“I don’t like reading.”
That’s what my kids told me. Not because they couldn’t read, but because nothing on the shelf felt as engaging as the worlds they explored in games.
Fair point.
So I went looking for books that could compete with Fortnite and Minecraft for their attention. Books that understood gaming culture, that honored it instead of treating it like a problem to be solved.
Here are five YA books that bridge the gap between screens and pages—including the one I wrote when I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for.
1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The book that inspired the movie.
Set in a dystopian future where everyone escapes into a massive VR world called the OASIS, this book gets what gamers love: quests, Easter eggs, leveling up, and the thrill of solving impossible puzzles.
Why gamers love it: It’s essentially a love letter to gaming culture, packed with 80s references and the kind of high-stakes competition that makes esports exciting.
Best for: Teens who love retro gaming, puzzle-solving, and underdog stories.
2. Warcross by Marie Lu
For fans of esports and hacking.
Emika Chen is a bounty hunter who hacks her way into the world’s biggest VR gaming championship, and uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the entire game.
Why gamers love it: Fast-paced, tech-savvy, with a fierce female protagonist who’s as good at coding as she is at gaming. The world-building feels like stepping into a futuristic esports arena.
Best for: Teens who follow competitive gaming and love tech thrillers.
3. In Real Life by Cory Doctorow & Jen Wang
A graphic novel about gaming economics.
Anda joins an online game and gets recruited to fight “gold farmers” – real people in developing countries playing for money. It’s a story about virtual worlds, real-world consequences, and the ethics of gaming culture.
Why gamers love it: It tackles the reality behind MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) and asks hard questions about who benefits from virtual economies.
Best for: Teens interested in the real-world impact of gaming, plus anyone who loves graphic novels.
4. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid
Military sci-fi meets gaming.
Tom Raines is recruited into an elite military training program where battles are fought in virtual reality. Think Ender’s Game meets Call of Duty, with high-stakes strategy and friendships forged under pressure.
Why gamers love it: The combat sequences feel like playing a shooter, and the story explores what happens when gaming skills become military assets.
Best for: Teens who love military sci-fi, strategy games, and stories about found family.
5. Connection: Lost by P.R. Morrison (That’s Me)
What I wrote when I couldn’t find this exact book.
Jay is a fourteen-year-old gamer recruited to beta-test a revolutionary VR combat simulator on a remote island. It’s his dream come true – until the lines between the game and reality start to blur.
Why gamers might love it: It’s not about escaping gaming culture or treating it like a problem. It’s about a kid who’s incredible online but struggles with real-world connection, and has to figure out who he is when both worlds collide.
Best for: Teens navigating identity, parents trying to understand their gamers, and anyone who’s ever wondered where the line between virtual and real truly lies.
The Point
Gaming and reading aren’t enemies. They’re both ways of experiencing stories, solving problems, and exploring who we are.
If your kid says they hate reading, maybe they just haven’t found a book that speaks their language yet.
These five do.
Got a gamer in your life? Share this list with them—or better yet, read one of these together and talk about it. You might be surprised what opens up.
Want the behind-the-scenes story you won’t find on the blog? Join my reader community for exclusive bonus content, updates on Book 2, and the personal essay about what writing Connection: Lost taught me about connection.
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