Jarrett+M.

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__** Invitation to the Game **__ __** By: Monica Hughes **__

It's the year 2154, and life is bleak until Lisse discovers "**the game**." In the exciting science fiction book //Invitation to the Game// by Monica Hughes, I was continually shocked by the author's use of imagery and the intriguing element of surprise. It is the last day of her robot college, and all of the kids are about to get envelopes that state whether they got a job or not. When Lisse opens her envelope, she realizes she did not get a job, but her //best friend Benta did!//

Since Lisse and a couple of her friends didn't get envelopes communicating that they got jobs, they get mysteriously "dumped" into a random ghost town area for only the unemployed people. At first they are all weary about their designated area (otherwise known as "D.A.") because they do not know anybody or understand much about their new lives in this strange setting. Eventually, they go into the main building to find out where they are going to live. When the group finds their dorm, they are given credits, or money, to use. Now the main characters of the story realize that they are all alone: Lisse, Alden, Scylla, Brad, Karen, Karen, Trent, and Paul. It's them vs. the streets.

After a couple of nights, they decide to go out and get something to eat at a bar. When the group walks in, all of the people are wearing crazy clothes, and there is one woman in a parrot suit crying about how she had never got invited to take part in "The Game." A random man mentions that she's really taking it tough. Feeling quite scared and freaked out, Karen tells the others that they should leave the bar. When everyone gets out, they can't stop talking about that crazy parrot lady and the game on general. That night at their dorm, no one could even sleep because they are so confused about the way people are acting in and around the town. When they wake up the next morning, Alden quickly tells his friends that they must figure out what the Game actually is.

Once again, they go out at night, but this time to find some answers. they meet up with Charlie, a man who has been unemployed for two years. Charlie explains that the game is like a virtual world that is like a treasure hunt where you get clues to find things. (Charlie, however, has never been invited to play the game himself.) "So it's like a treasure hunt?" Brad questions. "Yes, but a very difficult one," Charlie replies. "But you must be invited to play."

With that, the group leaves the resturant and goes back to their dorm with disappointment and fear that they will never get invited to play the game at all. A couple of days later, though, Trent finds an envolope in the elevator. He quickly goes back to the others. He opens it it and it says...

**// You are cordially invited //** **// to participate in The Game //** **// Date: 17.06.2154 //** **// Time: 1430 //** **// Place: Barton Oaks //** For a couple of seconds, everyone is silent. They are all in shock, and no one knows who actually sent them the note, but they really don't care. All they care about is that they are about to find out what the Game really is     When they get to Barton Oaks, they meet the game manager. "Hello, welcome to the Game, " he tells them. "You will go through rigorous terrain and will have to make hard decisions in this Game. You will find clues on your way to the end of the game, but if you make the slightest of mistakes, your Game could end in a heartbeat. Now, please close your eyes and see the magic." If you want to find out what happens in the virtual world of the Game, I highly suggest that you read this book. Every page of it it throws some sort of twist at the reader. This book is definitely the top of my list of sci/fi adventures. Each of the characters has different personalities. I liked Brad the best, because he kind of goes with the flow, and he reminds me of myself. Scylla is probably the most creative character; she thinks of things very thoroughly, too. Katie teaches the crew karate and self defense, just in case they ever have to fight anyone. The way Monica Hughes describes the setting makes you paint so many detailed pictures in your head. For example, at times I pictured a gloomy a dark alley, and at other times, a dazzling wonderland. If you want a fun read filled with a suspenseful plot and unique character, this is totally the kind of book for you. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!!! // ﻿ // // ﻿ //