The Nerdy Dozen

Thirteen-year-old Neil Andertol may get picked on by the school bully, but he gets to be the hero in his favorite online video game, Chameleon, a fighter jet simulator. Even better, the game leads Neil to help the Air Force find a real Chameleon jet—it turns out that Chameleon is actually a classified training device for high-level pilots. With those pilots missing, Neil and 11 other young gamers try to save them and the high-tech plane. After whipping through training, Neil and the other top-guns-to-be, including a competitive kid named Trevor who Neil gets stuck being co-pilot for, head off in the remaining Chameleons to complete their mission. Video game–like action sequences give the fast-moving plot unexpected (and often funny) twists. Neil is a wry, relatable narrator whose gaming obsession will resonate with like-minded readers. The premise of Miller’s debut novel is over-the-top, and that’s the point—it’s an entertaining dreams-do-come-true sort of novel for kids who, like Neil, find empowerment easier online than in real life. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joelle Hobeika, Alloy Entertainment. [em](June) [/em]