Scandinavian walking, and teaching conversational English to a non-native English speaker. He is also the published author of a two part middle grade book series called The Keeper.
Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite
Final Video Game is a children's science fiction book by Craig Speakes. The story follows Oliver, a boy who moves to a new town with his mother after his father goes missing at sea. Like many others, Oliver has been playing Razer, a new simulation game. However, players of the game start falling into comas, major electronic systems begin to fail, and the world comes under attack. The game has gone rogue, become very powerful, and wants to take over the world. Governments around the world recruit children from schools to form task forces to storm the game and access its nodes. Oliver manages to pass the recruitment test with his new friends Logan and Ruth. He also meets Sparky, a mysterious girl with great hacking skills. Before they begin the attack, they receive a briefing that makes them realize this is a suicide mission they may not survive. Nevertheless, Oliver decides to step up and fight with all he has.
Final Video Game by Craig Speakes is an action-packed tale that takes readers on a thrilling adventure. The story is fast-paced and entertaining, blending comedic, emotional, and suspenseful moments that will keep you captivated. The characters are interesting and unique, with internal struggles that make them relatable. The main character, Oliver, carries the weight of his team and the world on his shoulders at only thirteen years old. His friend Logan undergoes a dramatic change, becoming an unpredictable character that adds teen drama to the story. The gradual change of dynamics between the characters is fascinating, and the story has a smooth flow with shocking plot twists. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the action scenes, which painted a clear picture of what was happening. Overall, I loved reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys action-packed science fiction novels.
