Overview
Ben Cheng used to live the good life--he had wealthy parents, lots of friends, and respect as an online gamer. But when his parents separate, Ben's life changes entirely. He moves to a small apartment with his mom, his dad is out of the picture, and his new schoolmates start teasing him for his family's fall from grace. All Ben has left is his virtual life, where he still reigns supreme as an online racing driver. But when Ben takes his mom's car out for a joyride and gets caught, and uses his mom's credit card without permission, his life starts to spin out. Distributed in the U.S by Lerner Publishing Group
Full Product Details
Author: Steven Sandor
Publisher: Lorimer Children & Teens
Imprint: Lorimer Children & Teens
Dimensions:
Width: 13.60cm
, Height: 1.40cm
, Length: 19.40cm
Weight: 0.281kg
ISBN: 9781459414570
ISBN 10: 1459414578
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 01 August 2021
Recommended Age: From 8 to 9 years
Audience:
Young adult
,
Teenage / Young adult
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
An excellent book for those reluctant readers who need a solid story and relatable characters. Rated E, Excellent-- Resource Links Spin Out (and other stories in the series) would be a perfect read for teens wanting a narrative they can connect with...a great book for school and public library collections, not just classrooms.-- Resource Links A solid, realistic reluctant reader title with an enticing video-game hook. -- Kirkus Reviews
Online and IRL worlds present confusing obstacles in this story of a teenager trying to stay in control. Ben Zheng feels invincible when he plays video games, especially a car-racing game called Grand Series. Not only is he good at them, they're also an escape from an unhappy life filled with school bullies and constant reminders of his once-affluent life, before his gambling-addicted father abandoned the family. So when Ben drives his mom's car without her permission, charges in-game purchases to his mom's credit card, and secretly emails his father, he really thinks he can handle it. Inevitably, Ben's bad decisions catch up with him. Will he get a second chance? Present-tense writing and frequent gaming action keep this stand-alone title in the SideStreets series racing along. Ben's love of video games is a counterpoint to the bullying he encounters, both virtually and in person. Like many teenagers, Ben lacks the resources to navigate these complex issues. Although the narrative thoughtfully unpacks gender stereotypes and online harassment, less time is spent on delving into Ben's racial identity. Ben and his mother are cued as Chinese Canadian; there are few physical descriptions of other characters. A solid, realistic reluctant reader title with an enticing video-game hook.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (5/27/2021 12:00:00 AM)
Author Information
STEVEN SANDOR is an award-winning magazine editor, author and sports broadcaster. Although he has yet to master Formula 1 racing games without the cheats on, Steven explores the world of online car racing games in Spin Out, his first SideStreets book. Steven lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
