The Memory Wall

There's a fine line between real life and video games in this engrossing novel that's part Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird, part Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls. Severkin is an elf who slinks through the shadows of Wellhall's spiraling stone towers, plundering ancient ruins and slaying mystical monstrosities with ease. He's also a character in a video game—a character that twelve-year-old Nick Reeves plays when he needs a break from the real world. And lately, Nick has really needed a break. His mother had an "incident" at school last year, and her health has taken a turn for the worse. Nick is convinced his mother's illness has been misdiagnosed, but no one believes him. His only escape is the online world of Wellhall, where, as the elf character Severkin, he can face any problem. But when Nick finds himself fighting alongside another elf who reminds him of someone he knows in real life, his worlds begin to collide. . . . An engrossing middle-grade novel set in a high-fantasy video game world that’s part Kathryn Erskine’s Mockingbird, part Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls. Wellhall is an immersive online fantasy world full of giants, sorcerers, and elves—and it’s junior-high-schooler Nick’s only escape from real life. Nick and his mom used to play the online video game together before her early-onset Alzheimer’s forced her to enter an assisted-living facility. At first, Nick seeks distraction in the game, but he soon becomes convinced that his mom is playing the game as a character named Reunne, and dropping him hints about her diagnosis and how he can help her return home. Even as Nick becomes more and more certain that Reunne is actually his mother, Nick’s father and his new friend encourage Nick to confront the possibility that the game is just a game, and that he needs to be prepared to say goodbye to his mother as he knows her. . . . “Readers—gamers and nongamers alike—will cheer the resolution of Nick’s transformative journey. Thoughtful, earnest, and gratifying.” —Kirkus Reviews “A lovely, heartwarming story of a young man negotiating personal crises with the help of games, friends, and family, perfect for readers who appreciate a blend of fantasy and realism.” —The Bulletin “A complex, emotional story about grief and acceptance. . . . A strong, thought-provoking novel.” —Publishers Weekly Severkin Is An Elf Who Slinks Through The Shadows Of Wellhall's Spiraling Stone Towers, Plundering Ancient Ruins And Slaying Mystical Monstrosities With Ease. He's Also A Character In A Video Game-a Character That Twelve-year-old Nick Reeves Plays When He Needs A Break From The Real World. And Lately, Nick Has Really Needed A Break. His Mother Had An Oincidento At School Last Year, And Her Health Has Taken A Turn For The Worse. Nick Is Convinced His Mother's Illness Has Been Misdiagnosed, But No One Believes Him. His Only Escape Is The Online World Of Wellhall, Where, As The Elf Character Severkin, He Can Face Any Problem. But When Nick Finds Himself Fighting Alongside Another Elf Who Reminds Him Of Someone He Knows In Real Life, His Worlds Begin To Collide. . . . Severkin is an elf who slinks through the shadows of Wellhall s spiraling stone towers, plundering ancient ruins and slaying mystical monstrosities with ease. He s also a character in a video game a character that twelve-year-old Nick Reeves plays when he needs a break from the real world. And lately, Nick has really needed a break. His mother had an incident at school last year, and her health has taken a turn for the worse. Nick is convinced his mother s illness has been misdiagnosed, but no one believes him. His only escape is the online world of Wellhall, where, as the elf character Severkin, he can face any problem. But when Nick finds himself fighting alongside another elf who reminds him of someone he knows in real life, his worlds begin to collide. "Severkin is an elf who slinks through the shadows of Wellhall's spiraling stone towers, plundering ancient ruins and slaying mystical monstrosities with ease. He's also a character in a video game--a character that twelve-year-old Nick Reeves plays when he needs a break from the real world. And lately, Nick has really needed a break. His mother had an 'incident' at school last year, and her health has taken a turn for the worse"--Amazon.com.