Playing Tyler

Video games, drug abuse, and the business of war combine in Costa’s of-the-moment debut novel. Seventeen-year-old Tyler McCandless is an exceptionally talented gamer, but he doesn’t fit the stereotype. He has ADHD, which can make social interactions tricky, but he’s also ripped and loves flying planes even more than gaming. Those two skills earn Tyler the attention of Rick Anderson, an businessman/mentor who hires him to test an experimental flight simulator designed by 16-year-old gamer/prodigy Ani Bagdorian. Tyler and Ani fall for each other, which complicates matters when they realize that the simulator is more than a game, as readers will guess early on. Costa updates War Games for the 21st century, asking teens to consider the ethics of private contractors, drone warfare, and collateral damage. Tyler and Ani’s rapid romance sits somewhat uneasily with the buildup of the story’s action, but Costa adeptly gets inside the heads of two idealistic but conflicted teenagers trying to balance the personal, familial, and national responsibilities that have been dumped on them. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jenny Bent, the Bent Agency. (July)